Eight More Days!

Today's post is a bunch of rambling; you've been warned.

College Sporting News just announced their Missouri Valley Conference Preview; View it here. There are a few differences between their projections and mine; major differences include the position of Illinois State and Western Illinois.

NDSU's Fargodome last year against Georgia Southern in the Playoffs.

Miller:

#1 North Dakota State

#2 Illinois State

#3 Northern Illinois

#4 Youngstown State

#5 South Dakota State

#6 Indiana State

#7 Southern Illinois

#8 South Dakota

#9 Missouri State

#10 Western Illinois

CSN:

#1 North Dakota State

#2 Northern Iowa 

#3 Youngstown State

#4 Illinois State

#5 Indiana State

#6 South Dakota State

#7 Southern Illinois

#8 Western Illinois

#9 South Dakota

#10 Missouri State

Both Projections agree and have North Dakota State finishing #1. The Fargodome will certainly be a lively place (as it always is) in 2012. This preview also announced "Game of the Week" for each week in 2012. I have decided that I'll use these and do weekly featured previews on each "Game of the Week". 

Missouri Valley Conference Game of the Week

Southern Illinois @ Eastern Illinois, Aug 30

South Dakota State @ Southeastern Louisiana, Sept 8

Southeast Missouri State @ Southern Illinois, Sept 15

Northern Iowa @ Youngstown State, Sept 22

Western Illinois @ South Dakota, Oct 6

Indiana State @ North Dakota State, Oct 13

Southern Illinois @ Youngstown State, Oct 20

Illinois State @ Northern Iowa, Oct 27

Illinois State @ Indiana State, Nov 3

South Dakota State @ North Dakota State, Nov 10

South Dakota @ South Dakota State, Nov 17

Power Rankings

I really can't wait to start doing the Power Rankings. I've had a massive itch to stat punching in numbers for about three weeks now. Only eight more days left until I can start! I've also decided that I would leave out Strength of Schedule until the fourth or fifth week. This will make the SOS factor more accurate. After testing the system it turns out that teams that lost to FBS teams got a huge boost because the opponent win % plus the bonus they get for playing an FBS team. Once teams' records get to be more connected the SOS will be an accurate measurement device.

Also, I'm running out of ideas for polls. I've got a new one coming out at the end of the week. Please feel free to leave comments, concerns, ideas, or anything; I want to know what you guys want to see out of this blog for the duration of the football season and beyond.