Missouri State - team on the rise?

[dbackjon]

Sitting at 5-3. Losses to Arkansas, UNI, and SDSU. Close road wins at WIU and NDSU. Can they get to 8-3?

Games left: ISUs. Both at home. SIU on the road. SIU will be left with freshman QB

[AZGrizFan]

They are "on my radar". And even if they get to 7-4, it'll be a hell of an accomplishment for a team that 2-3 years ago was a pushover.

[wideright82]

They are "on my radar". And even if they get to 7-4, it'll be a hell of an accomplishment for a team that 2-3 years ago was a pushover.

ditto. Not sure where I had them exactly but they were close to making it.

[AZGrizFan]

They are "on my radar". And even if they get to 7-4, it'll be a hell of an accomplishment for a team that 2-3 years ago was a pushover.

ditto. Not sure where I had them exactly but they were close to making it.

Guess I should clarify, now that I look at my poll: I had Missouri State @ #20. Just ahead of NAU.

[DJH]

Keep winning bears. You may be our signature win.

[DJH]

They are "on my radar". And even if they get to 7-4, it'll be a hell of an accomplishment for a team that 2-3 years ago was a pushover.

They were a pushover last year.

[clenz]

They are "on my radar". And even if they get to 7-4, it'll be a hell of an accomplishment for a team that 2-3 years ago was a pushover.

They were a pushover last year.

That 35-7 (7 seconds and a third team defense from being 0) game this year wasn't real tough either.

However, the better they do the better that win looks. Let's go Bears, don't suck!

[guinzone]

They won in Youngstown... Give them credit. I see them finishing 7-4 like my Penguins..

[isumatt]

Redbirds take the Bears down this weekend!

[houndawg]

Sitting at 5-3. Losses to Arkansas, UNI, and SDSU. Close road wins at WIU and NDSU. Can they get to 8-3?

Games left: ISUs. Both at home. SIU on the road. SIU will be left with freshman QB

MSU has certainly been improving through the season, and are in position to be a trap game if SIU gets by SDSU, but everybody is focusing on the QB when they should be focusing on the Saluki Defense which has surrendered three rushing TDs all season. Opponents are converting 37% of 3rd downs on us and are a mere 3/15 on 4th down.

[PhoenixSupreme]

I can't see them getting by SIU personally. Sure, they are using a freshman QB until Dieker can come back for the playoffs, but the freshman QB will have 2 games in between the YSU game and MSU, which will give him some valuable experience. If anything, playing SDSU right before MSU will definitely test his poise.

[MSUDuo]

Team on the rise? No doubt after this year.

Team near being worth anything? Not yet. We show we can beat the average to good teams. Which is what good teams do. But we didn't beat a great team this year, which is what great teams do.

Makes me wonder about UNI then

[dbackjon]

Welcome MSUDuo! Bears are always welcome here!

[pantherrob82]

MSU would have to be the 4th MVFC team, IMO.

The NCAA has name recognition in UNI and knows we'll bid high for the first round. I don't think UNI gets in barring some help, but I think MSU is a ways out, even with a win over SIU

[native]

MSU would have to be the 4th MVFC team, IMO.

The NCAA has name recognition in UNI and knows we'll bid high for the first round. I don't think UNI gets in barring some help, but I think MSU is a ways out, even with a win over SIU

Can anyone make a case for UNI with no top 25 wins to make the playoffs ahead of other 8-3 teams with top 25 wins? Is "name recognition" a good enough case for the third place MVFC team to get a second at-large bid?

[MSUDuo]

MSU would have to be the 4th MVFC team, IMO.

The NCAA has name recognition in UNI and knows we'll bid high for the first round. I don't think UNI gets in barring some help, but I think MSU is a ways out, even with a win over SIU

Depends how the committee wants to look at things.

Such as, is a win over SIU enough to over look the loss by MSU to UNI? If it is then MSU becomes the 3rd MVFC team. If SIU loses to SDSU and MSU beats them, they could become the 2nd MVFC team. Or like you said, the key could be name, name, name and MSU is on the out side looking in.

All this of course is based on MSU winning out. Which will be quite the accomplishment in and of itself. Even if they don't and only get to 7-4, this will be a season to remember in a long, long, long time for MSU fans.

[MSUDuo]

MSU would have to be the 4th MVFC team, IMO.

The NCAA has name recognition in UNI and knows we'll bid high for the first round. I don't think UNI gets in barring some help, but I think MSU is a ways out, even with a win over SIU

Can anyone make a case for UNI with no top 25 wins to make the playoffs ahead of other 8-3 teams with top 25 wins? Is "name recognition" a good enough case for the third place MVFC team to get a second at-large bid?

IF MSU can win out, then they would be a Top25 team and UNI would then have such a win.

[skinny_uncle]

The Bears have improved, but they aren't going to beat the Salukis unless the Dawgs manage to get at least two more QBs hurt. Dieker barely won the starting job over MacIntosh at the start of the season, so I doubt they slip much. In some ways, The Dawgs might be stronger, depending on the matchup.

[rabidrabbit]

Mo St. definitely qualifies as the most improved team in the MVFC from last season to this season. They should pin down the 4th position behind the three teams that have spent time in the top 10 this season. Bears haven't won at home yet. This week, that changes. IMHO Mo St, doesn't have the offensive weapons to knock off SIU. So a 7-4 record is likely.

How is the REST of the MoValley likely to shake out?

SDSU should go either 3-0 or 2-1. MVFC 8-0 or 7-1. IMHO, 'Guins or 'Necks will not be losses. SIU needs to win in Brookings. SDSU is currently only has one major cog gone for the season, General Parnell, whose two INT squashed the Bears comeback. Lennon has had Stig's # over the years, but with a MoValley title, at home, and the most tenacious D in the FCS vs a back-up QB, Jacks win. Any way sliced and diced, Jacks will be in the play-offs, either as MoValley AQ or #1 At-large. BTW, Jacks could surprise Minnesota also, then definitely a seed potential play-off team.

SIU can win out in the MoValley then they're AQ. MVFC 8-0, 7-1, or 6-2. Or they drop the battle of the unbeatens, and win out and are #1 At-large. Both SDSU and MO St trip up Dawgs. Dawgs finish in 3-way tie for 2nd with UNI/SIU/MSU. The Dawgs D-II/NAIA win gets tossed out the door, and they're home for T-day, with nothing left to play for.

UNI - should win out for an 8-3 record, 6-2 MVFC which will either be 3rd place (most likely), no quality wins, but three tight losses to two FCS top 10, and BCS top ten. This is the type of resume that got a co-champ (YSU) left at home in 2006. As a #3 team, not a co-champ, I think UNI will be passed over UNLESS a LOT of CAA teams don't finish 8-3. UNI needs a LOT of bubble teams to get burst to make the play-offs. McNeese St., App St., Cal Poly, Weber St., No. AZ, EWU, Patriot #2, Liberty, FAMU will all need to lose ONE game for the Panthers to make the play-offs. Lots of chances there, but need to break. Cannot afford another loss.

Mo St. 2-1 likely, but need 3-0 to POTENTIALLY make play-offs. Only quality win would be SIU, but have no non-counter games. In head to head vs UNI, UNI got win, gets nod.

YSU - 1-2 likely with SDSU and UNI to play. Need 3-0 (4-0?) to get in. Cannot afford a loss. Have the only MVFC win over CAA.

The remainder are already done in.

[MSUDuo]

Mo St. definitely qualifies as the most improved team in the MVFC from last season to this season. They should pin down the 4th position behind the three teams that have spent time in the top 10 this season. Bears haven't won at home yet. This week, that changes. IMHO Mo St, doesn't have the offensive weapons to knock off SIU. So a 7-4 record is likely.

How is the REST of the MoValley likely to shake out?

SDSU should go either 3-0 or 2-1. MVFC 8-0 or 7-1. IMHO, 'Guins or 'Necks will not be losses. SIU needs to win in Brookings. SDSU is currently only has one major cog gone for the season, General Parnell, whose two INT squashed the Bears comeback. Lennon has had Stig's # over the years, but with a MoValley title, at home, and the most tenacious D in the FCS vs a back-up QB, Jacks win. Any way sliced and diced, Jacks will be in the play-offs, either as MoValley AQ or #1 At-large. BTW, Jacks could surprise Minnesota also, then definitely a seed potential play-off team.

SIU can win out in the MoValley then they're AQ. MVFC 8-0, 7-1, or 6-2. Or they drop the battle of the unbeatens, and win out and are #1 At-large. Both SDSU and MO St trip up Dawgs. Dawgs finish in 3-way tie for 2nd with UNI/SIU/MSU. The Dawgs D-II/NAIA win gets tossed out the door, and they're home for T-day, with nothing left to play for.

UNI - should win out for an 8-3 record, 6-2 MVFC which will either be 3rd place (most likely), no quality wins, but three tight losses to two FCS top 10, and BCS top ten. This is the type of resume that got a co-champ (YSU) left at home in 2006. As a #3 team, not a co-champ, I think UNI will be passed over UNLESS a LOT of CAA teams don't finish 8-3. UNI needs a LOT of bubble teams to get burst to make the play-offs. McNeese St., App St., Cal Poly, Weber St., No. AZ, EWU, Patriot #2, Liberty, FAMU will all need to lose ONE game for the Panthers to make the play-offs. Lots of chances there, but need to break. Cannot afford another loss.

Mo St. 2-1 likely, but need 3-0 to POTENTIALLY make play-offs. Only quality win would be SIU, but have no non-counter games. In head to head vs UNI, UNI got win, gets nod.

YSU - 1-2 likely with SDSU and UNI to play. Need 3-0 (4-0?) to get in. Cannot afford a loss. Have the only MVFC win over CAA.

The remainder are already done in.

Sounds like you are saying the only way a team gets in other than SDSU or SIU is for SIU to lose to both SDSU and SIU. Then UNI would have its quality win over MSU and UNI would beat them head to head and SIU would lose out based on its only 7 D1 wins

Only way MSU gets in is to win out, SIU lose to SDSU, and UNI to trip up once more some where. Long long odds but maybe, just maybe

[rabidrabbit]

Mo St. definitely qualifies as the most improved team in the MVFC from last season to this season. They should pin down the 4th position behind the three teams that have spent time in the top 10 this season. Bears haven't won at home yet. This week, that changes. IMHO Mo St, doesn't have the offensive weapons to knock off SIU. So a 7-4 record is likely.

How is the REST of the MoValley likely to shake out?

SDSU should go either 3-0 or 2-1. MVFC 8-0 or 7-1. IMHO, 'Guins or 'Necks will not be losses. SIU needs to win in Brookings. SDSU is currently only has one major cog gone for the season, General Parnell, whose two INT squashed the Bears comeback. Lennon has had Stig's # over the years, but with a MoValley title, at home, and the most tenacious D in the FCS vs a back-up QB, Jacks win. Any way sliced and diced, Jacks will be in the play-offs, either as MoValley AQ or #1 At-large. BTW, Jacks could surprise Minnesota also, then definitely a seed potential play-off team.

SIU can win out in the MoValley then they're AQ. MVFC 8-0, 7-1, or 6-2. Or they drop the battle of the unbeatens, and win out and are #1 At-large. Both SDSU and MO St trip up Dawgs. Dawgs finish in 3-way tie for 2nd with UNI/SIU/MSU. The Dawgs D-II/NAIA win gets tossed out the door, and they're home for T-day, with nothing left to play for.

UNI - should win out for an 8-3 record, 6-2 MVFC which will either be 3rd place (most likely), no quality wins, but three tight losses to two FCS top 10, and BCS top ten. This is the type of resume that got a co-champ (YSU) left at home in 2006. As a #3 team, not a co-champ, I think UNI will be passed over UNLESS a LOT of CAA teams don't finish 8-3. UNI needs a LOT of bubble teams to get burst to make the play-offs. McNeese St., App St., Cal Poly, Weber St., No. AZ, EWU, Patriot #2, Liberty, FAMU will all need to lose ONE game for the Panthers to make the play-offs. Lots of chances there, but need to break. Cannot afford another loss.

Mo St. 2-1 likely, but need 3-0 to POTENTIALLY make play-offs. Only quality win would be SIU, but have no non-counter games. In head to head vs UNI, UNI got win, gets nod.

YSU - 1-2 likely with SDSU and UNI to play. Need 3-0 (4-0?) to get in. Cannot afford a loss. Have the only MVFC win over CAA.

The remainder are already done in.

Sounds like you are saying the only way a team gets in other than SDSU or SIU is for SIU to lose to both SDSU and SIU. Then UNI would have its quality win over MSU and UNI would beat them head to head and SIU would lose out based on its only 7 D1 wins

Only way MSU gets in is to win out, SIU lose to SDSU, and UNI to trip up once more some where. Long long odds but maybe, just maybe

Actually, I'm mildly concerned that should SIU fall twice, that three MVFC team tied for 2nd with two MVFC losses get shut out for even a 2nd team in. The CAA won too many FBS games. UDel still has Navy ahead, and could pull a win at Annapolis. The only quality win that each of the 2nd place teams have is against one of the other 2nd place teams.

[isumatt]

And that THUD you hear is ISU smacking the Bears around today in Springfield!!

[isumatt]

Illinios State 24
Missouri State 14
-FINAL