Pick and Pair Your Playoff Sixteen

[JMU Duke Dog]

Pick your 16 playoff teams out of those still eligible (can still reach the 7 Div. I wins level) and pair them up best as you see fit (or try how you think the playoff committee would do it). Good luck! xthumbsupx

Records are through Nov. 3 and reflect only Div. I games.
Remaining games for each opponent are italicized.
Bolded teams have already clinched automatic qualifier.

Big Sky
Montana 8-0 (11/10 at Idaho State, 11/17 at Montana State)
Eastern Washington 5-3 (11/10 at Northern Arizona, 11/17 Weber State)

CAA
Delaware 7-1 (11/10 Richmond, 11/17 at Villanova)
Hofstra 7-2 (11/10 at Northeastern, 11/17 Massachusetts)
Massachusetts 7-2 (11/10 New Hampshire, 11/17 at Hofstra)
Richmond 7-2 (11/10 at Delaware, 11/17 William & Mary)
James Madison 6-3 (11/10 at William & Mary, 11/17 Towson)
New Hampshire 6-3 (11/10 at Massachusetts, 11/17 Maine)
Villanova 5-4 (11/10 at Towson, 11/17 Delaware)

Gateway
Northern Iowa 8-0 (11/10 Indiana State, 11/17 Southern Utah)
Southern Illinois 7-1 (11/10 Illinois State, 11/17 at Hampton)

Great West
Cal Poly 5-3 (11/10 North Dakota State, 11/17 Iona)

MEAC
Delaware State 8-1 (11/10 Norfolk State, 11/17 Howard)
Norfolk State 6-2 (11/10 at Delaware State, 11/17 Winston-Salem)
South Carolina State 5-4 (11/10 Morgan State, 11/17 North Carolina A&T)
Hampton 5-4 (11/10 Florida A&M, 11/17 Southern Illinois)

Northeast
Albany 6-3 (11/10 at Monmouth, 11/17 at Central Connecticut State)
Wagner 5-3 (11/10 St. Francis-PA, 11/17 at Jacksonville)

Ohio Valley
Eastern Kentucky 7-2 (11/10 at Austin Peay, 11/17 Tennessee Tech)
Eastern Illinois 6-3 (11/10 at Jacksonville State, 11/17 Samford)
Jacksonville State 6-3 (11/10 Eastern Illinois, 11/17 at Southeast Missouri State)
Austin Peay 5-3 (11/10 Eastern Kentucky, 11/17 at Murray State)

Patriot
Fordham 8-2 (11/17 Bucknell)
Colgate 6-3 (11/10 at Georgetown, 11/17 at Holy Cross)
Holy Cross 6-3 (11/10 Lafayette, 11/17 Colgate)
Lafayette 5-4 (11/10 at Holy Cross, 11/17 at Lehigh)

Pioneer
Dayton 7-1 (11/10 at Drake)
San Diego 7-1 (11/10 at Morehead State, 11/17 at UC-Davis)
Morehead State 6-2 (11/10 San Diego, 11/17 at Western Kentucky)

Southern
Appalachian State 6-2 (11/10 Western Carolina, 11/17 UT-Chattanooga)
Georgia Southern 6-2 (11/10 Furman, 11/17 at Colorado State)
Wofford 6-3 (11/10 at UT-Chattanooga)
Elon 5-3 (11/10 at The Citadel, 11/17 Stony Brook)

Southland
McNeese State 8-0 (11/10 Northwestern State, 11/17 Central Arkansas)

[FargoBison]

1.UNI vs EWU

Georgia Southern vs Richmond

Umass vs Fordham

4.Delaware vs Delaware State


2.Montana vs James Madison

SIU vs Wofford

App State vs EKU

4.McNeese State vs Elon

[TexasTerror]

Yeah, I know I'll get some hate on this one...but the playoff picture is so muddy right now. It'll clear up next week!

Autos:
Big Sky: Montana
CAA: Delaware
Gateway: UNI
MEAC: Delaware St
OVC: EKU
Patriot: Fordham
Southern: Georgia Southern
SLC: McNeese

At-Large:
CAA: James Madison, UMass, Richmond
Gateway: S Illinois
OVC: Eastern Illinois
Southern: Elon, Wofford, Appalachian St


Elon @ UNI (1)
James Madison @ Georgia Southern

Fordham @ UMass
Delaware St @ Delaware (4)

Eastern Kentucky @ Montana (3)
Eastern Illinois @ Southern Illinois

Richmond @ Appalachian St
Wofford @ McNeese (2)

[JMU Duke Dog]

My prediction...


Automatic Qualifiers:
Big Sky: Montana
CAA: Delaware
Gateway: Northern Iowa
MEAC: Delaware State
Ohio Valley: Eastern Kentucky
Patriot: Fordham
Southern: Georgia Southern
Southland: McNeese State

At-Large Teams:
Big Sky: Eastern Washington
CAA: Massachusetts, Richmond, James Madison
Gateway: Southern Illinois
Patriot: Holy Cross
Southern: Wofford, Appalachian State

Playoff Pairings:
Holy Cross (8-3) at #1 Northern Iowa (11-0)
James Madison (8-3) at Appalachian State (9-2)

Delaware State (9-2) at #4 Delaware (10-1)
Fordham (9-2) at Massachusetts (9-2)

Eastern Kentucky (8-3) at #3 Montana (11-0)
Eastern Washington (8-3) at Southern Illinois (10-1)

Wofford (8-3) at #2 McNeese State (11-0)
Richmond (8-3) at Georgia Southern (8-3)


Your thoughts?

[GreatAppSt]

Please let's have the least amount of possible in conference rematches in the second round as needed. Spread 'em out CAA, Gateway, Southern, Big Sky. That way we should see who had the best conference this season.xthumbsupx

[igo4uni]

I really like The Who.

[skinny_uncle]

I really like The Who.

Is that because this "Ain't No Time for the Summertime Blues"?

[skinny_uncle]

Please let's have the least amount of possible in conference rematches in the second round as needed. Spead 'em out CAA, Gateway, Southern, Big Sky. That way we should see who had the best conference this season.xthumbsupx

With regionalization, there are often conference rematches in the second round.

[bigskyrocks]

Big Sky: Montana
CAA: Delaware
Gateway: Northern Iowa
MEAC: Delaware State
Ohio Valley: Eastern Kentucky
Patriot: Fordham
Southern: Georgia Southern
Southland: McNeese State

At large

CAA: Massachusetts, Richmond, James Madison
Gateway: Southern Illinois
Patriot: Holy Cross
Southern: Wofford, Appalachian State
SWAC: Alabama A&M

i wont go into pairings just yet, im going to throw these teams out there and see what you all have to say. Alabama A&M needs to lose to Jackson st. then win out and they will finish second in there division and still be 9-2 and would have a pretty good shot to make it in, although they would get rewarded with either a trip to Mcneese (most likly) or a trip to Wa Griz

[UMass922]

Eastern Illinois @ Northern Iowa (1)
Norfolk State @ Richmond

Fordham @ Massachusetts
Delaware State @ Delaware (4)

Eastern Kentucky @ Montana (3)
Southern Illinois @ Georgia Southern

James Madison @ Appalachian State
Alabama A&M @ McNeese State (2)


NOTES:

- Two from the MEAC probably won't make it, but what the hey. Just curious to speculate how the bracket would look if it happened. (Also I'm strongly east-coast biased.)

- I won't be surprised at all if UMass totally collapses and misses the playoffs. But I'm trying to be hopeful.

- I'm assuming GSU would get the home game over SIU. There's always one team that undeservedly gets sent on the road, and it happened to SIU in '03 (got sent to Delaware), so it might as well happen to 'em again.

EDIT: I'm replacing Wofford with Alabama A&M, just for kicks.

[joecooll6]

Big Sky: Montana
CAA: Delaware
Gateway: Northern Iowa
MEAC: Delaware State
Ohio Valley: Eastern Kentucky
Patriot: Fordham
Southern: Georgia Southern
Southland: McNeese State

At large

CAA: Massachusetts, Richmond, James Madison
Gateway: Southern Illinois
Patriot: Holy Cross
Southern: Wofford, Appalachian State
SWAC: Alabama A&M

i wont go into pairings just yet, im going to throw these teams out there and see what you all have to say. Alabama A&M needs to lose to Jackson st. then win out and they will finish second in there division and still be 9-2 and would have a pretty good shot to make it in, although they would get rewarded with either a trip to Mcneese (most likly) or a trip to Wa Griz

There wont be a SWAC team in the playoffs.

[UNHWildCats]

I suck at making brackets but here goes... this is based on how I think teams will finish the remaining schedules.

1. Northern Iowa (11-0)
Colgate (8-3)

Georgia Southern (9-2)
James Madison (8-3)

Massachusetts (8-3)
Fordham (9-2)

4. McNeese State (11-0)
Eastern Kentucky (9-2)



3. Delaware (9-2)
Delaware State (10-1)

Southern Illinois (10-1)
Richmond (8-3)

Appalachian State (8-3)
New Hampshire (8-3)

2. Montana (10-1)
Hofstra (8-3)


Hofstra was a tough choice to put in but I think Elon and Wofford will both lose and not be atlarge eligible, I put Hofstra over a 3rd Patriot team at 7-4 and over a second OVC team.

I know 5 is crazy never mind 6, and i agree with everyone whos gonna call my picks crazy and stupid.... but oh well.... attack away :p

[AZGrizFan]

Big Sky: Montana
CAA: Delaware
Gateway: Northern Iowa
MEAC: Delaware State
Ohio Valley: Eastern Kentucky
Patriot: Fordham
Southern: Georgia Southern
Southland: McNeese State

At large

CAA: Massachusetts, Richmond, James Madison
Gateway: Southern Illinois
Patriot: Holy Cross
Southern: Wofford, Appalachian State
SWAC: Alabama A&M

i wont go into pairings just yet, im going to throw these teams out there and see what you all have to say. Alabama A&M needs to lose to Jackson st. then win out and they will finish second in there division and still be 9-2 and would have a pretty good shot to make it in, although they would get rewarded with either a trip to Mcneese (most likly) or a trip to Wa Griz


Dude....SWAC doesn't participate. xcoolx

[UMass922]

Dude....SWAC doesn't participate. xcoolx

The only SWAC teams that can't participate are Grambling, Southern, Alabama State, and the two teams that play in the SWAC Championship Game. All others are eligible for the playoffs, and I'm sure would accept a bid if offered one. AAMU could finish 9-2 (with 8 D-I wins), finish second in the SWAC East, and thus be available for the playoffs. Not likely to happen, but it's possible.

[Ud1Hens]

3. Delaware (9-2)
Delaware State (10-1)
:p

If Delaware loses one of their next two games they won't get a # 3 seed. For Richmond to be 8-3 and Delaware finish 9-2 that means UD would have to beat UR and lose to Villanova (not likely) or have UR beat UD then lose to W&M. The more likely scenario is UD wins out, UR wins their last game.

[UNHWildCats]

Richmond beats Delaware and loses the following weekend to W&M Delaware wins its game against Villanova UD 9-2 Richmond 8-3

[pantherclaw]

My prediction...


Automatic Qualifiers:
Big Sky: Montana
CAA: Delaware
Gateway: Northern Iowa
MEAC: Delaware State
Ohio Valley: Eastern Kentucky
Patriot: Fordham
Southern: Georgia Southern
Southland: McNeese State

At-Large Teams:
Big Sky: Eastern Washington
CAA: Massachusetts, Richmond, James Madison
Gateway: Southern Illinois
Patriot: Holy Cross
Southern: Wofford, Appalachian State

Playoff Pairings:
Holy Cross (8-3) at #1 Northern Iowa (11-0)
James Madison (8-3) at Appalachian State (9-2)

Delaware State (9-2) at #4 Delaware (10-1)
Fordham (9-2) at Massachusetts (9-2)

Eastern Kentucky (8-3) at #3 Montana (11-0)
Eastern Washington (8-3) at Southern Illinois (10-1)

Wofford (8-3) at #2 McNeese State (11-0)
Richmond (8-3) at Georgia Southern (8-3)


Your thoughts?

That would be sweet to have the Apps come to DOME. that would be an awesome game.

[Ud1Hens]

Richmond beats Delaware and loses the following weekend to W&M Delaware wins its game against Villanova UD 9-2 Richmond 8-3

I know how it could happen but if UR goes to UD and wins I don't think they'd lose to W&M. Then again after this weekend anything could happen...

[Mr. Tiger]

The only SWAC teams that can't participate are Grambling, Southern, Alabama State, and the two teams that play in the SWAC Championship Game. All others are eligible for the playoffs, and I'm sure would accept a bid if offered one. AAMU could finish 9-2 (with 8 D-I wins), finish second in the SWAC East, and thus be available for the playoffs. Not likely to happen, but it's possible.

Not as unlikely as some think. Alabama A&M would need help, a few more upsets in the CAA and Southern Conference.

[LehighFan11]

Everyone can leave all patriot league schools off their at large bid lists. There is no chance Holy Cross or Colgate will get in. The Patriot league has lost their right to have an at large team. Respect must be earned back with wiins OOC

[UNHWildCats]

I know how it could happen but if UR goes to UD and wins I don't think they'd lose to W&M. Then again after this weekend anything could happen...

coming off a huge win against Delaware there could be a letdown factor.

[UMass922]

Not as unlikely as some think. Alabama A&M would need help, a few more upsets in the CAA and Southern Conference.

Agreed. Some of those CAA and SoCon teams are in a more precarious position than they might seem at first glance. It's unlikely that those two conferences will combine for eight or nine bids, as some have been speculating/prediction the last few weeks; it's plausible now that they could combine for as few as six, or even five.

[McNeese_beat]

1. Northern Iowa (Gateway) vs. Eastern Kentucky
App. State vs. Hofstra
4. Delaware (CAA) vs. Delaware State (MEAC)
UMass vs. Fordham (PL)
3. Montana (Big Sky) vs. Wofford
Georgia Southern (Southern) vs. Richmond
4. McNeese (Southland) vs. Eastern Washington
Southern Illinois vs. James Madison

Home teams listed first

Others to keep an eye on:
Elon (predicting upset by the Citadel)
New Hampshire (in by beating UMass)
Norfolk State (in by beating Delaware State)
Cal Poly (in by upsetting North Dakota State)
Eastern Illinois/Jax State winner (bubble at 8-3)
Colgate/Holy Cross winner (bubble at 8-3 by winning out)

[UMass922]

1. Northern Iowa (Gateway) vs. Eastern Kentucky
App. State vs. Hofstra
4. Delaware (CAA) vs. Delaware State (MEAC)
UMass vs. Elon
3. Montana (Big Sky) vs. Wofford
Georgia Southern (Southern) vs. Richmond
4. McNeese (Southland) vs. Eastern Washington
Southern Illinois vs. James Madison


You're missing Fordham . . .

[McNeese_beat]

You're missing Fordham . . .

Thanks, I knew I had somebody I was going to send to UMass and I forgot who so I picked Elon off the top of the bubble list...but it's fixed...

I was trying to set up second-round intrigue. UMass vs. Delaware in the game that didn't happen in the regular season... No. 1 vs. defending champs...two traditional powers in Montana and GSU ... and McNeese vs. the son of one of McNeese's all-time greats (Brandin Jordan, son of McNeese HOF Buford Jordan)

[JMU Duke Dog]

That would be sweet to have the Apps come to DOME. that would be an awesome game.

Who says Appalachian State and not James Madison would be the one playing at Northern Iowa in the second round? xnonox

Okay, I will admit that I am just messing around. The Dukes must take care of the Tribe this weekend first before too many thoughts about the playoffs! xcoachx

[blur2005]

Who says Appalachian State and not James Madison would be the one playing at Northern Iowa in the second round? xnonox

Okay, I will admit that I am just messing around. The Dukes must take care of the Tribe this weekend first before too many thoughts about the playoffs! xcoachx
And Towson. I really wish JMU could've somehow pulled it out against Delaware. Tough losing by 3 points.

[JMU Duke Dog]

And Towson. I really wish JMU could've somehow pulled it out against Delaware. Tough losing by 3 points.

If JMU can play hard and smart football for 120 minutes (not counting any possible overtime) and win against William & Mary and Towson, then I hope the committee will see that JMU lost to two potential playoff teams (Richmond and Delaware) by a combined four points and a FBS team (UNC).

[AlphaSigMD]

That would be sweet to have the Apps come to DOME. that would be an awesome game.

I'd rather see it at the semifinals with ASU having the 4 seed. Much more exciting that way.

Delaware will likely lose to URichmond, and SIU may need to lose to Hampton or Ill State.

Such things can happen.

Also, it would not be "fair" but i could see ASU at 9-2 getting the seed over a 10-1 SIU team. There have been wierder things to happen with the committee. I'm sure you'll disagree though...

[Ronbo]

Some of you are savvy. Most are not. An 11-0 Montana gets the #2 seed. Bet your house on it.xlolx

[HENJOHN]

[QUOTE=AlphaSigMD;724300]I'd rather see it at the semifinals with ASU having the 4 seed. Much more exciting that way.

Delaware will likely lose to URichmond, and SIU may need to lose to Hampton or Ill State.



Just curious, why is that "likely"?

[GaSouthern]

I just wanna see JMU, Richmond, or EKU come to paulson for the first round suggesting we can squeak past furman. All great teams that we have not played recently.

[appfan2008]

Some of you are savvy. Most are not. An 11-0 Montana gets the #2 seed. Bet your house on it.xlolx

Of course that will happen... you are crazy if you dont believe it will because the committee loves your wa griz stadium...

[appfan2008]

from what i can tell... people have app playing at home in the first round and then after a hopeful win they have us going anywhere... I have seen mcneese, uni and montana... so who the heck knows

[AlphaSigMD]

[QUOTE=AlphaSigMD;724300]I'd rather see it at the semifinals with ASU having the 4 seed. Much more exciting that way.

Delaware will likely lose to URichmond, and SIU may need to lose to Hampton or Ill State.



Just curious, why is that "likely"?

Well, I think that UR is likely the best team in the CAA, and if they aren't then Delaware is. Hightower is a stud. They've had some impressive victories. They'd be in the drivers seat in the CAA, if they hadn't slipped against Towson, and possibly are anyway. But either way, I think it will be a great game, and of course, I am certainly pulling for Richmond.

Common Opponents
New Hampshire: UR 42-35 Win; UD 30-35 Loss
Towson: UR 21-23 Loss; UD 27-7 Win
Rhode Island: UR 38-6 Win ; UD 38-9 Win
James Madison: UR 17-16 Win; UD 37-34 Win
Northeastern UR 49-14 Win; UD 30-20 Win

Looks very even to me. Plus, Delaware has had a very rough stretch in the last 5 weeks, and will continue to with another rough game this week. Its much more difficult to win in and out every week against tough competition, so I believe that UD could be ripe for a let down, not an upset, because UR is a really good team.

[AshevilleApp]

Is that because this "Ain't No Time for the Summertime Blues"?

Wouldn't that be Eddie Cochran?

[skinny_uncle]

Wouldn't that be Eddie Cochran?
The Who did not write "Summertime Blues" but they did perform their version at Woodstock.

[BDKJMU]

Please let's have the least amount of possible in conference rematches in the second round as needed. Spread 'em out CAA, Gateway, Southern, Big Sky. That way we should see who had the best conference this season.xthumbsupx

Except for CAA- UD, UR & JMU haven't/won't play UMass & Hofstra, regular season

[crusader11]

Don't really feel like seeding and matching up the teams, but here are my 16. They are in no particular order.
Montana
Delaware
UMASS
Richmond
Hofstra
Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
Delaware State
Eastern Kentucky
Fordham
Holy Cross
Georgia Southern
App. State
Wofford
Elon
Mcneese State

[BDKJMU]

I said I wouldn't do this till after the games on Nov 3rd, so here goes. Remember, the NCAA limit for trips by bus is 300 miles, and want to limit the teams flying. 1st round, no matter how you do it with the 16 following teams, with no conference matchups in the 1st round, they'd be 4 teams driving and 4 flying). (I just did Mapquest from the town/city that each college was located in):

1. @ UNI (11-0) (Gateway AQ)
Wofford (8-3) (So-Con At Large) (flying)

@ Elon (8-3) (So-Con At Large)
UR (8-3) (CAA At Large) (driving-190 miles) (UR would host here, but then that would give the CAA 3 home, 1 away, and the So-Con 1 home and 3 away)

2. @ Montana (11-0) (Big Sky AQ)
EKU (9-2) (OVC AQ-only OVC team) (flying)

@ ISU (10-1) (Gateway At Large)
EWU (8-3) (Big Sky At Large) (flying)

3. @ McNeese (11-0) (Southland AQ, only Southland team)
GSU (8-3) (So-Con At Large) (flying)

@ ASU (9-2) (So-Con AQ) (Fri, Nov 23rd 1:30 PM, ESPN)
JMU (8-3) (CAA At Large) (driving-285 miles)

4.@ UD (10-1) (CAA AQ)
DSU (9-2) (MEAC AQ, only MEAC team) (driving- 44 miles)

@ UMass (9-2) (CAA At Large)
Fordham (9-2) (Patriot AQ, only Patriot team) (driving- 153 miles)

ESPN is televising a 1st round game on Fri, Nov 23rd, 1:30 PM. Course we know that will likely be whoever plays ASU in the 1st round, given that ASU became a household name in the college football world with their upset of Michigan. No other 1st round games listed for broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espntv/espnGuide

xcoffeex

[appfan2008]

A number of people have posted asu playing jmu in the first round... I really hope that that does not happen...

[KiddBrewer]

I said I wouldn't do this till after the games on Nov 3rd, so here goes. Remember, the NCAA limit for trips by bus is 300 miles, and want to limit the teams flying. 1st round, no matter how you do it with the 16 following teams, with no conference matchups in the 1st round, they'd be 4 teams driving and 4 flying). (I just did Mapquest from the town/city that each college was located in):

1. @ UNI (11-0)
Wofford (8-3) (flying)

@ Elon (8-3)
UR (8-3)(driving-190 miles) (UR would host here, but then that would give the CAA 3 home, 1 away, and the So-Con 1 home and 3 away)

2. @ Montana (11-0)
EKU (9-2) (flying)

@ ISU (10-1)
EWU (8-3) (flying)

3. @ McNeese (11-0)
GSU (8-3) (flying)

@ ASU (9-2)
JMU (8-3) (driving-285 miles)

4.@ UD (10-1)
DSU (9-2) (driving- 44 miles)

@ UMass (9-2)
Fordham (9-2) (driving- 153 miles)

xcoffeex

yours makes sense....i like the picks.

[BDKJMU]

Thanks. Check my edit. Fri, Nov 23rd, ESPN 1:30 PM, only 1st round game listed for national televising on ESPN or ESPN2. Guess who thats gonna be?

[BDKJMU]

Thanks. Check my edit. Fri, Nov 23rd, ESPN 1:30 PM, only 1st round game listed for national televising on ESPN or ESPN2. Guess who thats gonna be? :)

[roysboi12]

Thanks. Check my edit. Fri, Nov 23rd, ESPN 1:30 PM, only 1st round game listed for national televising on ESPN or ESPN2. Guess who thats gonna be? :)
If I had to guess it would be Appalachian game after beating Michigan and becoming the most famous FCS team

[BDKJMU]

Yep, ASU can pretty much count on hosting a 1st round game Fri, Nov 23rd, the day after Thanksgiving, at 1:30 nationally televised on ESPN. Good luck getting the students back in mass for that one. xcoffeex

[Peems]

App will host in the first round, and be on national TV

[joecooll6]

Is there just 1 nationally televised first round game or will there be more on Saturday?

[joecooll6]

PS- Heres what I've

Eastern Kentucky (9-2) @ #1 UNI
Jacksonville State (8-3) @ Georgia Southern (9-2)
Woffard (8-3) @ #4 Montana (10-1)
Richmond (9-2) @ Appalachian State (9-2)
Elon (8-3) @ #2 McNeese State (11-0)
Delaware State (10-1) @ Delaware (9-2)
James Madison (9-2) @ #3 Southern Illinois (10-1)
Fordham (9-2) @ UMass (9-2)

[uofmman1122]

PS- Heres what I've

Eastern Kentucky (9-2) @ #1 UNI
Jacksonville State (8-3) @ Georgia Southern (9-2)
Woffard (8-3) @ #4 Montana (10-1)
Richmond (9-2) @ Appalachian State (9-2)
Elon (8-3) @ #2 McNeese State (11-0)
Delaware State (10-1) @ Delaware (9-2)
James Madison (9-2) @ #3 Southern Illinois (10-1)
Fordham (9-2) @ UMass (9-2)Wow...a #4 seed for a 10-1 Montana seems pretty generous from a non-Montana fan. ;)

[Tod]

The only SWAC teams that can't participate are Grambling, Southern, Alabama State, and the two teams that play in the SWAC Championship Game. All others are eligible for the playoffs, and I'm sure would accept a bid if offered one. AAMU could finish 9-2 (with 8 D-I wins), finish second in the SWAC East, and thus be available for the playoffs. Not likely to happen, but it's possible.

Wow. xeekx

That would be interesting to see. I always knew it was possible, but never thought to even look for it. It'll take some keys losses by other playoff eligible teams, but would sure be interesting as hell.

[pokefan02]

You can bet McNeese will not play on Friday

[LehighFan11]

I have a feeling App St is going to get a very tough draw. They will most likely have to play a top 10 team that isnt a top 4 seed and doesn't shell out the money for a home game. ESPN will look for an all-star matchup. Good Luck getting out of the first round.

[Cocky]

PS- Heres what I've

Eastern Kentucky (9-2) @ #1 UNI
Jacksonville State (8-3) @ Georgia Southern (9-2)
Woffard (8-3) @ #4 Montana (10-1)
Richmond (9-2) @ Appalachian State (9-2)
Elon (8-3) @ #2 McNeese State (11-0)
Delaware State (10-1) @ Delaware (9-2)
James Madison (9-2) @ #3 Southern Illinois (10-1)
Fordham (9-2) @ UMass (9-2)

The JSU v GSU game would be a QB v QB game.

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

Just so you guys know, The Citadel's Duran Lawson is now out for the season and their chances of beating Elon is now less.

This week's game predictions...
Wofford defeats UTC
Elon defeats The Citadel
UNH defeats UMass
Northern Arizona defeats Eastern Washington

Autobids
Socon: Elon
CAA: Delaware
Southland: McNeese State
OVC: Eastern Kentucky
Patriot: Fordham
Big Sky: Montana
Gateway: Northern Iowa
MEAC: Delaware State

AL bids
Socon: GSU, ASU, Wofford
CAA: Richmond, UNH, UMass, JMU
Gateway: SIU

Delaware State @ #4 Delaware
Richmond @ ASU

Eastern Kentucky @ #1 UNI
Fordham @ JMU

Southern Illinois @ #3 Montana
New Hampshire @ Elon

UMass @ GSU (if GSU wins out and UMass loses to UNH it could happen)
Wofford @ #2 McNeese State

[WrenFGun]

If UNH beats UMass, they are squarely on the bubble. I don't think another OVC would get in, but it's possible. Nice to see some people realizing UNH isn't quite done, yet.

[Cocky]

I could be wrong but deserving or not the committee will not take 8 or 9 from just two conferences.

[Saluki_man]

1. @ UNI (11-0) (Gateway AQ)
Wofford (8-3) (So-Con At Large) (flying)

@ Elon (8-3) (So-Con At Large)
UR (8-3) (CAA At Large) (driving-190 miles) (UR would host here, but then that would give the CAA 3 home, 1 away, and the So-Con 1 home and 3 away)

2. @ Montana (11-0) (Big Sky AQ)
EKU (9-2) (OVC AQ-only OVC team) (flying)

@ SIU (10-1) (Gateway At Large)
EWU (8-3) (Big Sky At Large) (flying)

3. @ McNeese (11-0) (Southland AQ, only Southland team)
GSU (8-3) (So-Con At Large) (flying)

@ ASU (9-2) (So-Con AQ) (Fri, Nov 23rd 1:30 PM, ESPN)
JMU (8-3) (CAA At Large) (driving-285 miles)

4.@ UD (10-1) (CAA AQ)
DSU (9-2) (MEAC AQ, only MEAC team) (driving- 44 miles)

@ UMass (9-2) (CAA At Large)
Fordham (9-2) (Patriot AQ, only Patriot team) (driving- 153 miles)

xcoffeex

Fixed the mistake, niether ISUs will meet the requirement for the playoffs.

[henfan]

Retro,

I don’t have access to the numbers to crunch them but the NCAA sure does. They’ve determined that regionalization has proven to be a financially solid way of doing business for the entire FCS, not just a specific segment of the subdivision. It's only natural that the most geographically clustered teams & conferences would be the most likely (but definitely not the only) benefactors of this philosophy. In the end, all playoff participants benefit from the savings realized from regional pairings in the early round games. None of us would have early round games televised without regionalization. Travel parties would not have expanded without regionalization.

Regionalization hasn’t disrupted the Final 4/2. That’s just baloney. As I indicated, you still have to win games, no matter which team you face, no matter when along the line you face them. Any team who has to resort to on other teams knocking off tougher competition for them to advance has little chance of advancing to the Final 4 or Championship anyway.

In McNeese’s case, their early round playoff fate is largely determined by what other teams from the south region make the tournament, as well as the balance of the rest of the playoff field. It’s just not the case that Southland teams are always matched up with Big Sky schools every year. Since 2001, SFC teams certainly have been matched up with Big Sky teams, but they’ve also been paired with SoCon, Gateway and CAA teams. Again, it depends who which other teams make the tournament. If MSU had made the playoffs in 2005 for example, they would have likely been paired up with either Georgia Southern or Furman (as were Texas St. & Nicholls St. respectively.)

While Lake Charles certainly isn’t considered in the geographic west of the US, it is indeed west of the majority of FCS participants. The chances of being paired early on with Big Sky teams is obviously greater because of that. But that’s not to say that SFC teams won’t ever be paired with SoCon, Gateway, OVC or even CAA teams in the First Round.

As for minimum bids, that’s even an issue. Almost every school can meet the minimum bid. The issue is exceeding the minimum bids by offering 3-figure bids for first round games, which is really what provides the system with stability. Let’s not be naïve. 16 schools offering minimum bids isn’t going to get the bills paid. It takes more than that… much, much more.

This isn’t about the NCAA providing a sound post-season system for FCS schools. Our schools & conferences are doing that for themselves under the domain of the NCAA. We are the NCAA. The FCS has lined up financial backers for its postseason, but you can only get so much mileage out that. We are not the Big 10 or SEC. There’s only so many advertising dollars to go around.

I do agree that the FCS participants need to do a better job of promoting their schools, conferences & subdivision. They really need to get past their individual agendas and come together for the betterment of the whole. There are so many little things of virtually no cost that schools could be doing towards that end. IMO, the biggest problem with the FCS is the lack of cohesiveness. Every conference and every school is to blame.

[URMite]

PS- Heres what I've

Eastern Kentucky (9-2) @ #1 UNI(11-0)
Jacksonville State (8-3) @ Georgia Southern (9-2)
Wofford (8-3) @ #4 Montana (10-1)
Richmond (9-2) @ Appalachian State (9-2)
Elon (8-3) @ #2 McNeese State (11-0)
Delaware State (10-1) @ Delaware (9-2)
James Madison (8-3) @ #3 Southern Illinois (10-1)
Fordham (9-2) @ UMass (9-2)

Looks pretty good even if you do have to make some assumptions on close games (UD/UR, UMass/UNH, EWU/NAU, CalPoly/NDSU) which could be argued either way.

So JSU & JMU in over Hofstra (8-3), Holy Cross (8-3), Alabama A&M (9-2)

A change in any of the 4 games above changes the "last in" contenders.

Since ASU is assumed the friday ESPN game, besides JMU/UR who elses is a likely visitor to the Rock?

[URMite]

As for minimum bids, that’s even an issue. Almost every school can meet the minimum bid. The issue is exceeding the minimum bids by offering 3-figure bids for first round games, which is really what provides the system with stability. Let’s not be naïve. 16 schools offering minimum bids isn’t going to get the bills paid. It takes more than that… much, much more.


Thanks, that is how I thought it worked but on another thread it seemed someone was arguing that after you met the minimum bid, home games were decided by attendance/facility. And that just didn't seem to match up with historical data, especially for schools with low attendance but above average capacity. I would think attendance/facility would mainly be used to ensure that bids were legitimate.

[JMU2K_DukeDawg]

I think JMU is the only out of conference opponent within the 300 miles that could be paired with App St. of the possible teams that can make the playoffs. Not sure how far EKU is from Boone, but probably more than 300 mi. If JMU does not make the field, which is very possible at this point only one loss away, then any team in the country not seeded could fly there. Hell, could be a UMass / ASU rematch of last year's championship. xnodx

[mcveyrl]

I think JMU is the only out of conference opponent within the 300 miles that could be paired with App St. of the possible teams that can make the playoffs. Not sure how far EKU is from Boone, but probably more than 300 mi. If JMU does not make the field, which is very possible at this point only one loss away, then any team in the country not seeded could fly there. Hell, could be a UMass / ASU rematch of last year's championship. xnodx

Richmond is the other option.

[JMU2K_DukeDawg]

Oops! You're right, I was thinking the limit was 300, not 350 mi. My mistake.

[JMU2K_DukeDawg]

EKU is just over 300 mi as well.

[BDKJMU]

Since ASU is assumed the friday ESPN game, besides JMU/UR who elses is a likely visitor to the Rock?

As per mapquest:

Harrisonburg-Boone 285 miles
Richmond, KY (EKU)- Boone 304 miles (campus addy- campus addy)
Richmond, VA- Boone 321 miles (campus addy- campus addy)

Unless the NCAA were to give a waiver for either EKU or UR, JMU is the only team within the 300 mile limit.

[ekufbfan]

PS- Heres what I've

Eastern Kentucky (9-2) @ #1 UNI
Jacksonville State (8-3) @ Georgia Southern (9-2)
Woffard (8-3) @ #4 Montana (10-1)
Richmond (9-2) @ Appalachian State (9-2)
Elon (8-3) @ #2 McNeese State (11-0)
Delaware State (10-1) @ Delaware (9-2)
James Madison (9-2) @ #3 Southern Illinois (10-1)
Fordham (9-2) @ UMass (9-2)

There would be some mighty pssssofffff fans if EKU is the OVC Champ and is sent to #1 seeded team, while a fellow OVC member who we beat, gets an unseeded team. I know you have to play and beat the best to win it all, but to play the #1 seed in the first round while a fellow conf member who you beat goes to what is perceived as an easier game. xnonono2x How many of you would be up for that scenerio with your team? I hear the lecture coming about only the 1-4 teams being seeded. I keep seeing speculation about EKU being sent everywhere and usually against a top 4 seed. What about a bubble team (for instance a JSU or EIU from the OVC should they make it, EKU beat them both in their house) being sent to a top seed, instead of the conf champ? I guarantee if I were one of the top 4 seeds, I would rather play a team that is second place/third place team as play the conf champ!