Category Archives: Quick Hits

Quick Hits: Name this rivalry

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Pat Coleman

We all know what the big game is this week and you don’t need a poll on social media to tell you. But there are 110…109… make that 108 other games this week, at least as of Friday at midnight, and even though No. 1 is playing No. 6, some of those other games might be worth looking at. That’s what our crew does in Quick Hits.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Kevin Niehus, former Thomas More quarterback.

— Pat Coleman; photo by Joe Fusco, d3photography.com

Other than UMHB-Linfield, what’s the game of the week?

Keith’s take: No. 16 Illinois Wesleyan at No. 5 North Central. With the Titans’ hot start and the Carthage-Wheaton clash, we’ll get an idea how CCIW will shake out.	Ryan’s take: No. 16 Illinois Wesleyan at No. 5 North Central. Curious how the Titans fare against their second tough foe of 2017.	Pat’s take: Carthage at No. 4 Wheaton. While everyone is focused on a different CCIW game, I’m wondering how many points Carthage allows.
Adam’s take: Thomas More at No. 18 Washington and Jefferson. The playoffs start now for the Saints.	Frank’s take: No. 16 Illinois Wesleyan at No. 5 North Central. Some folks have doubts about the rankings of both — winner justifies ranking.	Kevin’s take: John Carroll at Baldwin Wallace. Just a hunch; Coach Hilvert will have his kids jacked up for their home opener.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 23 Concordia-Moorhead. Excluding the six teams in Question 1 (not brave enough to pick Carthage), Bethel could take advantage if Cobbers are still patting themselves on the back.	Ryan’s take: No. 9 John Carroll. Baldwin Wallace has kept this matchup interesting in recent years.	Pat’s take: None. I don’t see it this week. Too many head-to-head games that don’t qualify for upset status.
Adam’s take: No. 9 John Carroll. Baldwin Wallace makes a statement in Jim Hilvert’s home debut.	Frank’s take: No. 18 Washington & Jefferson. vs. Thomas More — Saints will bounce back from loss; haven’t lost two straight in season since 2012.	Kevin’s take: No. 18 Washington & Jefferson. Saints leave the PAC following the season. There’s no love lost here. Both teams’ run defenses will be tested.

Who wins the UMHB-Linfield game and why?

Keith’s take: UMHB. Neither wowed in opener, and both lost a lot from last season. Linfield might have lost more.	Ryan’s take: UMHB. They’re back this year more loaded than the Wildcats are.	Pat’s take: UMHB. But for a game that’s picked unanimously, it will be competitive.
Adam’s take: UMHB. Championship pedigree separates two evenly matched teams.	Frank’s take: UMHB. In battle of new starting QBs, edge goes to the Cru.	Guest’s take: UMHB. Division III fans are the big winner with a great early-season matchup which probably determines home field in the semifinals.

Which team picks up a much-needed win after a winless start?

Keith’s take: Augustana. I jumped the gun on St. Norbert; The Vikings have been competitive, and should win at Carroll in the third of three road games to open, and four against “C” teams.	Ryan’s take: No. 24 Wesley. There’s no doubt the sting from two weeks ago lingers — now conference play starts.	Pat’s take: Pacific. Oh, wait, never mind. There are no forfeits awarded for a program refusing to take the field. Thanks, Obama (‘s alma mater).
Adam’s take: UW-Whitewater. The Warhawks take care of the football and avoid an 0-3 start.	Frank’s take: Franklin vs. Defiance — rough schedule in first two games will make this game seem like a cakewalk.	Guest’s take: Gettysburg. Also Franklin. And Chicago.

Pick a winner in the NESCAC not named Amherst or Trinity.

Keith’s take: Wesleyan. The game at Middlebury will be the NESCAC’s closest this week, and it’ll require stout defense vs. UNLV transfer QB Jared Lebowitz and the Panthers.	Ryan’s take: Wesleyan. Though the matchup against Middlebury is pretty even.	Pat’s take: Tufts. Although Hamilton is an improving program, I still like the Jumbos in a big way. No, that’s just the play on words talking. In a medium way.
Adam’s take: Williams. Either Williams or Bowdoin will earn its first win since 2015. I’m picking the Ephs.	Frank’s take: Williams vs. Bowdoin — Mark Raymond gets his first NESCAC head-coaching victory.	Guest’s take: Middlebury. My cousin Tim’s Panthers open at home.

Which two teams playing in Week 3 should have a traveling trophy for their game but don’t yet? What would you call it?

Keith’s take: TMC and W&J. The PACto Defacto Title Game. Or Shenandoah-Hobart Yoder Bowl. The Loras-Dubuque Battle for Dubuque. Stop me anytime.	Ryan’s take: Averett Cougars and Ferrum Panthers. Call it The Cat Scratcher.	Pat’s take: Redlands and George Fox. Remember GFU’s surprise 2015 win? Calling this the Red-Fox Cup. This has nothing to do with red cups and everything to do with Sanford & Son, kids.
Adam’s take: Randolph-Macon and Catholic. The Guru Bowl participants need a trophy featuring prominent alums Pat and Keith. (Ed. note, no they don’t!)	Frank’s take: Catholic vs. Randolph-Macon. The Around the Nation Trophy-cast.	Kevin’s take: Mount St. Joseph vs. Bluffton. The Bridge Bowl 2: there ARE bridges along I-75 in Ohio. They could use the original ceramic bowl, currently collecting dust in Crestview Hills.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

Quick Hits Week 2: Some teams just getting started

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Pat Coleman

On our podcast, Keith previewed a Week 2 which might not have as much star power as Week 1, but we still have some key non-conference games, such as Bethel facing Carthage and Cortland meeting Framingham State. Plus, Wabash guys take shots at DePauw and plenty of more matchups are highlighted below in this week’s Quick Hits.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Kickoff contributor Greg Thomas.

— Pat Coleman

Which game will be Week 2’s game of the week?

Keith’s take: UW-Whitewater at Concordia-Moorhead. Warhawks essentially face the IWU of the MIAC; must play well to avoid 0-2.	Ryan’s take: Sul Ross State at No. 1 Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Top 25 votes for SRSU last week were from me. I’m interested.	Pat’s take: Augustana at Central. Also the game of 1984, when these teams met in the Stagg Bowl.
Adam’s take: Ithaca at No. 25 Brockport. After nearly upsetting a ranked opponent in Week 1, the Bombers get another opportunity.	Frank’s take: St. John Fisher at Hobart. No rankings, but a major battle to avoid 0-2 for recent East powers.	Greg’s take: St. John Fisher at Hobart. Top 25 teams just one week ago, both are looking to avoid 0-2 starts.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 25 Brockport. Beat Ithaca by double digits past two seasons, but I think rest of top 25 coasts.	Ryan’s take: No. 25 Brockport. Despite Ithaca’s move, still there’s an E8 smash-’em-up mentality.	Pat’s take: No. 14 Illinois Wesleyan. Well, well, well, how the turntables … (stares at camera)
Adam’s take: No. 25 Brockport. This might be the team to give Dan Swanstrom his first win as Ithaca head coach.	Frank’s take: None. Week 2 has some pretty lop-sided matchups on paper.	Greg’s take: No. 15 UW-Whitewater. A road game against a sneaky tough team from one of D-III’s top leagues? The same recipe tripped up UWW in Week 1.

Which team is going to wish it already had a game under its belt?

Keith’s take: Pomona-Pitzer. Sagehens make 1,760-mile trip to Rhodes, a 45-42 cross-country winner at Willamette Week 1.	Ryan’s take: DePauw. Mount St. Joseph is 1-0 against an OAC team. Make them an automatic threat.	Pat’s take: Whittier. Although another 10 games would not be enough vs. No. 24-and-climbing Whitworth.
Adam’s take: No. 7 Linfield. I nearly picked Chapman to knock off the Wildcats in their first game post-Sam Riddle.	Frank’s take: Rochester. Small roster lacks experience as they play at Carnegie Mellon, which had good Week 1 win.	Greg’s take: DePauw. With a lot of new starters, the Tigers may find themselves in a tricky spot at Mount St. Joseph.

Which team will surprisingly be 2-0?

Keith’s take: Oberlin. Kenyon crushed the Yeomen during an 0-10 2016, but D was sharp in Week 1 vs. Kalamazoo.	Ryan’s take: Guilford. Last week’s win really surprised me; this week’s won’t as much.	Pat’s take: Allegheny. An impressive Week 1 performance is a start, but beating Wooster would mean more.
Adam’s take: King’s. Monarchs surprise by starting 2-0 and upsetting Stevenson, which surprisingly falls to 0-2.	Frank’s take: Illinois Wesleyan. The surprise is that they had to get through UWW to do it.	Greg’s take: Sewanee. W&L needed a furious fourth-quarter rally to get past Sewanee in 2016.

Pick a conference that wins a majority of games from another conference:

Keith’s take: MIAA over HCAC. Our 17th-rated conference in Kickoff could go 3-0 vs. No. 22, the HCAC.	Ryan’s take: NWC over SCIAC. Lots of teams playing their debuts in these matchups.	Pat’s take: ODAC over USAC. There are four matchups and the ODAC should be able to win three.
Adam’s take: IIAC over MWC. Wartburg and Coe over Monmouth and Cornell, respectively.	Frank’s take: NWC over SCIAC. I’d explain why, but it took me hours to find an answer.	Greg’s take: NWC over SCIAC. Whitworth and Linfield feel safe. Surely there’s one more win in there this week for the NWC.

Pick a conference-game winner which contradicts the Kickoff preseason ranking:

Keith’s take: Muskingum (115) over Otterbein (77). Muskingum shut out Waynesburg Week 1, and faces Otterbein in OAC’s only game.	Ryan’s take: McDaniel (182) over Moravian (118). They already went in opposite directions in Week 1.	Pat’s take: Wilkes (138) over Lebanon Valley (122). Making a mess in the muddle in the middle of the MAC.
Adam’s take: St. Vincent (142) over Thiel (141). They were separated by one spot in Kickoff. Let’s flip a coin.	Frank’s take: FDU-Florham (179) at Widener (65). MAC Week 1 results suggest Widener lacks offense; the Devils don’t.	Greg’s take: McMurry (121) over Southwestern (113). Not exactly a warm welcome to the ASC for the Pirates.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

Quick Hits returns: Week 1

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Pat Coleman

Quick Hits is back for the 2017 season, continuing the format of two six-packs — a half-dozen panelists and a half-dozen questions. (Or, if you’re already in midseason tailgating form, you can think of it as six six-packs.) Predictions, as always, should be taken in the manner in which they are intended: for your entertainment, and to show one possibility of what could happen. Want to play along? Comments welcome at the bottom of the page. Comments that are posted before kickoff are always given more credit than 20-20 hindsight comments.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is longtime CNU follower David DiPersio, whom you can find on our message board as CNU85.

— Pat Coleman
Photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com

Which Week 1 game is the game of the week?

Keith’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. I have to stick with my Kickoff pick.	Ryan’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. It’s not just about the semifinal rematch, but it’s also about clearing the air regarding all the voids left by graduation.	Pat’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. Not even close. Wish it were closer for me to get to, though.
Adam’s take: No. 11 Wesley at No. 20 Delaware Valley. Last year the Aggies pulled off the upset. But the Wolverines rallied to earn a playoff berth while Del Val was left on the bubble.	Frank’s take: No. 11 Wesley at No. 20 Delaware Valley. Based on 2017 expectations, it has to be.	David’s take: No. 11 Wesley at No. 20 Delaware Valley. Two top 25 teams who also have overlapping recruiting areas. This is quickly becoming a rivalry!

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 23 St. John Fisher. In four games, a top-25 loss wouldn’t be an upset. I’ll go SJF, at W&J. Also watch No. 14 Hobart and No. 24 WNE.	Ryan’s take: No. 24 Western New England. I do feel pretty good about what the Golden Bears bring to the field, but Springfield, with 17 starters back, will push the game till the end.	Pat’s take: No. 23 St. John Fisher. I don’t buy the 5-5 finish predicted in Kickoff but still think SJF should be lower than 23.
Adam’s take: No. 19 Thomas More. A young defense going up against a very motivated and experienced offense. Franklin QB Chase Burton should have a big day.	Frank’s take: No. 21 Alfred. They’re playing at Ithaca, which is under a new staff.	David’s take: No. 23 St. John Fisher. W&J will move into the Top 25 after Week 1, where they will remain for the season.

Which matchup seems most unusual?

Keith’s take: Augustana at Cortland. In 1985, Augustana beat Cortland rival Ithaca in the Stagg Bowl.	Ryan’s take: Southwestern at Denison. More than 1,200 miles is a long way to go for two teams that aren’t traditional powerhouses.	Pat’s take: Augustana at Cortland. Who would have seen this one coming? That should be interesting.
Adam’s take: Southwestern at Denison. This Texas-Ohio matchup pits programs located near both of the future Stagg Bowl sites.	Frank’s take: Union at Husson. It’s a 6-1/2 hour road trip to face a team with limited upside and limited alumni exposure.	David’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. This matchup makes the season feel as if it’s November! A 500-plus mile trip between two of the nation’s top teams. This has a playoff feel.

Whose head coaching debut are you most interested in?

Keith’s take: Rick Finotti, John Carroll.	Ryan’s take: Art Link, Christopher Newport. He’s only the second coach the team has ever had, and his predecessor did a mighty fine job. There’s lots to live up to.	Pat’s take: Casey Goff, TCNJ. I’m just quite intrigued by how late he was hired and in what poor shape the program was in.
Adam’s take: Bryan Moore, Wilmington. The Quaker Bowl is back, and Wilmington and Earlham are desperate for a win. Wilmington’s last win came in the 2015 opener; Earlham is winless since 2013.	Frank’s take: Dan Swanstrom, Ithaca. It’ll be interesting to see the change in style from Mike Welch’s long tenure.	David’s take: Art Link, Christopher Newport. Last year’s No. 11 defense has many returning starters as does the offense. Even though Link is a defensive guy, I expect we will see more changes on the other side of the ball.

Which conference will need its Kickoff ranking re-evaluated?

Keith’s take: The PAC.	Ryan’s take: The HCAC. I could see them dropping down a couple spots — even from their No. 22 ranking — after a rough opening day.	Pat’s take: The ASC. This was a tough league to figure out because of the two new teams. Most of the non-conference play will be in after this week.
Adam’s take: The PAC. It’s not just my upset pick. W&J and Westminster (Pa.) both host ranked opponents. Home losses by three of the top teams in the league would be a bad look for the PAC.	Frank’s take: The NWC. With uncertainty at Linfield without Riddle at QB, other NWC teams need to win early out of conference games to justify the conference’s ranking.	David’s take: The LL. So many non-conference games. Depending how the league fares in these games will determine if the No. 9 ranking is a good reflection of on-field performance.

Who is going to have a long trip home?

Keith’s take: Rhodes, returning from Willamette.	Ryan’s take: No. 18 Stevenson. Despite coming into the season feeling high, this opener against cross-state Frostburg will be tough to handle.	Pat’s take: N.C. Wesleyan. Mount Union, at home, taking the field for the first time after losing two of its last five? Yeah.
Adam’s take: Rhodes. Over 2,000 miles for an SAA-NWC showdown at Willamette, the Lynx will have the rare Week 1 flight home if they lose.	Frank’s take: N.C. Wesleyan. No. 2 Mount Union looks to make early 2017 statement, first against Battling Bishops.	David’s take: N.C. Wesleyan. This matchup confuses me. NCW hasn’t won more than five games in a season this decade. The Mount has only lost six total. I’m not sure what this game will reveal to anyone.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.