01 LH D2 Poll Aug 24-25

Hopefully this poll will create some good discussion, and not lead to increasing your gambling habits.

Find it interesting that there is even close to a 50/50 split, let alone more people favoring Diamonds over Dallas Rush.

People that down on Rush, or that high on Diamonds?

bwgophers wrote:Find it interesting that there is even close to a 50/50 split, let alone more people favoring Diamonds over Dallas Rush.

People that down on Rush, or that high on Diamonds?

I think people underestimate the gap between finishing 9th in D1 and winning D3. I don't see any way Diamonds would score as Rush has a strong defense and I believe kept all defensive starters. On the flip side, I remember the Diamonds having a strong defense and Rush did lose some of their offensive weapons, so I am not sure how their new offense will gel. If we were still doing 30 minute halves, I would say look for a 0-0 tie, but that extra 10 minutes makes conditioning and experience more valuable. I'm picking Rush 2-0.

Blank77 wrote:

bwgophers wrote:Find it interesting that there is even close to a 50/50 split, let alone more people favoring Diamonds over Dallas Rush.

People that down on Rush, or that high on Diamonds?

I think people underestimate the gap between finishing 9th in D1 and winning D3.  I don't see any way Diamonds would score as Rush has a strong defense and I believe kept all defensive starters.  On the flip side, I remember the Diamonds having a strong defense and Rush did lose some of their offensive weapons, so I am not sure how their new offense will gel.  If we were still doing 30 minute halves, I would say look for a 0-0 tie, but that extra 10 minutes makes conditioning and experience more valuable.  I'm picking Rush 2-0.

I would tend to agree with you on this one. I haven't seen Rush play in quite a while, but going on the assumption that they had to have kept a majority of their roster from last year in order to keep their bye through the club switch, I can't imagine they will have that much of a drop off in quality.

We scrimmaged Diamonds a couple of weeks back, and while I feel they are a quality team that will be competitive, I don't think they are on the level of the top 3-4 teams in D2, which is where I would put Rush right now.

I'm with you in thinking Rush by 2, but it wouldn't shock me to see a draw or even a Diamonds win. I'm just surprised that there aren't a larger % of people favoring Rush in this game.

bwgophers wrote:

Blank77 wrote:

bwgophers wrote:Find it interesting that there is even close to a 50/50 split, let alone more people favoring Diamonds over Dallas Rush.

People that down on Rush, or that high on Diamonds?

I think people underestimate the gap between finishing 9th in D1 and winning D3.  I don't see any way Diamonds would score as Rush has a strong defense and I believe kept all defensive starters.  On the flip side, I remember the Diamonds having a strong defense and Rush did lose some of their offensive weapons, so I am not sure how their new offense will gel.  If we were still doing 30 minute halves, I would say look for a 0-0 tie, but that extra 10 minutes makes conditioning and experience more valuable.  I'm picking Rush 2-0.

I would tend to agree with you on this one.  I haven't seen Rush play in quite a while, but going on the assumption that they had to have kept a majority of their roster from last year in order to keep their bye through the club switch, I can't imagine they will have that much of a drop off in quality.

We scrimmaged Diamonds a couple of weeks back, and while I feel they are a quality team that will be competitive, I don't think they are on the level of the top 3-4 teams in D2, which is where I would put Rush right now.

I'm with you in thinking Rush by 2, but it wouldn't shock me to see a draw or even a Diamonds win.  I'm just surprised that there aren't a larger % of people favoring Rush in this game.

0-0. Rush with only 1 shot on goal. Diamonds with many.

ball striker wrote:

bwgophers wrote:

Blank77 wrote:

bwgophers wrote:Find it interesting that there is even close to a 50/50 split, let alone more people favoring Diamonds over Dallas Rush.

People that down on Rush, or that high on Diamonds?

I think people underestimate the gap between finishing 9th in D1 and winning D3.  I don't see any way Diamonds would score as Rush has a strong defense and I believe kept all defensive starters.  On the flip side, I remember the Diamonds having a strong defense and Rush did lose some of their offensive weapons, so I am not sure how their new offense will gel.  If we were still doing 30 minute halves, I would say look for a 0-0 tie, but that extra 10 minutes makes conditioning and experience more valuable.  I'm picking Rush 2-0.

I would tend to agree with you on this one.  I haven't seen Rush play in quite a while, but going on the assumption that they had to have kept a majority of their roster from last year in order to keep their bye through the club switch, I can't imagine they will have that much of a drop off in quality.

We scrimmaged Diamonds a couple of weeks back, and while I feel they are a quality team that will be competitive, I don't think they are on the level of the top 3-4 teams in D2, which is where I would put Rush right now.

I'm with you in thinking Rush by 2, but it wouldn't shock me to see a draw or even a Diamonds win.  I'm just surprised that there aren't a larger % of people favoring Rush in this game.

0-0. Rush with only 1 shot on goal. Diamonds with many.

Disclosure..................Not taking anything away from Diamonds or anyone else with this comment....................

Rush seem pretty inconsistent so far. Played in the Texas Summer Classic where they tied Cosmos and convincingly beat FC Dallas, while FC Dallas turns around and beats Cosmos. Not sure what's going on with the Rush crew or what's missing, but I'm sure Monty will figure it out well before seasons over. Teams are entitled to a bad game once in a while and seems it happens to teams more at the beginning of the season then the end while they're still trying to get back in their "groove". There were a few teams that have fallen into that category this opening weekend I think. Guess we'll see as the season goes on.

Good luck to all.

ball striker wrote:

bwgophers wrote:

Blank77 wrote:

bwgophers wrote:Find it interesting that there is even close to a 50/50 split, let alone more people favoring Diamonds over Dallas Rush.

People that down on Rush, or that high on Diamonds?

I think people underestimate the gap between finishing 9th in D1 and winning D3.  I don't see any way Diamonds would score as Rush has a strong defense and I believe kept all defensive starters.  On the flip side, I remember the Diamonds having a strong defense and Rush did lose some of their offensive weapons, so I am not sure how their new offense will gel.  If we were still doing 30 minute halves, I would say look for a 0-0 tie, but that extra 10 minutes makes conditioning and experience more valuable.  I'm picking Rush 2-0.

I would tend to agree with you on this one.  I haven't seen Rush play in quite a while, but going on the assumption that they had to have kept a majority of their roster from last year in order to keep their bye through the club switch, I can't imagine they will have that much of a drop off in quality.

We scrimmaged Diamonds a couple of weeks back, and while I feel they are a quality team that will be competitive, I don't think they are on the level of the top 3-4 teams in D2, which is where I would put Rush right now.

I'm with you in thinking Rush by 2, but it wouldn't shock me to see a draw or even a Diamonds win.  I'm just surprised that there aren't a larger % of people favoring Rush in this game.

0-0. Rush with only 1 shot on goal. Diamonds with many.

...as I stated, I'm not shocked. Good job Diamonds and welcome to D2!

83% called the Spirit vs. Solar Game correctly (Spirit 3 vs. Solar White 0)
74% called the Sting East vs. Sting Hilton Game Correctly ( Sting (Hilton) 3 vs. Sting East 1)
Dallas Rush vs. Diamonds resulted in a 0-0 tie which the Board basically called by having a statistical 50/50 split on the poll.
Same for DT Red North vs Liverpool Rush (2-2)
84% called Kicks over FWFC Black, yet the game resulted in a tie.

This first week seemed pretty clear for the board to call the games fairly accurately. I'm thinking of adding "tie" as an option on the next poll. See how that goes. September 7th Games Poll will go up after Labor Day Tournament Results provided I don't get hit by a bus.