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I have 2 words to describe this season in the Lone Star Conference: crazy and dangerous.
We had an idea at the beginning of the season that the parity between these teams could be an issue and it has proved to be that way; several teams beating each other and vice-versa. Why has this been a crazy season? First and foremost, teams are beating up on each other and no one knows who the best team is because one week a team will win and then they will lose to a team that beat their previous foe. I talked about this last week some and it continues to come true each and every week. For example, Angelo State beats Midwestern State; Angelo State loses to Texas A&M Commerce; Midwestern State beats Texas A&M Commerce; West Texas beats Midwestern State; Texas A&M Commerce beats West Texas. These types of things have been happening all season and are solely the reason why there is a 4-way tie for second place if you are not counting the head-to-head (Tarleton, WT, Midwestern and Angelo). It is actually difficult when you think about what team beat who and trying to resolve the tie-breakers.
NCAA Playoff Picture for Super Region 4:
The first Regional Rankings were released this week for the NCAA Playoff Selection. During the season, I spend time looking at all 4 conferences in Region 4 to see who is the best and will be moving on. Here the teams are with my analysis next to each teams:
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Outside Looking in:
Thoughts:
Rough Waters for WT Football:
Thoughts:
Rough Waters for WT Football:
Five WTAMU Football Games to Be Nullified for 2014 LSC Playoff Seedings
West Texas A&M Director of Athletics Michael McBroom has notified the Lone Star Conference that the football program played an academically ineligible student-athlete the first seven weeks of the season. Upon receipt last week of evidence of an alleged academic violation that occurred during summer of 2014, the department in a precautionary move withheld the student-athlete from the game versus Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The Buffs play their LSC regular-season finale versus Eastern New Mexico on Saturday night at Blackwater Draw, N.M.
Brief Recap on Week 8:
WT 48 TAMK 21: I will have to say that the Javelinas offense really has progressed over the past few weeks. They were able to pick up some good yards in this game and really played well; however, the defense did struggle. The Buffs looked okay but not impressive. In the end, they got the job done with some WT starters out against a struggling Javelina team.
ANGELO 41 ENMU 20: Angelo exploited ENMU in the first quarter after responding from the ENMU TD by rattling off 21 poiints. Game was within reach until the end of the 3rd quarter and Angelo sealed the deal. ENMU only managed 48 passing yards and ASU managed 78 rushing yards.
Week 9 Previews and Predictions:
West Texas A&M (5-3) v. Eastern New Mexico (4-4), Saturday, 7 p.m. Kickoff
Portales, NM, Blackwater Draw
The Buffaloes have had a difficult week with all the surroundings going on in the Athletic Department. One could wonder if that will effect them on the field. I would think it might a little with the dismissal of one coach. However, the staff will be ready to step up for a crucial game against ENMU.
The Buffs are one of the bottom team this week in the LSC playoff seeding. They need to win to possibly host a game in the lower seed. The Buffs will be absent of WR Anthony Johnson due to the recent events. Several others should step up and make some big plays. I expect this to be an emotional game after this week and the way that ENMU beat the Buffs last season by 1 point.
Look for the Hounds to run often in this game and the Buffaloes to struggle some in their good running game. The hounds have really played havoc on opposing running games and that will most likely happen this week.
The Buffs will need to rely on Preston Rabb's arm to make the difference in this game and to claim a victory. Buffs get the Wagon Wheel back...
Prediction: West Texas A&M 42 Eastern New Mexico 35
McMurry (2-5) v. Texas A&M Commerce (6-2), 4 p.m. Kickoff
Commerce, TX Memorial Stadium
The Warhawks were shutdown last week and didn't do much. They will probably have a little more success against a little banged-up Commerce defense. The hawks have been pretty decent in the passing game but they have really been tested the past few weeks and did not come even close to being on top. McHugh has looked good but couldn't get anything going last week as they only scored 7 points and had 64 points scored on their defense.
I think this week will be no different with the high-flying Lions. They were upset last week by Midwestern in overtime and they should be out to prove a point that they are the team in the LSC this year.
Look for the Lions to score early and often in this game to end their LSC season with only 1 loss and the LSC title for the first time since 1990 and their #21 LSC title.
Prediction: Texas A&M Commerce 56 McMurry 24
Midwestern State (5-2) v. Texas A&M Kingsville (1-7), 7 p.m. Kickoff
Kingsville, TX Javelina Stadium
The Mustangs really showed Commerce last week that they could compete and they came out on top in overtime in the Falls. The Mustangs came back from an early 17 point defecit to take the victory.
This week's game for them will be a different story. The Javelinas struggle each and every week. However, their offense has seemed to be doing quite a bit better over the last several weeks. Last week, the Javelinas had 458 yards of offense but could only score 21 points. The Mustang defense is definitely better than the WT defense and will try to stop the Javelinas in their tracks.
Look for the Mustangs to get ahead in this one and take the Javelinas. Mustangs roll...
Prediction: Midwestern State 45 Texas A&M Kingsville 14
Game of the Week: Angelo State (5-2) v. Tarleton State (4-3), 7 p.m. Kickoff
Stephenville, TX Memorial Stadium
This game has several things on the line for Angelo State as they were ranked in the top 10 for the regional rankings this week. That pretty much means that they need to win out in order to have any sort of chance at making the NCAA playoffs. This means a lot rides on the next 3 weeks for the Rams.
The Texans have looked very good over the past 3 weeks by throttling the bottom LSC teams by huge numbers compared to how the rest of the league played the lower teams. This tells me that the Texans may just come out and surprise the Rams.
The only 2 losses for the Rams comes at the hand of WT and TAMC. They will need to play perfect in this game and not turn the ball over at all. They have been good at holding on to the ball this season, so they should have an advantage in this category. However, Kyle Washington will need to try and not throw any interceptions. They will also have to score every time if they can cause turnovers in this game.
I think that the Texans are going to be up for this game in a big way. Their season hasn't turned out exactly the way they had hoped it would but they have pride and respect on the line to show they are one of the top teams in the LSC. I expect a close game to be won on turnovers and a dog fight with one team coming out on top. Texans win in a close one at home
Prediction: Tarleton State 41 Angelo State 40
The Buffs play their LSC regular-season finale versus Eastern New Mexico on Saturday night at Blackwater Draw, N.M.
Brief Recap on Week 8:
WT 48 TAMK 21: I will have to say that the Javelinas offense really has progressed over the past few weeks. They were able to pick up some good yards in this game and really played well; however, the defense did struggle. The Buffs looked okay but not impressive. In the end, they got the job done with some WT starters out against a struggling Javelina team.
ANGELO 41 ENMU 20: Angelo exploited ENMU in the first quarter after responding from the ENMU TD by rattling off 21 poiints. Game was within reach until the end of the 3rd quarter and Angelo sealed the deal. ENMU only managed 48 passing yards and ASU managed 78 rushing yards.
Week 9 Previews and Predictions:
West Texas A&M (5-3) v. Eastern New Mexico (4-4), Saturday, 7 p.m. Kickoff
Portales, NM, Blackwater Draw
The Buffaloes have had a difficult week with all the surroundings going on in the Athletic Department. One could wonder if that will effect them on the field. I would think it might a little with the dismissal of one coach. However, the staff will be ready to step up for a crucial game against ENMU.
The Buffs are one of the bottom team this week in the LSC playoff seeding. They need to win to possibly host a game in the lower seed. The Buffs will be absent of WR Anthony Johnson due to the recent events. Several others should step up and make some big plays. I expect this to be an emotional game after this week and the way that ENMU beat the Buffs last season by 1 point.
Look for the Hounds to run often in this game and the Buffaloes to struggle some in their good running game. The hounds have really played havoc on opposing running games and that will most likely happen this week.
The Buffs will need to rely on Preston Rabb's arm to make the difference in this game and to claim a victory. Buffs get the Wagon Wheel back...
Prediction: West Texas A&M 42 Eastern New Mexico 35
McMurry (2-5) v. Texas A&M Commerce (6-2), 4 p.m. Kickoff
Commerce, TX Memorial Stadium
The Warhawks were shutdown last week and didn't do much. They will probably have a little more success against a little banged-up Commerce defense. The hawks have been pretty decent in the passing game but they have really been tested the past few weeks and did not come even close to being on top. McHugh has looked good but couldn't get anything going last week as they only scored 7 points and had 64 points scored on their defense.
I think this week will be no different with the high-flying Lions. They were upset last week by Midwestern in overtime and they should be out to prove a point that they are the team in the LSC this year.
Look for the Lions to score early and often in this game to end their LSC season with only 1 loss and the LSC title for the first time since 1990 and their #21 LSC title.
Prediction: Texas A&M Commerce 56 McMurry 24
Midwestern State (5-2) v. Texas A&M Kingsville (1-7), 7 p.m. Kickoff
Kingsville, TX Javelina Stadium
The Mustangs really showed Commerce last week that they could compete and they came out on top in overtime in the Falls. The Mustangs came back from an early 17 point defecit to take the victory.
This week's game for them will be a different story. The Javelinas struggle each and every week. However, their offense has seemed to be doing quite a bit better over the last several weeks. Last week, the Javelinas had 458 yards of offense but could only score 21 points. The Mustang defense is definitely better than the WT defense and will try to stop the Javelinas in their tracks.
Look for the Mustangs to get ahead in this one and take the Javelinas. Mustangs roll...
Prediction: Midwestern State 45 Texas A&M Kingsville 14
Game of the Week: Angelo State (5-2) v. Tarleton State (4-3), 7 p.m. Kickoff
Stephenville, TX Memorial Stadium
This game has several things on the line for Angelo State as they were ranked in the top 10 for the regional rankings this week. That pretty much means that they need to win out in order to have any sort of chance at making the NCAA playoffs. This means a lot rides on the next 3 weeks for the Rams.
The Texans have looked very good over the past 3 weeks by throttling the bottom LSC teams by huge numbers compared to how the rest of the league played the lower teams. This tells me that the Texans may just come out and surprise the Rams.
The only 2 losses for the Rams comes at the hand of WT and TAMC. They will need to play perfect in this game and not turn the ball over at all. They have been good at holding on to the ball this season, so they should have an advantage in this category. However, Kyle Washington will need to try and not throw any interceptions. They will also have to score every time if they can cause turnovers in this game.
I think that the Texans are going to be up for this game in a big way. Their season hasn't turned out exactly the way they had hoped it would but they have pride and respect on the line to show they are one of the top teams in the LSC. I expect a close game to be won on turnovers and a dog fight with one team coming out on top. Texans win in a close one at home
Prediction: Tarleton State 41 Angelo State 40