ESCC Week 12 Predictions

[ESCC fan]

After a 4-0 week, it's on to the quarters. Despite being "down" this year, it is a notable feat to have a team in each of the four "big" class quarterfinals. I'd guess that this has not been accomplished by many conferences.

Things get real this week:

Sterling-28 MCC-10...MCC's home field advantage slows down Sterling and keeps it close. I just don't see how the 'Canes score many points against a tough Sterling D that shut out Viator. Sterling moves on.

Naz-35 SHG-28...This one should be fun. GOTW in 6A for sure. I think Naz is putting it together really well and moves on to face PC.

Benet-20 LWC-14...I think Benet's defense is the difference here in a nice upset for the Redwings.

Loyola-17 Marist-10..Marist is a much better team than Hinsdale Central or New Trier. This game will not be a blowout in my eyes. Will be a slugfest with a late TD winning it for the Ramblers.

 

[Oddy]

IMO only Naz wins.

 

[Voodoo Tatum 21]

I haven't picked ESCC all year as I don't know the teams well enough - but what the hell - I am Jones'in to pick something and DVC only has one team left so here goes:

Sterling 31 MCC 14: Sterling D too tough for MCC to overcome (even at home)

NAZ 28 SHG 21: have these two teams ever played before? I know very little about either of them this year, but on paper it looks like a very intriguing game!

LWC 17 Benet 13: Two good defenses and two sluggish offenses - will be a defensive struggle - I think LWC Running offense wears down Benet D as I think the Benet O might have a lot of 3 and outs if they can't get their air attack going (Pass D is the Achillies Heal of LWC Defense IMHO). I am having Visions of the ESL game last year that popped into my head. I could be wrong - but if not - GREAT RUN by the Redwings!

Marist 24 Loyola 23: Am excited to see how this game turns out and this is my upset pick of the week. Marist Dline blocks a PAT in the 4th quarter to seal the victory.

 

[pjjp]

Nice run for the ESCC up to this point. Tough sledding for all this week.

Sterling over MCC.....this Sterling team is the real deal, and the relatively close game against GB South in round 2 gives me pause regarding MCC. Looks like it's the end of the road for the Hurricanes.

Naz over SHG....no clue about the health status of SHG. They seem to have things going. Gonna be tough to win in Springfield, and as others have pointed out in other threads, Naz does not always play well on the road. No surprise if the Roadrunners fall in this one.

LWC over Benet....I see this as a low scoring game as well. Giving the Knights the slight edge in New Lenox. Should be a very physical game.

Loyola over Marist....still not sure what to make of the Redhawks. They've run through a less than challenging schedule for an 8A power. This should be another very physical game with two good defenses. Marist is going to need to hit some big plays to win. They have the skills to do it.

 

[Southland Fan 2016]

Sterling
Naz
Benet
Marist

 

[DCH88]

MCC by 7
Marist in OT
Naz 3
Benet by 14

 

[lkhammer57]

Naz over SHG- Should be a fun one to watch between two state powers! I think Naz is going to be too much for Sacred Heart, Cyclones don't seem to be as good as those teams from previous years. Will be a long road trip for the roadrunners though, all in all it makes for a good match up in the quarterfinals

Lincoln Way Central over Benet- I really like LWC in this game, they were in a tight game with top ranked LWE earlier in the season, and I have LWC going all the way to the state game I believe, should be another fun matchup

Loyola over Marist- Extremely excited about this game, Marist definitely has the star power in this match up, but Loyola just has such a solid team all together with a great defense. Also, with my time around Holecek I have seen first hand how great of a coach he is, and I can't imagine picking against a team coached by him. Boyle is a great player to lead the offense and they have the ability to make plays, and keep the D line out of the game. So I picture the Ramblers winning this game in a close fashion.

Sterling over MCC- Originally I thought Marian would only be knocked out by Philips, but when I did some research on Sterling after the pairings came out, I had a change of mind. The 31-3 win over a Dekalb team that easily beat Montini made a huge statement to me. I still thought Marian would still have a good chance, but I still went with Sterling in my bracket. After the 48-0 win over Viator I felt way more confident in that pick, it seems like this offense can put up some serious points and have a strong defense too. Add in that there will not be any rain until some showers at night (from last time I checked), so I think my choice is clear. I don't think Sterling will continue their running clock streak, but I think this will be a game where Sterling will have control for most of the time.

All in all there are some GREAT matchups this week, that will be a ton of fun to watch, but I only see Naz moving onto the semis.

 

[Prowler2018]

Time for the ish to get real!!!! 4 great matchups and great to see the conference still going strong

Sterling @ MCC- Home field is an advantage, the whole may be sloppy and MCC is on a run....but still can’t see it? Sterling by 8 in the end. Great run by the Hurricanes the last 5 weeks speaks volumes for the program

Benet @ LWC- sorry but LWC has played this game before- great run , looks great , great record and then runs into a well tested ESCC team. Benet wins this one 22-14

Loyala @ Marist- wish I could see it. Marist is the real deal and finally gets it done against a big time program...Marist 27-21

Naz @ SHG- special teams, special teams is the word of the day. SHG can bring it and score with best of them, to me the battle of the trenches with the SHG online vs Naz Dline will tell the tale. The first couple of possessions for the cyclones could set the tone either way for both teams...if punts are occurring and they kick to Blakely, Evans, Love or Olgesby I’ll be surprised. I expect a lot of directional punting...Naz 27 SHG 20

 

[badfrog68]

Benet @ LWC- sorry but LWC has played this game before- great run , looks great , great record and then runs into a well tested ESCC team. Benet wins this one 22-14

Prowler,

Which game that they played "before" are you referring to? The only time that I know of that LWC played an ESCC team in the playoffs and lost was the 6 - 3 team that lost in the 1st round to Marist in 2008 (9 years ago so that was a slightly different team).

Don't think this a gimmee by any means as Benet has played a solid schedule and may have many of their kids returning from last years successful playoff run but I will go with LWC in this one.

LWC 28 - Benet 24

 

[diezel66]

Congratulations to ALL 4 ESCC teams for representing the conference well this year and making it to the quarterfinals...but we are not done yet:

MCC over Sterling - call me crazy but MCC is quietly under the radar right now with all the Sterling love. Sterling is a rock solid team and MCC will need to play mistake free football to win. At the same time, Sterling has not played a team as physical as MCC till right now...that will find out the hard way. The Hurricanes win at home...period.

Naz over SHG - Naz travels down to Springfield and continues rolling toward an eventual clash with PR in the 6A state title game.

Benet over LWC - do now know too much about LWC but I do know Benet's defense is lights out, rock solid. Defense wins this game.

Marist over Loyola - game of the week in the state if you ask me. Both programs are rolling right now and it will come down to who has the ball last as it will be a chess match back and forth. Marist is as well balanced of a team as I have seen all year and they make the big play when it matters to win this game.

Good luck to ALL four teams this weekend.

 

[Normdog]

MCC over Sterling - Going to be a close hard fought game. MCC stayed strong all year overcoming a ton of adversity, essentially playing must win games for the past 4 weeks. They have gotten healthy at the right time of year. Because they are at home on their grass, give them the slight edge.

NAZ over SHG - This game will come down to the first quarter. As long as Naz gets out fast in Q1 with some early success, they win. If they get stymied for a couple of quarters, might be a tough day.

Benet over LW Central - Benet defense has been tough all year, getting better each week. They are particularly strong against the run. Further they have seen near versions of LWC's type of offense a couple of times this year, so will not have as much confusion as if they were seeing it for the first time.

Marist over Loyola - In a very close game, probably decided by 1 or 3 points. In the Marist game I saw this year, they were very disciplined, very sharp, very focused and executed their game plan to a T. They play a total team game, combined with some serious talent and very good coaching. I thought with the turmoil in coaching so close to the season they would be less effective than previously, actually thought they were slightly better the other direction that prior years. Loyola is obviously a great team, but, taking Marist in a close one.

 

[tinman6500]

Diezel66 if you say defense is gonna win this game then the advantage goes to central. Central has only given up 86 points all year were benet has allowed 195 points. I’m not saying benets defense isn’t good but central defense is statistically better and this group has played together ever since they were 8 years old. They held Rockford East to -6 yards..... negative! To me that’s impressive for any team!

 

[diezel66]

Diezel66 if you say defense is gonna win this game then the advantage goes to central. Central has only given up 86 points all year were benet has allowed 195 points. I’m not saying benets defense isn’t good but central defense is statistically better and this group has played together ever since they were 8 years old. They held Rockford East to -6 yards..... negative! To me that’s impressive for any team!

Hey tinman6500 that is why these forums are fun...we all are entitled to our own opinions. I do respect yours and a defensive battle it sounds like it should be. I am just a supporter of the ESCC and seeing Benet's defense "live" brace yourself tomorrow. Enjoy the game.

 

[tinman6500]

Diezel66 i respect your opinion. I saw benets defense “live” vs Hononegah. They are good but i don’t think they are anything to fear! It will be a good game but i just think Central is the better team.

 

[Normdog]

Diezel66 i respect your opinion. I saw benets defense “live” vs Hononegah. They are good but i don’t think they are anything to fear! It will be a good game but i just think Central is the better team.

yeah, they only gave up 14 points, problem for them is Benet only gave up 10. Hard fought game, the better defense moved on

 

[polkhighhero]

I would argue the better offense and coaching staff (how do you use all 3 time outs before the end of the 4th quarter and not the first time this season?) moved one. No knock against Benet D, both did a pretty good job minus momentary lapses. Hat's off to Benet, and I hope they win it all now.