Playoffs -- 2015

[wesleydad]

Anybody else out there in play-off land wishing the NCAA would stagger play-off games that are within 100 miles of each other so fans could go see both if they wanted to? Up here in the Northland we have two games in the MIAC, both at Collegeville as the Johnnies are hosting Dubuque, and the Tommies are hosting La Verne. Both stadiums have lights, so a 12:00 and 5:00 pm start would allow us die-hard fans the opportunity to take in both games. Wheaton, Oshkosh and Whitewater are also close enough if you were fans of these teams. Might be some Eastern teams that also fall in this dilemma.

Yes, I agree.  I just wish they were different times so I could get back home and watch some of the other games.

[D3MAFAN]

if we were worried about student athlete health then the games would start at 12 of the team further West. Linfield having to play at 9 am their time at Widener is much different than Widener having to start at 3 pm. No one wants to start a football game at 9 am as body clocks aren't ready for it. The NCAA could easily make the change by having all playoff games start at 3 pm Eastern. Of course you'd need lights to host which might be an issue for some schools.

I don't think the time change would have made the outcome any different between Linfield and Widener. You guys destroyed them. However, I do get your point.

[smedindy]

D1 (and D2) has an advantage as well where many of the universities have summer classes. A lot of the D3 liberal arts schools do not, so missed class time is critical.

I know that the trend now at larger universities is for athletes to have some online classes during their season.

[edward de vere]

Another reason to schedule all games at 12:00 local is weather.  If the weather at 12:00 is horrendous, you have time to delay.  If the weather at 12:00 is fine, but horrendous several hours later, somebody's going to be tarred and feathered for scheduling a late game.

Do you really want to to go out of your way to put yourself in position for another UMHB-Texas Lutheran playoff postponement?

[D3MAFAN]

http://www.ncaa.com/video/football/2015-11-15/diii-football-2015-selection-show

Found It.

[smedindy]

Another reason to schedule all games at 12:00 local is weather.  If the weather at 12:00 is horrendous, you have time to delay.  If the weather at 12:00 is fine, but horrendous several hours later, somebody's going to be tarred and feathered for scheduling a late game.

Do you really want to to go out of your way to put yourself in position for another UMHB-Texas Lutheran playoff postponement?

How many D3 stadiums have lights? With no DST it gets late awfully early...

[Ralph Turner]

1. What's your pick for the most competitive first-round matchup? (Closest game)

UMHB/HSU   and Hendrix Huntingdon

2. Anyone think that a true "contender" will have a competitive* first-round game?

UMHB or HSU

3. Predictions for the highest combined score in the first round? (Game, winner, estimated # points)

I agree. Huntingdon over Hendrix. 55 - 48 = 103


4. Predictions for the lowest combined score in the first round? (Game, winner, estimated # points)

Salisbury at Cortland because the SJU game has been picked.  Salisbury 21-17  = 38 points.


5. Prediction for the largest margin of victory? (Game, winner, estimated MOV)

St Thomas by 55.

[MonroviaCat]

1. What's your pick for the most competitive first-round matchup? (Closest game)

Any of the rematch games (Linfield/Whitworth, St. Johns/Dubuque, HSU/MHB, )---even though there are clear favorites in each of these games---the 2nd time around is usually pretty competitive.

2. Anyone think that a true "contender" will have a competitive* first-round game?

see question #1

3. Predictions for the highest combined score in the first round? (Game, winner, estimated # points)

Salisbury over Cortland St.-- 95 points


4. Predictions for the lowest combined score in the first round? (Game, winner, estimated # points)

Mary Hardin Baylor over Hardin Simmons 27 pts.


5. Prediction for the largest margin of victory? (Game, winner, estimated MOV)

Mt Union by 49.

[art76]

1. What's your pick for the most competitive first-round matchup? (Closest game)

Ohio Northern at Franklin - I can see this game being won in OT by one


2. Anyone think that a true "contender" will have a competitive* first-round game?

I'll jump on the bandwagon of the UMHB/Hardin-Simmons game.


3. Predictions for the highest combined score in the first round? (Game, winner, estimated # points)

Framingham State at Wesley, Wesley will win, and the total scores will add up to 118 (59 to 49)


4. Predictions for the lowest combined score in the first round? (Game, winner, estimated # points)

Norwich at Albright, Albright will win, and the total scores will add up to 28 (21 to 7)


5. Prediction for the largest margin of victory? (Game, winner, estimated MOV)

Whitworth at Linfield, Linfield by 53 (63 to 10)

[ExTartanPlayer]

Ha!  We now have a pick for Salisbury-Cortland as both the HIGHEST SCORING and the LOWEST SCORING game of the first round!

I'm glad somebody else took me up on that Wesley-Framingham game.  I can see a lot of points on the board both ways there....

Lots of action on St. Thomas as the biggest MOV in round 1.  Is this because La Verne is perceived as the weakest opponent of any #1 seed, or because UST is viewed as having the coaching staff most likely to throw a few behind-the-back extra point passes to rub it in against an overmatched opponent?

[PA_wesleyfan]

Smedindy

How early does it get late there;Du

[crufootball]

Another reason to schedule all games at 12:00 local is weather.  If the weather at 12:00 is horrendous, you have time to delay.  If the weather at 12:00 is fine, but horrendous several hours later, somebody's going to be tarred and feathered for scheduling a late game.

Do you really want to to go out of your way to put yourself in position for another UMHB-Texas Lutheran playoff postponement?

How many D3 stadiums have lights? With no DST it gets late awfully early...

Living on a D3 island I don't get to see a lot of D3 stadiums, would you guys say that not having lights is common?

[jknezek]

Another reason to schedule all games at 12:00 local is weather.  If the weather at 12:00 is horrendous, you have time to delay.  If the weather at 12:00 is fine, but horrendous several hours later, somebody's going to be tarred and feathered for scheduling a late game.

Do you really want to to go out of your way to put yourself in position for another UMHB-Texas Lutheran playoff postponement?

How many D3 stadiums have lights? With no DST it gets late awfully early...

Living on a D3 island I don't get to see a lot of D3 stadiums, would you guys say that not having lights is common?

I'd be surprised if more than half the stadiums in D3 have lights. Even those that do rarely use them. I think W&L plays about one game a year under the lights, mainly because of what it does for travel. Unless teams are staying over night after the game, it's a long ride home in the dark if the game ends at 9.

Really limits the usefulness versus the expense.

[D3MAFAN]

Another reason to schedule all games at 12:00 local is weather.  If the weather at 12:00 is horrendous, you have time to delay.  If the weather at 12:00 is fine, but horrendous several hours later, somebody's going to be tarred and feathered for scheduling a late game.

Do you really want to to go out of your way to put yourself in position for another UMHB-Texas Lutheran playoff postponement?

How many D3 stadiums have lights? With no DST it gets late awfully early...

Living on a D3 island I don't get to see a lot of D3 stadiums, would you guys say that not having lights is common?

I'd be surprised if more than half the stadiums in D3 have lights. Even those that do rarely use them. I think W&L plays about one game a year under the lights, mainly because of what it does for travel. Unless teams are staying over night after the game, it's a long ride home in the dark if the game ends at 9.

Really limits the usefulness versus the expense.

I know for some teams having the lights, helps with practice times, especially when multiple teams use the same field.

[jknezek]

Living on a D3 island I don't get to see a lot of D3 stadiums, would you guys say that not having lights is common?

I'd be surprised if more than half the stadiums in D3 have lights. Even those that do rarely use them. I think W&L plays about one game a year under the lights, mainly because of what it does for travel. Unless teams are staying over night after the game, it's a long ride home in the dark if the game ends at 9.

Really limits the usefulness versus the expense.
[/quote]

Forgot about that. Good call.

I know for some teams having the lights, helps with practice times, especially when multiple teams use the same field.
[/quote]