Potential Playoff Selections / Seedings

[Josh Bowerman]

I think this illustrates how stacked the South is. All of the teams you've mentioned in your bracket seem like very logical and solid choices, and yet what's not included is the USA South's champ, which (whether it's CNU or Ferrum) doesn't seem likely to ship to another region. They'd have to fit in there somehow. Who else would get moved away? As was mentioned, maybe W&J in addition to Muhlenberg?

Good point, Ryan.  Thanks for catching my mistake. 

You're right, Washington & Jefferson could also get shipped either to the North or the East.  They're only 450 miles from Chicago, which is about as far west as they'd have to go...

But in my scenario, all that does is change UMHB from a 3 seed to a 2 seed--they'd still have to play Millsaps to save the flight.  I suppose the ACFC champ could also go East...

[voice]

If the playoffs were this week I believe the Willamette would be the #1 seed in the West.

[usee]

I don't know all the reasons UWW got shipped to the North and MUC East last year but they ended up with the 2 best teams in the Stagg AND the top four teams with #1 seeds. I don't know who plays whom in the regional final but I would guess the committee wants the top 4 teams as well as the best possible Stagg matchup in setting their #1 seeds.

It seems very improbably WJ would get shipped North with MUC, North Central and Wabas all sitting there. I think the North and South are the strongest regions by a margin and sending a team from South and North to the East and West may make a lot of sense when it all comes out in the wash.

[Josh Bowerman]

I'm afraid I don't understand what you're trying to say, USee...

[redswarm81]

I'm afraid I don't understand what you're trying to say, USee...

I would have responded to USee thusly:

Now who can argue with that? (Stay to the end--it's only 34 seconds)

[usee]

I'm afraid I don't understand what you're trying to say, USee...

that wouldn't be the first time I have made no sense at all.

I had 2 different issues that were poorly communicated.

My main point was that the committee seems to be trying to get the true top 4 seeds in the right place (so that the top 2 potentially meet in Salem) based on last year's seedings.

My second point was that it would seem improbable (if my first point were in fact true) that WJ would be shipped North since the North and South seem to be the 2 loaded regions. So it would seem the East and West are likely shipping grounds and teams like MUC, WJ, North Central, and Wabash are on the edges of other regions and become likely candidates.

I am sure that all makes minimally more sense than my first post. 

[dc_has_been]

With Mount Union, North Central, & Wabash all being in the same region & being 1,2, & 3 in the top 25, it would be crazy to keep them in the same region.  They could be possibly broken apart w/ Mount going east again, NC going west, & Wabsh in the north.  W & J could go a variety of directions, south or north as a two seed. 

[d-train]

With Mount Union, North Central, & Wabash all being in the same region & being 1,2, & 3 in the top 25, it would be crazy to keep them in the same region.  They could be possibly broken apart w/ Mount going east again, NC going west, & Wabsh in the north.  W & J could go a variety of directions, south or north as a two seed. 

Last years shuffling was a welcome surprize (though maybe not to the 'east' folks).

In 2005, numbers 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 (according to this website's poll) were in the west bracket.
http://www.d3football.com/top25/2005/week-11

In 2003, we had numbers 2, 3, 4 and 9. Number 7 was moved to the north.
http://www.d3football.com/top25/2003/week-11

[retagent]

With the West being one of the, if not the, strongest region lately, I wouldn't be so quick to diminish that region just because there appears to be no standout. As was discussed in the Top 25 thread, Linfield (who I don't think anyone would argue is having a great year) and Willamette both beat So. Oregon while UMHB, who could be the best of the South Region, lost to them. I haven't checked any other games that might shed more light on the relative strengths, but I'm sure someone will pipe up.

[dc_has_been]

retagent- clarify how the West is strongest region lately?  Over the past ten years the west won 3 & the rest came from the north.  I agree one of the stronges based upon those numbes b/c 7 go to the north & 3 to the west & none to east or south, but other than that how are they strongest region lately.

[Ralph Turner]

retagent- clarify how the West is strongest region lately?  Over the past ten years the west won 3 & the rest came from the north.  I agree one of the strongest based upon those numbes b/c 7 go to the north & 3 to the west & none to east or south, but other than that how are they strongest region lately.

And who from the North has won a Stagg Bowl other than MUC?

[dc_has_been]

retagent- clarify how the West is strongest region lately?  Over the past ten years the west won 3 & the rest came from the north.  I agree one of the strongest based upon those numbes b/c 7 go to the north & 3 to the west & none to east or south, but other than that how are they strongest region lately.

And who from the North has won a Stagg Bowl other than MUC?

UW-Whitewater who was seeded #1 in the north last year.

[Ralph Turner]

retagent- clarify how the West is strongest region lately?  Over the past ten years the west won 3 & the rest came from the north.  I agree one of the strongest based upon those numbes b/c 7 go to the north & 3 to the west & none to east or south, but other than that how are they strongest region lately.

And who from the North has won a Stagg Bowl other than MUC?

UW-Whitewater who was seeded #1 in the north last year.

Good point, altho' the brackets are no longer named by Regions, but by the Top seed in the bracket.

West Region teams have won in 1999 (Pac Luth), 2003 (St John's), 2004 (Linfield) and of course, 2007 (UW-Whitewater).

[dc_has_been]

retagent- clarify how the West is strongest region lately?  Over the past ten years the west won 3 & the rest came from the north.  I agree one of the strongest based upon those numbes b/c 7 go to the north & 3 to the west & none to east or south, but other than that how are they strongest region lately.

And who from the North has won a Stagg Bowl other than MUC?

UW-Whitewater who was seeded #1 in the north last year.

Good point, altho' the brackets are no longer named by Regions, but by the Top seed in the bracket.

West Region teams have won in 1999 (Pac Luth), 2003 (St John's), 2004 (Linfield) and of course, 2007 (UW-Whitewater).

Even a better point.

[usee]

retagent- clarify how the West is strongest region lately?  Over the past ten years the west won 3 & the rest came from the north.  I agree one of the strongest based upon those numbes b/c 7 go to the north & 3 to the west & none to east or south, but other than that how are they strongest region lately.

And who from the North has won a Stagg Bowl other than MUC?

UW-Whitewater who was seeded #1 in the north last year.

Of course it depends on how far back you want to go but the North has won more Staggs than any other region by a margin.

North 20
West 8
East 5
South 1