2013 USA South Predictions
Last year, I posted the following predictions:
1. CNU
2. Ferrum
3. Maryville
4. North Carolina Wesleyan
5. Methodist
6. LaGrange
As for those predictions, the first three were pretty good, as all three ended in a tie and were co-champions. Greensboro and Methodist however proved to be much better than I expected, and gave other conference teams a fit. The actual order of finish was:
Ferrum | ||
Maryville (Tenn.) | ||
Chris. Newport | ||
Methodist | ||
Greensboro | ||
LaGrange | ||
N.C. Wesleyan | ||
Averett |
So here are the 2013 predictions, and while there is no
guarantee of their accuracy, I think it’s a sure thing that this will be one of
the most exciting seasons in a while. Enjoy! Kickoff will be here soon.
9th Place- North
Carolina Wesleyan (0-10,
0-8)
The Battling Bishops are coming off a disappointing
2012 season, and are starting with a new coach. Longtime coach Mark Henniger
left the helm of the Bishops program to accept the head coaching position at
Marian University.
The Bishops have hired Jeff Filkovski to replace
Henniger, and thus a new era begins in Rocky Mount. Coming off of a 3-7 record,
I look for this to be a year that initiates a building process for the Bishops.
They will face a difficult schedule this year, and I think finding a win might
be difficult. I see their best chance at a win will be their first game of the
season at Stevenson, and I give the Mustangs the edge in that game. Beyond that, I expect that the Bishops will be
in for a long season.
8th
Place- Averett University (2-8, 1-6)
7th
Place- Greensboro College (3-7, 1-6)
6th
Place- LaGrange College (4-6, 3-5)
I do not look for the Panthers to present a huge
challenge, but if you paid attention last year, they have the upset capability.
They defeated both CNU and Maryville last season, and both of these wins came
on the road. Look for this team to possibly contend, but I am expecting them to
finish about mid pack.
5th Place- Methodist
University ( 5-5, 3-4)
After closing the season out with a win over
Christopher Newport, the Monarchs finished with a winning conference record,
and were very close to being in contention for the championship. Their last
three games were conference wins, and really cast them as a force to be
reckoned with in 2013. This team could be much stronger than the record I
predict…watch out for the Monarchs.
4th Place- Ferrum
College (7-3, 5-2)
Ferrum should again enjoy a strong season, and be
right in the thick of things, but the level of competition for the top spot
will make things tough for the Panthers. Look for QB Tim Reynolds to shine
again as he guides the Panthers offense, but with lots of holes left from
graduation, Ferrum needs to solidify their offensive and defensive backfields,
and also needs to fill the wide receiver voids. Ferrum will give us an idea of
how successful they can be, by how they finish their non- conference games. If
they can come out with at least 2 wins, things could be even more promising for
the Panthers.
The Scots were a solid team last year and look for
more of the same this year. I do not expect them to do anything but improve,
and I look for them to be in strong contention for the conference crown. Defense
was the hallmark of the Scots success last season, and one can expect that to
be solid again as well.
No matter how you slice it, Maryville presents a
must win situation for its opponents. How the Scotts fare on the road will
determine their ability to get the playoff spot.
2nd Place- Christopher
Newport University (7-3, 6-1)
Look for another solid year from the Captains, but I
think they finish on the outside looking in.
1st Place- Huntingdon
College (8-2, 7-0)
I am thinking the Hawks will have too much for the
rest of the field in the USA South, but it may also easily be described as
barely enough. The newest entry into the conference brings a 6-3 record from
last season, but those three losses were to some pretty good competition.
(Birmingham Southern, Wesley, and Adrian) Huntingdon held a top 25 ranking for
part of last season, but the loss to Adrian left them outside of the playoffs.
I look for this Hawk team to pick up right where it
left off last year, and cause a good deal angst to any coach on their opposite
sideline. The fact that they do not play CNU will assist them in their road to
the playoffs.So there you have my predictions. I am very conflicted about many of these, and am not sure that I will even be close to correct. Time will tell. Be sure to watch the USA South web cast of the USA South Media Day event being held at Averett University tomorrow. The coaches poll will be released then.
I have to say after watching today's media day conference from Danvile I do agree with the poll as well as where you chose for ferrum to finish which is 4th. I do agree that ferrum will young in some critical spots I can't help but wonder when Dave Harper was speaking he really didn't speak to how he fullfilled those spots. From the information I obtained from a coach he told me that "this might be ferrum's best team". Now that to me is a strech and yet all I heard was that player retention is very critical to doing well. I know that Ralph left for a school up north and was replaced with a guy that I was told can do the job but not as effective like ralph. All I know is that ferrum must be able to find a way to have a very good defense or score like hell like the 2005 team. For what I have seen personally and know first hand Ferrum will have to start making strives towards that playoff spot and stop making excuses and take accountablilty for what goes on. Also is FC thinks that the option pitch, speed offense will work this year your kidding, because you know as well as I know that with that everyone knows that FC can't throw and with an outdated QB coach FC goes as far as Harper and that offensive can take them. After all that defensive of Ron Adams needs more of an overhall than the U.S. Government!! If FC doesn't show up in the first game their year will be very bad!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with some of your points, but not all. I cannot comment on what the offense will run, because I have no clue what game plan the new OC will bring. Ferrum did develop more of a spread option look with Isernia, and I doubt that there will be a lot of major changes, but there will be some.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I think that the lack of returners on defense will present the biggest problem. (especially the defensive backfield) Don't worry so much about the first game. they will improve as the season goes on. Three of their first four games are on the road, one in Alabama. This will be a tough stretch from a travel perspective.
Were you as shocked as I (and probably the rest of the conference) was at the fact Huntingdon is only returning 3 starters/8 lettermen on offense? That might bode well for Ferrum since the game is earlier in the season. Later conference games HC plays won't have the luxury of "playing the puppies." I do know that they lost their front four and AA DJ Chappell, but they kept a steady rotation. I'd say look for HC to be ironing things out on offense for a few weeks and expect a VERY strong defense.
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