Quote from: ExTartanPlayer on October 13, 2011, 10:12:58 AM

Quote from: jknezek on October 13, 2011, 09:26:24 AM
While I see a very strong ASC, I'm not quite ready to give the SCAC a big nod over the ODAC in that third tier.

I agree.  I don't think the SCAC has done much to distinguish itself in the last few years (the salad days of Trinity as a national power are LONG gone).  Some might argue that SCAC champ often gets stuck playing the ASC champ in the first round because of travel considerations, but that's an old-hat argument which isn't really borne out by recent history.

In 2010 the SCAC champ (DePauw) lost at home in the first round to Trine.
In 2009 the SCAC champ (DePauw again) lost in the first round to Thomas More.
In 2008 the SCAC champ (Millsaps) beat LaGrange, then lost to Wash & Jefferson.
In 2007 the SCAC champ (Trinity) was wiped out by UMHB.
In 2006 the SCAC champ (Millsaps) lost to Carnegie Mellon.

That's a 1-5 playoff record in the last five years, with the losses spread against five different teams (only one of which is a true national power, UMHB).  All but UMHB were summarily dismissed in the next round.  Unfortunately, that suggests to me that the SCAC is no better than an average D-3 conference at this point.

The ODAC has experienced similar playoff struggles; however, I just don't see anything that proves that the SCAC is all that much better. 

In fairness, this looks like the strongest SCAC in a couple years - Trinity, BSC, and Centre have all notched a few respectable nonconference wins.  Heck, even Sewanee doesn't look like quite the doormat that they've been recently.

*Edited to add: I just re-read Matt Barnhart's original post and now I see what he was saying, which is a little more palatable - that he thinks the best ODAC team would finish 4th in the SCAC (presumably behind Trinity, BSC, and Centre).  I suppose that's possible, but I think you might be putting a little too much weight on a single result.

Excellent points.

However, you very subtly mentioned just the SCAC results - which aren't terrible when compared to the ODAC's:

2010: Hampden-Sydney lost to Montclair St. 16-14 (first round)
2010: Washington & Lee lost to Thomas More 42-14 (first round)
2009: Hampden-Sydney lost to Johns Hopkins 23-7 (first round)
2008: Randolph-Macon lost to Mt. Union 56-0 (first round)
2007: Hampden-Sydney lost to Wesley 45-27 (first round)
2006: Washington & Lee lost to Wilkes 42-0 (first round)

Sadly, the USAC has more playoff wins (1) than the ODAC since 2006.

So until the ODAC ends this five year playoff drought and averaging only 10 points per game, then I think it's very fair to place their best team has fourth in the SCAC.

I'm not just basing my opinion on the Huntingdon/HSC and Centre/W&L games, although I think they should be considered when comparing the ODAC and SCAC.

I do think the ODAC and SCAC have something in common - from 2000 to 2005, Bridgewater won 10 playoff games. Trinity had the same success over a period of time, and have since dropped off. I know some say parity is good, but neither have produced a great team in five years.

Quote from: ExTartanPlayer on October 10, 2011, 03:29:55 PM

Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 09, 2011, 06:21:07 PM
5) McMurry (UT-SA is looking very strong for a first year program. It appears that we messed up Stephen F Austin's mind and ruined them for the season.  McMurry had a better showing against UMHB than LaCollege. We go to Pineville.)

Amusing note:  Trying to make head or tail of McMurry's games against FCS teams is fun.

They lost 82-6 to defending conference champ, Stephen F. Austin.
They then beat a first-year program, Texas-San Antonio, by the score of 24-21. 

At the time, these results seemed to jibe...SFA is a traditionally strong team, and UTSA is a first-year program. 

But then, the wheels came off for SFA with five straight losses.
Meanwhile, UTSA has won twice and lost a third game in OT.

Huh?

Great example of why I think it's misinformed to compare like results when voting on a poll or picking a game. Stats and gut instinct are what I look at.

To be honest, I was a huge fan of Trinity early in the season. I believe at one point, I was the only person voting for them. However, since then, I have moved teams passed them - and my week 6 poll actually has Trinity #9. (I had them #7 two weeks ago).

So I agree with a little of what Ron and Ralph are saying about them. This week is a big test. We will see if I've wasted votes on them thus far, or if I was justified.

And even though I'm an ODAC guy, I think the best team in the conference (HSC) would finish seventh in the ASC and fourth in the SCAC. Not sure why then I'm still voting for them!

Two great games today...

W&L with a last second FG to win, 17-14, and BC outgained HSC, but turned it over twice, in a 28-14 loss.

Congrats to St. Vincent with their win over W&J. That's big for their program, and makes BC's close win over them look better.

New job has me working this weekend, so this will be the first BC-HSC game I've missed since 1998.

Hopefully the Eagles can give them a good game!

Quote from: Wes Anderson on October 07, 2011, 09:17:01 AM
Centre went to DePauw and won and then somebody dropped them from their poll?

Correction... TWO people dropped them, because I added them for week 5.

I still think spots 8-10 are very fluid, even at this point. For instance, HSC is still the clear favorite to won the ODAC, but the Huntingdon loss has voters considering W&L.

Ralph is being nice (to me). I was the one late on the poll!!! Ahh, new job taking up more time than I thought.

Sorry guys.

I have submitted this week's poll.

I confess, I was the late ballot submission.

Should be an interesting poll. I struggled picking the order of #2-4, and the bottom two teams.

Another good week for the ODAC; 6-1 (Guilford the lone loss).

Next week, the ODAC schedule looks favorable as well. It would be remarkable for our conference to be 19-1 through the first three weeks.

Phew, BC pulls out the win at SU - 28-23. Gritty win for the Eagles. More opinion to come later (I watched it online).

It isn't too late to get into the ODAC Pick 'Em contest!!

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=7450.0

Wow, someone dropped Thomas More out of their poll?

Hasa-
Where were you week 1 of the pick 'em? Sizing up the competition before you jump in? :-)

Quote from: wesleydad on September 04, 2011, 06:16:13 PM
the poll looks good, except for the fact that bridgewater received a 6 place vote.  cant say much about anyone else, but after watching them play, losing to st vincent 17 - 3 in the 4th, the south is very week if they are one of the top 15 teams.  maybe vote them 9 - 10, but not 6.

Just so fans know, I was not the one who had them in their top 10.

After seeing that BC/St. Vincent game as well, they won't be in my
Week 1 poll either. They have some maturing to do on offense. Special teams and the defense looked like a top 10 region team, though.

I can see the voter dropping BC after this week, as well as top 25 voters. BC has potential to be good once they figure out who they are on offense.

Wow, BC wins in OT, 20-17.

We came back from 17-3 in the fourth. Always nice to be able to teach and learn from an ugly win.