New rankings and poll
Coach Charlie Hall and Devvon Gage
@SOURaiders @SOU_Football #NAIAFootball #PlayNAIA @NAIA @CoachHall_SOU @DevvonGage
Massey was impressed with Marian’s win; they jumped three spots to #1. Morningside beat Hastings 65-0, putting them in a two-way tie with the idle Raiders for the #2 ranking. Although Rocky Mountain also had a bye week, Massey moved them up a spot to #7, meaning #2 will be traveling to play at #7 this Saturday. Massey gives the Raiders an 80% chance of winning and picks SOU by 11 points.
The new 2018 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll came out today. My prediction from Saturday was nearly correct. SOU did move up to #2. St. Francis came in it at #5 instead of #4. The Raiders received two first place votes, not enough to overcome Morningside’s 13. The coaches are predictable–move up so long as someone above you suffers a defeat, drop if you lose even if it was to a great team. Therefore, preseason rankings mean a lot in NAIA football. That hurt SOU last year, and may hurt Marian this year. If Marian and SOU win out, expect to see them in Ashland on December 1.
