Who Will Win the Missouri Valley Conference?

[guinzone]

Who Will Win the Missouri Valley Conference?

Vote in the poll and discuss the MVFC in this thread over the next four weeks.

[BlackFalkin]

I cant see how Northern Iowa isnt winning the conf title every year.

[dbackjon]

I am picking UNI and SIU 1 and 2.

[JayJ79]

I cant see how Northern Iowa isnt winning the conf title every year.

like the SoCon and the CAA, the MVFC has a number of very strong teams each year. Thus winning the title every single year is quite tough. They do win the majority of them, but not all of them.

[SUUTbird]

Im going with SDSU, they have a really good team returning.

[guinzone]

1st: UNI

Battle for 2nd: YSU, SIU, SDSU, NDSU

[slycat]

Should be UNI for at least one more year.

[clenz]

I cant see how Northern Iowa isnt winning the conf title every year.

Well UNI has won something like 15 of 24...or something like that.

[guinzone]

Phil Steele's College Preview
FCS Preseason Top 40
1. Appalachian State
2. Villanova
3. Southern Illinois
4. Montana
5. Richmond
6. Northern Iowa
7. Hofstra
8. Elon
9. James Madison
10. McNeese State
16. North Dakota State
18. Youngstown State
20. South Dakota State
32. Illinois State

[skinny_uncle]

I cant see how Northern Iowa isnt winning the conf title every year.

Well UNI has won something like 15 of 24...or something like that.

Ignoring ancient history, SIU was won or shared 4 of the last 6 years. It could come down to their head to head game in Iowa. The Salukis are overdue to pull out a win there. The last time they played there, they lost by six yards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VESE7iPt ... re=related

[JayJ79]

Ignoring ancient history, SIU was won or shared 4 of the last 6 years. It could come down to their head to head game in Iowa. The Salukis are overdue to pull out a win there. The last time they played there, they lost by six yards.

And UNI has also won or shared 4 of the last 6 conference titles.
Matter of fact, both teams have identical conference records over the past 6 seasons: 34-8
Kinda neat.

Yes, the Panthers were lucky to escape with a win in '07.
Just as lucky as the Salukis were to escape with their win in '08.
'Tis quite the fun series.

[houndawg]

Ignoring ancient history, SIU was won or shared 4 of the last 6 years. It could come down to their head to head game in Iowa. The Salukis are overdue to pull out a win there. The last time they played there, they lost by six yards.

And UNI has also won or shared 4 of the last 6 conference titles.
Matter of fact, both teams have identical conference records over the past 6 seasons: 34-8
Kinda neat.

Yes, the Panthers were lucky to escape with a win in '07.
Just as lucky as the Salukis were to escape with their win in '08.
'Tis quite the fun series.

SIU was playing it's third game with a new system and coach, using a one-page playbook and a base 3-4. UNI should have won going away under those conditions. And 17 0f 22 starters that won that game are back.

[clenz]

And UNI has also won or shared 4 of the last 6 conference titles.
Matter of fact, both teams have identical conference records over the past 6 seasons: 34-8
Kinda neat.

Yes, the Panthers were lucky to escape with a win in '07.
Just as lucky as the Salukis were to escape with their win in '08.
'Tis quite the fun series.

SIU was playing it's third game with a new system and coach, using a one-page playbook and a base 3-4. UNI should have won going away under those conditions. And 17 0f 22 starters that won that game are back.

One page play book huh? So you ran the same 4 plays all game long? At least, the playbook I had in college had at most 6 plays per page. Impressive to beat us using only the same 4-6 plays. How the hell did you lose so early in the playoffs? Better yet how did you not win the title?

[pantherrob82]

Im going with SDSU, they have a really good team returning.

Minus their QB....that's a reach.

[pantherrob82]

I don't understand how anyone can vote for YSU, let alone Mo State. WTF?

[houndawg]

SIU was playing it's third game with a new system and coach, using a one-page playbook and a base 3-4. UNI should have won going away under those conditions. And 17 0f 22 starters that won that game are back.

One page play book huh? So you ran the same 4 plays all game long? At least, the playbook I had in college had at most 6 plays per page. Impressive to beat us using only the same 4-6 plays. How the hell did you lose so early in the playoffs? Better yet how did you not win the title?

OK, maybe there were two pages.

I don't know how we lost so early in playoffs, especially only giving up one TD to UNHs offense. But hey, we were picked by the MVC coaches to finish fifth in the conference and that wasn't a bad pick given the circumstances.

I'll let you explain how we didn't win the title since you're getting real comfortable with explaining missed opportunities for titles.

[guinzone]

I don't understand how anyone can vote for YSU, let alone Mo State. WTF?

Well we do return just about everybody; and let's not forget our piss-poor 4-8 team last year did give UNI all they could handle in a 21-20 loss at YSU.

If our QB stays healthy, watch out, because we will be good. We have a lot of depth at just about every position except QB.

[pantherrob82]

I don't understand how anyone can vote for YSU, let alone Mo State. WTF?

Well we do return just about everybody; and let's not forget our piss-poor 4-8 team last year did give UNI all they could handle in a 21-20 loss at YSU.

If our QB stays healthy, watch out, because we will be good. We have a lot of depth at just about every position except QB.

Rivalry games are close no matter what the skill level on either side. I'm just saying that I don't get how anyone can sincerely vote for a team that was 4-8 last year to overtake the perenial powerhouses in the league who look just as stacked as ever. This isn't a thread about darkhorses.

[clenz]

I don't understand how anyone can vote for YSU, let alone Mo State. WTF?

Well we do return just about everybody; and let's not forget our piss-poor 4-8 team last year did give UNI all they could handle in a 21-20 loss at YSU.

If our QB stays healthy, watch out, because we will be good. We have a lot of depth at just about every position except QB.

And SIU and UNI return nearly everybody.


You got a snowballs chance in hell of finishing top 4

[DJH]

I think YSU has alot of talent. I think they can difinetely finish in the top 3. But they had alot of talent last year too, and pissed the bed.

[houndawg]

I think YSU has alot of talent. I think they can difinetely finish in the top 3. But they had alot of talent last year too, and pissed the bed.

It is hard to picture such a storied program crapping out like that two years in a row. I think the MVC will be stronger than last year and that the MVC champ will not be undefeated in league play.

[guinzone]

I think YSU has alot of talent. I think they can difinetely finish in the top 3. But they had alot of talent last year too, and pissed the bed.

Well before looking at the top headlines of the season, look deeper in depth about the season like Phil Steele did. We did have some MAJOR injuries last year. The number was something like 22 new starters after the Ohio State game, due to injuries and 2 quitters.

Link to Article: http://img3.imageshack.us/i/presentation1dbu.gif

[JayJ79]

I'm just saying that I don't get how anyone can sincerely vote for a team that was 4-8 last year to overtake the perenial powerhouses in the league who look just as stacked as ever. This isn't a thread about darkhorses.

YSU went from 2-5 (4-7) in '04 to league co-champs at 5-2 (8-3) in '05.
Both UNI and SIU went from 2-5 years in '02 to being league co-champs at 6-1 in '03.

Such turnarounds aren't unheard of.

That being said, I still think both UNI and SIU will again finish at or near the top this season.

[guinzone]

Article on YSU and the Depth Issue:
http://vindy.com/news/2009/aug/11/depth ... f-for-ysu/

[EQguy]

Gotta figure UNI.

SDSU has some great possibilites.
Home - NDSU, SIU, UNI and ISU blue
Road - WIU, MSU, YSU, ISU red

should go 3-1 at home but could be 2-2, SIU was a coin flip in their house last year, ISU blue is better but should be handled at home, NDSU hasn't won in Brookings since 2002 but rivalry game could go either way, Can't remember the last time we played UNI close even.

likely will go 3-1 on road but could go 4-0, YSU is always tough at home (see their game agains NDSU last year with a decimated squad), Bahr has given us fits the last two years but without Donaldson to worry about things should be ok, MSU is up and coming but don't figure on their place closing the gap on the 30 points SDSU won by last year, don't know much about ISU red other than they are generally tough.

Offense - QB?, RB is 3 deep if not 4, OL should be strong unless injuries hit, receivers don't have the proven playmaker they did last year but should be strong, TE solid and young.

Defense - last year defense struggled when DT and FS were out. They both graduated so will have to be replaced but defense should be solid.

In the end I could see SDSU going 7-1 but more likely 6-2 or 5-3 in conference. Going to need to beat Poly and Georgia Southern OOC to make the playoffs.