Legit Shot Group - Toughest Path of that group

[Go Apps]

Legit Chance -

SAm Houston (how good are they)
GSU (can anyone stop the option)
NDSU (closer games down the stretch makes them vulnerable)
Montana (all of a sudden they look great)
UNI (always solid could this be the year they win it all)
Towson (worst to first, but with no playoff exp I think they will lose)
ASU (a two personality team - capable YES of both losing and wining - which team shows up? and they struggle on the road - statesboro seems like an impossible trip)

Toughest Path
ASU - Maine, on road at GSU, NDSU, final against SHSt/Mont/UNI

or

Towson - Lehigh, NDSU, GSU/ASU, final against SHSt/Mont/UNI

Bottom half of the bracket is brutal seems to be a very wide open field - I also like Lehigh as a sleeper

[PantherRob82]

Bottom bracket is much tougher.

[WrenFGun]

Legit Chance -

SAm Houston (how good are they)
GSU (can anyone stop the option)
NDSU (closer games down the stretch makes them vulnerable)
Montana (all of a sudden they look great)
UNI (always solid could this be the year they win it all)
Towson (worst to first, but with no playoff exp I think they will lose)
ASU (a two personality team - capable YES of both losing and wining - which team shows up? and they struggle on the road - statesboro seems like an impossible trip)

Toughest Path
ASU - Maine, on road at GSU, NDSU, final against SHSt/Mont/UNI

or

Towson - Lehigh, NDSU, GSU/ASU, final against SHSt/Mont/UNI

Bottom half of the bracket is brutal seems to be a very wide open field - I also like Lehigh as a sleeper

Weird. I expect Montana State/UNH to beat Sam Houston. They haven't played anyone the caliber of either of those teams in FCS this season. Whoever wins that game would be in the final four, so I think they'd have a legit shot.

[Cleets]

Agreed - bottom bracket is indeed deeper (tougher)
Even the Week one first round teams are tough in the bottom bracket

(just my 2 cents)

[Reign of Terrier]

I don't see any mention of Wofford in this thread as a contender or pretender?

[Go Apps]

I don't see any mention of Wofford in this thread as a contender or pretender?

Hey being a fan of ASU and the Socon - I am hoping you prove me wrong but Wofford has not played as well of late and I think they will have a hard time with UNI - hoping you prove all of us wrong

[THE HERD]

I like the Griz's chances to make it to the final. They are playing really good right now and I like that side of the bracket.

[eagle07]

I say wofford drops uni

[JmuSkinsfan]

Not saying JMU is necessarily a title contender ... but they are 5-0 against FCS competition with Justin Thorpe at QB and a totally different team. JMU can shut teams down and run all over them and control the clock. Should be favored to get past EKU and then should give NDSU a run for their money. If JMU can get past NDSU ... look out

Last year twi 7-4 teams made the semis (Georgia Southern and Villanova) ... don't see why it couldn't happen again .. and JMU is the best 7-4 team in the field.

[boonegoon]

New Hampshire has a tough challenge. 2 trips to Montana in 2 weeks if they win. Do they stay?

[FCSbuff319]

I don't see any mention of Wofford in this thread as a contender or pretender?

I like Wofford's chances against UNI as that triple option would be lethal indoors. I doubt UNI has faced any speed running teams as they play in the traditional power run MVFC. Montana is not the same power run team anymore, so I could see them being able to adjust to an option better than in the past. Cal Poly always ran some sort of an option attack, so they do still get to see something along those lines.

I know they're the number one seed, but Sam Houston is a team I could see sneaking through the bracket. Most everyone on this board is either from the Southland conference or they think Sam is very overrated. Their turnover margin is extremely impressive. Although, a Stony Brook matchup could be very interesting. Their run attack looks rather dominant, and they have won 8 straight games.

Maine has the best chance to prove the CAA as the dominant conference by taking down two SoCon powerhouses. They haven't seemed to have a poor game yet this season, and they're coming off a loss. Towson has a crazy tough matchup bracket. If they win their first game against pass happy high scoring Lehigh, they would likely face power run defense minded NDSU, and then quite possibly an option attack out of Georgia Southern. It'll be interesting to see if West continues his scoring prowess. How do his touchdown stats compare to I think Omar Cuff the year Delaware finished second to App. St.?

It's setting up to be a crazy run with a lot of teams that could come out of this thing alive.

[Go Apps]

New Hampshire has a tough challenge. 2 trips to Montana in 2 weeks if they win. Do they stay?

I think they stay and find a place to practice...

[RichH2]

Bottom brackets definitely tougher but more interesting. Love and dread LU-Towson matchup.Expect a similar kind of score as LU-UNH and UNH-towson. Cousre hope for a better result for lehigh

[Go Apps]

I like Wofford's chances against UNI as that triple option would be lethal indoors. I doubt UNI has faced any speed running teams as they play in the traditional power run MVFC. Montana is not the same power run team anymore, so I could see them being able to adjust to an option better than in the past. Cal Poly always ran some sort of an option attack, so they do still get to see something along those lines.

I know they're the number one seed, but Sam Houston is a team I could see sneaking through the bracket. Most everyone on this board is either from the Southland conference or they think Sam is very overrated. Their turnover margin is extremely impressive. Although, a Stony Brook matchup could be very interesting. Their run attack looks rather dominant, and they have won 8 straight games.

Maine has the best chance to prove the CAA as the dominant conference by taking down two SoCon powerhouses. They haven't seemed to have a poor game yet this season, and they're coming off a loss. Towson has a crazy tough matchup bracket. If they win their first game against pass happy high scoring Lehigh, they would likely face power run defense minded NDSU, and then quite possibly an option attack out of Georgia Southern. It'll be interesting to see if West continues his scoring prowess. How do his touchdown stats compare to I think Omar Cuff the year Delaware finished second to App. St.?

It's setting up to be a crazy run with a lot of teams that could come out of this thing alive.

Hey Maine has beat us before in Boone in the playoffs they scare me!

[MTfan4life]

New Hampshire has a tough challenge. 2 trips to Montana in 2 weeks if they win. Do they stay?

Sorry, that's false. New Hampshire travels to Montana St in round two, and if they win they'd play the winner of Sam Houston vs. the play-in winner. There'd be no use staying if they have to go to Texas or somewhere back near home. The potential Montana matchup would be their third game.

[AppStsGr8]

I realize Maine lost to Towson and UNH. Depending on which App team shows up, Maine could very well walk away with the win. If ... such a large word to be only two letters ... the best App team shows up, the Mountaineers will be fine at home.

[boonegoon]

Sorry, that's false. New Hampshire travels to Montana St in round two, and if they win they'd play the winner of Sam Houston vs. the play-in winner. There'd be no use staying if they have to go to Texas or somewhere back near home. The potential Montana matchup would be their third game.

That makes it even worse. Talk about road weary.

[344Johnson]

This year seems more wide-open than last year or is it just me? No team has truly dominated the way I thought some team would.

[boonegoon]

I realize Maine lost to Towson and UNH. Depending on which App team shows up, Maine could very well walk away with the win. If ... such a large word to be only two letters ... the best App team shows up, the Mountaineers will be fine at home.

Looking at the stats, we match up about the same. The good news is that they aren't particularly stout against the run since our running game has been abysmal of late. Even though our run against numbers are pretty close, I give the nod to App due to the 800 games we played against triple option teams. That being said, anything can happen. Can't wait. 2 weeks??!!

[URMite]

Legit Chance -

SAm Houston (how good are they)
GSU (can anyone stop the option)
NDSU (closer games down the stretch makes them vulnerable)
Montana (all of a sudden they look great)
UNI (always solid could this be the year they win it all)
Towson (worst to first, but with no playoff exp I think they will lose)
ASU (a two personality team - capable YES of both losing and wining - which team shows up? and they struggle on the road - statesboro seems like an impossible trip)

Toughest Path
ASU - Maine, on road at GSU, NDSU, final against SHSt/Mont/UNI

or

Towson - Lehigh, NDSU, GSU/ASU, final against SHSt/Mont/UNI

Bottom half of the bracket is brutal seems to be a very wide open field - I also like Lehigh as a sleeper

Why don't you think MSU has a legit chance?

[BisonLakes]

Why don't you think MSU has a legit chance?

If they can't beat Montana at home then who in this field can they beat?

[344Johnson]

If they can't beat Montana at home then who in this field can they beat?

Football is a game of matchups. Maybe Montana State doesn't matchup well against Montana...but would do really well against a team who knocks Montana out of the playoffs.

[Catbooster]

If they can't beat Montana at home then who in this field can they beat?

Kinda like if you can't beat YSU at home, who in this field can the Bison beat? xsmiley_wix

Seriously, after last week I don't think we deserve to be in anyone's favorites list, but I still think MSU can potentially do well in the playoffs. We'll have to earn that respect by winning games.

I'm eager to see how the team responds to the loss to the Griz, especially since we were dominated. I think they will respond well and it will renew their focus, but xdontknowx

[Grizzaholic]

Kinda like if you can't beat YSU at home, who in this field can the Bison beat? xsmiley_wix

Seriously, after last week I don't think we deserve to be in anyone's favorites list, but I still think MSU can potentially do well in the playoffs. We'll have to earn that respect by winning games.

I'm eager to see how the team responds to the loss to the Griz, especially since we were dominated. I think they will respond well and it will renew their focus, but xdontknowx

You are still in my favorites list....and by favorites list I mean to win the Chipper.

[TwoFeathers]

I don't see any mention of Wofford in this thread as a contender or pretender?

I think Wofford will be tough for any non-SoCon team. Nobody in the country has the experience against the triple option like the SoCon, and it's diabolical.

[Walkon79]

My "real" favorites list is pretty short,

UM (Playing really well the past three weeks)
NDSU (Conference champs in what is arguably the toughest conference in 2011)
GSU (Ditto)

[ngineer]

Not saying JMU is necessarily a title contender ... but they are 5-0 against FCS competition with Justin Thorpe at QB and a totally different team. JMU can shut teams down and run all over them and control the clock. Should be favored to get past EKU and then should give NDSU a run for their money. If JMU can get past NDSU ... look out

Last year twi 7-4 teams made the semis (Georgia Southern and Villanova) ... don't see why it couldn't happen again .. and JMU is the best 7-4 team in the field.

I'm expecting a rematch of our exciting 2004 game!