Starkcountylegend
Well-known member
The Gridiron Gold Edition
Picks
Week5
15-1
Season
68-22 76%
Random Rants
A. Hats off to the Alliance Aviators, they were my only loss this week! I have said numerous times throughout the season, this will be a team that will improve by leaps and bounds as the season progresses, it may not always show up on the scoreboard, but you can see the team improving as we roll through the season. Alliance drew a bad match-up the first week of the season with Lake, while I like these teams playing and feel this should be a yearly game, a young team going up against a excellent defense on the road was a recipe for disaster. Beating Carrollton, even at home is not a small feat, they are very well coached, so this was a big win for the Aviators, one they can grow on.
B. Speaking of small schools, what a job by East Canton, nearly pulling off the upset against a solid Ridgewood squad, that could be a dangerous team in D5 come playoff time. The Hornets should be favorites in their next three games, if they can win them, then they have a shot at hosting a first round playoff game.
C. Massillon played St. Eds better than either Mentor or Elder, so yes they lost by 17, but that shows they possess a lot of talent. Massillon is still probably a double digit favorite over any team in Region 7, even though it appears that the Tigers are going to have to win some playoff games on the road, as they currently sit 10th in the region. The Tigers are this low because of two issues, they have played a demanding schedule, and they are struggling to get Level 2 points because the three teams they beat are a combined 2-11. No one could have forecasted that both Warren and Reynoldsburg would be struggling to win games, but both teams should pick up at least three wins before the season closes which will help the Level 2 points for Massillon.
D. For all the GlenOak fans that were upset that I didn't put them in the top 10 this season, as I said. let me see them beat someone with a pulse, the only win was over a bad Shaker Heights team that may end up winless. The Eagles are improved, but we may not see a big jump in their record until next season, they will be dogs against the rest of their schedule.
E. Let's go back to when we talked about Green playing the Sisters of the Poor in their OOC schedule, sure it built up a bank of computer points, but it appears that it really didn't benefit them in preparation for the FED schedule. Green needs to finish 3-2 to make sure they get a first round home game for the playoffs, which is highly possible.
F. Speaking of teams improving, McKinley continues to show week to week improvements! They scheduled four quality OOC games, the results outside of Wayne were not great, but playing up has made them better. Unfortunately, I think the high point for them come playoff time, will be one win, and then out, hopefully not getting blown out in the second game, as Region 1 is loaded.
G. Is Perry headed back to the days of Spider Miller and Boedicker, where getting to .500 on the season was a victory? Perry's defense was horrendous against Jackson, hopefully this is just an off year. I think its important for the Panthers to at least make the playoffs, the extra game gives the team more practice time, even if they lose.
H. Jackson is still the favorite for the FED, with McKinley and Lake breathing down their necks. If Jackson's defense plays like it did against Perry this week at Lake then they may lose their grasp of the Federal League Title. And no, for even the most myopic Polar Bear backers, Jackson is not a threat to win Region 1, they would really need some upsets to occur for them to win more than one game.
I. The Fearless Fairless Falcons, go on the road and pummel Orrville, while the Red Raider are bad, it reinforces my belief that Fairless is well coached and very solid on both side of the ball.
J. Hoover's defense is improving, I'm sure they wish they had that Mansfield game back, as they still have MCK, Perry, Lake, Green and Jackson left on the schedule. Right now, Hoover is sitting 8th in Region 7, they probably need to go 3-2 to host a first round game.
K. Canton South probably can't wait to get to the PAC next year after giving 63 points to West Branch. I think the PAC makes alot more sense for South!
L. Louisville another beatdown, another lack luster offensive performance, this season is spiraling out of control for the Leopards. If Louisville remains an Indy, they will have to continue to rely on Federal League teams to fill out their schedule, and this is just not feasible unless winning 5 or 6 games a year is what your shooting for. Outside of Alliance, it's doubtful any of the EBC schools will schedule them, so how do you set up a schedule, where you at least have an opportunity to win 8 or 9 games? Has there been any action by the Leps AD to find league affiliation outside of the FED, which would be a shotgun marriage? Wouldn't it make sense for the Leps to look at Metro Athletic, or Northeast 8?
Schedule with Lines
Jackson (-2.5) @ Lake
Massillon (-5) @ Fitch
McKinley (-3.5) @ Hoover
Perry (-7) @ Louisville
GlenOak @ Green (-14)
Canton South (-3) @ Marlington
Howland @ West Branch (-17)
Alliance @ Carrollton (-11)
Minerva @ Salem (-35)
CVCA @ Fairless (-4)
Orrville @ NW (-20)
Tuslaw @ Manchester (-17.5)
Indian Valley (-5) @ Sandy Valley
East Canton (-14) @ Newcomerstown
CCC @ Lucas (-15)
Rootstown (-8) @ STA
Malvern (-14) @ Strasburg
Top 10
1. Massillon
2. Jackson
3. Lake
4. McKinley
5. Hoover
6. Green
7. Perry
8. Fairless
9. Sandy Valley
10. East Canton
Coming
Playoff Projections
Game Picks
Picks
Week5
15-1
Season
68-22 76%
Random Rants
A. Hats off to the Alliance Aviators, they were my only loss this week! I have said numerous times throughout the season, this will be a team that will improve by leaps and bounds as the season progresses, it may not always show up on the scoreboard, but you can see the team improving as we roll through the season. Alliance drew a bad match-up the first week of the season with Lake, while I like these teams playing and feel this should be a yearly game, a young team going up against a excellent defense on the road was a recipe for disaster. Beating Carrollton, even at home is not a small feat, they are very well coached, so this was a big win for the Aviators, one they can grow on.
B. Speaking of small schools, what a job by East Canton, nearly pulling off the upset against a solid Ridgewood squad, that could be a dangerous team in D5 come playoff time. The Hornets should be favorites in their next three games, if they can win them, then they have a shot at hosting a first round playoff game.
C. Massillon played St. Eds better than either Mentor or Elder, so yes they lost by 17, but that shows they possess a lot of talent. Massillon is still probably a double digit favorite over any team in Region 7, even though it appears that the Tigers are going to have to win some playoff games on the road, as they currently sit 10th in the region. The Tigers are this low because of two issues, they have played a demanding schedule, and they are struggling to get Level 2 points because the three teams they beat are a combined 2-11. No one could have forecasted that both Warren and Reynoldsburg would be struggling to win games, but both teams should pick up at least three wins before the season closes which will help the Level 2 points for Massillon.
D. For all the GlenOak fans that were upset that I didn't put them in the top 10 this season, as I said. let me see them beat someone with a pulse, the only win was over a bad Shaker Heights team that may end up winless. The Eagles are improved, but we may not see a big jump in their record until next season, they will be dogs against the rest of their schedule.
E. Let's go back to when we talked about Green playing the Sisters of the Poor in their OOC schedule, sure it built up a bank of computer points, but it appears that it really didn't benefit them in preparation for the FED schedule. Green needs to finish 3-2 to make sure they get a first round home game for the playoffs, which is highly possible.
F. Speaking of teams improving, McKinley continues to show week to week improvements! They scheduled four quality OOC games, the results outside of Wayne were not great, but playing up has made them better. Unfortunately, I think the high point for them come playoff time, will be one win, and then out, hopefully not getting blown out in the second game, as Region 1 is loaded.
G. Is Perry headed back to the days of Spider Miller and Boedicker, where getting to .500 on the season was a victory? Perry's defense was horrendous against Jackson, hopefully this is just an off year. I think its important for the Panthers to at least make the playoffs, the extra game gives the team more practice time, even if they lose.
H. Jackson is still the favorite for the FED, with McKinley and Lake breathing down their necks. If Jackson's defense plays like it did against Perry this week at Lake then they may lose their grasp of the Federal League Title. And no, for even the most myopic Polar Bear backers, Jackson is not a threat to win Region 1, they would really need some upsets to occur for them to win more than one game.
I. The Fearless Fairless Falcons, go on the road and pummel Orrville, while the Red Raider are bad, it reinforces my belief that Fairless is well coached and very solid on both side of the ball.
J. Hoover's defense is improving, I'm sure they wish they had that Mansfield game back, as they still have MCK, Perry, Lake, Green and Jackson left on the schedule. Right now, Hoover is sitting 8th in Region 7, they probably need to go 3-2 to host a first round game.
K. Canton South probably can't wait to get to the PAC next year after giving 63 points to West Branch. I think the PAC makes alot more sense for South!
L. Louisville another beatdown, another lack luster offensive performance, this season is spiraling out of control for the Leopards. If Louisville remains an Indy, they will have to continue to rely on Federal League teams to fill out their schedule, and this is just not feasible unless winning 5 or 6 games a year is what your shooting for. Outside of Alliance, it's doubtful any of the EBC schools will schedule them, so how do you set up a schedule, where you at least have an opportunity to win 8 or 9 games? Has there been any action by the Leps AD to find league affiliation outside of the FED, which would be a shotgun marriage? Wouldn't it make sense for the Leps to look at Metro Athletic, or Northeast 8?
Schedule with Lines
Jackson (-2.5) @ Lake
Massillon (-5) @ Fitch
McKinley (-3.5) @ Hoover
Perry (-7) @ Louisville
GlenOak @ Green (-14)
Canton South (-3) @ Marlington
Howland @ West Branch (-17)
Alliance @ Carrollton (-11)
Minerva @ Salem (-35)
CVCA @ Fairless (-4)
Orrville @ NW (-20)
Tuslaw @ Manchester (-17.5)
Indian Valley (-5) @ Sandy Valley
East Canton (-14) @ Newcomerstown
CCC @ Lucas (-15)
Rootstown (-8) @ STA
Malvern (-14) @ Strasburg
Top 10
1. Massillon
2. Jackson
3. Lake
4. McKinley
5. Hoover
6. Green
7. Perry
8. Fairless
9. Sandy Valley
10. East Canton
Coming
Playoff Projections
Game Picks