Tuesday, November 18, 2014

SoCon Football Power Rankings (11-17-14)



Welcome to this week's Purple & Gold SoCon Power Rankings for the week beginning 11-17-14. The power rankings are published on Tuesday of each week.

There is three conference games this week, while two teams take to the road to challenge Southeastern Conference foes.  In conference play this week, the SoCon's two military schools renew their rivalry as conference mates when The Citadel travels to VMI.  The Mocs can wrap up a perfect season of conference play this weekend as they visit Furman, and Mercer looks for a second conference win against last week's surprise upset victim, Wofford.

In out of conference play, Western Carolina visits #2 nationally ranked Alabama, while Samford travels to #17 Auburn.



1. (1) Chattanooga
Last Game: UTC 38 - Tenn Tech 17
Record: 6-3 (6-0 SoCon)
Up next - at Furman, 3-8 (2-4)
The Mocs have locked up the 2014 SoCon Championship and the conference autobid to the NCAA tournament, and can wrap up a perfect season in conference play when they visit Furman.  The Paladins will be looking to knock of the number one team, and spoil their seeding in the NCAA tournament.


2. (2) Samford
Last Game: Samford 20 - The Citadel 17
Record: 7-3 (5-2 SoCon)
Up next - at #8 Auburn
With conference play over for the Bulldogs, they will travel to the place of their coaches former glory days, Auburn.  The Bulldogs will hope to keep it respectable with a very mad bunch of Tigers after they were knocked off by UGA last Saturday.


3. (3) Western Carolina
Last Game: WCU 42 - VMI 27
Record: 7-4 (5-2 SoCon)
Up next - at #5 Alabama
The Cats are celebrating their 7 win season and their share of a second place finish in the conference standings.  They will travel to Alabama for a game with the team that just knocked off the nationally #1 ranked Mississippi State.


4. (5) The Citadel 
Last Game: The Citadel 17 - Samford 20
Record: 4-7 (2-5 SoCon)
Up next - at VMI, 3-9 (1-5 SoCon)
The Bulldogs travel to VMI this weekend to play their most important game on their schedule, when they play in the "Military Classic of the South" for the "Silver Shako".  A victory in this game would go a long way to relieve the pain of disappointment in this years win/loss record for the Bulldogs.

5. (4) Wofford 
Last Game: Wofford 14 - Furman 31
Record: 5-5 (3-3 SoCon)
Up next - Mercer, 6-5 (1-5 SoCon)
All that's on the line this week for the Terriers is pride and honor.  After a disappointing loss to Furman last weekend, Wofford can still end the season with a winning record overall and a winning conference record with a victory over Mercer. Few would have given the Bears any chance of a victory in the game at the start of the season, but...


6. (8) Furman
Last Game: Furman 31 - Wofford 31
Record: 3-8 (2-4 SoCon)
Up next - Chattanooga, 8-3 (6-0)
The Paladins would love nothing better than to end a disappointing season with their second straight upset win.  While the Mocs are looking to go undefeated in conference play, the Paladins looke to play the role of spoiler in the Mocs prospects to receive a seed in the upcoming FCS playoff tournament.


7. (6) Mercer
Last Game: Mercer 56 - Warner 0
Record: 6-5 (1-5 SoCon)
Up next - at Wofford, 5-5 (3-3)
Mercer travels to Spartanburg for a game the Bears hope will result in their second conference win in their initial season in the SoCon.  While little was expected of them by their conference mates this season, the Bears have been competitive in most of their conference games, and hope they can pick up that second win from a down Wofford team.


8. (7) Virginia Military Institute
Last Game: VMI 27 - WCU 42
Record: 2-9 (1-5 SoCon)
Up next - The Citadel, 4-7 (2-4)
The Keydets play at home this season in that all important "Military Classic of the South" as they will play The Citadel for the right to maintain the "Silver Shako" for one year. A win in the game would certainly lessen the disappointment in what is a 2-9 record for the Keydets.  This one is usually a toss up.


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