Week 8 CAA Prediction Thread

[93henfan]

Worst year for the CAA that I can remember. Does anyone beside VU, UNH, and maybe WM deserve a bid?

[BDKJMU]

Worst year for the CAA that I can remember. Does anyone beside VU, UNH, and maybe WM deserve a bid?

I disagree on that. In 2011 and 2012 by late Oct it didn't look like the CAA had a true NC contender. This year looks like 2, the 1st time I can remember that since 2009 when you had really 3 with UR (defending Nat Champ, sees, lost to App in qtrs), W&M (lost in semis to VU) and VU (won NC).

Can't think with the old standard of who deserves to be in in terms of a 16 team field. In a 24 team field RIGHT NOW- VU, UNH, UR and maybe W&M deserve to be in.

6 weeks from now they'll probably be 3-4 deserving teams in a 24 team field (maybe only 2-3 if was still a 16 team filed). In a 24 team field you're going to have some slop in there..

[tribe_pride]

Worst year for the CAA that I can remember. Does anyone beside VU, UNH, and maybe WM deserve a bid?

You are forgetting Richmond who lost on a score with :19 left to UNH. JMU with another shot since they are playing better now than earlier but still have to host W&M and go to Richmond and Stony Brook (who is better now than beginning of the season) - also Charlotte and Elon on schedule remaining.

2012 was worse than this. ODU finished at 11-2, nobody else had more than 8 wins and only ODU got to the Quarters for a conference record of 1-3 in that season's playoffs.

2011 was not much better except we got 4 teams in the playoffs instead of 3 but still only 1 going to the quarters and a 1-4 record there.

[93henfan]

OK, so the CAA has sucked for three or four seasons now. Sad.

I guess I haven't paid much attention to the rest of the slop with Delaware sucking so badly for so long.

[BDKJMU]

OK, so the CAA has sucked for three or four seasons now. Sad.

I guess I haven't paid much attention to the rest of the slop with Delaware sucking so badly for so long.

No, we said 2011 and 2012. But not last yr, with 2 teams in semis & 1 in NC.

The only "suck" was 2011-2012.

[BDKJMU]

---------

[tribe_pride]

OK, so the CAA has sucked for three or four seasons now. Sad.

I guess I haven't paid much attention to the rest of the slop with Delaware sucking so badly for so long.

Last year, the conference was alright and this year's top end is as good as it has been in a number of years. The CAA is not going to be the dominant conference it was in the early 2000s but it is still amongst the top 2 or 3 conferences. There are a number of upper teams but I will concede that there are more on the lower end as well which was not there 5-10 years ago.

[Seahawks08]

Uh oh UR..

"UR takes double-injury hit with Strauss, S. Barnette done

Michael Strauss and Stephen Barnette leave college football as two of the most accomplished players in University of Richmond history.

UR coach Danny Rocco said on Monday that Strauss, a senior quarterback who was expected to return from an ankle injury in a few weeks, will not be back in uniform this season. The injury was more extensive than originally believed. A ligament tear will require surgery.

"They went back and did a follow-up stress X-ray and this stress X-ray revealed a few things that were not able to be identified on the initial assessment," said Rocco.

Strauss last year set UR records for passing yards in a season (3,808), completions in a season (333) and TD passes in a season (26). Strauss was injured while making a tackle after an interception at Albany Oct. 11.

"Obviously Michael will be missed greatly," said Rocco. "We feel very badly for him and his family as they work through this process."

Strauss completed an FCS-leading 71.4 percent of his passes this season for 1,686 yards and 11 TDs. Michael Rocco, a redshirt senior, made his first UR start at quarterback in Saturday's 37-0 win over Rhode Island.

Barnette, a senior from Salem, suffered a season-ending knee injury during the win over Rhode Island.

Barnette ranks fourth on UR's career receptions list (197), second on the career receiving yards list (2,844), and tied for third on the career receiving touchdowns list (17).

"We're certainly going to miss Stephen, his leadership," said Rocco. "He's been an extremely productive player here during his career, and he was really enjoying an outstanding season prior to this setback."

Rocco added that he is hopeful that Barnette, a 6-foot-3, 196-pounder, can return to full strength in order to "pursue some of his dreams and aspirations."

Barnette was named second team All-CAA Football last season. He missed two games earlier this season with a foot injury."
http://m.timesdispatch.com/sports/ur-ta ... l?mode=jqm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Damnit, and I was really looking forward to them facing Nova. Hopefully, they can still make it competitive.

[TribePride]

I think NH and Villanova are both very good. UR was also a threat, but not sure how things will play out now with their injuries. The Tribe failed to take advantage of a great opportunity Saturday. I'm not sure that they are on the same level as the other 3(nor is JMU). I just wish the Tribe showed the same effort against NH they showed against Villanova. However, both JMU and the Tribe have the chance to win out and beat Richmond to possibly be the third team. I just don't see there being a 4th CAA playoff team this year. Depending on the draw and avoiding NDSU, I could see both NH and Villanova making the semis this year(and then WHO knows). I think they are both going undefeated in the league. I can state that I'd expect Villanova to win if they played NH as long as Villanova had the ball needing to score with 2 minutes left. I have seen what John Robertson does in that situation enough.

NH, Villanova - in
UR- likely
W&M, JMU, Stony Brook, Delaware, Albany- find a way to win 8 games and hope....

[TribePride]

JMU definitely gets in if they go 6-2, which they might now given UR's injuries. Delaware needs to win all but one to have a shot. However, they still play Stony Brook, NH, and Villanova. Stony Brook is playing well, but out at 7-5 if they lose to NH. If NH and Villanova run the table, the rest of the teams might have too many losses to make it, similar to the Valley from last year.

[vutomcat]

Worst year for the CAA that I can remember. Does anyone beside VU, UNH, and maybe WM deserve a bid?

I'm afraid we are going to see this quite a bit from our Hen friends in the next few years until their grieving is over and they give up totally on the team or they start winning again. Delaware losing it's luster surely has hurt the conference but the CAA is alive and well for now.

Two teams in the final four last year with the real chance of four or more playoffs teams this year.

We have six in the hunt for the playoffs with UNH and Nova locks and Richmond likely. Depending on what happens from here W & M and JMU can play themselves in and even Albany has an outside shot.

My hunch is that JMU and Albany don't get in. The schedule for those two is not easy. Most likely we get 4 in my opinion.

I agree with Tribe fan though about the bottom being pretty weak.

[TribePride]

OK, so the CAA has sucked for three or four seasons now. Sad.

I guess I haven't paid much attention to the rest of the slop with Delaware sucking so badly for so long.

No, we said 2011 and 2012. But not last yr, with 2 teams in semis & 1 in NC.

The only "suck" was 2011-2012.

Let's face it, the CAA has never been the same since we lost Hofstra. Too bad ODU didn't stay longer. Had they reached the title game, they could have added to the number of CAA schools to reach the title game which is still the most of any league. Sadly, the Tribe has fallen one game short of that level twice. Delaware, UMass, JMU, Villanova, Richmond and Towson have carried the banner well. Perhaps, NH will do it this year.

[vutomcat]

In the FCS Huddle: CAA may be too good for itself
By Craig Haley, FCS Executive Director/Senior Editor

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - On the surface, CAA Football appears to be in terrific shape for having FCS playoff teams next month.

Four of the teams have at least five wins and another four have at least four wins, making it the strongest conference outside the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

But too much of a good thing can catch up to a top FCS conference. The Missouri Valley learned the hard way last season when only two of its teams qualified for the playoffs (although North Dakota State went on to capture its third straight national title). Too many possible playoff squads had their resumes collapse in November.

Over the final five weekends of this year's regular season, the CAA must hope its teams don't do the same as the Missouri Valley did last year, when they knocked each other off in the wrong combination of results. If it happens in the deep CAA, the conference could go from having four or five qualifiers (if the playoffs began today) to only two come Nov. 23.

Fifth-ranked Villanova (6-1, 4-0) and third-ranked New Hampshire (5-1, 3-0) have been the most outstanding of the CAA teams and are the surest bets for playoff berths.

From there, it's anybody guess.

[BDKJMU]

I think NH and Villanova are both very good. UR was also a threat, but not sure how things will play out now with their injuries. The Tribe failed to take advantage of a great opportunity Saturday. I'm not sure that they are on the same level as the other 3(nor is JMU). I just wish the Tribe showed the same effort against NH they showed against Villanova. However, both JMU and the Tribe have the chance to win out and beat Richmond to possibly be the third team. I just don't see there being a 4th CAA playoff team this year.Depending on the draw and avoiding NDSU, I could see both NH and Villanova making the semis this year(and then WHO knows). I think they are both going undefeated in the league. I can state that I'd expect Villanova to win if they played NH as long as Villanova had the ball needing to score with 2 minutes left. I have seen what John Robertson does in that situation enough.

NH, Villanova - in
UR- likely
W&M, JMU, Stony Brook, Delaware, Albany- find a way to win 8 games and hope....

Its like beating a dead horse- the only way there are only 3 CAA playoff teams is that there are only three 8 Div I win CAA teams with at least 5 conference wins. If W&M, JMU, or UR get to 8-4/5-3 they're going to get in a 24 team field, be it as the 3rd or 4th CAA team. There won't be any need to hope...

[BDKJMU]

Hens posters taking a page out of Maine Jeff's book? Did anyone watch the game? How did Towson beat Delaware. Flags, turnovers?

vutomcat- I am a CAA football nerd. I watch all the televised games. I have seen TU on TV 4 weeks in a row.

TU vs Maine: TU 4th qtr vs was up 24-20 and was driving, inside the red zone getting ready to put the game away when Frazier fumbled and Maine recovered. TU's next possession they had a chance to go up 7 but they missed a FG. Then Maine went on their game winning drive converting 3 4th downs and scored the winning TD with under a minute to play.

TU vs SBU: TU's 1st possession of the game TU drove inside SBU's 10 and Frazier threw a pick- didn't have much to do with SBU- just a boneheaded floater. TU's 1st possession of the 2nd qtr they drove down the field and scored a TD from 3rd and goal at the 1, but were penalized for 5 men in the backfield. They failed to convert from 3rd and goal at the 6 and had to seetle for their FG. Both those were unforced errors that cost TU 11 points & kept them from being tied at 14..

On turnovers TU was -2 vs Maine and -3 vs JMU. Frazier had been a turnover machine in those 3 games, with 3 picks and at least 3 fumbles. I thought that TU's only chance to beat UD was to go +3 on the turnovers. Frazier didn't turn the ball over and they were +4.

[89Hen]

Worst year for the CAA that I can remember. Does anyone beside VU, UNH, and maybe WM deserve a bid?

I'm afraid we are going to see this quite a bit from our Hen friends in the next few years until their grieving is over and they give up totally on the team or they start winning again. Delaware losing it's luster surely has hurt the conference but the CAA is alive and well for now.

I'm sure that's a minor part of this, but NO wins over I-A opponents, FIVE losses to NEC teams and even a MEAC loss... tell me you honestly don't think this is the worst the CAA has looked in recent memory. There is NO way you can find another season like this since the Yankee Conference in the early 80's.

[89Hen]

Delaware's administration is in the process of quietly de-emphasizing the football program. If it still exists in ten years, it will be a Patriot/NEC type FCS program or D2/D3. Maybe we'll strike up an intrastate rivalry with Wesley College. Who knows.

What I do know is that I gave up my season tickets this offseason and doubt I'll ever attend another game. And I doubt the other 5,000 season ticket holders who left with me the past five years feel much different.

Caught some of the replay of the Brown @ Princeton game last night. I know Princeton is Princeton, but that beautiful stadium they built was completely empty on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. 5807 there. Thought about whether a new stadium would have done UD well, or if they would have had to make the UDAF even more of a focus.

[YoUDeeMan]

Caught some of the replay of the Brown @ Princeton game last night. I know Princeton is Princeton, but that beautiful stadium they built was completely empty on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. 5807 there. Thought about whether a new stadium would have done UD well, or if they would have had to make the UDAF even more of a focus.

Were the 5,807 there to watch a track and field event or a football game?

[vutomcat]

I'm afraid we are going to see this quite a bit from our Hen friends in the next few years until their grieving is over and they give up totally on the team or they start winning again. Delaware losing it's luster surely has hurt the conference but the CAA is alive and well for now.

I'm sure that's a minor part of this, but NO wins over I-A opponents, FIVE losses to NEC teams and even a MEAC loss... tell me you honestly don't think this is the worst the CAA has looked in recent memory. There is NO way you can find another season like this since the Yankee Conference in the early 80's.

Ah, you're making me work. I had to go back to 2005 and I don't see any FBS wins.

The season has to play out 89. It's too early to act like the conference is in the middle of their worst season in memory. Especially with two teams ranked in the top four or five. If we make plenty of noise in the playoffs and get 4 teams in, then it will be another very good year. If not, those things you point out will add to the lack of playoff success and you can pat yourself on the back for being right. But, at this point I think there is room for optimism.

[BDKJMU]

I'm sure that's a minor part of this, but NO wins over I-A opponents, FIVE losses to NEC teams and even a MEAC loss... tell me you honestly don't think this is the worst the CAA has looked in recent memory. There is NO way you can find another season like this since the Yankee Conference in the early 80's.

Ah, you're making me work. I had to go back to 2005 and I don't see any FBS wins.

The season has to play out 89. It's too early to act like the conference is in the middle of their worst season in memory. Especially with two teams ranked in the top four or five. If we make plenty of noise in the playoffs and get 4 teams in, then it will be another very good year. If not, those things you point out will add to the lack of playoff success and you can pat yourself on the back for being right. But, at this point I think there is room for optimism.

I don't see any I-A wins in 2012..

[89Hen]

Ah, you're making me work. I had to go back to 2005 and I don't see any FBS wins.

The season has to play out 89. It's too early to act like the conference is in the middle of their worst season in memory. Especially with two teams ranked in the top four or five. If we make plenty of noise in the playoffs and get 4 teams in, then it will be another very good year. If not, those things you point out will add to the lack of playoff success and you can pat yourself on the back for being right. But, at this point I think there is room for optimism.

I don't see any I-A wins in 2012..

Yup, and how did the CAA fare in the playoffs? One quarterfinalist.