Week 4 - Conference by Conference Breakdown

[Mvemjsunpx]

Big Sky

WEB 36-29 PORTST
EWU 56-30 SAC
CWU 33-22 IDST
UMT 41-34 NAU (OT)
MTST 25-7 NCOL

• NConf Record: 0-1
  Overall: 7-12
  
  vs. FCS: 0-0
  Overall: 3-1
  
  
  Best Performance: (#4) Montana 41, Northern Arizona 34 (OT) - The D was shredded through the air, but Andrew Selle helped the Griz overcome that by throwing for 349 yards and 3 TDs and not committing any turnovers.
  
  Worst Performance: Idaho St. 22, (DII) Central Washington 33 - Not to be outdone by a DII team, the Bengals answer CWU's 5 turnovers by committing 6 of their own… in the first half.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Northern Arizona 34, (#4) Montana 41 (OT) - The 'Jacks get the best Montana performance they've had under Souers, but still find a way to lose their 12th. straight against the Griz.

Southland

TXSO 18-52 TXST
UND 31-65 SFA
SHSU 3-56 TULSA
GLENVL 10-24 UCA
SELA 13-44 SDK
NWST 13-68 BAY
MCNSE 32-42 TULANE
JAXST 60-10 NICH

• NConf Record: 3-5
  Overall: 14-15
  
  vs. FCS: 2-2
  Overall: 7-5
  
  
  Best Performance: Stephen F. Austin 65, North Dakota 31 - The Lumberjacks rack up 643 yards in this surprisingly easy win. They now lead FCS in total offense by more than 80 ypg.
  
  Worst Performance: Nicholls St. 10, (#22) Jacksonville St. 60 - Even with a win over Duquesne a couple weeks back, the Colonels are still being outscored by 37.5 ppg.
  
  Most Surprising Result: (#8) McNeese St. 32, (FBS) Tulane 42 - If the Cowboys could beat App State up in Boone, one would think they should beat lowly FBS Tulane in the nearby Superdome. Odd side note: Green Wave QB Joe Kemp completed 10 passes in the contest; all 10 went to Jeremy Williams for 222 yards and 2 TDs.

Missouri Valley

UNI 35-7 MIZST
SDKST 38-17 ILST
NDSU 14-24 SIU
YSU 28-0 INST

• NConf Record: 0-0
  Overall: 11-12
  
  vs. FCS: 0-0
  Overall: 10-4
  
  
  Best Performance: (#3) Northern Iowa 35, Missouri St. 7 - Panthers outgain the Bears on the road 396-185.
  
  Worst Performance: Indiana St. 0, Youngstown St. 28 - The Sickamores are held to 148 yards and suffer their second consecutive shutout.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Illinois St. 17, (#17) South Dakota St. 38 - Well, the Redbirds actually led the Jackrabbits briefly in the second quarter. That was the only surprise in the Missouri Valley this week.

OVC

JAXST 60-10 NICH
EKU 23-13 MUR
TSU 12-31 FAMU (in Atlanta, GA)
TTU 7-49 KSU
SEMO 22-29 UTM
EIU 30-20 AP

• NConf Record: 1-2
  Overall: 10-14
  
  vs. FCS: 1-1
  Overall: 5-7
  
  
  Best Performance: (#22) Jacksonville St. 60, Nicholls St. 10 - Ryan Perrilloux increases his FCS-leading passing efficiency rating to 181.6 while the Gamecock defense shuts down NSU's option attack.
  
  Worst Performance: Southeast Missouri St. 22, Tennessee-Martin 29 - The Redhawks have now lost five straight to the Skyhawks.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Tennessee St. 12, Florida A&M 31 - The Tigers take a halftime lead at the Atlanta Classic & put a scare into the Rattlers, but they can't stop Curtis Pulley & Isaac West in the second half & lose convincingly.

Tomorrow: the rest of the playoff conferences.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I love your breakdowns, but how is EWU's dominating win over Sac State not the best performance? We put up so many points and had a big enough lead that we pulled our starters!

Montana on the other hand barely escaped with a win. A great game yes, but not the "best performance."

[Thumper 76]

Great breakdowns, look forward to them every week. And I think he meant that NAU had the best performance perhaps, not Montana?

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Great breakdowns, look forward to them every week. And I think he meant that NAU had the best performance perhaps, not Montana?

The D was shredded through the air, but Andrew Selle helped the Griz overcome that by throwing for 349 yards and 3 TDs and not committing any turnovers.

How is he referring to NAU there?

[Grizalltheway]

Great breakdowns, look forward to them every week. And I think he meant that NAU had the best performance perhaps, not Montana?

The D was shredded through the air, but Andrew Selle helped the Griz overcome that by throwing for 349 yards and 3 TDs and not committing any turnovers.

How is he referring to NAU there?

NAU is a decent team. Sac State is not.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

How is he referring to NAU there?

NAU is a decent team. Sac State is not.

He's going by best performance, not best opponent.

[Mvemjsunpx]

NAU is a decent team. Sac State is not.

He's going by best performance, not best opponent.

Best performance obviously depends on the opponent. EWU won easily, but Sac doesn't appear to be any good this year.

[AZGrizFan]

I love your breakdowns, but how is EWU's dominating win over Sac State not the best performance? We put up so many points and had a big enough lead that we pulled our starters!

Montana on the other hand barely escaped with a win. A great game yes, but not the "best performance."

Start your own damned analysis thread then. It's called "an opinion".

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I love your breakdowns, but how is EWU's dominating win over Sac State not the best performance? We put up so many points and had a big enough lead that we pulled our starters!

Montana on the other hand barely escaped with a win. A great game yes, but not the "best performance."

Start your own damned analysis thread then. It's called "an opinion".

Albeit a very biased one. What's up your ass?

[Mvemjsunpx]

Patriot League

PRINCE 17-14 LEH
PENN 17-20 LAF (OT)
MARIST 16-17 BUCK
FORD 12-20 COLG
HOW 14-11 GTOWN

• NConf Record: 2-2
  Overall: 8-10
  
  vs. FCS: 2-2
  Overall: 8-10
  
  
  Best Performance: Lafayette 20, Penn 17 (OT) - Leopards gain 304 yards against a team that held Villanova under 200.
  
  Worst Performance: Georgetown 11, Howard 14 - The Hoyas throw 3 interceptions and fall in the basement bowl that is the DC Cup.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Lehigh 14, Princeton 17 - The usually capable Mountain Hawks are 0-3 for the first time since 1982 (when they were still the Engineers).

CAA

HOF 10-24 WMU
DART 14-44 UNH
MAINE 24-41 SYR
SB 17-44 UMASS
URI 10-52 UCONN
NE 7-56 NOVA
TOW 9-12 MORG
VMI 28-38 RICH
UD 20-30 W&M
JMU 24-10 LIB

• NConf Record: 4-4
  Overall: 22-10
  
  vs. FCS: 4-1
  Overall: 16-3
  
  
  Best Performance: (#5) William & Mary 30, Delaware 20 - R.J. Archer throws for 313 yards and 2 TDs while the Tribe D holds Delaware to minus-2 yards rushing.
  
  Worst Performance: Northeastern 7, (#2) Villanova 56 - Huskies outrushed 410-97.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Towson 9, Morgan St. 12 - The Tigers dominate the Bears in yardage, but still can't manage any more than a field goal offensively.

MEAC

TOW 9-12 MORG
HOW 14-11 GTOWN
DSU 21-6 HAMP
BCOOK 14-40 NFOLK
NCAT 7-28 CCU
WSSU 10-27 SCSU
TSU 12-31 FAMU

• NConf Record: 3-1
  Overall: 6-7
  
  vs. FCS: 3-1
  Overall: 5-4
  
  
  Best Performance: Delaware St. 21, Hampton 6 - The Hornets go turnover-free and force 3 Herbert Bynes interceptions in overcoming a noticeable yardage deficit.
  
  Worst Performance: Bethune-Cookman 14, Norfolk St. 40 - Wildcats start 0-3 for the first time in 17 years.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Bethune-Cookman 14, Norfolk St. 40 - Bethune-Cookman's normally prolific "Wyattbone" rushing attack is just 99th. in FCS, averaging just 85 ypg (they averaged 217.6 ypg last year).

SoCon

FUR 33-14 WCU
SAM 7-20 APPST
GASO 14-28 ELON
PRESBY 21-46 CIT
WOFF 9-38 UTC

• NConf Record: 3-3
  Overall: 10-11
  
  vs. FCS: 2-0
  Overall: 8-3
  
  
  Best Performance: (#10) Appalachian St. 20, Samford 7 - Mountaineers do a better job with the inclement weather and force Bulldog QB Dustin Tallaferro into just 12/33 passing for 86 yards & a pick.
  
  Worst Performance: (#18) Wofford 9, Tennessee-Chattanooga 38 - The deadly Terrier offense amasses just 226 yards against a perennial doormat.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Tennessee-Chattanooga 38, (#18) Wofford 9 - Out of complete nowhere, the Mocs get their most lopsided I-AA/FCS win in 6 years against a ranked opponent.

Tomorrow: Great West, Ivy League, Big South, & SWAC

[SUUTbird]

I love your breakdowns, but how is EWU's dominating win over Sac State not the best performance? We put up so many points and had a big enough lead that we pulled our starters!

Montana on the other hand barely escaped with a win. A great game yes, but not the "best performance."

I dont know about you but i think who ever your play does go a long way in how the best performance is and should be picked. Sac State is just awful this year compared to a really good NAU team shows and its no contest. You guys blew out a bad team, whoop dee doo, thats like saying you beat up a three year old in a fight .
And biased picks? I would have taken Montana as the clear favorites as best performance because they battled the whole game and came out with a tough victory on the road in overtime. Do i always agree with the picks? No, but it is just his opinion and Mvem is quite accurate almost all the time with these. Once again Mvem great read, cant wait to see how we Thunderbirds get placed

[AZGrizFan]

Start your own damned analysis thread then. It's called "an opinion".

Albeit a very biased one. What's up your ass?

Not a thing. This is phx's thing. HE does the breakdown. HE'S entitled to his opinion. You don't like it, start your own breakdown thread like pantherrob did.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Albeit a very biased one. What's up your ass?

Not a thing. This is phx's thing. HE does the breakdown. HE'S entitled to his opinion. You don't like it, start your own breakdown thread like pantherrob did.

No shit it's his opinion. He's also posting it in the open for others to judge and question. I was asking for him to back up his opinion by explaining why Montana's performance was better than EWU's. There's nothing wrong with that either.

[AZGrizFan]

Not a thing. This is phx's thing. HE does the breakdown. HE'S entitled to his opinion. You don't like it, start your own breakdown thread like pantherrob did.

No shit it's his opinion. He's also posting it in the open for others to judge and question. I was asking for him to back up his opinion by explaining why Montana's performance was better than EWU's. There's nothing wrong with that either.

Yes, there is. You're an EWU fan. You're not entitled to have an opinion.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

No shit it's his opinion. He's also posting it in the open for others to judge and question. I was asking for him to back up his opinion by explaining why Montana's performance was better than EWU's. There's nothing wrong with that either.

Yes, there is. You're an EWU fan. You're not entitled to have an opinion.

That's right. EWU fans don't have opinions, because we always know.

[AZGrizFan]

Yes, there is. You're an EWU fan. You're not entitled to have an opinion.

That's right. EWU fans don't have opinions, because we always know.

[DukeJack]

Gee, and here I was thinking that he was giving NAU respect for a great game against the preseason favorite, but quotes like these may have thrown me off:

Best Performance: (#4) Montana 41, Northern Arizona 34 (OT) - The D was shredded through the air, but Andrew Selle helped the Griz overcome that by throwing for 349 yards and 3 TDs and not committing any turnovers.

Worst Performance: Idaho St. 22, (DII) Central Washington 33 - Not to be outdone by a DII team, the Bengals answer CWU's 5 turnovers by committing 6 of their own… in the first half.

Most Surprising Result: Northern Arizona 34, (#4) Montana 41 (OT) - The Jacks get the best Montana performance they've had under Souers, but still find a way to lose their 12th. straight against the Griz.

It's also written by a Griz fan, but I may be way off here

[Mvemjsunpx]

Great West

WOU 13-29 UCD
CPOLY 9-19 SJSU
SUU 34-53 USU
UND 31-65 SFA
SELA 13-44 SDK

• NConf Record: 2-3
  Overall: 7-10
  
  vs. FCS: 1-1
  Overall: 4-4
  
  
  Best Performance: South Dakota 44, Southeastern Louisiana 13 - The Coyotes outrush SELA 277-42 and win the second half 30-0.
  
  Worst Performance: North Dakota 31, Stephen F. Austin 65 - After this debacle, the Sioux are giving up 507.3 ypg, which would tie for last in FCS (with NAU) if transitional stats were ranked.
  
  Most Surprising Result: (#16) Cal Poly 9, (FBS) San Jose St. 19 - Though not quite as bad as last week's Ohio game, the Mustangs' passing game woes continued as Tony Smith completed just 10 out of 25 throws for 135 yards & a pick.

Ivy League

PENN 17-20 LAF (OT)
CCSU 22-13 COLUM
DART 14-44 UNH
BROWN 21-24 HARV
COR 14-12 YALE
PRINCE 17-14 LEH

• NConf Record: 1-3
  Overall: 4-8
  
  vs. FCS: 1-3
  Overall: 4-8
  
  
  Best Performance: Princeton 17, Lehigh 14 - The Tigers win the turnover battle 2-0, get two big play touchdowns in the first half, and hold off Lehigh late to get their first 2009 win.
  
  Worst Performance: Yale 12, Cornell 14 - Bulldog QB Patrick Witt throws the ball 54 times, but only completes 21 of them for 180 yards and 3 interceptions.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Cornell 14, Yale 12 - Though the Big Red were picked near the bottom of the conference, they are the only Ivy League team to start 2-0.

Big South

SB 17-44 UMASS
VMI 28-38 RICH
JMU 24-10 LIB
NCAT 7-28 CCU
NGRNVL 0-34 CHSO
PRESBY 21-46 CIT

• NConf Record: 2-4
  Overall: 9-17
  
  vs. FCS: 1-4
  Overall: 7-12
  
  
  Best Performance: VMI 28, (#1) Richmond 38 - QB Kyle Hughes accounts for 274 of VMI's 325 yards of total offense as the Keydets acquit themselves well against the top-ranked team.
  
  Worst Performance: Presbyterian 21, The Citadel 46 - Blue Hose run for 204 yards but still lose big thanks to Bart Blanchard's 6 TD passes.
  
  Most Surprising Result: VMI 28, (#1) Richmond 38 - The Keydets were never quite in the game in the second half, but they definitely avoided the thrashing most predicted.

SWAC

TXSO 18-52 TXST
GRAM 6-56 OKST
ALCORN 42-48 SU
UAPB 7-28 AAMU
ALST 3-10 MVSU

• NConf Record: 0-2
  Overall: 10-13
  
  vs. FCS: 0-1
  Overall: 6-4
  
  
  Best Performance: Alabama A&M 28, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7 - Bulldog RB Ulysses Banks runs for 177 yards and 2 TDs while the defense holds Pine Bluff to 157 yards.
  
  Worst Performance: Alabama St. 3, Mississippi Valley St. 10 - Yet another team this week that dominated the yardage but lost the game.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Alcorn St. 42, Southern 48 - After scoring nothing in two FBS games, the Braves force Southern into a shootout thanks to QB Tim Buckley. He threw for 408 yards, led his team in rushing with 52 yards, & amassed 6 total touchdowns.

Tomorrow: Independents & the artists formerly known as mid-majors.

[native]

I appreciate the analysis, mpx! However, one need not start a new thread to have their own opinion. Offering an alternative point of view actually supports the discussion purpose of the original thread.

Best performance should be measured by the best performance against expectations, not by playing below expectations and pulling off the win. By this measurement, Northern Arizona provided the best Big Sky performance of the week and the best performance to date in Big Sky conference play.

If best performance were determined by pulling off a close win on the road, then Weber's last minute come from behind victory over Portland State is equal or better to the Griz win in overtime. Higgins' 31-47-0 passing performance for 410 yards and 4 TDs and come-from-behind, last-minute TD drive to win the game was at least as impressive as Selle's 29-38-0 performance for 349 yards and 3 TDs. Weber was only favored by 2.4 points going into Portland. Montana was favored by 6.08 points going into Flagstaff.

Sure, there is that important aspect of "finding a way to win," but calling either of these close road wins a "best performance" is propaganda. Neither Weber nor Montana truly met expectations against un-ranked opponents.

The best Big Sky performance was Northern Arizona, because they played so far above expectations - outgaining Montana by 84 yards and almost beating #4 in the nation.

[Thumper 76]

The best Big Sky performance was Northern Arizona, because they played so far above expectations - outgaining Montana by 84 yards and almost beating #4 in the nation.

That is what I meant by mabey he meant NAU for best performance. Very eliquently put native.

[CrunchGriz]

The best Big Sky performance was Northern Arizona, because they played so far above expectations - outgaining Montana by 84 yards and almost beating #4 in the nation.

That is what I meant by mabey he meant NAU for best performance. Very eliquently put native.

While NAU did outgain the Griz in offensive yards, they didn't outgain them totally. I ran it all down in my blog, but essentially I noted that the Griz are almost always very good in terms of special teams, which gives them an edge in yards gained (or not lost) in many of their games, when you consider the full "offensive" spectrum: Yards from scrimmage, return yardage, and total kick and punt distance.

When all of those are added up, Montana had a 69 yard advantage.

Link to my blog post: http://crnich.dyndns.org/wp/?p=63

It takes all aspects to win, and Bobby Hauck has been a pretty successful special teams coach at Montana while he also head coaches: The Griz are among the nation's leaders in net punting every year, have been pretty decent to great against kickoff returns, and always have highly nationally ranked punt and kickoff returners. This year is no exception.

Not to mention that Montana has had a positive turnover ratio every year of Coach Hauck's tenure.

Just reading one total in a box score can be deceiving.

[Mvemjsunpx]

The best Big Sky performance was Northern Arizona, because they played so far above expectations - outgaining Montana by 84 yards and almost beating #4 in the nation.

That is what I meant by mabey he meant NAU for best performance. Very eliquently put native.

That isn't what I meant. Again, my best & worst performances are not relative to expectations. My "best performance" is whatever team in that conference I thought looked the best that week. The "most surprising result" category is for how a team did against expectations.

NAU played very well, but Montana beat them, so therefore Montana's performance was better than NAU's.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Pioneer League

CARTHG 34-24 VALPO
DUQ 17-24 DAY
MARIST 16-17 BUCK
BUT 28-21 MHEAD (OT)

• NConf Record: 1-2
  Overall: 13-12
  
  vs. FCS: 1-1
  Overall: 4-7
  
  
  Best Performance: Dayton 24, Duquesne 17 - Luke Bellman & Justin Watkins both get 100-yard receiving days for the Flyers.
  
  Worst Performance: Valparaiso 24, (DIII) Carthage 34 - The Crusaders fall to the one team that lost to newcomer Campbell last season.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Morehead St. 21, Butler 28 (OT) - Eagles blow a 21-0 lead & lose to usual doormat Butler for the second straight year.

NEC

DUQ 17-24 DAY
BRY 20-13 RMU
SACHRT 9-22 ALB
SFPA 48-56 WAG (3OT)
CCSU 22-13 COLUM
MONM 31-28 ODU

• NConf Record: 2-1
  Overall: 8-17
  
  vs. FCS: 2-1
  Overall: 6-16
  
  
  Best Performance: Monmouth 31, Old Dominion 28 - Hawk star David Sinisi runs for 216 yards on an exhausting 41 carries to help hand ODU their first loss.
  
  Worst Performance: St. Francis (PA) 48, Wagner 56 (3OT) - The Red Flash blow a 31-14 lead while allowing two 100-yard rushers and 7 rushing touchdowns.
  
  Most Surprising Result: Robert Morris 13, Bryant 20 - The Colonial defense has been game this year, but the offense has been terrible as evidenced by their passing stats against Bryant: 8/32, 88 yards, 3 INTs.

Independents

MONM 31-28 ODU
NCCEN 14-49 DUKE
SAVST 21-23 CONCAL

• Non-Ind Record: 0-3
  Overall: 4-8
  
  vs. FCS: 0-1
  Overall: 1-6
  
  
  Best Performance: NC Central 14, (FBS) Duke 49 - Though the final score was lopsided (not as bad as I thought it would be, however), the Eagles were actually down just 21-14 in the 2nd. quarter after an 83-yard interception return TD by Jeffery Henderson.
  
  Worst Performance: Savannah St. 21, (NAIA) Concordia (AL) 23 - Just when you think Savannah State might be making strides, they lose on the final play to an NAIA team.
  
  Most Surprising Result: (none)