FB: Southern Athletic Association

[Ron Boerger]

Trust me, I take absolutely no pleasure in doing this, but let's look back at last week's predictions:

Hansen Ratings:

• @Trinity 35.2, Maryville 13.2 (TU 92.2% to win)
• @Berry 36.3, Southwestern 12.1 (BC 93.7% to win)
• @Sewanee 15.7, Millsaps 43.1 (MC 95.9% to win)
• @Centre 36.9, Rhodes 4.1 (CC 98.1% to win)

SP +:

• @Trinity 35.8, Maryville 10.2
• @Berry 39.8, Southwestern 5.5
• @Sewanee 12.7, Millsaps 39.2
• @Centre 38.7, Rhodes 4.0

I think Maryville-Trinity will be closer, Berry-Southwestern less so.  But if these guys are right, it's a pretty mundane week in the SAA.

And here we go:

• Maryville 16, @Trinity 12
• @Berry 34, Southwestern 6
• Millsaps 62, @Sewanee 14
• @Centre 63, Rhodes 20

Not sure much needs to be said, though Southwestern holding Berry to a single score after half was a surprise.  Both badly missed the Scots' upset, greatly underweighing recent performance in favor of historical. And sometimes **** just happens.

Let's look at this week's predictions, FWIW:

Hansen Ratings:

• @Maryville 20.6, Berry 25.2 (BC 62.0% to win)
• @Millsaps 20.1, Trinity 29.5 (TU 72.8%)
• @Centre 38.8, Sewanee 9.1 (CC 97.0%)
• @Southwestern 42.9, Rhodes 18.8 (SU 93.4%)

SP +:

• @Maryville 15.1, Berry 33.4
• @Millsaps 17.7, Trinity 30.6
• @Centre 39.1, Sewanee 9.0
• @Southwestern 35.7, Rhodes 15.7

Here, it looks like Hansen is reacting more quickly to recent results and IMO the top two games on the schedule will be closer than SP+ predicts.  The potential is there for both home teams to upset their opponents.

According to the D3FB podcast, Millsaps QB Grant Bizjack, injured early in the season, returned for the first time in mop-up time against Sewanee so you'd expect him to be available against Trinity.  Then again, Carl Reed Jr. (33-50-0 for 599 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs)  and Quez Goss (28-52-1, 465/6 TDs) have done pretty well in his absence so that may not be needed.

[MCScots2013]

We'll have to keep competing and give you more reasons to shout out MC on the podcast. Practice makes perfect!

As far as this Saturday, I'm hoping we get close to 10k. Got a little over 9k last year with Centre; Centre and Berry are equidistant to Maravul and Berry has historically travelled well up I-75.

Tents are staked out for the tailgate. Looking forward to enjoying time in "The Little Grove" (not officially the name of the tailgating area, but sounds good)

[wally_wabash]

Pat is a man of the people! 7.2/10 on  his attempt at saying Maryville. 

Acceptable:
Murvul
Maraville
Maravul (this is most common)

Unacceptable and downright unholy:
Mary-ville
Kills me that our PA and broadcast say it this way to appease Yankees with unrefined auditory skills.

The bolded is probably where I land most often. Occasionally I might let slip a Murvul. 

Hope you all get about 5 deep in a ring around that field on Saturday.  Should be a tremendous college football game.