Socon Week 7 pick em and power rankings

[FUGameBreaker]

I know there is a long way to go, but given that so many teams have to play each other between the most likely playoff contenders (Wofford, WCU, Samford, Furman) and the guys who still have outside chances (Mercer, Citadel, and even ETSU), how many teams do you guys think will get playoff nods? I think if you lose 3 SoCon games you probably aren't going to make it. The league has a 12-12 OOC record, and still have several FBS games to go in the last 2 weekends of the season. We don't have any OOC games to hang our hats on, and I expect that we end up with several 2 and 3 conference loss teams.

Fortunately the playoff field expansion I feel allows any SoCon team at 7-4 to make the field

[Reign of Terrier]

It will, that's why I'm rooting for a 6-5 Furman

[Reign of Terrier]

I know there is a long way to go, but given that so many teams have to play each other between the most likely playoff contenders (Wofford, WCU, Samford, Furman) and the guys who still have outside chances (Mercer, Citadel, and even ETSU), how many teams do you guys think will get playoff nods? I think if you lose 3 SoCon games you probably aren't going to make it. The league has a 12-12 OOC record, and still have several FBS games to go in the last 2 weekends of the season. We don't have any OOC games to hang our hats on, and I expect that we end up with several 2 and 3 conference loss teams.

I'd say we get 3 in. The only way I see 4 in is if Mercer or Furman goes on a run and I'm not sure if Western or Samford will both lose to one of those teams (which will need to happen). My money would be on Furman, but I really really don't want to see them again

[kdinva]

1) Wofford
2) WCU
3) Samford
4) Furman
5) Mercer
6) The Citadel
7) ETSU
8) UTC
9) VMI


VMI 17 @ Furman 37
ETSU 14 @ WCU 38
UTC 20 @ Mercer 31
Wofford 24 @ The Citadel 17

[PaladinFan]

It really has been impressive what the new staff has done in Greenville. For the last five seasons, Furman has been one of, if not the worst, offensive football team in the SoCon. In fact, 3 of the last 5 seasons Furman finished dead last in total offense and routinely one of the worst rushing attacks:

2016 (4th)
2015 (8th)
2014 (8th)
2013 (9th)
2012 (6th)

Really an impressive turnaround in just one season.

[World]

Wofford - 52
The Citadel - 13

[wcugrad95]

Fortunately the playoff field expansion I feel allows any SoCon team at 7-4 to make the field

In 2015 WCU was 7-4, had 2 SoCon losses, and only other losses were to SEC schools - Western did not make the playoffs. In 2017, I am really scared that same kind of scenario could play out. If we go 7-5 and 5-3 in conference, we could easily be on the outside looking in again. Seems crazy, but I think for Western to feel comfortable at all we HAVE to get to 8-4 (again 2 FBS losses) and 6-2 in conference. That is why yesterday's OT loss to Wofford stung so bad - I bet we drop in the polls a lot more than losing in OT on the road to the #5 team in the country deserves, and it makes it that much harder to get back into that top-25 conversation without winning 8 games. I have no doubt the drop in the polls will be bigger than any rise in the polls will be if we beat ETSU this coming weekend.

The SoCon could easily see possibly a 2-loss co-champion, and another 2 teams at 5-3. In that scenario, the only 2 who would feel pretty comfortable would be the co-champs (in my opinion).

[Reign of Terrier]

If Wofford scores 50 on the Citadel (or anyone) just give us the Socon trophy.

[Mocs123]

If we play the option against the Terriers like we played it against Furman, you very well may score 50+ on us. After Huesman's defenses playing option teams pretty well, we did not play disciplined football yesterday.

[ElCid]

1) Wofford
2) WCU
3) Samford
4) Furman
5) Mercer
6) The Citadel
7) ETSU
8) UTC
9) VMI

That was mine last week, and this coming week as well. I hate being right.