Bracketology

[FargoBison]

My take...

Charleston Southern at Bethune Cookman vs 1. NDSU
SHSU at Montana State vs 8. McNeese State
William and Mary at Coastal Carolina vs 5. Fordham
Lehigh at Delaware vs 4. Maine


Tenn State at Chattanoga vs 2. EIU
San Deigo at NAU vs 6. SELA
Robert Morris at YSU vs 7. Towson
SDSU at Montana vs 3. EWU

Bubble: SC State, Jax State, JMU, Samford and SUU

[FargoBison]

College Sports Madness

San Degio at NAU vs 1. NDSU
Tenn State at Chattanooga vs 8. Fordham
Bethune Cookman at Charleston Southern vs 5. Montana State
William and Mary at CCU vs 4. SHSU


Colgate at Delaware vs 3. EWU
SDSU at Montana vs 6. SELA
YSU at McNeese State vs 7. Maine
Robert Morris at Towson vs 2. EIU

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/fcs-football/bracketology

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Lehigh at Delaware vs 4. Maine

YES, PLEASE

[FargoBison]

Sports Network

USD at Montana vs 1. NDSU
Chattanooga at Tenn State vs 8. SELA
NEC vs CCU vs 5. SHSU
Lehigh at YSU vs 4. Maine


NAU at SDSU vs 3. EWU
Charleston Southern at William and Mary vs 6. Fordham
Bethune-Cookman at Samford vs 7. Towson
McNeese State at Montana State vs 2. EIU

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/fcs/FCS_Bracket.pdf

[gotts]

College Sports Madness

San Degio at NAU vs 1. NDSU
Tenn State at Chattanooga vs 8. Fordham
Bethune Cookman at Charleston Southern vs 5. Montana State
William and Mary at CCU vs 4. SHSU


Colgate at Delaware vs 3. EWU
SDSU at Montana vs 6. SELA
YSU at McNeese State vs 7. Maine
Robert Morris at Towson vs 2. EIU

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/fcs-football/bracketology

The way it's shaking out, I think the first round games will have 10 east teams that can pull off 5 bus trips (CCU/W&M, TSU/Chatty, CSU/B-C, YSU/NEC Autobid, Delaware/PL Autobid). I think there's 6 west teams - due to conference affiliation (and general lack of team density), there will not be bus trips in the 3 first round "west" games.

I'm not sure the loser of SHSU/SLU next week grabs a seed, but who knows what else will happen. Either way, I think the SLC is solidly a 3 bid league.

[melloware13]

Lehigh @
Delaware @ #1 North Dakota State

Colgate @
Coastal Carolina @ #8 Towson

Tennessee State @
Montana @ #4 Maine

Chattanooga @
McNeese State @ #5 Fordham

William & Mary @
Montana State @ #2 Eastern Illinois

Robert Morris @
Youngstown State @ #7 Southeastern Louisiana

Charleston Southern @
Bethune-Cookman @ #3 Eastern Washington

San Diego @
Northern Arizona @ #6 Sam Houston State

[robsnotes4u]

College Sports Madness

San Degio at NAU vs 1. NDSU
Tenn State at Chattanooga vs 8. Fordham
Bethune Cookman at Charleston Southern vs 5. Montana State
William and Mary at CCU vs 4. SHSU


Colgate at Delaware vs 3. EWU
SDSU at Montana vs 6. SELA
YSU at McNeese State vs 7. Maine
Robert Morris at Towson vs 2. EIU

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/fcs-football/bracketology

I didn't look but are these after Saturdays games or after last week


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[robsnotes4u]

College Sports Madness

San Degio at NAU vs 1. NDSU
Tenn State at Chattanooga vs 8. Fordham
Bethune Cookman at Charleston Southern vs 5. Montana State
William and Mary at CCU vs 4. SHSU


Colgate at Delaware vs 3. EWU
SDSU at Montana vs 6. SELA
YSU at McNeese State vs 7. Maine
Robert Morris at Towson vs 2. EIU

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/fcs-football/bracketology

Because of regional games you would think they would have SDSU or Montana playing at EWU like last year when SDSU played NDSU


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Grizalltheway]

College Sports Madness

San Degio at NAU vs 1. NDSU
Tenn State at Chattanooga vs 8. Fordham
Bethune Cookman at Charleston Southern vs 5. Montana State
William and Mary at CCU vs 4. SHSU


Colgate at Delaware vs 3. EWU
SDSU at Montana vs 6. SELA
YSU at McNeese State vs 7. Maine
Robert Morris at Towson vs 2. EIU

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/fcs-football/bracketology

MSU as the 5th seed?? Good lord, after yesterday there's a VERY good chance they finish 8-4 at right on the bubble.

[FargoBison]

Because of regional games you would think they would have SDSU or Montana playing at EWU like last year when SDSU played NDSU


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Their bracket is a mess. YSU would be a lock to host Robert Morris due to proximity and I don't think they gave much thought if any in regards to potential second round match ups.

[van]

Lehigh @
Delaware @ #1 North Dakota State

Colgate @
Coastal Carolina @ #8 Towson

Tennessee State @
Montana @ #4 Maine

Chattanooga @
McNeese State @ #5 Fordham

William & Mary @
Montana State @ #2 Eastern Illinois

Robert Morris @
Youngstown State @ #7 Southeastern Louisiana

Charleston Southern @
Bethune-Cookman @ #3 Eastern Washington

San Diego @
Northern Arizona @ #6 Sam Houston State

There is no way Lehigh and Colgate are both making the playoffs. Come out from under that rock.

[kalm]

MSU as the 5th seed?? Good lord, after yesterday there's a VERY good chance they finish 8-4 at right on the bubble.

NAU would be seeded ahead of them for sure

[robsnotes4u]

MSU as the 5th seed?? Good lord, after yesterday there's a VERY good chance they finish 8-4 at right on the bubble.

I agree on the 5 the seed and remember theses are figured if the brackets were picked now, not if anyone loses or wins more games.

Most other brackets have neither Montana team with a seed which is the way I see it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[FargoBison]

Nobowls.com predicts the FCS playoff field...

SDSU at Montana State vs 1. NDSU
William and Mary at CCU vs 8. Towson
USD at NAU vs 5. Maine
Colgate at Delaware vs 4. Fordham


McNeese Stat at Montana vs 3. EWU
Jacksonville State at Chattanooga vs 6. SHSU
Charleston Southern at Bethune Cookman vs 7. SELA
Robert Morris at YSU vs 2. EIU

http://www.nobowls.com/

[kalm]

Nobowls.com predicts the FCS playoff field...

SDSU at Montana State vs 1. NDSU
William and Mary at CCU vs 8. Towson
USD at NAU vs 5. Maine
Colgate at Delaware vs 4. Fordham


McNeese Stat at Montana vs 3. EWU
Jacksonville State at Chattanooga vs 6. SHSU
Charleston Southern at Bethune Cookman vs 7. SELA
Robert Morris at YSU vs 2. EIU

http://www.nobowls.com/

I'd seed a 9-2 NAU over a 9-3 Southland.

[putter]

Don't want any part of SDSU in the 1st round...even at home they will be a handful.

[KWCAT]

NAU would be seeded ahead of them for sure

If MSU wins out, then they win the head to head with NAU.

[kalm]

If MSU wins out, then they win the head to head with NAU.

True. It would be a toss up as the resume's are close. NAU has no bad losses though and the committee has shown that H2H is not necessarily a deciding factor.

[KWCAT]

True. It would be a toss up as the resume's are close. NAU has no bad losses though and the committee has shown that H2H is not necessarily a deciding factor.


Fun to speculate; however when you think you understand the process frequently another reasoning can appear. MSU needs to complete 2 wins to eliminate the questions.

[dbackjon]

My take...

Charleston Southern at Bethune Cookman vs 1. NDSU
SHSU at Montana State vs 8. McNeese State
William and Mary at Coastal Carolina vs 5. Fordham
Lehigh at Delaware vs 4. Maine


Tenn State at Chattanoga vs 2. EIU
San Deigo at NAU vs 6. SELA
Robert Morris at YSU vs 7. Towson
SDSU at Montana vs 3. EWU

Bubble: SC State, Jax State, JMU, Samford and SUU

Mostly good, but at this point, NAU has a better case for a seed than either Southland team - I would put NAU at the 8 seed, and flip NAU and McNeese.

Then have SDSU travel to McNeese, and San Diego to Montana

[dbackjon]

Sports Network

USD at Montana vs 1. NDSU
Chattanooga at Tenn State vs 8. SELA
NEC vs CCU vs 5. SHSU
Lehigh at YSU vs 4. Maine


NAU at SDSU vs 3. EWU
Charleston Southern at William and Mary vs 6. Fordham
Bethune-Cookman at Samford vs 7. Towson
McNeese State at Montana State vs 2. EIU

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/fcs/FCS_Bracket.pdf

NAU @ SDSU? NO

[Professor Chaos]

Here's my take as of what the field would be right now (autobids in ALL CAPS).


CAA (5): MAINE, Towson, William & Mary, Delaware, New Hampshire
Big Sky (4): EASTERN WASHINGTON, Northern Arizona, Montana St, Montana
Southland (3): Sam Houston St, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA, McNeese St
MVFC (2): NORTH DAKOTA ST, Youngstown St
OVC (2): EASTERN ILLINOIS, Jacksonville St
Patriot (2): Fordham, COLGATE
Big South (2): Coastal Carolina, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Others (4): CHATTANOOGA (SOCON), BETHUNE-COOKMAN (MEAC), ROBERT MORRIS (NEC), SAN DIEGO (PIONEER)


Last 4 in: Montana, Delaware, Jacksonville St, New Hampshire
First 4 out: Tennessee-Martin, South Dakota St, Tennessee St, Samford


Winner of Chattanooga @ Jacksonville St
at
(1) North Dakota St

Winner of Charleston Southern @ Bethune-Cookman
at
(8) Southeastern Louisiana

Winner of McNeese St @ Montana St
at
(4) Maine

Winner of Colgate @ Delaware
at
(5) Fordham

Winner of New Hampshire @ Montana
at
(2) Eastern Illinois

Winner of Robert Morris @ Youngstown St
at
(7) Towson

Winner of William & Mary @ Coastal Carolina
at
(3) Eastern Washington

Winner of San Diego @ Northern Arizona
at
(6) Sam Houston St

[Professor Chaos]

Mostly good, but at this point, NAU has a better case for a seed than either Southland team
Why's that? Beyond Montana NAU doesn't have much for impressive wins under their belt. In fact I'd say each SLC team has a better win than on their resume; SELA over McNeese, McNeese over SHSU, and SHSU over EWU.

[KUlawJack]

NAU @ SDSU? NO

Why couldn't that happen? I am seriously asking. Isn't first round hosting solely on bids?

[chattownmocs]

How are y'all projecting where the games will be played?

[Twentysix]

How are y'all projecting where the games will be played?

Random guesses.

[Twentysix]

SELA will be the highest seeded team out of the SLC. They are going to eat up the Kats.

[BisonFan02]

How are y'all projecting where the games will be played?

I imagine SWAG guess on anticipated bid and the schools in question capability on making said bid.

[hebmskebm]

Here's my take as of what the field would be right now (autobids in ALL CAPS).


CAA (5): MAINE, Towson, William & Mary, Delaware, New Hampshire
Big Sky (4): EASTERN WASHINGTON, Northern Arizona, Montana St, Montana
Southland (3): Sam Houston St, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA, McNeese St
MVFC (2): NORTH DAKOTA ST, Youngstown St
OVC (2): EASTERN ILLINOIS, Jacksonville St
Patriot (2): Fordham, COLGATE
Big South (2): Coastal Carolina, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Others (4): CHATTANOOGA (SOCON), BETHUNE-COOKMAN (MEAC), ROBERT MORRIS (NEC), SAN DIEGO (PIONEER)


Last 4 in: Montana, Delaware, Jacksonville St, New Hampshire
First 4 out: Tennessee-Martin, South Dakota St, Tennessee St, Samford


Winner of Chattanooga @ Jacksonville St
at
(1) North Dakota St

Winner of Charleston Southern @ Bethune-Cookman
at
(8) Southeastern Louisiana

Winner of McNeese St @ Montana St
at
(4) Maine

Winner of Colgate @ Delaware
at
(5) Fordham

Winner of New Hampshire @ Montana
at
(2) Eastern Illinois

Winner of Robert Morris @ Youngstown St
at
(7) Towson

Winner of William & Mary @ Coastal Carolina
at
(3) Eastern Washington

Winner of San Diego @ Northern Arizona
at
(6) Sam Houston St

JVille State is hot right now, but they're not getting in unless they beat EIU. If they don't, and both them and Tenn St. finish 9-3, Tenn St. has the head to head win.

[MTfan4life]

My random stab at things.


1. North Dakota State

Northern Arizona
Southeastern Louisiana

Youngstown State
Robert Morris

8. Towson


4. Eastern Washington
Montana
San Diego

Montana State
Tennessee State

5. Sam Houston State


3. Maine
Coastal Carolina
Bethune Cookman

Delaware
Lehigh

6. Fordham


7. McNeese State
Jacksonville State
Charleston Southern

Chattanooga
William & Mary

2. Eastern Illinois

[kalm]

My random stab at things.

1. North Dakota State

Northern Arizona
Southeastern Louisiana

Youngstown State
Robert Morris
8. Towson

4. Eastern Washington
Montana
San Diego

Montana State
Tennessee State
5. Sam Houston State

3. Maine
Coastal Carolina
Bethune Cookman

Delaware
Lehigh
6. Fordham

7. McNeese State
Jacksonville State
Charleston Southern

Chattanooga
William & Mary
2. Eastern Illinois


You have EWU losing one of the final two?

[dudeitsaid]

You have EWU losing one of the final two?

He probably just believes that Maine will be given a higher seed by the selection committee than EWU, something I agree is a realistic possibility. Even though we are ranked more highly in several polls, the seeding seems to be an almost separate issue. In 2010, we ended the regular season ranked #1, but only got a 5 seed (which still worked out well for us, thankfully!)

[MTfan4life]

He probably just believes that Maine will be given a higher seed by the selection committee than EWU, something I agree is a realistic possibility. Even though we are ranked more highly in several polls, the seeding seems to be an almost separate issue. In 2010, we ended the regular season ranked #1, but only got a 5 seed (which still worked out well for us, thankfully!)

This. Both Maine and Eastern Illinois would be undefeated in the FCS if they win out. Maine would be winners of the CAA as the only team that rocked Delaware, and the only team that scored more than 24 on the best scoring defense in the country. EIU holds a dominating win over a FBS and also a near win to a still undefeated FBS team. I very nearly considered putting Sam in front of EWU considering the head to head Flanders showcase. If Eastern loses to Cal Poly or PSU, I'd be very very surprised if they got a top 5 seed.

[kalm]

This. Both Maine and Eastern Illinois would be undefeated in the FCS if they win out. Maine would be winners of the CAA as the only team that rocked Delaware, and the only team that scored more than 24 on the best scoring defense in the country. EIU holds a dominating win over a FBS and also a near win to a still undefeated FBS team. I very nearly considered putting Sam in front of EWU considering the head to head Flanders showcase. If Eastern loses to Cal Poly or PSU, I'd be very very surprised if they got a top 5 seed.

Well I of course think you're selling the BSC a little short here (bias acknowledged).

Maine has one low level FBS win, and unless Nova beats Delaware will have only three teams on their entire resume with winning records including a lower half MEAC and NEC.

EIU played a much better OOC but since SIU and ISUr still play each other, one of those wins will be against a sub .500. I think the OVC is improved this year but it's still not the Big Sky and it has to be tough ignoring the OVC's historical woes in the playoffs including EIU's shellacking at the hands of SDSU just last year.

If Sam wins out, and unless NWSU loses to McNeese this week, Sam will have only two wins against teams with winning records on their resume - albeit both high quality wins against ranked opponents including the H2H. And there's precedence for this as in 2010 MSU was seeded ahead of a higher ranked EWU.

To make Eastern's case...assuming PSU wins at home this week, we will have 4 wins against FCS teams with winning records two of which are currently top 15 and were top 10 at the time of our win. This wouldn't include a win against a likely .500 Poly who is comparable in quality to EIU's win against SIU, or One of Maine's wins against a middle of the pack CAA. And of course there's Oregon State.

All 4 teams are are good and what's interesting is none of them have a bad loss. You may be right in that the committee would seed us behind all 3...but I obviously don't think they should.

[MTfan4life]

Well I of course think you're selling the BSC a little short here (bias acknowledged).

Maine has one low level FBS win, and unless Nova beats Delaware will have only three teams on their entire resume with winning records including a lower half MEAC and NEC.

EIU played a much better OOC but since SIU and ISUr still play each other, one of those wins will be against a sub .500. I think the OVC is improved this year but it's still not the Big Sky and it has to be tough ignoring the OVC's historical woes in the playoffs including EIU's shellacking at the hands of SDSU just last year.

If Sam wins out, and unless NWSU loses to McNeese this week, Sam will have only two wins against teams with winning records on their resume - albeit both high quality wins against ranked opponents including the H2H. And there's precedence for this as in 2010 MSU was seeded ahead of a higher ranked EWU.

To make Eastern's case...assuming PSU wins at home this week, we will have 4 wins against FCS teams with winning records two of which are currently top 15 and were top 10 at the time of our win. This wouldn't include a win against a likely .500 Poly who is comparable in quality to EIU's win against SIU, or One of Maine's wins against a middle of the pack CAA. And of course there's Oregon State.

All 4 teams are are good and what's interesting is none of them have a bad loss. You may be right in that the committee would seed us behind all 3...but I obviously don't think they should.

Just two seasons ago, North Dakota State had one FCS loss vs. Sam Houston having zero FCS losses. NDSU had an FBS win over a Big Ten team and SHSU had a 3 point FBS win over a team that got outscored by 356 points that season. NDSU's best win was over a UNI team who was ranked #2 at the time. SHSU's best win was a September win over Central Arkansas. However, the committee still stated that SHSU's FBS win over the utterly terrible New Mexico was still an FBS win. The only reason I could guess that vaulted Sam into the 1 seed over NDSU was the fact that they had one less loss than NDSU.

Rankings or no rankings, both EIU and Maine would have zero FCS losses in this scenario, and SHSU would have the same amount of FCS losses as Eastern while also holding the head to head. Also, the committee always seems to like throwing an overcompensating bone to the OVC, so I'd be very surprised if EIU was ranked below anyone with more losses than them. Heck, Fordham might even get ranked up there simply because of their 0 in the loss column and that "one FBS win." If New Mexico in 2011 was seen as a quality FBS win by the committee, any FBS win would be.

[FargoBison]

Combining all the brackets posted in this thread into one....This is my first crack at making what I'll call AGS's Super Bracket....

McNeese St at Montana State vs 1. NDSU
RMU at YSU vs 8. Towson
Colgate at Delware vs 5. Fordham
W&M at CCU vs 4. Maine


SDSU at Montana vs 3. EWU
San Deigo at NAU vs 6. SHSU
Charleston Southern at Bethune Cookman vs 7. SELA
Tenn State at Chattanooga vs 2. EIU

Last Four Out- Jacksonville State, Lehigh, Samford, UNH

[McNeese72]

Combining all the brackets posted in this thread into one....This is my first crack at making what I'll call AGS's Super Bracket....

McNeese St at Montana State vs 1. NDSU
RMU at YSU vs 8. Towson
Colgate at Delware vs 5. Fordham
W&M at CCU vs 4. Maine


SDSU at Montana vs 3. EWU
San Deigo at NAU vs 6. SHSU
Charleston Southern at Bethune Cookman vs 7. SELA
Tenn State at Chattanooga vs 2. EIU

Last Four Out- Jacksonville State, Lehigh, Samford, UNH


Do you guys actually think that if McNeese finishes at 10-2 that McNeese will travel the first round much less play at Montana St., a team that lost to SFA?????

Doc

[superman7515]

Do you guys actually think that if McNeese finishes at 10-2 that McNeese will travel the first round much less play at Montana St., a team that lost to SFA?????

Doc

That's just a matter of who you think will bid higher. Remember, the committee matches the teams up in the first round by geography, to the greatest extent possible, and after they match them up, only then do they open the bids and the high bidder gets the home game.

[McNeese72]

That's just a matter of who you think will bid higher. Remember, the committee matches the teams up in the first round by geography, to the greatest extent possible, and after they match them up, only then do they open the bids and the high bidder gets the home game.


Well, if you read the playoff handbook, if it hasn't changed in the last couple of years since I read it, there is a lot of criteria that go into awarding home games and the bid is just one of them. And McNeese has a history of putting up some good bids.

If McNeese takes care of business the last two games against Northwestern St. and Lamar and finishes 10-2, I don't see McNeese traveling in the first round.

Doc

[Professor Chaos]

Well, if you read the playoff handbook, if it hasn't changed in the last couple of years since I read it, there is a lot of criteria that go into awarding home games and the bid is just one of them. And McNeese has a history of putting up some good bids.

If McNeese takes care of business the last two games against Northwestern St. and Lamar and finishes 10-2, I don't see McNeese traveling in the first round.

Doc
That criteria is mostly just fluff to make the NCAA out to not look like they're just doing a money grab. They say things like they'll factor in the welfare of the student athletes, quality of the facilities, etc but in reality the site is chosen almost completely based on the bid. Take for instance a couple years back when they awarded the JMU/EKU first round matchup site to EKU after the OVC "helped" with the bid or so was the rumor. To your point, if they know that both Montana St and McNeese are going to put in high bids (or draw well) they're less likely to pair them together and more likely to pair each with a lower bidding school but with as many bus trips as it looks like there could be in the east this year it may be that the western teams are going to have to play each other.

[FordhamFan]

Got a question for those of you who know this kind of stuff.

I know the NCAA is very picky about who they let host a playoff game. I've heard there are criteria to be met. My concern is that Fordham is very much in line to receive a home game, maybe two if they are lucky. The stadium here sucks. It's bleachers on one side, if you've ever seen it, you'd laugh hysterically that a top 6 team plays there.

Either way, does Fordham's bad stadium put them in jeopardy of losing their home game? Or would it really not matter? Because Wagner hosted a game last year and Fordham seats more than them.

I was just wondering because as a Fordham guy, I have no recollection of playoff anything. Thanks.

[Twentysix]

Got a question for those of you who know this kind of stuff.

I know the NCAA is very picky about who they let host a playoff game. I've heard there are criteria to be met. My concern is that Fordham is very much in line to receive a home game, maybe two if they are lucky. The stadium here sucks. It's bleachers on one side, if you've ever seen it, you'd laugh hysterically that a top 6 team plays there.

Either way, does Fordham's bad stadium put them in jeopardy of losing their home game? Or would it really not matter? Because Wagner hosted a game last year and Fordham seats more than them.

I was just wondering because as a Fordham guy, I have no recollection of playoff anything. Thanks.

The higher seed in each matchup hosts, you have to pony up a minimum amount of money as the high seed, that dollar value gets higher as the games go further into the playoffs.

When both teams are unseeded, its a blind bidding system, all the bids are placed in a few weeks, before the playoff selection is even done.

The NCAA isn't picky at all, if your stadium held 45 people, but Fordham ponied up a million bucks a game they could host no problem.

Some schools, like NDSU and Montana probably bid $200,000~ per playoff game.

[FordhamFan]

The higher seed in each matchup hosts, you have to pony up a minimum amount of money as the high seed, that dollar value gets higher as the games go further into the playoffs.

When both teams are unseeded, its a blind bidding system, all the bids are placed in a few weeks, before the playoff selection is even done.

The NCAA isn't picky at all, if your stadium held 45 people, but Fordham ponied up a million bucks a game they could host no problem.

Some schools, like NDSU and Montana probably bid $200,000~ per playoff game.

Got it. Don't know why I thought the NCAA was the problem. Thanks for the clarification.

[Twentysix]

Got it. Don't know why I thought the NCAA was the problem. Thanks for the clarification.

Fordham will probably host games all the way to the semifinals at which point Fordham will be sent to the 1 or 2 seed, likely NDSU and EIU, should they remain standing.

[Fordham]

The higher seed in each matchup hosts, you have to pony up a minimum amount of money as the high seed, that dollar value gets higher as the games go further into the playoffs.

When both teams are unseeded, its a blind bidding system, all the bids are placed in a few weeks, before the playoff selection is even done.

The NCAA isn't picky at all, if your stadium held 45 people, but Fordham ponied up a million bucks a game they could host no problem.

Some schools, like NDSU and Montana probably bid $200,000~ per playoff game.

Thanks - that's very helpful. Can you clarify your first line? If we are the higher seed it sounds like we automatically get the home game as long as we agree to pay the minimum, correct? What if we decline? I assume it goes to the lower seeded team at that point but what if we are playing a comparably uncommitted school who also declines to pay the minimum?

(Are we then both forced to play the game at Montana or NDSU? :p )

[superman7515]

If neither team bids, it would go to the higher seed, but it's rare that teams don't bid (Norfolk State).

[Twentysix]

Thanks - that's very helpful. Can you clarify your first line? If we are the higher seed it sounds like we automatically get the home game as long as we agree to pay the minimum, correct? What if we decline? I assume it goes to the lower seeded team at that point but what if we are playing a comparably uncommitted school who also declines to pay the minimum?

(Are we then both forced to play the game at Montana or NDSU? :p )

There is a preset minimum for each teir of playoff game.

I don't have the values on hand but they are in the FCS playoff handbook.

(Hypothetical numbers)

To host an opening round game the minimum bid is (i.e. the hosting team has to pay ATLEAST) $25,000.

The second round minimum would be $35,000. Quarterfinal $50,000. Semifinal $125,000. These are hypothetical numbers but they are in the right neighborhood.

The NCAA is given 75% of the profit made by the host institution from each playoff game or the hosting team's bid (the round minimum, if hosting by default), whichever value is higher.

If the higher seeded team can't afford the minimum, the other team will host, and I believe this has happened a time or two, but it is exceedingly rare.

I don't think your scenario has ever occurred, hosting is a huge advantage and most schools can afford the minimums without much problem.

[Twentysix]

The money the NCAA earns by taxing the hosts is used to pay for all participating teams travel, which is nice because any school that can field a team capable of making the playoffs can afford to participate.

[Fordham]

Thanks

[Fordham2012]

Thank you 26, very helpful.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

If neither team bids, it would go to the higher seed, but it's rare that teams don't bid (Norfolk State).

IIRC, Colgate didn't bid on the semi-final game in 2003. Or they opted out when they knew the game would be played in sunny, warm Florida rather than on the frozen tundra of upstate NY!! :D

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

A couple of years ago I believe the minimum bids were $30K for the 2nd round, $40K for the Quarters and $50K for the Semi-finals. And Fordham fans you have nothing to worry about as long as you bid the minimum. That was proven in 2005 when UNH was seeded and games were played at Cowell after minimum bids! Now if there was competitive bidding, I'd be worried because all those other criteria can be used by the NCAA to award a home game to the school with a lower bid. That's when the quality of your press box, your electronics infrastructure, whether TV cameras would face the sun, quality of the visitor's locker rooms, etc. can override the bid.

[dbackjon]

IIRC, Colgate didn't bid on the semi-final game in 2003. Or they opted out when they knew the game would be played in sunny, warm Florida rather than on the frozen tundra of upstate NY!! :D

They didn't bid. If NAU had beaten FAU in the Quarters, NAU would have hosted Colgate