AAMU loses...... last at-large up for grabs

[FCSFAN]

UR
UD
JMU
SIU
JMU
EIU
EWU
????????????????

Either:

Norfolk State (second place MEAC - been done before)
Limited Scholarship team (aAlbany or Dayton - never been done)
7-4 team (been done before)

[UNHWildCats]

UR
UD
JMU
SIU
JMU
EIU
EWU
????????????????

Either:

Norfolk State (second place MEAC - been done before)
Limited Scholarship team (aAlbany or Dayton - never been done)
7-4 team (been done before)JMU is getting two atlarge bids, pretty impressive lol

[FCSFAN]

JMU is getting two atlarge bids, pretty impressive lolxlolx xlolx xlolx

TYPO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

UR
UD
JMU
SIU
ASU
EIU
EWU
????????????????

Either:

Norfolk State (second place MEAC - been done before)
Limited Scholarship team (Albany or Dayton - never been done)
7-4 team (been done before)

[WrenFGun]

He meant APP, obviously. The last bid is between Norfolk State, UNH and Villanova, IMO. I tend to think the committee will lean toward Norfolk State because of their finish in the MEAC and the fact EIU got in last year, but computer numbers surely indicate Norfolk is not as qualified as UNH or Nova. We'll see.

[UNHWildCats]

i'll say UNH based on strength of schedule. Kenneth Massey ranks UNH's schedule coming into this week as #15. Villanova is 8th, Albany 66th and Norfolk 80th.

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cf (you gotta select FCS and then click the SOS header to sort by SOS)

Also the last GPI UNH was #16 and thats likely to go higher, though im not sure if the new GPI is available to the committee in time.

http://www.collegesportingnews.com/section_front.asp?arttypeid=983

[Old Cage]

You have to subtract two points from the UNH total because of the disgusting avatar of one of their fans. xcoolx

[BearsCountry]

Put Dayton in, UNI needs a break in their opener.

[IaaScribe]

Why is everyone so sold on an EIU team that is rated 40th in the GPI and plays in the 12th rated conference in the FCS? I don't think they're a shoo-in at all.

[WrenFGun]

I had thought about that earlier. I feel like EIU is BETTER than Norfolk State, Albany and Dayton, but they are not a lock with their GPI. I suppose we'll see...what intrigues me about EIU is the fact that they have no bad losses and only 3 losses total. With that said, I'm not sure they've beaten anyone...

[IaaScribe]

Illinois State isn't a good loss this year. That's one of EIU's losses.

[FCSFAN]

Why is everyone so sold on an EIU team that is rated 40th in the GPI and plays in the 12th rated conference in the FCS? I don't think they're a shoo-in at all.Compared to your Liberty they are. xnodx

[appfan2008]

I would love for Norfolk to get in and then get sent up here to BOONE!

[IaaScribe]

Compared to your Liberty they are. xnodx

Not my Liberty. I just cover the team. I would put YSU or UNH in ahead of EIU.

[FCSFAN]

Illinois State isn't a good loss this year. That's one of EIU's losses.That was expected. ILS beat them twice last year.

[WrenFGun]

Well, in EIU's defense, I felt as though Illinois State had a brutal schedule. I had just kind of assumed they were a lock..

[FCSFAN]

Not my Liberty. I just cover the team. I would put YSU or UNH in ahead of EIU.YSU, six wins and a loss to ILS.

[FCS_Advocacy5]

Why is everyone so sold on an EIU team that is rated 40th in the GPI and plays in the 12th rated conference in the FCS? I don't think they're a shoo-in at all.

Dayton is ranked 34th in the GPI for the record and the PFL is ranked higher than the OVC.xsmiley_wix

[Panther88]

I sincerely wished we hadn't ran into the buzzsaw @ UAPB. :( An 8-2 Panther football team @ McNeese would've been something awfully special.xthumbsupx

GO PVU!!! xreadx

[FCSFAN]

Dayton is ranked 34th in the GPI for the record and the PFL is ranked higher than the OVC.xsmiley_wixNope, OVC is 7 points higher than the PFL.

Conference Rank
Rank, Conference (Average Rating)
1. Colonial Athletic Association (23.11)
2. Southern Conference (24.08)
3. Gateway Football Conference (27.43)
4. Great West Football Conference (29.25)
5. Southland Conference (39.39)
6. Big Sky Conference (44.14)
7. Patriot League (47.88)
8. Ivy League (49.61)
9. Big South Conference (54.00)
10. Southwestern Athletic Conference (55.09)
11. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (55.48)
12. Ohio Valley Conference (56.43)
13. Pioneer Football League (63.42)
14. Independents (65.32)
15. Northeast Conference (69.27)
16. Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (78.88)

[IaaScribe]

Thanks for posting those ... I was looking for them earlier.

[FCS_Advocacy5]

Nope, OVC is 7 points higher than the PFL.

Conference Rank
Rank, Conference (Average Rating)
1. Colonial Athletic Association (23.11)
2. Southern Conference (24.08)
3. Gateway Football Conference (27.43)
4. Great West Football Conference (29.25)
5. Southland Conference (39.39)
6. Big Sky Conference (44.14)
7. Patriot League (47.88)
8. Ivy League (49.61)
9. Big South Conference (54.00)
10. Southwestern Athletic Conference (55.09)
11. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (55.48)
12. Ohio Valley Conference (56.43)
13. Pioneer Football League (63.42)
14. Independents (65.32)
15. Northeast Conference (69.27)
16. Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (78.88)


I was referring to the sagarin ranking from this week. xreadx


1 SOUTHEASTERN (A) = 80.75 80.72 ( 1) 12
2 BIG EAST (A) = 79.05 78.17 ( 3) 8
3 PAC-10 (A) = 78.27 78.86 ( 2) 10
4 BIG 12 (A) = 77.36 77.52 ( 4) 12
5 BIG TEN (A) = 76.60 76.18 ( 5) 11
6 ATLANTIC COAST (A) = 76.18 75.96 ( 6) 12
7 MOUNTAIN WEST (A) = 69.42 69.07 ( 7) 9
8 WESTERN ATHLETIC (A) = 61.79 62.35 ( 8) 9
9 I-A INDEPENDENTS (A) = 61.75 62.00 ( 9) 4
10 MID-AMERICAN (A) = 60.46 60.70 ( 10) 13
11 SOUTHERN (AA)= 59.20 58.66 ( 13) 8
12 GATEWAY (AA)= 59.16 57.14 ( 14) 7
13 COLONIAL (AA)= 59.03 58.77 ( 12) 12
14 CONFERENCE USA (A) = 58.57 58.97 ( 11) 12
15 SUN BELT (A) = 57.14 57.11 ( 15) 8
16 GREAT WEST (AA)= 55.44 56.01 ( 16) 5
17 SOUTHLAND (AA)= 47.79 47.96 ( 17) 8
18 PATRIOT LEAGUE (AA)= 44.59 42.98 ( 20) 7
19 BIG SKY (AA)= 44.32 44.74 ( 18) 9
20 IVY LEAGUE (AA)= 42.62 43.42 ( 19) 8
21 BIG SOUTH (AA)= 40.92 40.70 ( 21) 5
22 MID-EASTERN (AA)= 39.17 38.95 ( 22) 10
23 SOUTHWESTERN (AA)= 38.92 38.30 ( 23) 10
24 PIONEER (AA)= 37.33 36.93 ( 24) 8
25 OHIO VALLEY (AA)= 36.52 36.88 ( 25) 10
26 I-AA INDEPENDENTS (AA)= 30.46 30.20 ( 27) 4
27 NORTHEAST (AA)= 29.47 30.28 ( 26) 7
28 METRO ATLANTIC (AA)= 20.56 19.10 ( 28) 4
29 ***UNRATED*** (**)= -90.00 -90.00 ( 29) 1

[IaaScribe]

I'm pretty convinced Sagarin plays very little role in this process.

[FCSFAN]

I was referring to the sagarin ranking from this week.Old Saggy doesn't count non-D-I games and FCS plays a bunch of those so that can be discounted.

[dungeonjoe]

UR
UD
JMU
SIU
JMU
EIU
EWU
????????????????

Either:

Norfolk State (second place MEAC - been done before)
Limited Scholarship team (aAlbany or Dayton - never been done)
7-4 team (been done before)
Has a SWAC been done before-- Alabama A&M???

[FCSFAN]

Gotta be Norfolk State. History is on that side.

[danefan]

Gotta be Norfolk State. History is on that side.

Which history would that be?

[FCSFAN]

Which history would that be?Taking second place MEAC teams.

[Dane96]

LOL.

[Dane96]

It is going to be Nova or UNH.

[FCSFAN]

Somehow I don't think history will be made tomorrow with 5 CAA teams taken.

[FCSFAN]

More likely history will be made tomorrow with a limited scholarship team taken. Maybe two!

[danefan]

Now that's what I'm talking about!

[Dane96]

TWO? How and where would TWO come from? EWU out?

[Eaglegus2]

Somehow I don't think history will be made tomorrow with 5 CAA teams taken.

Hopefully, the strength of schedule for the Southern Conference will get a 3rd team invited.

[FCSFAN]

I know there are a boatload of east coasters here, CAA guys but five is too many from one league.

[FCSFAN]

TWO? How and where would TWO come from? EWU out?EWU and EIU coaches will not sleep soundly tonight.

[Dane96]

I agree with you on EIU...I am torn with EWU. I know it was one game, but they looked nasty when I watched the TV game at NAU.

[Cincy App]

EWU and EIU coaches will not sleep soundly tonight.

EWU is a lock - take it to the bank. EIU will get in - may not deserve it but they will make it. Also, deserved or not, Norfolk State is likely to get the last spot. Playoff selections are somewhat political and both the OVC and MEAC have some clout.

Also, a fifth CAA team has no chance. UNH and Villanova's hopes went out the window when JMU beat Towson.

[alexale23]

NO WAy CAA gets 5 in

[danefan]

What "clout" does the MEAC have?

[UMass922]

I know there are a boatload of east coasters here, CAA guys but five is too many from one league.

Where does it say in the selection criteria that five from one league is too many? As far as I know it says there is no cap on the number of teams that can be selected from one conference.

If the committee feels that five from one league is too many, fine--but they should just write it explicitly into the selection criteria then. The idea of the selection committee essentially lying about the guidelines it uses bothers me immensely.

[danefan]

The standards say that the best 8 teams shall be selected without consideration of conference affiliation.

apparently, however, that is up for interpretation.

[Cincy App]

What "clout" does the MEAC have?

The MEAC has often received an at-large bid when the at-large pool is weaker. History is on their side.

I don't expect Albany to make the field. However, if a team comes from the PFL or NEC, I would like to see Albany make it. I respect the non-conference schedule that Albany has played. Dayton and San Diego could take pointers from Albany's schedule.

[WrenFGun]

A MEAC team with a GPI around 60 should not warrant consideration, to me. Sadly, what do I know.

[RationalGriz]

A MEAC team with a GPI around 60 should not warrant consideration, to me. Sadly, what do I know.

This is why a second place team in the Patriot with a GPI around 30 will.

[WrenFGun]

Why would a second place team in the Patriot with a GPI around 30 make it in over a team in the CAA with a GPI around 13? The committee has stated that they remove conference affiliation from their evaluation...it seems pretty clear cut to me. There is absolutely no chance the committee thinks a 7-4 Holy Cross or Colgate is better than NOVA/UNH. Absolutely no chance.

[RationalGriz]

Why would a second place team in the Patriot with a GPI around 30 make it in over a team in the CAA with a GPI around 13? The committee has stated that they remove conference affiliation from their evaluation...it seems pretty clear cut to me. There is absolutely no chance the committee thinks a 7-4 Holy Cross or Colgate is better than NOVA/UNH. Absolutely no chance.

I have a hunch that the committee will have a difficult time taking a fifth team from the CAA.

[WrenFGun]

That's the argument against it, surely..

The resumes are just unbelievably in favor of the CAA teams, though.