Playoffs -- 2015

[K-Mack]

if we were worried about student athlete health then the games would start at 12 of the team further West. Linfield having to play at 9 am their time at Widener is much different than Widener having to start at 3 pm. No one wants to start a football game at 9 am as body clocks aren't ready for it. The NCAA could easily make the change by having all playoff games start at 3 pm Eastern. Of course you'd need lights to host which might be an issue for some schools.

That's a really good point, and lights probably were part of the consideration when they first made the rule, and no one's ever thought to change it.

I personally would like some staggering, but even just exceptions for West Coast teams in the Eastern Time Zone makes common sense.

[K-Mack]

We'll be projecting scores in Triple Take, but I'll take a quick stab here:

1. What's your pick for the most competitive first-round matchup? (Closest game)
I only see three; UMHB/HSU, Salisbury at Cortland (the coaching staffs should know each other well since Gulls played a bunch of E8 teams just before Dragons joined E8) and ONU at Franklin. Actually, maybe the H game in the South and the game in Kentucky too. Would be happy to be proven wrong on this.

2. Anyone think that a true "contender" will have a competitive* first-round game?
The Texas teams are the only who can barely win in Round 1 but get to Salem.

3. Predictions for the highest combined score in the first round? (Game, winner, estimated # points)
Thomas More and W&L. I'll go 88 points; TM 53-35 or thereabouts.

4. Predictions for the lowest combined score in the first round? (Game, winner, estimated # points)
Somebody said there are no shutdown defenses anymore; Mount Union, Linfield, Wabash all qualify. Dubuque-St. John's could be low-scoring. But that's a rematch of a 46-9 game. So I'll take ONU 21, Franklin 14. :shrug:

5. Prediction for the largest margin of victory? (Game, winner, estimated MOV)
See Triple Take.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Also, I don't think I've been on the boards all year, since Kickoff was released, not even to lurk ... but the chatter is high quality as always.

I was wondering where you'd been...besides on the podcasts, of course.

Re: the one comment (since I'm the guy who said there are "few" shutdown defenses any more)...Mount, Wabash, Linfield are definitely among a small handful of shutdown defenses in the playoffs but they're all playing against teams where they will score a lot of points (in round 1) anyway so I didn't see any of them as likely to play an overall low-scoring game (I expect Mount to win about 67-0, so even though they'll notch a shutout it will not be the lowest combined score...I don't think).

I think that what I'm has me chuckling a bit is that 21-14 now passes for a low-scoring game.  Back in the old days, when men were men and teams ran the wishbone and the I-formation and actually huddled between plays, that was just a normal score.  Now it's what we call the lowest-scoring first-round game.

[wally_wabash]

If 35 is lowest O/U for any game this weekend, give me the under please. 

[wabndy]

K-Mac, as you all are drafting triple take- I had a suggestion for you.  In four of the last five tournaments, exactly three road teams beat their first round opponent (in 2012 there were 5 road winners).  Assuming this trend holds - i'd like to hear your prediction on which 3 road teams are going to win.

[Mugsy]

Latest forecast for the Wheaton area on Saturday:

Issued by The National Weather Service Chicago, IL
Thu, Nov 19, 2:20 pm CST

    ... WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...
    THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
    * TIMING... A POSSIBLE RAIN AND SNOW MIX BRIEFLY FRIDAY EVENING QUICKLY TRANSITIONING TO SNOW AND PERSISTING THROUGH EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON ON SATURDAY... WITH SNOW POSSIBLY HEAVY AT TIMES.
    * SNOW ACCUMULATIONS... 4 TO 7 INCHES.
    * IMPACTS... POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SHARPLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES.
    * THE FIRST ACCUMULATING SNOW OF THE YEAR CAN CATCH MOTORISTS OFF GUARD. ENSURE TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND USE EXTRA CAUTION IF TRAVELING.
    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
    A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

Not what Lakeland's high-octane pass attack would desire.

[art76]

Minneapolis/St. Paul - high of 28 F, winds out of the NW at 10 mph, partly cloudy. Welcome to Minnesota La Verne Leopards.

[MonroviaCat]

Minneapolis/St. Paul - high of 28 F, winds out of the NW at 10 mph, partly cloudy. Welcome to Minnesota La Verne Leopards.

Not a LaVerne guy but I live near there and it's been down right chilly here the past week or so.  I think we failed to reach 80 degrees for at least 7 straight days.  It's also been in the 40's several nights this week.  So I'm sure LaVerne will be ready.....   

[02 Warhawk]

I don't think I'll have enough computers at my disposal on Saturday to watch all the games I want too.

Source #1: iPad (streaming through my TV via Apple TV) for the UWW game.
Source #2: Bringing home my work laptop to watch the MHB/HS game.
Source #3: Wife's work laptop to stream ether the Salisbury/Cortland St game or Thomas More/W&L.

I'm also interested in watching the St. John's/Dubuque game.

So many games so few computers.   

[pg04]

The time zones help stagger them slightly, as in your case Salisbury/Cortland and Thomas More/WL will start an hour earlier than the other two games, but as a whole it's impossible for me to see everything I want to see.

[MonroviaCat]

I don't think I'll have enough computers at my disposal on Saturday to watch all the games I want too.

Source #1: iPad (streaming through my TV via Apple TV) for the UWW game.
Source #2: Bringing home my work laptop to watch the MHB/HS game.
Source #3: Wife's work laptop to stream ether the Salisbury/Cortland St game or Thomas More/W&L.

I'm also interested in watching the St. John's/Dubuque game.

So many games so few computers.   

You can have 2-4 games on a screen (on a computer anyway)...of course then you need a second screen for your board posting

[02 Warhawk]

The time zones help stagger them slightly, as in your case Salisbury/Cortland and Thomas More/WL will start an hour earlier than the other two games, but as a whole it's impossible for me to see everything I want to see.

True, but at noon (central time) it gets tough as all the games I'm interested in are playing at once.

[02 Warhawk]

I don't think I'll have enough computers at my disposal on Saturday to watch all the games I want too.

Source #1: iPad (streaming through my TV via Apple TV) for the UWW game.
Source #2: Bringing home my work laptop to watch the MHB/HS game.
Source #3: Wife's work laptop to stream ether the Salisbury/Cortland St game or Thomas More/W&L.

I'm also interested in watching the St. John's/Dubuque game.

So many games so few computers.   

You can have 2-4 games on a screen (on a computer anyway)...of course then you need a second screen for your board posting

Board posting/reading will be done on my phone. 

[MonroviaCat]

The time zones help stagger them slightly, as in your case Salisbury/Cortland and Thomas More/WL will start an hour earlier than the other two games, but as a whole it's impossible for me to see everything I want to see.

True, but at noon (central time) it gets tough as all the games I'm interested in are playing at once.

Yup-luckily some of them get out of hand quickly and then you can move to another one.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Minneapolis/St. Paul - high of 28 F, winds out of the NW at 10 mph, partly cloudy. Welcome to Minnesota La Verne Leopards.

UST had better hope that they are not in fact Snow Leopards!