Sycamore v Nazareth Academy
- Thread starter Northking44
- Start date
There are no upsets in this game. This is a pick em game with no favorites.
I think this has the makings of a great game.
I think both teams have a pretty sound defense so I am not taking the over in this one. It’s going to come down, in my opinion, to which team has more big plays. I think the calpreps line of 28-14 was a good line a few weeks ago but I see it closer now. Go Roadrunners!
Yeah I think Nazareth RB is a wisconsin Commit if im not mistaken, should be interesting how he does against sycamores Defense
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I’ve noticed Sycamore scores about 1 TD a quarter or 28 points a game against good teams, that said, if NAZ scores more than 28 points they will win. But no one has come close. Lots of shut outs. I think Kaneland was the only one and last to score on the starting defense in the regular season on a pass play.
So your saying Naz scoring on a pass play against Sycamore starting D +600?
Naz will be ready to play, but Sycamore is just too big and physical. Sycamore 35 Naz 14.
Yes please I’ll take Naz+21
I’d like to parlay that with the +600 prop bet as well
This game has Final Score of 14-13, 21-20, 13-10, etc... written all over it
All I know is I have made the trek out west on 88 3 times to watch them play and I only had a fun trip home the first time. This one not being at NIU gives me a little hope. That place, especially the visiting side, haunts me.
Godfthr,
If the game is close I like Naz by 3, if things get rolling they way they could, I hope for sycamore’s sake they have an answer in the middle of the field.
CalPreps has this game as Sycamore 31 - Naz 14. CalPreps is 24-4 in the 5A playoffs this year, has been within 8 points of their predicted spread when selecting a winner; and ~ 2 points under their predicted spread when selecting a loser.
I'm saying Sycamore 21 - Naz 12.
I'm saying Sycamore 21 - Naz 12.
Can we have a game thread that doesn't reference CalPreps?
I'd love a good breakdown and discussion. Admittedly, the Carmel game is all I was able to watch but it left me with a ton of questions two that I think will really be part of Saturday's storyline.
How many teams on Sycamore's schedule posed a legit passing threat that could stretch them?
-Carmel was up against not only a very stout defense but an incredible wind that really made them one dimensional and when they had to throw the ball it wasn't pretty.
How does Sycamore handle being down or in a close game of field position?
-again I only have seen the carmel game so they are genuine questions, because it seemed like Sycamore didn't have to go more that 60 yards the entire game.
If Naz can find a way to stretch them out and play the field position game, I feel that is the recipe for beating the already crowned 5A champs.
How many teams on Sycamore's schedule posed a legit passing threat that could stretch them?
-Carmel was up against not only a very stout defense but an incredible wind that really made them one dimensional and when they had to throw the ball it wasn't pretty.
How does Sycamore handle being down or in a close game of field position?
-again I only have seen the carmel game so they are genuine questions, because it seemed like Sycamore didn't have to go more that 60 yards the entire game.
If Naz can find a way to stretch them out and play the field position game, I feel that is the recipe for beating the already crowned 5A champs.
Will be interesting to see how Sycamore reacts if the game is close or Naz gets out to an early lead. Their 28-7 win over Kaneland was the closest game they had all year. No one else has come within 3 scores of them. Including the playoffs they have shutout 6 of their 12 opponents.
From the teams I know I would say Kaneland was probably the best passing team they saw but I can't speak to what type of offense Dekalb or Oak Forest runs. Typically Dekalb has good team speed but again, not sure about this year.
What about Naz? It doesn't look like they had to play from behind at all this year in their wins. Are they capable of coming back if they get down early against a good defense? Since they have a common opponent, have any of the Carmel fans seen both the Naz and Sycamore games?
I think 6.5 is closer to what it should be I DO like the calpreps conference comparison and without naming any names it turns out one team DID play a tougher schedule than the other by quite a bit. Which still leaves my unanswered questions, unanswered. Have they really been battle tested? Have they seen anything close to the competition they will see Saturday? Naz is a 4 loss team that gave up some scores but all 4 losses (if there is a such thing) I count as ‘good losses’
-Lemont 6A semi finals team with a legit shot at a title
-ND 6A school lost to a semi finals team with a legit shot at a title
-Marist 8a school loses in OT to a semi finals team
-Rita 7A semi final team with a punchers chance.
I’ve tried and tried all week to put myself in a place where I agree with a 3 score spread and I really can’t. That’s not to say it won’t or can’t happen, I just can’t get there. At least not yet.
-Lemont 6A semi finals team with a legit shot at a title
-ND 6A school lost to a semi finals team with a legit shot at a title
-Marist 8a school loses in OT to a semi finals team
-Rita 7A semi final team with a punchers chance.
I’ve tried and tried all week to put myself in a place where I agree with a 3 score spread and I really can’t. That’s not to say it won’t or can’t happen, I just can’t get there. At least not yet.
To play devil's advocate, if those are considered "good loses", who on Naz's schedule would you consider a "good win"? I know all wins are good wins but which games really stood out?
I think they technically came from behind in week 1 or the playoffs. However a better guage, at least for me, would be how they handled a safety being the only points scored the first defensive series in week 1 against Kankakee. The defense was able to answer the bell every single time and give the offense multiple chances to score. Now I know that’s only half the battle and the offense will actually need to score if they find themselves trailing, but I also think everyone who has seen Naz would agree it is not the same offense as it was in week one. They grew up and things started to come together toward the end of the season and the scores reflect that. Morgan Park isn’t a world beater but they are always among the top in the CPL and to shut down that team speed along with Kankakees, gives me some sense a relief.
Ahhh yes! Very good point. Therein lies the conundrum and why I am afraid to make the trek out to sycamore….playoff games aside, Naz beat Kankakee while not a showstopper of a performance on offense the D certainly put out there. The only other playoff team was Carmel and that was about as close as the Sycamore Carmel game. That being said they were able to dispatch the others in a convincing fashion. They were staring a very long offseason in the face from week 6 on and came through the gauntlet of a schedule battling injuries. So while none of their regular season wins are really significant standouts I think it’s the overall picture that better tells the story of their season.
4Afan or anyone else,
What is Sycamore’s preferred defense, line as well as coverage schemes? Asking for a friend.
I would have to defer to one of the Carmel fans or a fellow Morris fan. Haven't seen them in person this year but historically it's been a 4-3 defense with very athletic LBs. They don't do anything fancy but are well coached and very fundamentally sound. Naz will have to win the game, Sycamore is unlikely to beat themselves.
These teams are too hard to compare because they play much different opponents and Sycamore's conference doesn't play any non conference games which I think hurts that conference.
Mark my words this will be a close game and the winner will win by 7 or less points.
Mark my words this will be a close game and the winner will win by 7 or less points.
I8
Not that it matters a whole lot, but Sycamore's first 2 games are non-conference (Dekalb and Oak Forest)
Not that it matters a whole lot, but Sycamore's first 2 games are non-conference (Dekalb and Oak Forest)
4afan,
I followed that much I was looking more to scheme for the line and what they are doing in coverage. 0,1high,2,2cloud,3,4,6cloud etc.
Don't think there's any Sycamore faithful around here. Other than them I don't think anyone has seen them enough to answer that.
I only watched the first half of Carmel but from what I remember they had 3 guys with hands in the dirt doesn’t mean they don’t have a standup end. I also saw a lot of single high looks but again that is off of memory from a game where the wind itself stymied any sort of throwing game in my opinion.
Rochell was non con as well. The Kishwaukee River/Interstate 8 or whatever the hell we call that conference now plays 3 non conference games.
Rochelle is a cross over with the other division. I believe it's set up where 1st place places 1st place, 2nd plays 2nd, etc... Sycamore and Rochelle were both 2nd last year
Weather could play a role this week as well. Weather on Saturday for Sycamore is high of 25, Low of 8, and 20 mph winds.
I'll take the under.
I’m not sure the exact numbers but that same afternoon in that same wind Naz QB threw about 20-25 times for about 140ish and 3 TDs against what was touted as a tough defensively sound and well coached Boylan team.
Which is another reason why I am so curious as to who they have played that throws the ball well and how they managed.
