FB: Liberty League

[Machiavelli]

Seems the boards have been a little chaotic this week. I haven't even had time to look at the Top 25, but I think the LL and E8 always get the shaft either way, then perform relatively well in the postseason, then everyone Men In Blacks themselves and it starts all over again. Anyway, it felt like I had my worst week of picks ever last week, but I ended 6-2 losing the RPI and Hobart picks. Honestly, I stick by my picks, but psyched I was wrong on Hobart. Puts me to 13-3 so far in what I would call the toughest first 2 weeks of picks, maybe ever. Gonna fire out a few quick ones here:

Mach's slightly above Rochester Mediocre Week 3 Picks

St. Lawrence - 10
Alfred - 21
Alfred's got a decent little team, just not as good as the top of the LL that they faced in Weeks 1-2. St. Lawrence may not win again until October 10.

Union - 34
MooVille - 3
Smackdown city. Union gets to showcase some of their talent this week.

Alfred St. - 40
Buff St - 6
We got one program on the up and up. The other just going through the motions.

Hobart - 28
Utica - 24
I watched Utica last week. Their offense is good, but if you can slow them down, which I think Hobart can, the offense can move the ball. The RPI score wasn't indicative of how the game went. I think Hobart hangs in and doesn't fold in the second half like RPI did. Utica is pretty good, but I like 'Bart.

Hilbert - 0
Ithaca - 96
Bartman went with 100 points. I think someone should suck it up and do it. I'd be all for it.

RPI - 35
Brockport - 31
As mentioned above, I don't think the Utica score was a true depiction of that game. RPI was in it through the 3rd and they had plenty of chances, but Utica just kept coming. RPI had some costly turnovers and a QB switch and their heads up their a$$es in the 4th quarter. I think Balzarini is solid, so I hope they stick with him. I like RPI in a close one.

Rochester - 21
St. John Fisher - 31
The H(*)(*)TERS battle will get ugly quick, with Rochester making a late comeback attempt. I hate this pick, but I think Fisher is just better.

There it is. Go get 'em.

[Bartman]

Seems the boards have been a little chaotic this week. I haven't even had time to look at the Top 25, but I think the LL and E8 always get the shaft either way, then perform relatively well in the postseason, then everyone Men In Blacks themselves and it starts all over again. Anyway, it felt like I had my worst week of picks ever last week, but I ended 6-2 losing the RPI and Hobart picks. Honestly, I stick by my picks, but psyched I was wrong on Hobart. Puts me to 13-3 so far in what I would call the toughest first 2 weeks of picks, maybe ever. Gonna fire out a few quick ones here:

Mach's slightly above Rochester Mediocre Week 3 Picks

St. Lawrence - 10
Alfred - 21
Alfred's got a decent little team, just not as good as the top of the LL that they faced in Weeks 1-2. St. Lawrence may not win again until October 10.

Union - 34
MooVille - 3
Smackdown city. Union gets to showcase some of their talent this week.

Alfred St. - 40
Buff St - 6
We got one program on the up and up. The other just going through the motions.

Hobart - 28
Utica - 24
I watched Utica last week. Their offense is good, but if you can slow them down, which I think Hobart can, the offense can move the ball. The RPI score wasn't indicative of how the game went. I think Hobart hangs in and doesn't fold in the second half like RPI did. Utica is pretty good, but I like 'Bart.

Hilbert - 0
Ithaca - 96
Bartman went with 100 points. I think someone should suck it up and do it. I'd be all for it.

RPI - 35
Brockport - 31
As mentioned above, I don't think the Utica score was a true depiction of that game. RPI was in it through the 3rd and they had plenty of chances, but Utica just kept coming. RPI had some costly turnovers and a QB switch and their heads up their a$$es in the 4th quarter. I think Balzarini is solid, so I hope they stick with him. I like RPI in a close one.

Rochester - 21
St. John Fisher - 31
The H(*)(*)TERS battle will get ugly quick, with Rochester making a late comeback attempt. I hate this pick, but I think Fisher is just better.

There it is. Go get 'em.

Mach, I hope your RPI and Hobart picks are right so the LL can get some respect this weekend. Good luck to all.

[Ice Bear]

I do think today is a big day for the Dutch out at Mo'ville. While obviously not a league game this one is a game I believe they "should" win and need to win in order to get some positive momentum heading into league play. I'm very curious to see who starts at QB and who gets the majority of hand offs at RB today.

We have a young line who has really had some positive moments considering. Really hoping the young men have a great day today. Let's go U!

[ICGrad]

Ithaca up 49-0 with over 9 minutes left in 2nd quarter. 400+ yards to 31 yards total offense.

ffs

ETA: Surprised by the sparse crowd at the game. Stands look well less than half full.

[ICGrad]

Rough start to the week for the LL. Bottom of the league getting beaten up by the Alfreds, Brockport looking strong against RPI, and most surprisingly Hobart getting blanked by Utica.

Union had an early lead but is now trailing M'ville by 10.

Need a few of these teams to rally...

[IC798891]

RPI gives up 400 yards in one half to Brockport. Hobart getting dusted 23-0 by Utica at the half. Union looks like they're going to beat Morrisville, to which I say, congratulations to the defending Liberty League champion on their 2nd half comeback over a team that went 0-10 last season.

Heck, even Ithaca is losing the turnover battle 2-0 to Hilbert, and has had their third touchdown in two weeks called back due to penalty.

The LL's at large bid problem is not going to be solved by Hilbert and Buff State going elsewhere.

[IC798891]

I'll tell you this much, Hilbert battles.

They had a pick six, two nice kick returns, and some decent drives against Ithaca's backups.

Sure, the 1st quarter of starters vs starters went exactly how you'd expect, with Ithaca outgaining them 291-31. But they didn't sleepwalk through the last three quarters, which is an encouraging sign.

[IC798891]

Hobart has been flagged for four unsportsmanlike conduct penalties today. I've never seen anything like it

[IC798891]

Hobart battles for 60 minutes, and nearly stuns Utica. But the defense can't get a stop until it's too late, and the offense largely runs out of time before they fall 36-29.

Susquehanna's obliteration of Johns Hopkins makes me think that we need to re-evaluate Union's and Ithaca's earlier losses to them a bit.

RPI needs a clean reset after a disaster of an OOC slate.

[IC798891]

It's really hard to watch how non-competitive Hilbert is, athletically, despite their fight.

Late in the 2nd quarter, Ithaca had a 90-yard TD called back due to penalty, threw a pick 6 on the next play, and then basically took the third quarter off -- they actually got outgained 48-47 while Hilbert converted 3 of 4 third downs -- and still[/b] won 77-6.

The Bombers' emptied the bench and then some. 9 different players had rushes, 15 different players caught a pass from 4 different quarterbacks.

I actually like that Hilbert is trying to pass the ball. I was at the IC Hilbert game last year, and they were completely one dimensional. Yeah, it's all short stuff because they don't have the athletes to challenge downfield, but at least it's a wrinkle.

Similarly, by threatening to pass, and by keeping their QB in on 4th downs, and lining up as though they were going to run a regular play, they prevented IC from trying to return most punts, and the rolls they typically got (three punts went 50+) at least made Ithaca go down the field.

To wit, last year against IC, they had 10 punts that averaged 28.4 yards. This year, 10 punts averaged 40.3.

Yeah it means the defense gave up more yards. Ithaca had a staggering 769. But look, you can't help the talent differential. You can do things to try and mitigate it as best you can, however, and Hilbert did that.

[BomberJeff]

Well Rochester had a chance at the end, got it to 14-13 down with 30 seconds left against Saint John Fisher, but they went for 2 and didn't get.  The Cardinals hold on for the win.

[The Third Division]

It's really hard to watch how non-competitive Hilbert is, athletically, despite their fight.

Late in the 2nd quarter, Ithaca had a 90-yard TD called back due to penalty, threw a pick 6 on the next play, and then basically took the third quarter off -- they actually got outgained 48-47 while Hilbert converted 3 of 4 third downs -- and still[/b] won 77-6.

The Bombers' emptied the bench and then some. 9 different players had rushes, 15 different players caught a pass from 4 different quarterbacks.

I actually like that Hilbert is trying to pass the ball. I was at the IC Hilbert game last year, and they were completely one dimensional. Yeah, it's all short stuff because they don't have the athletes to challenge downfield, but at least it's a wrinkle.

Similarly, by threatening to pass, and by keeping their QB in on 4th downs, and lining up as though they were going to run a regular play, they prevented IC from trying to return most punts, and the rolls they typically got (three punts went 50+) at least made Ithaca go down the field.

To wit, last year against IC, they had 10 punts that averaged 28.4 yards. This year, 10 punts averaged 40.3.

Yeah it means the defense gave up more yards. Ithaca had a staggering 769. But look, you can't help the talent differential. You can do things to try and mitigate it as best you can, however, and Hilbert did that.

All these positive signs plus the fact hilbert is getting an on-campus stadium next year!!!