NCAA.com Playoff Predictions

[SuperHornet]

I'm not sure I agree with automatically assuming that a team that beat the then-#5 team in the country (though I do think we generally agree that said ranking was artificially inflated) would automatically lose to a school that has been ranked much lower all season and STILL make the playoffs at 8-3. I'm not sure 8-3 is a lock this year, but 9-2 probably is. I do like the spread of 4 Sky and 4 MVFC teams, but I'm surprised that only a pair of CAA teams get in under this scenario. I was also surprised (though I suspect most of you already knew) that the seeds have doubled. Also, it appears that the bracket is at least roughly geographically podded, thereby making it harder for OOC first-round games in the West. Villanova heads perhaps the most diverse region, but I suppose that one could call EWU the West Region, SIU the Southeast Region, Sam Houston the Southwest Region, and Villanova the Midwest Region. Not fully traditional, but certainly functional....

Seeds/Byes:

1. Sam Houston State
2. E. Washington
3. S. Illinois
4. Villanova
5. ND State
6. James Madison
7. E. TN State
8. SD State

First Round Games (and where they go after that)

Incarnate Word at SW Missouri State (winner to 1. SHSU)
South Dakota at TN-Martin (winner to 8. SD State)
UC Davis at Montana (winner to 5. ND State)
New Hampshire at Holy Cross (winner to 4. Villanova)
Kennesaw State at SELA (winner to 3. S. Illinois)
Duquesne at VMI (winner to 6. James Madison)
Davidson at TN-Chattanooga (winner to 7. E. TN State)
Sacramento State at Montana State (winner to 2. E. Washington


https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/arti ... eeds-picks

[canyoncat]

I was under the impression that conference foes can't play each other in the first round.

[dal4018]

I'm not sure I agree with automatically assuming that a team that beat the then-#5 team in the country (though I do think we generally agree that said ranking was artificially inflated) would automatically lose to a school that has been ranked much lower all season and STILL make the playoffs at 8-3. I'm not sure 8-3 is a lock this year, but 9-2 probably is. I do like the spread of 4 Sky and 4 MVFC teams, but I'm surprised that only a pair of CAA teams get in under this scenario. I was also surprised (though I suspect most of you already knew) that the seeds have doubled. Also, it appears that the bracket is at least roughly geographically podded, thereby making it harder for OOC first-round games in the West. Villanova heads perhaps the most diverse region, but I suppose that one could call EWU the West Region, SIU the Southeast Region, Sam Houston the Southwest Region, and Villanova the Midwest Region. Not fully traditional, but certainly functional....

Seeds/Byes:

1. Sam Houston State
2. E. Washington
3. S. Illinois
4. Villanova
5. ND State
6. James Madison
7. E. TN State
8. SD State

First Round Games (and where they go after that)

Incarnate Word at SW Missouri State (winner to 1. SHSU)
South Dakota at TN-Martin (winner to 8. SD State)
UC Davis at Montana (winner to 5. ND State)
New Hampshire at Holy Cross (winner to 4. Villanova)
Kennesaw State at SELA (winner to 3. S. Illinois)
Duquesne at VMI (winner to 6. James Madison)
Davidson at TN-Chattanooga (winner to 7. E. TN State)
Sacramento State at Montana State (winner to 2. E. Washington


https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/arti ... eeds-picks

Will be anxious to see what Montana State's passing attack does in the playoffs this could be a possible NFL Audition for QB McKay&WR McCutcheon.Wonder who Sacramento St will send to stop these two in their secondary.

[89Hen]

South Dakota? Are they really going to get in at 6-5???

[SuperHornet]

89: That was posted prior to this past weekend's games. There might be an update coming.

[uofmman1122]

I was under the impression that conference foes can't play each other in the first round.

Only if they played each other during the regular season.

In this bracket's case for the Big Sky, MSU didn't play Sac State and UM didn't play UC Davis, so they could end up playing.

[canyoncat]

I was under the impression that conference foes can't play each other in the first round.

Only if they played each other during the regular season.

In this bracket's case for the Big Sky, MSU didn't play Sac State and UM didn't play UC Davis, so they could end up playing.

Thanks I wasn't aware of that!