NWC Pick 'Em Contest: Week 1

'Catdome!!!!

First post in a loooonnnngg time but the Advantage ‘Catdome blog is back in time for the start of the 2015 season!  Sorry for the lack of anything on the blog but I’ve been busy with all sorts of items this past spring and summer.  You can always follow me us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  I’ll have a little Linfield scrimmage highlight clip either on Saturday night or Sunday, a couple of audio interviews on Monday and Tuesday, and our Chapman game preview next Wednesday.

Onto the Pick 'Ems...Wildcat11 is your DEFENDING NWC Pick ‘Em Board Champion as I mounted a week 11 comeback last year and my NWC standing predictions pushed me over the top to capture my 2nd NWC pick ‘em title.

For those unfamiliar with this post or blog, every Thursday will be our NWC & D3 game pick posts.  Over on D3football.com’s posting board (D3boards.com) a number of the conference fans hold their own weekly pick ‘em contests.  You can join if you would like.  Just sign up and start picking. 

Before we jump into the 2015 week 1 game picks we have to get into our 2015 NWC conference standing predictions.  The NWC coaches have spoken and Linfield has been selected the preseason  favorite for the 14th time in the past 16 seasons.   There are a number of slots that I see eye to eye with the NWC Coaches but we have some disagreements as well.

WC11’s NWC preseason poll.

1. Linfield – It’s the ‘Cats until someone takes it from them.
2. Pacific – Boxers have done a great job in building a yearly conference contender in short order.
3. Whitworth – The Rats might have a shot to move to the 2nd slot this year. On the rise.
4. Pacific Lutheran – Gonna slip this season but have some good young players.
5. Puget Sound – Coaches have them last…just don’t see it.
6. Willamette – Yeah, got us last year but they’re trending down.
7. George Fox – Already ripped off TEAC…what’s next?  Bruindome?
8. Lewis & Clark – Pios are going to get better but are still going to be in the basement this year.

Northwest Conference Games of the Week:

College of Idaho (1-0, NAIA) over Pacific (0-0) (at CoI):  The Boxers are getting a stiff test right out of the gates as they have a long road trip out to a pretty darn good 2nd year program in C of I.  The Yotes stunned the Boxers last year in Forest Grove and I think the Boxers are in for a tough match-up this weekend.  If the Yotes shut down the Boxer running game the College of Idaho upends the Boxers.

La Verne (0-0) over George Fox (0-0) (at LaVerne):  I expect George Fox to be more competitive and complete in year two but the Bruins offense was anemic last season and unless they developed some game breakers at WR, I’m not sure they’re going to have enough to take down a run of the mill SCIAC program in La Verne.    

Puget Sound (0-0) over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (0-0): Thankfully the Loggers are going to give the NWC one victory in week 1 as the Loggers “should” be able to head down to LA and take care of business over CMS with their XTREAM DESIRE and MENTAL TOUGHNESS.

West Region Game of the Week:

UW-Stevens Point (0-0) over Albion (0-0) (at Albion):  Must be slim pickings in week 1.  Stevens Point is a solid WIAC school and that means a win over a school whose mascot is the “Britons”.  Tally-ho good chaps!

National Games of the week:

No. 19 St. John Fisher (0-0) over No. 23 Thomas More (0-0) (at TMC): A Top 25 tilt to kick off the season is always a good thing as we get St. John Fisher and Thomas More squaring off.   TMC is known for their explosive offenses and SJF for their stout defenses.  A clash in styles is always a fun thing in football and I’m expecting the more defensive minded Cardinals snuff the Saints.

No. 12 Widener (0-0) over Rowan (0-0) (at Widener): Two teams that Linfield has beat in the NWC playoffs by a combined score of 97-7. Ha!  The Profs have a heck of a running back in Withler Marceline and I expect them to hammer him at the Pride but I think Widener defensive front will be the difference in a big East Coast week one contest.