RMAC Week 1 Pick'em

[GoneBlastin]

Welcome back football! With week 1 games kicking off one week from today, I'm getting this out a little early. As noted in a previous post, we will be doing this against the spread this year. The spread will be based on Bill Connelly's SP+ ratings with an additional 3 point home field advantage rounded to the nearest half point. Additionally, where an NAIA or FCS face an RMAC school, it will be a straight pick 'em since Connelly's system is not meant to compare out of division teams. Please have all picks in by noon mountain on Wednesday.

Without further ado, here are this weeks matchups:

Chadron State @ Quincy University (PK)
New Mexico Hilghlands @ Eastern New Mexico (-5.5)
Grand Valley State (-7.5) @ Colorado School of Mines
Valley City State @ South Dakota School of Mines (PK)
Black Hills State @ St. Thomas (PK)
Fort Lewis @ William Jewell College (-12.5)
Kingsville @ Colorado Mesa (-2.5)
West Texas A&M @ Western Colorado (-4.5)
Lincoln CA @ Adams State (PK)
MSU Texas @ CSU Pueblo (-6.5)

As you can see, of the games where spreads are available, Colorado School of Mines is the only home underdog.

[Packfootball]

Quincy University @ Chadron State (PK) Had to go with Chadron at home.
New Mexico Hilghlands @ Eastern New Mexico (-5.5) Portales over Las Vegas. Portales has the Valencia peanuts.
Grand Valley State (-7.5) @ Colorado School of Mines CSM at home in the upset.
Valley City State @ South Dakota School of Mines (PK) SDM at home.
Black Hills State @ St. Thomas (PK) Gotta go with BHS. They start the season strong!
Fort Lewis @ William Jewell College (-12.5) No Love for FLC!
Kingsville @ Colorado Mesa (-2.5) CMU has been going in the wrong direction and it continues.
West Texas A&M @ Western Colorado (-4.5) Gonna be tough to stop the option and WT QB can pass.
Lincoln CA @ Adams State (PK) Showing some Love to Lincoln, CA.
MSU Texas @ CSU Pueblo (-6.5) Pueblo at home.

[GoneBlastin]

Chadron I think Quincy is getting too much credit in the spread
ENMU
Mines to win outright so they ought to cover.
SDSM Returning Johanssen and against an NAIA
St Thomas They were good enough at the D3 level to make me think about picking them in this matchup
William Jewell - That FLC is a 12.5 point dog to WJC is really telling. Hope they get it it turned around down there. I want to continue to see football in Durango.
Kingsville - Losing Hunter hurts
Western Colorado - New coach and offense for WTAMU. I don't think they travel well this week.
Adams State - It's Lincoln. Seriously.
CSUP - This is a competitive team again this year. Wristen was great but I think Vigil was a good hire that will freshen up the message down there to reignite the program.

[mountaineermagic]

Quincy University @ Chadron State (PK)
New Mexico Hilghlands @ Eastern New Mexico (-5.5)
Grand Valley State (-7.5) @ Colorado School of Mines
Valley City State @ South Dakota School of Mines (PK)
Black Hills State @ St. Thomas (PK)
Fort Lewis @ William Jewell College (-12.5) Maybe it's wishful thinking but FLC has to have improved.
Kingsville @ Colorado Mesa (-2.5)
West Texas A&M @ Western Colorado (-4.5) Glad this is the first game because the Buffaloes should be a team that improves every week. Would be neat to see WCU get their first win over a LSC team, but I can see it going the other way easily.
Lincoln CA @ Adams State (PK)
MSU Texas @ CSU Pueblo (-6.5)

[mountaineermagic]

Chadron I think Quincy is getting too much credit in the spread
ENMU
Mines to win outright so they ought to cover.
SDSM Returning Johanssen and against an NAIA
St Thomas They were good enough at the D3 level to make me think about picking them in this matchup
Kingsville - Losing Hunter hurts
Western Colorado - New coach and offense for WTAMU. I don't think they travel well this week.
Adams State - It's Lincoln. Seriously.
CSUP - This is a competitive team again this year. Wristen was great but I think Vigil was a good hire that will freshen up the message down there to reignite the program.

Just noticed Fort Lewis & William Jewell is missing for ya. Thanks so much for putting this together again!

[Turbonium]

This will be the least I have known about the RMAC since 2008 so my odds of winning the pick em probably increased.

Quincy University @ Chadron State (PK)
New Mexico Highlands @ Eastern New Mexico (-5.5)
Grand Valley State (-7.5) @ Colorado School of Mines
Valley City State @ South Dakota School of Mines (PK)
Black Hills State @ St. Thomas (PK)
Fort Lewis @ William Jewell College (-12.5)
Kingsville @ Colorado Mesa (-2.5)
West Texas A&M @ Western Colorado (-4.5)
Lincoln CA @ Adams State (PK)
MSU Texas @ CSU Pueblo (-6.5)

[ZZBradley]

Quincy University
Eastern New Mexico
Grand Valley State
South Dakota School of Mines
St. Thomas
William Jewell College
Kingsville
West Texas A&M
Adams State
CSU Pueblo

[twolfbenchwarmer]

Quincy University
Eastern New Mexico (-5.5)
Grand Valley State (-7.5)
South Dakota School of Mines (PK)
St. Thomas
William Jewell College (-12.5)
Kingsville
West Texas A&M
Adams State (PK)
CSU Pueblo (-6.5)

[sportsvine]

Chadron is NOT at home. This thread, or at least, people's picks might need to be re-adjusted as Chadron's spread will change based on them being on the road. I am going to hold off on my picks until I see this adjustment made.

[ctrabs74]

Quincy University @ Chadron State (PK) - Well, Chadron isn't as bad as Quincy, so there's that I guess
New Mexico Highlands @ Eastern New Mexico (-5.5) - Winging it for this one
Grand Valley State (-7.5) @ Colorado School of Mines - Might very well be the D2 non-conference Game of the Year; Mines with the upset in Golden
Valley City State @ South Dakota School of Mines (PK) - Yawn
Black Hills State @ St. Thomas (PK) - Why am I having a hard time picking this one? I know the Tommies are still new to FCS, but crazier things have happened
Fort Lewis @ William Jewell College (-12.5) - If FLC keeps the Julies below 40 in this Game of the Weak, that's a huge upset; we're talking Cheyney-level bad football in Durango over last two years
Kingsville @ Colorado Mesa (-2.5) - Not overly confident in Mesa; TAMUK could make noise this season
West Texas A&M @ Western Colorado (-4.5) - WCU wins and covers, but WTAMU will make it interesting
Lincoln CA @ Adams State (PK) - I'm only picking this game so I don't get fined
MSU Texas @ CSU Pueblo (-6.5) - New coach, same results; favorable draw against mid-tier LSC opponent

[Packfootball]

Chadron is NOT at home. This thread, or at least, people's picks might need to be re-adjusted as Chadron's spread will change based on them being on the road. I am going to hold off on my picks until I see this adjustment made.

No change. I am still going with Chadron even on the road.

[FortLewis4Lyfe]

Quincy University @ Chadron State (PK) Tough to call, but I'll support my RMAC friends

New Mexico Highlands @ Eastern New Mexico (-5.5)
Even with the spread I think ENMU powers through similar to last year

Grand Valley State (-7.5) @ Colorado School of Mines
I think it'll be a super close game. Slightly favor the Lakers but I'll take the 7 and a half points .

Valley City State @ South Dakota School of Mines (PK)
Shouldn't be a close game

Black Hills State @ St. Thomas (PK)
I think the Tommies are a fantastic up and coming team

Fort Lewis @ William Jewell College (-12.5)
:(

Kingsville @ Colorado Mesa (-2.5)
I unfortunately think the mid tier LSC teams are better than the mid tier RMAC.


West Texas A&M @ Western Colorado (-4.5)
Western's failures against LSC teams continue

Lincoln CA @ Adams State (PK)
No idea

MSU Texas @ CSU Pueblo (-6.5)
I think pueblo is the clear second best team in the RMAC and will roll through this home opener.

[GoneBlastin]

Chadron is NOT at home. This thread, or at least, people's picks might need to be re-adjusted as Chadron's spread will change based on them being on the road. I am going to hold off on my picks until I see this adjustment made.

Thanks for the catch sportsvine, you are correct. Chadron is @ Quincy. However, I just doublechecked and the spread is still PK. If this changes anyone's mind, please update your original post and I will make sure the picks are logged correctly. Additionally, the original post has been updated.

[Fred]

:

Chadron State
Eastern New Mexico
Colorado School of Mines
South Dakota School of Mines (PK)
Black Hills State
William Jewell College
Kingsville
West Texas A&M
Adams State
CSU Pueblo (-6.5)

[FortLewisTillIDie]

Thanks for running the pickem GoneBlastin, aways fun to do no matter how abysmally I perform.

Chadron State @ Quincy University (PK)

Not at all confident, but Chadron is the team I know so they have my vote.

New Mexico Hilghlands @ Eastern New Mexico (-5.5)

I really like Highlands but with a new QB I am not at all confident in their ability here.

Grand Valley State (-7.5) @ Colorado School of Mines

I am rooting for Mines as always but I think they were very lucky to have the GV game as close as it was last year. I expect this one to be closer to the Ferris game than last years season opener.

Valley City State @ South Dakota School of Mines (PK)

SD Mines is on an upward trend and should be able to clear this team I have never heard of

Black Hills State @ St. Thomas (PK)
St.Thomas has a remarkably good record for such a new team, Black Hills is extremely good at proving me wrong though

Fort Lewis @ William Jewell College (-12.5)
Wish I could vote for FLC but until they get a 25+ point spread it is going to be tough. Still one of their best shots to get a win in so I will be watching with bated breath.

Kingsville @ Colorado Mesa (-2.5)
I was never impressed by Kingsville, even though Mesa had a stinky season last year, I have a feeling they will pull out of their spin.

West Texas A&M @ Western Colorado (-4.5)
Western had a great season and playing at 7,000 will have thise Texas boys feeling it.

Lincoln CA @ Adams State (PK)
??? Crazy they got an Oakland team playing in Alamosa

MSU Texas @ CSU Pueblo (-6.5)
Could go either way with the spread but the twolves have a lot to prove after their slow start last year