FB: Liberty League

[Bartman]

I agree with Ice Bear's LL rankings at this point in the season. RPI and Hobart wins showed the LL is not ready to fold and Ithaca's loss to Hopkins does not look so bad given Hopkins success this season. The LL teams are still developing and should make for some great competition and unexpected outcomes this season. I'll be posting picks tomorrow and hoping the Statesmen get healthy for this week's Clash overlooking Cayuga Lake. 

[Machiavelli]

Overall decent weekend for the LL. Good to see the tides turning a slight bit. Some big matchups this weekend between the perceived top 4 in the LL. Gonna be a fun one. But my goodness, Buff State....Not only did they lose to freaking Alfred State, they go throttled!!!! I just don't understand how a program can actually be THAT bad for SO long. Hey, maybe Dilbert will knock them off this week. Bleh...

You have henceforth been banished to Hoboken, NJ!!!!

[unionpalooza]

Based on how different things have looked week to week, it seems like the LL will be wide open this year and an adventure every Saturday.  I've only followed Union, Ithaca, Hobart, and RPI closely, but it looks like they're all very young - a whole lot more underclassman starting and playing key roles, and less senior-heavy rosters, than we've seen lately.  I wonder whether some of this is COVID hangover - you've got juniors and seniors who lost a year of HS and then got stuck on the depth chart behind year after year of COVID super-seniors. So, a lot less experience at the top than you'd usually have, which maybe explains how uneven play has been week to week.

[Bartman]

Based on how different things have looked week to week, it seems like the LL will be wide open this year and an adventure every Saturday.  I've only followed Union, Ithaca, Hobart, and RPI closely, but it looks like they're all very young - a whole lot more underclassman starting and playing key roles, and less senior-heavy rosters, than we've seen lately.  I wonder whether some of this is COVID hangover - you've got juniors and seniors who lost a year of HS and then got stuck on the depth chart behind year after year of COVID super-seniors. So, a lot less experience at the top than you'd usually have, which maybe explains how uneven play has been week to week.

I agree that Covid certainly impacted the maturity of some of these players in HS, and then they get to College and sit on the bench for maybe two years waiting for playing time, just not enough in-game reps for the Freshman and Sophomores that are being asked to do more. That said. the E8 teams have the same issues but seem to have managed performance a little better , at least for the start of the season.
I think this is an adjustment season for the LL and the coaches are earning their salaries. I've seen it at Hobart that the Coordinators and position coaches can make a huge difference to maximize development.Hobart's DC had a great game plan but he also figured out situational units that seemed to work very well Saturday  whether it was different coverage packages to confuse the QB or mixing up the pass rush on passing downs. I think playing the Utica QB(excellent skills) was very good prep for the Ithaca game , because the Bombers QB seems to be ready for a very good season. 

[UfanBill]

The eight team Liberty League really begins to sort things out this Saturday with it's first full slate of head to heads. Here are my thoughts and predictions.

Rochester at RPI...Can the only overall undefeated team in the LL, Rochester, stay that way? RPI's East Campus Stadium is a tough place for visiting teams to win. The Yellowjackets haven't done it since 2013. RPI's surprising win over Brockport at home indicates ECAV is still a factor...RPI 31 - Rochester 20. 

Hobart at Ithaca...Home field advantage? The Statesmen have never won at Butterfield. Few LL teams have. Everything changes this week for a the very motivated Pumpkinheads. It'll be close. Hobart 23 - Ithaca 21 

St. Lawrence at Union...The Larries seem like they're on the cusp of contending every year but can't get there. With QB issues? this game will indicate they're still not ready. The battle tested Garnet show they're in the hunt. Union 24 - St. Lawrence 13


Buffalo St. at Hilbert...Can the Hawks ever win a game? Buff State sure knows how to lose one. I'm thinking this is the week.  Hilbert 13 - Buffalo St. 9

 

[Machiavelli]

Ok, before my predictions, I just took a look at the Top 25, and I hope someone here can help me get this straight. Ithaca lost to the #3 team in the country. They then proceeded to throttle Alfred who beat Hobart who beat Utica. The result is Ithaca getting no Top 25 votes while Utica gets 3. The math ain't mathing. Me thinks one of the voters submitted their ballot for this week last Friday.

In any case...

Mach's Astonishingly Brilliant Week 4 Predictions:

Rochester - 17
RPI - 35
This is one of the 2 LL games of the week. I really liked what I saw from RPI last week. They looked much improved from the first 2 weeks against a very tough Brockport. RPI decided not to show up after the 11 hour drive to Roch-Vegas last year and a total bender at H(*)(*)TERS. They will avenge that barf-fest from a year ago and stick it to the Bumblebees at home.

Buffalo St - 6
Dilbert - 8
This pick is mostly out of spite for Buff State getting destroyed by friggin Alfred State last week. I'm pulling for the Dilberts to get their first ever W, even though I think it's less than likely.

Hobart - 17
Ithaca - 34
Hobart is flying high after last week's W, but Ithaca basically had a bye week against Dilbert and will more than likely be in a better spot. I like Ithaca at home by a bit.

St. Lawrence - 14
Union - 28
I'm not entirely sure how to feel about this one. Union SHOULD win, possibly even by a lot, but I don't know how I feel about the douchmen yet. I'd stay relatively traditional here and Union handles them.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Carry on...

[ICAlum16]

Rochester - 13
RPI - 28

Buff St - 31
Hillbert - 11

Hobart 14
Ithaca 24

SLU - 17
Union - 16

Ok, before my predictions, I just took a look at the Top 25, and I hope someone here can help me get this straight. Ithaca lost to the #3 team in the country. They then proceeded to throttle Alfred who beat Hobart who beat Utica. The result is Ithaca getting no Top 25 votes while Utica gets 3. The math ain't mathing. Me thinks one of the voters submitted their ballot for this week last Friday.

In any case...

Mach's Astonishingly Brilliant Week 4 Predictions:

Rochester - 17
RPI - 35
This is one of the 2 LL games of the week. I really liked what I saw from RPI last week. They looked much improved from the first 2 weeks against a very tough Brockport. RPI decided not to show up after the 11 hour drive to Roch-Vegas last year and a total bender at H(*)(*)TERS. They will avenge that barf-fest from a year ago and stick it to the Bumblebees at home.

Buffalo St - 6
Dilbert - 8
This pick is mostly out of spite for Buff State getting destroyed by friggin Alfred State last week. I'm pulling for the Dilberts to get their first ever W, even though I think it's less than likely.

Hobart - 17
Ithaca - 34
Hobart is flying high after last week's W, but Ithaca basically had a bye week against Dilbert and will more than likely be in a better spot. I like Ithaca at home by a bit.

St. Lawrence - 14
Union - 28
I'm not entirely sure how to feel about this one. Union SHOULD win, possibly even by a lot, but I don't know how I feel about the douchmen yet. I'd stay relatively traditional here and Union handles them.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Carry on...

[Bartman]

Bartman is excited for the real season.....GIVE ME LIBERTY!This SHI@ iS GETTIN REAL!

WEEK #4(YTD picks 19-5):

SLIDERULERS      28.             YELLOWJACKETS.      27    This is a dogfight with 4 lead changes

BENGAL PRIDE    21.               HILLYBOYS          20.          BASEMENT BATTLE

PUMPKINHEADS    27.              BOMBERS.          24          TOTAL HOMER PICK

DUTCHMEN FOREVER       24.        SAINTS            17        CHARGERS GET A SPARK                 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             


      .

[Ice Bear]

Let's give this a go. I am going to actually keep track of my record.

LL Play Week #1:

U of R @ RPI -I am very impressed with RPI's week last week. To me, wins like that say a lot about the character of the players and the coaching. U of R has done what it's needed to and yet again looks poised to enter the top four. RPI 24-21

Hobart @ Ithaca - Another odd numbered year, another opportunity for the Pumpkins to try and get that elusive W at IC. Seems like JHU is really that good and Hobart slayed a dragon last week in Utica. IC 27-24

SLU @ Union - IMHO Union must win this, at the very least for optics and keeping positive forward momentum towards a consistent future and identity under Drach. This is a game where Patch can be the difference. He will be and the defense, while giving up some points, will do enough. Union 28 - 10.

Buffalo State @ Hilbert - I'm a big believer that both in life and sports you must often hit rock bottom before things really change. If Buff loses this one...that is officially, at least in my eyes, rock bottom. Buffalo State 10-9

[Bartman]

Prediction this Weekend Summary:

                LL Posters.      Hansen.       Massey
RPI V. U of R.    RPI 5-0        RPI by 13.    RPI by 9.5

Hobart v IC.      IC. 3-2.       IC by 9.       IC. by 12.5

SLU v. Union.     Union 4-1.     Union by 18.   Union by 22.5

Buff St.v Hilbert Buff ST. 3-2   Buff ST.by18.  Buff ST. by 17.5

The best bet is taking SLU and 22.5 against Union

[Machiavelli]

Prediction this Weekend Summary:

                LL Posters.      Hansen.       Massey
RPI V. U of R.    RPI 5-0        RPI by 13.    RPI by 9.5

Hobart v IC.      IC. 3-2.       IC by 9.       IC. by 12.5

SLU v. Union.     Union 4-1.     Union by 18.   Union by 22.5

Buff St.v Hilbert Buff ST. 3-2   Buff ST.by18.  Buff ST. by 17.5

The best bet is taking SLU and 22.5 against Union

If Buff State/Dilbert even score 17.5 combined, I'll be shocked.

[unionpalooza]

Prediction this Weekend Summary:

                LL Posters.      Hansen.       Massey
RPI V. U of R.    RPI 5-0        RPI by 13.    RPI by 9.5

Hobart v IC.      IC. 3-2.       IC by 9.       IC. by 12.5

SLU v. Union.     Union 4-1.     Union by 18.   Union by 22.5

Buff St.v Hilbert Buff ST. 3-2   Buff ST.by18.  Buff ST. by 17.5

The best bet is taking SLU and 22.5 against Union

If Buff State/Dilbert even score 17.5 combined, I'll be shocked.

I still can't believe the LL got saddled with both of these guys.  Still wish they instead had divided the LL and E8 into a super league of Union/Ithaca/RPI/Hobart/Brockport/Cortland/Utica/Alfred and relegated the other 8 to a B league.  I think it would be awesome to have a WIAC-like set up where 6-2 in the league is an epic accomplishment that sets you up for a deep playoff run.

[Pat Coleman]

Well, then that team's NPI would suffer, they'd get sent to a pretty good team on the road early in the playoffs, and people would use that as a data point to suggest your league was overrated.

[unionpalooza]

Well, then that team's NPI would suffer, they'd get sent to a pretty good team on the road early in the playoffs, and people would use that as a data point to suggest your league was overrated.

Eh, I could care less about how people rate the league. I just want to watch — and I think most kids want to play — good, hard-nosed football and games that matter, week after week.  The luxury of beating up on Butterscotch State, whether during the season or in the first round of the playoffs, is a lame thing to prioritize.

[Ice Bear]

Well, then that team's NPI would suffer, they'd get sent to a pretty good team on the road early in the playoffs, and people would use that as a data point to suggest your league was overrated.

Eh, I could care less about how people rate the league. I just want to watch — and I think most kids want to play — good, hard-nosed football and games that matter, week after week.  The luxury of beating up on Butterscotch State, whether during the season or in the first round of the playoffs, is a lame thing to prioritize.

I couldn't agree more Palooza.