Rank | Team | Total | First Place Votes
1 James Madison Dukes 1862 64
2 North Dakota State Bison 1784 8
3 South Dakota State Jackrabbits 1624 2
4 Eastern Washington Eagles 1541
5 Sam Houston State Bearkats 1464 1
6 Richmond Spiders 1447
7 Jacksonville State Gamecocks 1326
8 Wofford Terriers 1308
9 Villanova Wildcats 1199
10 Youngstown State Penguins 1175
11 North Dakota Fighting Hawks 1114
12 Chattanooga Mocs 953
13 Central Arkansas Bears 934
14 The Citadel Bulldogs 902
15 New Hampshire Wildcats 798
16 Charleston Southern Buccaneers 653
17 Samford Bulldogs 623
18 Illinois State Redbirds 529
19 Lehigh Mountain Hawks 507
20 Western Illinois Leathernecks 351
21 Cal Poly Mustangs 344
22 Northern Iowa Panthers 338
23 Fordham Rams 155
24 Weber State Wildcats 147
25 Albany Great Danes 146

Let's keep that ranking ALL year Dukes!

While this poll has little to do with actuality, I dare anyone to say that doesn't look SWEET! Target on back or not, I like everyone who knows little about JMU to see us at the top and that is what preseason polls are for, popularity, getting others to make the decision between love or hate.

(07-31-2017 05:50 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  While this poll has little to do with actuality, I dare anyone to say that doesn't look SWEET! Target on back or not, I like everyone who knows little about JMU to see us at the top and that is what preseason polls are for, popularity, getting others to make the decision between love or hate.

It's usually the most accurate poll. I'm not just saying that cuz I'm a voter.

(07-31-2017 06:21 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  It's usually the most accurate poll. I'm not just saying that cuz I'm a voter.

Well, I'm NOT a voter in the poll. I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night (unfortunately). But, I *do* dress nice. And, I know the secret of what you should do if you run out of Miracle Whip. Don't ask. I'm not tellin'.

I also do know this...





I think I'll dance now...



Being #1 makes me all tingly like...

I've always thought the AGS poll was better than any other FCS poll, and this validates it.
However, the person that ranked SHSU 1st should have their voting revoked.

I've always said that pre season polls are as worthless as...That being said, using the AGS poll, most ranked teams faced (*OOC):

6
-NDSU (@ #3 SDSU, @ #4 EWU*, @ #10 YSU, @ #18 ILSU, #20 WIU, #22 UNI) (don’t play a I-A game).

5
-SDSU (#2 NDSU, @ #10 YSU, #18 ILSU @#20 WIU, @ #22 UNI) (don’t play a I-A game).
-UNI (@ #2 NDSU, @ #3 SDSU, #10 YSU, #20 WIU, #21 Cal Poly*)

4
-EWU (#2 NDSU*, @ #11 UND, @ #23 Fordham*, #24 Weber St) (misses Cal Poy)
-YSU & -ILSU: Miss each other, each pay the other 4 ranked MVFC.
-VU (@ #1 JMU, #6 RU, @ #19 Lehigh*, @ #25 Albany (misses UNH)
-RU (@ #1 JMU, @ #5 SHSU*, @ #9 VU, #25 Albany (misses UNH)
-UTC: (@ #6 JSU*, @ #8 Wofford, #14 Citadel, @ #17 Samford

3
-JMU & -Albany (miss each other)
-Wofford, -Citadel, -Samford: All play each other + UTC

2
-8 of the 11 remaining ranked teams I think have 2 ranked oponents..

1
-JSU (#12 UTC* at home)
-UCA (#5 SHSU at home after bye week)

0
-CSU

Toughest 4 week stretches:
#18 ILSU (after 1st 7 games no I-A game or ranked teams):
10/28 @ #10 YSU
11/4 #20 WIU
11/11 @ #3 SDSU
11/18 #2 NDSU

#22 UNI:
10/7 #20 WIU
10/14 @ #3 SDSU
10/21 #10 YSU
10/28 @ #2 NDSU

#4 EWU:
9/2 @ Tx Tech
9/9 #2 NDSU
9/16 @ #23 Fordham
9/23 @ Montana

Toughest 3 week stretch:
UTC:
10/21 #14 Citadel
10/28 @ #17 Samford
11/4 @ #8 Wofford

Somewhat beneficial schedules compared to conference mates:

-Cal Poly: play 2 ranked (@ #22 UNI, #24 Weber St) (misses #4 EWU & #11 UND)

-UNH: play 2 ranked (@#1 JMU, @ #25 Albany (misses #6 RU and #9 VU)

-JMU plays all 3 ranked at home (#6 RU, #9 VU, #15 UNH), misses #25 Albany

-YSU 3 of 4 ranked at home (#2 NDSU, #3 SDSU (bye the week prior), #18 ILSU, @ #22 UNI, (misses #20 WIU)

(07-31-2017 10:41 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  Somewhat beneficial schedules compared to conference mates:

-Cal Poly: play 2 ranked (@ #22 UNI, #24 Weber St) (misses #4 EWU & #11 UND)

-UNH: play 2 ranked (@#1 JMU, @ #25 Albany (misses #6 RU and #9 VU)

-JMU played all 3 ranked at home (#6 RU, #9 VU, #15 UNH), misses #25 Albany

-YSU 3 of 4 ranked at home (#2 NDSU, #3 SDSU (bye the week prior), #18 ILSU, @ #22 UNI, (misses #20 WIU)

Basically the exact opposite of last year. All of our most difficult CAA games at home and the easiest on the road. This year is setting up PERFECTLY.

Albany is being shown a little love. Cool for the Great Danes.

No love for runner-up YSU? I thought they returned a decent amount of starters and Pelini going into his third year should be hitting the HC sweet spot.

I second the motion to revoke voting privileges for whoever had Soft State #1.

Also 75% of FCS programs in the Dakotas are in the top 11. Not bad.

For YSU, they lost both starting an All American DEs. That's going to result in an inevitable defensive drop off. Their offense was never their strength, so when your defense takes a hit, so does the whole team.

I do think dropping them that harshly is overreacting before losses occur, but that's how they feel I suppose.

(07-31-2017 10:41 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  Somewhat beneficial schedules compared to conference mates:

-Cal Poly: play 2 ranked (@ #22 UNI, #24 Weber St) (misses #4 EWU & #11 UND)

-UNH: play 2 ranked (@#1 JMU, @ #25 Albany (misses #6 RU and #9 VU)

-JMU played all 3 ranked at home (#6 RU, #9 VU, #15 UNH), misses #25 Albany

-YSU 3 of 4 ranked at home (#2 NDSU, #3 SDSU (bye the week prior), #18 ILSU, @ #22 UNI, (misses #20 WIU)

Why aren't you over there posting this good info? UNLESS YOU ARE. OMG ARE YOU THE OTHER ROOTIN?!?!?!

(08-01-2017 08:00 AM)Potomac Wrote:  For YSU, they lost both starting an All American DEs. That's going to result in an inevitable defensive drop off. Their offense was never their strength, so when your defense takes a hit, so does the whole team.

I do think dropping them that harshly is overreacting before losses occur, but that's how they feel I suppose.

They were not highly regarded last year prior to the playoff run.

YSU also lost Jody Webb (i believe?) who was a stud running back for them. i also just don't think YSU was all that great. they were lucky we didn't beat them by way more. they had the easy half of the bracket, although Soft Houston State turned out to be softer than any of us had dreamed.

I pray every night that at least one Soft Houston fan reads it every time we call them Soft Houston on this board.

(08-01-2017 08:31 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(08-01-2017 08:00 AM)Potomac Wrote:  For YSU, they lost both starting an All American DEs. That's going to result in an inevitable defensive drop off. Their offense was never their strength, so when your defense takes a hit, so does the whole team.

I do think dropping them that harshly is overreacting before losses occur, but that's how they feel I suppose.

They were not highly regarded last year prior to the playoff run.

(08-01-2017 08:37 PM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  YSU also lost Jody Webb (i believe?) who was a stud running back for them. i also just don't think YSU was all that great. they were lucky we didn't beat them by way more. they had the easy half of the bracket, although Soft Houston State turned out to be softer than any of us had dreamed.

Yeah, Webb was a Sr, but he wasn't their starting back/leading rusher. That guy was suspended for the semis & NC on a gun charge (just google Martin Ruiz). Ruiz was a 1st team All MVFC RB. He was also a Sr.

On offense from the NC game notes YSU does return 8 starters + their leading WR who was suspended for the semis & NC

On defense the game notes says they started 5 seniors, including the 3rd and 5th rd draft pick de ends. They also lost their 2 senior starting safeties (1st and 2nd team All MVFC) who were suspended for the semis and NC (they were replaced by juniors).

Its no shocker NDSU & SDSU are more highly regarded than YSU coming into the season due to:
-YSU's losses (see above)
-NDSU & SDSU both beat YSU last year.
-Players on MVFC pre season team: SDSU 9, NDSU 7 (one an LS), YSU 4 (one a punter)
http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/mv....pdf?id=13

-Only 4 2016 MVFC 1st team all conference offense players return this season. All 4 play for SDSU (I believe all 4 are pre season All Americans). A ridiculous 7 of their 9 selections are on offense.
-Only 3 2016 MVFC 1st team all conference defense players return this season. All 3 play for NDSU. + they get their All world LB back & stud DL who were both injured during the playoffs. 5 players on the pre season defense (only 1 on offense).
http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/mv....pdf?id=13