After NIU beat Ohio I guess most of these lists are a little outta whack. Even on the Ohio messag board they were giving NIU some credit. They are a very good team too, so the fact that we beat a very quality team like Ohio should move us up to #2 or 3 on everyone's lists. Not to mention that we took care of business against Buffalo...a team that a good number of people put above NIU. Yes, the West is weak, but NIU is 4-2 versus the much stronger east. So give some credit where credit is due.

1. Miami
2. Akron
3. NIU
4. Kent State
5. Ohio
6. Buffalo
7. Bowling Green
8. Toledo
9. Ball State
10. Western Michigan
11. Eastern Michigan
12. Central Michigan

tubaguy21 Wrote:Yes, the West is weak, but NIU is 4-2 versus the much stronger east.

NIU is 3-2 against the East. They've also played and beaten Toledo.

tubaguy21 Wrote:So give some credit where credit is due.

Credit should go to teams that win on the road. And, yes, I know UB is not one of those teams. That loss at Toledo will probably cost them a first-round bye.

I think you have a tight group at the top. So far its hard to compare due to the location of games. Miami has some road wins that the others do not have. Only knock on Miami is their margin of victory in a few games shows that they aren't a strong 6-0. Buffalo and Ohio did lose at NIU, but NIU isn't gonna lose many at home, so you can't really read too much into that. I don't think that Kent or Miami is much better than Buffalo or Ohio. Its pretty much the un balanced schedule the MAC has for the difference right now except for Miami winning by just 2 points at NIU.

OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote:I think you have a tight group at the top. So far its hard to compare due to the location of games. Miami has some road wins that the others do not have. Only knock on Miami is their margin of victory in a few games shows that they aren't a strong 6-0. Buffalo and Ohio did lose at NIU, but NIU isn't gonna lose many at home, so you can't really read too much into that. I don't think that Kent or Miami is much better than Buffalo or Ohio. Its pretty much the un balanced schedule the MAC has for the difference right now except for Miami winning by just 2 points at NIU.

I understand people saying that NIU has played a lot of home games, but they are taking care of business at home against teams that were thought to be better than them. So you can look into it because it shows that they are one team from the West that CAN step up and compete against the much stronger East.

Quote:Miami
2. Akron
3. NIU
4. Kent State
5. Ohio
6. Buffalo

These six teams are very, very close. At this point, they can be ranked in almost any order. That won't be true two weeks from now.

I'm not going to post rankings because they change every day. I won't nitpick either. However, one poster said Akron is OU without Leon Williams? Have you seen Romeo lately? Maybe I am biased because I was in NE Ohio when LeBron and SVSM ruled the day, but I would take Travis over Williams any day. The difference in perception with OU and Akron is one weekend. Frankly, their teams are almost even. OU is more athletic at guard, but Akron is probably deeper despite the great Whitney Davis.

Akron has great athletes on the outside and has size inside which is nice to have. Ohio is like the Nolan Richardson Arkansas team that went 9-10 deep with every body 6-5 or 6-6 who can run the floor on the break. Williams is quick for his size 6-8 255. Ohio uses Davis, Chatman, Jackson and Tillman to bring energy. Tillman is just a freshmen and missed six weeks with mono. That set Ohio's rotation back a bit, but since he returned Ohio has been able to use him at center despite his 6-6 235 frame. Fears is out of control at times. Ohio's offense is based on its defense. To score they have to create turnovers. Good teams don't turn it over and bad teams do. Ohio destroys bad teams, but struggles against good teams that have athletic guards who can handle the ball. Miami had a terrible time last year against Ohio's press. Akron's Joyce played very well vs Ohio last year. UB's Battle and Kent's Haynes struggled vs Ohio. Ohio looked like Duke against CMU, WMU, and EMU. Those teams have youth at the guard position and Ohio expoited it. The east has more experience and won't be turning it over 20 times a game.

Quote:UB's Battle and Kent's Haynes struggled vs Ohio

Don't flatter yourselves too much. DeAndre Haynes struggled against every MAC team except CMU last year. But this MAC season is an entirely different story, thank God.

My updated rankings:

1. Miami
2. Akron
3. Kent State
4. NIU
5. Ohio
6. Bowling Green
7. Buffalo
8. Toledo
9. Ball State
10. Western Michigan
11. Eastern Michigan
12. Central Michigan

Roudebush Rocket Wrote:My updated rankings:

1. Miami
2. Akron
3. Kent State
4. NIU
5. Ohio
6. Bowling Green
7. Buffalo
8. Toledo
9. Ball State
10. Western Michigan
11. Eastern Michigan
12. Central Michigan

you might want to wait until the entire day's action is done to update...especially since your number one team lost on the road! hehehe

I think the Chips might be moved up if EMU and Ball State can't win. CMU has shown some heart this week. That butt whoopin' we gave them got their act together.

OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote:I think the Chips might be moved up if EMU and Ball State can't win. CMU has shown some heart this week. That butt whoopin' we gave them got their act together.

yeah it's kinda like that was their "rock bottom." they know it can't get much worse than losing 35-7 at halftime. i think the second half of that game was the beginning of their turn-around. they take Akron to OT and then win at UB. i think more wins are coming this year for CMU. it will be interesting to watch.

This day will definitely shake up the VanDelay Power Rankings.

bobcat_backer Wrote:you might want to wait until the entire day's action is done to update...especially since your number one team lost on the road! hehehe

That's a good point.

My updated rankings:

1. Akron
2. Kent State
3. Miami
4. NIU
5. Ohio
6. Bowling Green
7. Buffalo
8. Toledo
9. Ball State
10. Western Michigan
11. Eastern Michigan
12. Central Michigan

that's probably more of an accurate snapshot. i doubt seriously if UA loses at home tonight versus EMU. And a BSU win over BG wouldn't change things much at the bottom of the rankings.

To have Kent ranked ahead of NIU is embarassing to even say, thats not fair, Kent hasnt been anybody yet. Id put NIU up to 2nd and drop Miami to number 6.[/quote]

At the time it was not embarassing, and it certainly isn't now. Who knows if we still haven't beaten anybody yet..

I'd put buffalo down at 12.. at least for now. I mean if you lose to arguably the worst team in the conference at home you deserve the #1 worst ranking until at least the next game.

Honestly though, you can make a case for every east team and NIU being better than the bulls right now, and 7 still seems kinda generous right now..

Here is my updated list:
1. Akron
2. Kent State
3. Ohio
4. Miami
5. NIU
6. BGSU
7. Buffalo
8. WMU
9. Central Michigan
10. Toledo
11. Ball State
12. EMU

Showing some love for the Chips tonite after I bashed them hard this past week. They play with more heart than some of the better teams on this list. Miami lost to a bottom division team, while NIU dropped 2 home games already. UB lost at home to CMU. Unless Smith flew in Thunder Dan and Kamen for today's game, I have to question UB. They haven't won the tough games and suffered a terrible loss today. Ohio's gonna get a very pissed UB team on Thursday nite in Buffalo.

So when does football season start again?