Alright, so this week after realizing hey someone actually reads this maybe I should put something worthwhile up(call it a EV VS WC) hangover that I could not come up with anything, then while perusing the boards this AM, a point of interest was brought involving a school that I had only ever heard a little about Gardner-Webb. Apparently some of their fans are in a tizzy because they feel “disrespected” because while they have beaten Furman, Wofford, and Richmond they are merely ranked #25 and the question was asked is their a bias towards the power teams conferences vs. the small time conferences? Honestly for this blogger, yes there is(full disclosure this blog nor does this writer participate in any poll) Coming from “smaller schools”(with the exception of Montana North and South Dakota and maybe Maine, we always have to prove ourselves to our older “brother” institutions. Beating three power teams by a combined 15 points(one by three and another by two) to me is not enough to really show that you have “arrived” like many poster on this board when they vote they take in the “body of work” we have all seen teams start fast and then die out towards the end of the season, while I am not saying GW is going down that path, but I feel #25 is right for the time being, you made the top #25 for your current work, as you continue to demonstrate your winning, more respect is given. Just my 2 cents.
My predicts for this week top matchups:
#1 NDSU vs #6 SDSU-NDSU goes into SDSU and wins a squeaker of a game 17-16 over the Jacks.
#2 EWU vs #4 SHSU-I again applaud high-quality FCS teams scheduling other High-quality FCS teams as non-cons, that is what our division needs to keep itself strong. I picked against SHSU the entire playoffs last year(except the chipper) Well, this one I think the Eagles take 24-13.
#5 UNI vs #9 Mcneese- Alot of talk on this one, I feel that people have been hesitant on UNI despite their 3-0 record apparently the wins weren’t “flashy” or “big enough” over programs like drake and Northern Colorado. I think the playbook will be opened up against Mcneese, David Johnson will be allowed to pound the ball, while Sawyer will keep the DB’s honest with a balanced passing scheme, UNI wins this one 32-17. Call me a homer, when you write the blog you can be a homer to.
#14 JMU vs DEL-Honestly I think this will really show what type of season these two teams will have, JMU almost beat akron but also barely beat SFPA, while Delaware has woodshedding all comers except their own woodshedding from a mediocre Navy team(go Middies) I think this one will be close and whoever has the ball last wins this one 42-40 James Madison.
#7 Montana vs #24 NAU-Montana 38-17