Potential Playoff Selections / Seedings

[K-Mack]

Its mixed over in the East, a couple of us out there dont mind the top 4 teams getting brackets while some think since its "our" region "our" teams should be make the bracket up...

I still think MUC is going to be the #1 seed in the East regardless of the Cortaca Jug game...

This is the only post where I've clearly seen stated what the beef is.

And I think that if an East Region team had properly handled business, it would have been rewarded, regardless of whether or not it was clearly articulated in the in the HuddLLe interview or not.

I pretty consistently maintained all along that Cortland State at 10-0 is No. 1 seed material.

I don't think the committee moves teams in unnecessarily. There is no precedent for that, nor is there much reason to believe it would have been necessary if Cortland had beaten Ithaca.

In any case ... time to let this one go.

I concur!  No reason to have a one loss #1 seed just to keep a "true" east region.  I think it would have been quite unfair to put North Central and MUC in the same bracket.

But, but the same token, if there are five No. 1-seed type teams, and NC had to go in as a No. 2 somewhere, they probably would have stayed in the North, rather than being shipped to the West, let's say.

Each situation is different since there are so many variables, and to be honest, probably several acceptable brackets.

[pg04]

This all being said, is there any team in any bracket that can beat Mount Union this season?  It doesn't appear that Whitewater is going to be that team this year...

[Mr. Ypsi]

This all being said, is there any team in any bracket that can beat Mount Union this season?  It doesn't appear that Whitewater is going to be that team this year...

That CAN beat MUC this year?  If the stars align, yes - I'd say there are 8 or 9 that could do it.

That WILL beat MUC this year?  Probably not.

[pg04]

This all being said, is there any team in any bracket that can beat Mount Union this season?  It doesn't appear that Whitewater is going to be that team this year...

That CAN beat MUC this year?  If the stars align, yes - I'd say there are 8 or 9 that could do it.

That WILL beat MUC this year?  Probably not.

Yeah I meant those that have a legitimate chance.  I'm not sure if it's 8 or 9 though.  Please list.   

[pg04]

...And I ask not to disagree with you but to obtain a more clear picture of the National Stage..

[Mr. Ypsi]

This all being said, is there any team in any bracket that can beat Mount Union this season?  It doesn't appear that Whitewater is going to be that team this year...

That CAN beat MUC this year?  If the stars align, yes - I'd say there are 8 or 9 that could do it.

That WILL beat MUC this year?  Probably not.

Yeah I meant those that have a legitimate chance.  I'm not sure if it's 8 or 9 though.  Please list.   

Fool that I am, I'll actually attempt this!  

(Having seen none of these teams in person, or for that matter MUC, I just don't really know what their A+ game is compared to MUC having, say, a C- day. )

In the MUC region, I can't really conceive of anyone seriously giving them trouble, with the possible exception of Ithaca (but I doubt it).

In the North I see three teams that might have the up-side to do it: both CCIW teams (NCC and Wheaton) and (despite the pasting by DePauw) Wabash.  I doubt any will actually pull it off (which is why we were so joyous that MUC went 'East' ), but on a good day when MUC had a bad day, I could imagine it.

In the South, I know even less about the potentialities of the teams, but I can't totally rule out Millsaps or either of the Texas teams (after all, UMHB DID do it).

In the West, there IS still UWW, and (being on the left coast island, one never really knows how good, or overrated, they are) both Willamette and Occidental may or may not be threats.  And NEVER completely dismiss the chances of a Gagliardi-coached team.

While I'll predict that Mount wins it all again, there's eleven that I think have at least a slight chance.

[pg04]

Thanks for your attempt!  It's enlightening at least to me. 

[HScoach]

This all being said, is there any team in any bracket that can beat Mount Union this season?  It doesn't appear that Whitewater is going to be that team this year...

Find a team that has a big, strong front 4 on defense and an offense that can consistenly run the ball with power.  That team, if one exists, has a very good chance of beating MUC.

The Raider defense is perfectly suited to dominate against spread-type offenses.   Attacking, diverse and very fast (but small).   A power running game will give them fits.


And don't discredit Whitewater making a run at again.  I would expect them to over power the rest of the West Region at the line of scrimmage. 

My way too early predictions on the Final Four:

North Central at Mount Union

Whitewater at Millsaps/Mary Hardin Baylor (depends on RB health for MHB)

[The Forgotten Man]

I am visual kind of guy, so I like to see how things look.

Following is a link to a google map I just created showing the location of all the playoff teams by region.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=109667184306561314872.00045be984ce706684c03

Given that one of the objectives of DIII is to contain costs, much of what the selection commitee did with regard to pairings makes sense. You don't have to like it, but if the cost containment is a heavily weighted decision criteria you can at least understand why they made the pairings they did.

[frank_ezelle]

Forgotten Man, I logged on just so I could give you a karma point for that map.  That is a real eye opener to me, and now I better understand the #1 and #2 pairing in the West.

[Ralph Turner]

Forgotten Man, I logged on just so I could give you a karma point for that map.  That is a real eye opener to me, and now I better understand the #1 and #2 pairing in the West.

Did you notice that there are 6, only 6, seeds west of the Mississippi River?

[wesleydad]

forgotten man, excellent map for those of us who like to see where everyone is.  hard to argue the west coast situation or the texas one if cost is the main driver of the decision.

[ADL70]

Sad that the NCAA can't use some of the DI clout to get an "Official Airline of the NCAA" to reduce flight costs.

[Ron Boerger]

Forgotten Man, I logged on just so I could give you a karma point for that map.  That is a real eye opener to me, and now I better understand the #1 and #2 pairing in the West.

Did you notice that there are 6, only 6, seeds west of the Mississippi River?

But how many D3 schools overall are west of the Mississippi? 

[Ralph Turner]

Forgotten Man, I logged on just so I could give you a karma point for that map.  That is a real eye opener to me, and now I better understand the #1 and #2 pairing in the West.

Did you notice that there are 6, only 6, seeds west of the Mississippi River?

But how many D3 schools overall are west of the Mississippi? 

Let's assume all of Minnesota is west of the Mississippi...

In football, 9 in the MIAC, 9 in the IIAC, 5 in the UMAC, 1 in the SLIAC, 3 in the SCAC, 8 in the ASC, 9 in the NWC, 7 in the SCIAC plus Chapman and Macalester.

53 by my count.