Pick 'Em - Week 1

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Typically, there are no point spreads in Week 1. There are two exceptions this year. Please pick with the spreads. Also, should California find a game, it will be added back -- and up to you to edit your selection. Any picks (or edits) made after 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31 will not be counted.



WEEK 1

Clarion at Lincoln (PA)

Ashland at IUP (Two-Point Game of the Week)

Bloomsburg at Fairmont State

Gannon at Charleston (WV)

Saint Anselm at Millersville

Seton Hill at Wheeling

Pace at East Stroudsburg

Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State

Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd

Kutztown at Assumption

Newberry at Shippensburg

Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne

Post at Lock Haven

West Chester at Bentley

Wayne State at Slippery Rock

West Virginia at Penn State


BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: ________________

2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: ________________

3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: ______________

[TDBoi8136]

Clarion at Lincoln (PA) (This one smells like a stinker. I'll go with the least stinkiest team. Is stinkiest a word?)

Ashland at IUP (Two-Point Game of the Week) (A tough choice; both seem to be facing similar circumstances coming into this season. Both are solid teams, I'll give the edge to IUP.)

Bloomsburg at Fairmont State (Fairmont looks like they'll be a tough team this year. This one goes to the Fightin' Falcons.)

Gannon at Charleston (WV) (This is a tough one for me. Both are looking solid coming into the season. I think I'll give the edge to Charleston.)

Saint Anselm at Millersville (Another stinker, Ville takes this.)

Seton Hill at Wheeling (Gonna be a long year for the Griffins.)

Pace at East Stroudsburg (Warriors should take this one.)

Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State (The Big Dogs win but also cover the spread.)

Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd (Easy win to begin the Tyson-less era.)

Kutztown at Assumption (This might be a growing pain season for the Bears. A lot of starters are gone and the new guys will have to learn this year.)

Newberry at Shippensburg (Tough one, I'll give the edge to Ship.)

Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne (I think Boro can cover this spread. But could they actually win this though...)

Post at Lock Haven (The stinkiest one of them all.)

West Chester at Bentley (The Golden Rams pull out a golden victory.)

Wayne State at Slippery Rock (Rock 'em sock 'em.)

West Virginia at Penn State (Hope this one will be an entertaining one.)


BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: Kutztown vs Assumption

2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: Gannon vs Charleston

3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: Mercyhurst

[Ship69]

Based on recent results, I'd certainly want points to take Ship over Newberry.

[Ram040506]

Clarion at Lincoln (PA)- Banking on Clarion being better than LH, and usually LH and Lincoln are about equal.

Ashland at IUP (Two-Point Game of the Week)- IUP has their number.

Bloomsburg at Fairmont State- Fairmont should be an MEC contender and Bloomsburg is still a shell of its former self.

Gannon at Charleston (WV)- If Gannon has turned the program as a playoff contender now, these type of games they have to win.

Saint Anselm at Millersville

Seton Hill at Wheeling

Pace at East Stroudsburg

Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State- Ferris will have bench guys in by end of 1st half.

Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd

Kutztown at Assumption

Newberry at Shippensburg

Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne

Post at Lock Haven- All that recruiting noise nets them this 1 win for the year.

West Chester at Bentley- Bentley I think had a ton of turnover on the coaching staff. West Chester will win

Wayne State at Slippery Rock

West Virginia at Penn State


BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: Bloomsburg/Fairmont

2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: Gannon/Charleston

3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: Southern Connecticut State

[ShoNuff]

WEEK 1

Clarion at Lincoln (PA)

Ashland at IUP (Two-Point Game of the Week)

Bloomsburg at Fairmont State

Gannon at Charleston (WV)

Saint Anselm at Millersville

Seton Hill at Wheeling

Pace at East Stroudsburg

Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State

Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd

Kutztown at Assumption

Newberry at Shippensburg

Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne

Post at Lock Haven

West Chester at Bentley

Wayne State at Slippery Rock

West Virginia at Penn State


BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: __Post at Lock Haven___

2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: _Wayne St at Slippery Rock_

3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: ___Mercyhurst____

[ctrabs74]

Clarion at Lincoln (PA): Dem Golden Iggles pick up a rare win
Ashland at IUP (Two-Point Game of the Week): Now this is how you non-con (take notes, Cal) ... Red Chickens keep it close, but Ashland steals a win
Bloomsburg at Fairmont State: I'm old enough to remember when this was an easy win for the Bloomies ... now, not so much
Gannon at Charleston (WV): LIT-UP AF gets a solid opening season win
Saint Anselm at Millersville: Two former doormats who are actually mediocre (and, yes, that's an improvement)
Seton Hill at Wheeling: Cards are further ahead in Year Five of their program compared to the Stewies
Pace at East Stroudsburg: Meh
Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State: Bye Week for the Ferris Wheels
Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd: Just another day at the office for the Sheep
Kutztown at Assumption: This is turning into quite an underrated inter-conference rivalry over the past several years... KUBs snag a close road win
Newberry at Shippensburg: Ship draws a tough SAC challenger to start the season
Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne: At least the Dookies aren't starting the season in Fort Worth as they did a few years ago (yes, it was a very ugly outcome)
Post at Lock Haven: Baldies get an easy win against a third-year program
West Chester at Bentley: Dubs exact revenge against the Yugos in Waltham
Wayne State at Slippery Rock: Big Wayne State gets cut down to size by the Fighting Slippys
West Virginia at Penn State: I know State Penn is overrated, but Hillbilly High might be bottom three Big 12 along with Idiotic State and Cincinnati

BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: Kutztown/Assumption - Last two games have been low scoring
2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: Tough call, but I'd go with Wayne State/SRU
3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: Mercyhurst - Face the champs, get crushed... welcome to 2023, Lake Show

[IUPNation]

My picks in bold.



WEEK 1

Clarion at Lincoln (PA) - Clarion is a basket case, Lincoln is a cluster****.

Ashland at IUP (Two-Point Game of the Week) - HAIL TO THE INDIANS!

Bloomsburg at Fairmont State - Going with home team..if it was at Redman I'd go with Bloom.

Gannon at Charleston (WV) - LIT AF drops the boom in West Virginia.

Saint Anselm at Millersville - Two former bottom feeders trying to get above mediocre...not this time St. Elsewhere.

Seton Hill at Wheeling - Winner gets custody of Alderson Broaddus

Pace at East Stroudsburg - I have nothing nice to say.

Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State - The Lake Show is going to get pounded harder than a 20 dollar zombie hooker in Kensington.

Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd - The debut of the West Virginia version of the Steel Curtain or so we are told.

Kutztown at Assumption - Maybe this year they win 6-0

Newberry at Shippensburg - It nice to see teams from other regions actually travel to Pennsylvania to prove their worth unlike Region 3 crybabies.

Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne - The Groundskeeper Willies will not get crushed.

Post at Lock Haven - Is this the year The Haven finally breaks the curse of Ms Taylor and wins 4 games?

West Chester at Bentley - Another year of me picking the Walk Ons and the Walks Ons screwing me over.

Wayne State at Slippery Rock - **** Slimey Pebble

West Virginia at Penn State - Another torturous year of James Franklin foosball....and this will probably be closer than it should have been. Fun Fact...the only time I ever went to a Penn State home game was in 1979...opponent was West Virginiastan coached by The Big Guy...Frank Cignetti.


BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: Kutztown/Assumptiom

2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: Ferris Bueller vs The Lake Show with Ferris doing most of the scoring

3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: The Lake Show

[EyeoftheHawk]

Clarion at Lincoln (PA)
Ashland at IUP (Two-Point Game of the Week)
Bloomsburg at Fairmont State
Gannon at Charleston (WV)
Saint Anselm at Millersville
Seton Hill at Wheeling
Pace at East Stroudsburg
Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State
Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd
Kutztown at Assumption
Newberry at Shippensburg
Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne
Post at Lock Haven
West Chester at Bentley
Wayne State at Slippery Rock
West Virginia at Penn State


BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: Saint Anselm at Millersville

2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: Mercyhurst at Ferris State

3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: Mercyhurst

[IUPbigINDIANS]

WEEK 1

Clarion at Lincoln (PA) - Long bus ride, but The Fly Part 2 should be somewhat improved. And, Lincoln is well, not good.

Ashland at IUP (Two-Point Game of the Week) - Tough game. Tort spots fan in Section D wearing an IUP hoodie from the Co-Op Store and team goes nuts. Hawks pull away in second half.

Bloomsburg at Fairmont State - Falcons have more talent. Huskies will keep it closer than many think.

Gannon at Charleston (WV) - #LIT-AF dropped the boom on Charleston a year ago. It may not be 47-13 again, but it won't be too close, either.

Saint Anselm at Millersville - Home team has an edge, I suppose.

Seton Hill at Wheeling - The series is tied 1-1, with each home team winning. Sounds about right here, too.

Pace at East Stroudsburg - Pace's only shot is if the Warriors' heads are already in Indiana.

Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State - Fat number, but this has a 62-7 vibe to it.

Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd - The JV game starts after halftime.

Kutztown at Assumption - Golden Bears loved getting shutout 3-0 last year so much they are going back to Worcester. Payback time?

Newberry at Shippensburg - You know what they say about having (3) quarterbacks ...

Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne - Dukes better have fun. They are the Edinboro the following week at West Virginia.

Post at Lock Haven - The Twitter party gets to last a little bit longer.

West Chester at Bentley - Walk-ons get a late walk-off.

Wayne State at Slippery Rock - Two of the first three meetings have been SRU blowout wins. WSU should have won the 2021 game but didn't. This won't be close.

West Virginia at Penn State - The actual betting line has JoePa giving about 20.5. Sounds about right.


BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: Kutzown 2 Assumption 0

2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: Shepherd hangs 60-ish but gives up a couple in garbage time.

3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: The Lake Show

[Ship69]

I know what they say about three QBs, but due to injuries last season we seldom had three QBs, or even two healthy ones.

[IUP Crimson Hawk]

Clarion at Lincoln (PA)

Ashland at IUP (Two-Point Game of the Week)

Bloomsburg at Fairmont State

Gannon at Charleston (WV)

Saint Anselm at Millersville

Seton Hill at Wheeling

Pace at East Stroudsburg

Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State

Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd

Kutztown at Assumption

Newberry at Shippensburg

Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne

Post at Lock Haven

West Chester at Bentley

Wayne State at Slippery Rock

West Virginia at Penn State


This game will have the lowest combined points scored: lock haven and post.


This game will have the highest combined points scored: Shepherd.


Blowout city. The Lake Show.

[Goldenrams12]

Clarion at Lincoln (PA)

Ashland at IUP (Two-Point Game of the Week)

Bloomsburg at Fairmont State

Gannon at Charleston (WV)

Saint Anselm at Millersville

Seton Hill at Wheeling

Pace at East Stroudsburg

Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State

Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd

Kutztown at Assumption

Newberry at Shippensburg

Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne

Post at Lock Haven

West Chester at Bentley

Wayne State at Slippery Rock

West Virginia at Penn State


BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: Post at Lock Haven

2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: Wayne State at Slippery Rock


3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: Mercyhurst

[RocknTheSnackBar]

Clarion at Lincoln (PA) Lincoln hasn't gotten any state money yet

Ashland at IUP Ashland unburdened by off-field charitable duties

Bloomsburg at Fairmont State Bloom is like a Ford Fairmont

Gannon at Charleston (WV) Lieutenant Air Force, baby!

Saint Anselm at Millersville Surprise team of 23

Seton Hill at Wheeling Got a feeling about Wheeling

Pace at East Stroudsburg can't go 5-6 til you win the first one

Mercyhurst (+31.5) at Ferris State Good week for wheel teams

Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd Fighting Multiple Draft Picks start strong

Kutztown at Assumption Just an assumption

Newberry at Shippensburg Blueberry, strawberry! Can't beat newberry!

Edinboro (+28.5) at Duquesne Could use Joe (Edin) Burrow

Post at Lock Haven Bad week for four letter names beginning with P

West Chester at Bentley Mixed week for teams named after cars

Wayne State at Slippery Rock Long day for Fighting Chrebets

West Virginia at Penn State Yawn


BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: SHU and Wheeling

2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: Shep and SCSUIUPUIAARPCONCACAF

3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: Mercyhurst

[IUsuallyPonder]

Clarion

IUP

Fairmont State

Gannon

Millersville

Wheeling

East Stroudsburg

Ferris State

Shepherd

Kutztown

Shippensburg

Duquesne

Lock Haven

West Chester

Slippery Rock

Penn State


BONUS

1) This game will have the lowest combined points scored: SHU at Wheeling

2) This game will have the highest combined points scored: Southern Connecticut State at Shepherd


3) BLOWOUT CITY - This team will lose by the largest margin in Week 1: Mercyhurst at Ferris State

[Ship69]

Well, my hats off to you guys with the optimism to pick Ship, 5-6 and middle-of-the-road in the PSAC East last year, over a Newberry team that was ranked last year, returns several all-conference performers, and is picked to win the SAC again this season. I love the Raiders, but I need points to make that pick.