AGS Game Of The Week, 2024 Week 8

[Chalupa Batman]

A third straight week with a top 5 matchup on tap, are any of the other options able to overtake that for GOTW?



#25 Dartmouth @ Columbia Potential Ivy League title game between the 2 remaining teams undefeated in league play.

#37 New Hampshire @ #15 Villanova Villanova looks to bounce back from a stunning blowout loss last weekend. New Hampshire looks to get back on track following a loss to Rhode Island last week.

#29 Western Carolina @ #12 Mercer Bears look to bounce back from a stunning blowout loss last weekend. This starts a tough three game stretch for Western Carolina, with Chattanooga & @ ETSU the following 2 weeks.

#18 William & Mary @ #24 Stony Brook 2 teams with the same conference and overall records vie for CAA & potential playoff positioning.

Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State (in Birmingham, AL) The 89th meeting between the 2 schools, the Magic City Classic is the largest HBCU event in the nation.

#8 Incarnate Word @ #36 Southeastern Louisiana The surging Lions can take control of the Southland Conference title race with a win over Incarnate Word.

#4 South Dakota @ #3 South Dakota State (on ESPNU) The Jackrabbits 2nd straight rivalry game is also a 2nd straight top 5 matchup, and also a 2nd straight game on national TV.

Other (please specify in the comments)

[Outsider1]

Still stickin with the Dakotas, just further South...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I went with UNH and Villanova as the FCS power structure in the Northeast is rather cloudy at this point. Could Villanova miss the playoffs?

Also of note....
Holy Cross at Lafayette will go a long way in deciding the PL.....

[Outsider1]

What are the implications for WCU vs Mercer in the SoCon?

[wcugrad95]

I think it will tell us if the SOCON has 4 playoff contenders or only a couple. Big Mercer win answers questions and puts them back on track for a high seed. Another big win by WCU proves their dud against Campbell was an anomaly.

So in the grand scheme of things this might be the more important game. WCU really can’t afford more than probably 1 loss after starting 1-3.

[The Cats]

In

[Outsider1]

I think it will tell us if the SOCON has 4 playoff contenders or only a couple. Big Mercer win answers questions and puts them back on track for a high seed. Another big win by WCU proves their dud against Campbell was an anomaly.

So in the grand scheme of things this might be the more important game. WCU really can’t afford more than probably 1 loss after starting 1-3.

Thanks

[MSUBobcat]

USD @ SDSU for me. First real test for USD (SIU hasn't been the same without DJ Williams). A second FCS loss for SDSU could mean going on the road for at least 1 game before the chipper.

[FUBeAR]

What are the implications for WCU vs Mercer in the SoCon?
I think it will tell us if the SOCON has 4 playoff contenders or only a couple. Big Mercer win answers questions and puts them back on track for a high seed. Another big win by WCU proves their dud against Campbell was an anomaly.
So in the grand scheme of things this might be the more important game. WCU really can’t afford more than probably 1 loss after starting 1-3.​
Thanks
Also … while Chatt, ETSU, Samford, and Furman (yes, Furman, technically) are all still in contention for the SoCon Championship, these 2 Teams - WCU & Mercer - are the only current SoCon Teams that have NEVER won a SoCon Football Championship.

Now, WCU has been failing to do that for about 5x the time (48 Championship-less Seasons) as Mercer, with Mercer having only had 10 bites at that apple. And, the Bears’ incisors have, a few times, penetrated the peel of that apple, but they were not quite able to close their mauling jaws around it.

But, both Teams WANT IT BAD!

WCU’s Coach Kerwin Bell promised Catamount Fans they would, FINALLY and DEFINITELY, win it last season. They finished 4th.

Mercer’s President, Bill Underwood (a great guy, BTW), has tossed and turned every night since November of 2010 when he announced Mercer was bringing back Football, after not fielding a Team since Pearl Harbor was bombed. He will not have a restful night’s sleep until Mercer wins that 1st SoCon Football Championship.

Also … Sure, Mercer made the FCS Playoffs last year for the 1st time & won a game, but President Underwood EXPECTS that to be a ‘given’ EVERY year. And, the Catamounts haven’t seen hide, hair, nor furball of a Playoff bid in 40 seasons; since 1983. Those Cats are so hungry, no self-respecting Haitian … oops, better leave that lie.

Another thing … Mercer has defeated WCU for 8 consecutive seasons. Those Catamount losses to the Bears definitively ended or pretty much ended WCU’s Playoff and SoCon Championship oh-so-close dreams in at least 2 of those seasons, including last season. The Cats have hate-hearts for the Bears.

Finally, the good folks at STATS Perform know what’s up…
https://twitter.com/optaanalystfcs/status/1849075553975914653

[ElCid]

The SD game is definitely interesting, but it's not as compelling as the Mercer game. As FUBeAR mentioned, this is a dig deep game for two teams looking for their first championship. Given the performance of each last week, it has shaped up to be an epic struggle.

The SDSU/SD game is interesting because as someone mentioned, SD hadn't really faced a tough test yet. And how SDSU responds will reveal a lot about their future fortunes. Will they regain their freight train stature? Probably, but they might be shaken.

I like the W&M game as well. And the Nova game.

Overall, it's another good weekend!

[Outsider1]

​
Also … while Chatt, ETSU, Samford, and Furman (yes, Furman, technically) are all still in contention for the SoCon Championship, these 2 Teams - WCU & Mercer - are the only current SoCon Teams that have NEVER won a SoCon Football Championship.

Now, WCU has been failing to do that for about 5x the time (48 Championship-less Seasons) as Mercer, with Mercer having only had 10 bites at that apple. And, the Bears’ incisors have, a few times, penetrated the peel of that apple, but they were not quite able to close their mauling jaws around it.

But, both Teams WANT IT BAD!

WCU’s Coach Kerwin Bell promised Catamount Fans they would, FINALLY and DEFINITELY, win it last season. They finished 4th.

Mercer’s President, Bill Underwood (a great guy, BTW), has tossed and turned every night since November of 2010 when he announced Mercer was bringing back Football, after not fielding a Team since Pearl Harbor was bombed. He will not have a restful night’s sleep until Mercer wins that 1st SoCon Football Championship.

Also … Sure, Mercer made the FCS Playoffs last year, but President Underwood EXPECTS that to be a ‘given’ EVERY year. And, the Catamounts haven’t seen hide, hair, nor furball of a Playoff bid in 40 seasons; since 1983. Those Cats are so hungry, no self-respecting Haitian … oops, better leave that lie.

Another thing … Mercer has defeated WCU for 8 consecutive seasons. Those Catamount losses to the Bears definitively ended or pretty much ended WCU’s Playoff and SoCon Championship oh-so-close dreams in at least 2 of those seasons, including last season. The Cats have hate-hearts for the Bears.

Finally, the good folks at STATS Perform know what’s up…
https://twitter.com/optaanalystfcs/status/1849075553975914653

This game is sounding better all the time.