Pick 'em SoCon week #1 games

Power Guess:
Samford
Furman
Wofford
WCU
Mercer
The Citadel
UTC
ETSU
VMI

Picks:
Tenn. Tech @ UTC - 14
Shorter @ Samford - 28+
Furman @ Clemson - 28+
Newberry @ WCU - 28+
The Citadel @ Wofford - 1
VMI @ Toledo - 28+
Mercer @ Memphis - 24
Mars Hill @ ETSU - 24

No idea how to handicap a "power ranking" at this stage - Samford at the top spot, VMI at the bottom, everybody else "tied" for 2nd until I have seen at least 2 games against the same type of teams. For example, Mercer or Furman playing a P5 school relatively close doesn't tell me nearly as much as what they do against another respectable FCS opponent. Same as if WCU or Samford either blow their opposition away OR if we play a closer game than expected.

Citadel and Wofford obviously is the SoCon game of the week (the only conference game). I think it is going to be very important to see how the new Wofford staff does - some on the board were down on Citadel, but I think they are returning plenty of talent. I think this one could come down to whoever makes the fewest mistakes. We saw how the coaching change at UTC ended up last year. I expect that had more to do with the level that staff had to step up to, and Wofford's head guy has experience in the SoCon and even the ACC. But you never know.


Tenn. Tech @ UTC - 10
Shorter @ Samford - 28
Furman @ Clemson - 20
Newberry @ WCU - 21
The Citadel @ Wofford - 1
VMI @ Toledo - 28
Mercer @ Memphis - 14 to 17

Tenn. Tech @ UTC 17-10
Shorter @ Samford 42-6
Furman @ Clemson 45-17
Newberry @ WCU 38-17
The Citadel @ Wofford 21-17
VMI @ Toledo 31-3
Mercer @ Memphis 38-10
Mars Hill @ ETSU 45-21