2019 Pool C

[02 Warhawk]

An undefeated Salisbury makes a strong case for the #1 seed in the East Region.

If everyone runs the tables, I see the top seeds being

Salisbury
UMU
UMHB

and I will let the committee figure out the bracket for the West Region.  My bet on the "Selection roulette wheel" would be placed on UWW.

Sounds like you don't think they deserve it. A "roulette wheel" is pretty random.

Agreed. It's hard to not consider them a #1 if they run the table. They check all the boxes:

- Undefeated
- Strong SOS
- Played in the toughest conference in D3
- Recent historical success
- Probably will be the #1 Regional ranked team in the West
- Purple in color

[tf37]

An undefeated Salisbury makes a strong case for the #1 seed in the East Region.

If everyone runs the tables, I see the top seeds being

Salisbury
UMU
UMHB

and I will let the committee figure out the bracket for the West Region.  My bet on the "Selection roulette wheel" would be placed on UWW.

Sounds like you don't think they deserve it. A "roulette wheel" is pretty random.

Agreed. It's hard to not consider them a #1 if they run the table. They check all the boxes:

- Undefeated
- Strong SOS
- Played in the toughest conference in D3
- Recent historical success
- Probably will be the #1 Regional ranked team in the West
- Purple in color

Saved the best reason for last 

[hazzben]

UWW is a lock for a #1 seed if they win out.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Regional Rankings out:

https://d3football.com/playoffs/2019/first-regional-ranking

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/d3/regional-rankings

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks! That link includes our analysis.

[art76]

Probably a good time for the annual reminder that the four quadrants of the bracket aren't region-exclusive. 

Hey Wally, with the latest Regional Rankings, do you have a bracket spread sheet drawn up showing the locks and probables again this year, like you have done in the past on this board?

I, for one, have thoroughly enjoyed your work in the past!

[MRMIKESMITH]

My 1st stab at my mock Bracket

1. Muhlenberg vs. MIT
2. Salisbury vs. Framingham State
3. Union vs. Western New England
4. Delaware Valley vs. Ithaca

1. UMHB vs. Redlands/
2. Chapman vs. Linfield
3. Bridgewater (Va.)/North Central (Ill.)/vs. Wesley/Wabash
4. B-SC or Berry vs. Huntingdon

1. Mount Union vs. SUNY-Maritime
2. Wheaton (Ill.) vs. Hanover
3. Case Western vs. Wabash/Bridgewater (Va).
4. Brockport vs. Susquehanna

1. UW-Whitewater vs. Hope
2. Wartburg vs. Aurora
3. St. Johns vs. Martin Luther
4. Bethel vs. Lake Forest

[wally_wabash]

My 1st stab at my mock Bracket

1. Muhlenberg vs. MIT
2. Salisbury vs. Framingham State
3. Union vs. Western New England
4. Delaware Valley vs. Ithaca

1. UMHB vs. Redlands
2. Chapman vs. Linfield
3. Bridgewater (Va.) vs. Wesley
4. B-SC vs. Huntingdon

1. Mount Union vs. SUNY-Maritime
2. Wheaton (Ill.) vs. Hanover
3. Case Western vs. Wabash
4. Brockport vs. Susquehanna

1. UW-Whitewater vs. Hope
2. Wartburg vs. Aurora
3. St. Johns vs. Martin Luther
4. Bethel vs. Lake Forest

I pray to the football gods that they don't do this.  If that's what they're going to do with the island teams, I'd rather they just make Redlands and Chapman play each other in round 1.  Redlands, with their current criteria doesn't deserve to play the top seed in the tournament because that's the convenient thing to do. 

Ditto with your UWW/Hope pairing.  That's not a proper first round game for those teams given where they are ranked today. 

[jamtod]

My 1st stab at my mock Bracket

1. Muhlenberg vs. MIT
2. Salisbury vs. Framingham State
3. Union vs. Western New England
4. Delaware Valley vs. Ithaca

1. UMHB vs. Redlands
2. Chapman vs. Linfield
3. Bridgewater (Va.) vs. Wesley
4. B-SC vs. Huntingdon

1. Mount Union vs. SUNY-Maritime
2. Wheaton (Ill.) vs. Hanover
3. Case Western vs. Wabash
4. Brockport vs. Susquehanna

1. UW-Whitewater vs. Hope
2. Wartburg vs. Aurora
3. St. Johns vs. Martin Luther
4. Bethel vs. Lake Forest

I pray to the football gods that they don't do this.  If that's what they're going to do with the island teams, I'd rather they just make Redlands and Chapman play each other in round 1.  Redlands, with their current criteria doesn't deserve to play the top seed in the tournament because that's the convenient thing to do. 

Ditto with your UWW/Hope pairing.  That's not a proper first round game for those teams given where they are ranked today.

What would you propose instead for UMHB? Playing Linfield almost forces the sciac rematch or extra flights. This seems consistent with past years Linfield/UMHB/HSU early matchups.

[MRMIKESMITH]

My 1st stab at my mock Bracket

1. Muhlenberg vs. MIT
2. Salisbury vs. Framingham State
3. Union vs. Western New England
4. Delaware Valley vs. Ithaca

1. UMHB vs. Redlands
2. Chapman vs. Linfield
3. Bridgewater (Va.) vs. Wesley
4. B-SC vs. Huntingdon

1. Mount Union vs. SUNY-Maritime
2. Wheaton (Ill.) vs. Hanover
3. Case Western vs. Wabash
4. Brockport vs. Susquehanna

1. UW-Whitewater vs. Hope
2. Wartburg vs. Aurora
3. St. Johns vs. Martin Luther
4. Bethel vs. Lake Forest

I pray to the football gods that they don't do this.  If that's what they're going to do with the island teams, I'd rather they just make Redlands and Chapman play each other in round 1.  Redlands, with their current criteria doesn't deserve to play the top seed in the tournament because that's the convenient thing to do. 

Ditto with your UWW/Hope pairing.  That's not a proper first round game for those teams given where they are ranked today.

If the committee was to open pocket book, it could have BS-C and Huntingdon each fly to UMHB and Redlands, respectively. If we really want to get fancy, not considering historical context of matchup. Linfield to UMHB, BS-C to Redlands, and Huntingdon to Chapman. Also, flip the seeding so that if BS-C and Huntingdon were to win, there would be no need for flight and the same would apply for both Redlands and Chapman not having a flight 2nd round.

Also, Wesley and Delaware Valley could be switch to reward H2H winner, but the possibility of Wesley flying to Linfield gives me a chuckle.

[Ralph Turner]

Are we "once ranked, always ranked" in football this year?

[Baldini]

My 1st stab at my mock Bracket

1. Muhlenberg vs. MIT
2. Salisbury vs. Framingham State
3. Union vs. Western New England
4. Delaware Valley vs. Ithaca

1. UMHB vs. Redlands
2. Chapman vs. Linfield
3. Bridgewater (Va.) vs. Wesley
4. B-SC vs. Huntingdon

1. Mount Union vs. SUNY-Maritime
2. Wheaton (Ill.) vs. Hanover
3. Case Western vs. Wabash
4. Brockport vs. Susquehanna

1. UW-Whitewater vs. Hope
2. Wartburg vs. Aurora
3. St. Johns vs. Martin Luther
4. Bethel vs. Lake Forest

I pray to the football gods that they don't do this.  If that's what they're going to do with the island teams, I'd rather they just make Redlands and Chapman play each other in round 1.  Redlands, with their current criteria doesn't deserve to play the top seed in the tournament because that's the convenient thing to do. 

Ditto with your UWW/Hope pairing.  That's not a proper first round game for those teams given where they are ranked today.

If the committee was to open pocket book, it could have BS-C and Huntingdon each fly to UMHB and Redlands, respectively. If we really want to get fancy, not considering historical context of matchup. Linfield to UMHB, BS-C to Redlands, and Huntingdon to Chapman. Also, flip the seeding so that if BS-C and Huntingdon were to win, there would be no need for flight and the same would apply for both Redlands and Chapman not having a flight 2nd round.

Also, Wesley and Delaware Valley could be switch to reward H2H winner, but the possibility of Wesley flying to Linfield gives me a chuckle.

It scenario seems like you are trying to force feed Muhlenberg in as the #1 seed in the East. And Hope to Whitewater would be very unfair to both parties.   

[Inkblot]

Here's my first stab. I've never done this before, so I'm open to any feedback/criticism.

Salisbury vs. SUNY Maritime
Delaware Valley vs. Western New England
Bridgewater vs. Brockport
Susquehanna vs. Framingham State

Mount Union vs. Hanover
North Central vs. Case Western Reserve
Muhlenberg vs. MIT
Wesley vs. Union

Mary Hardin–Baylor vs. Monmouth
Berry vs. Huntingdon
Chapman vs. Linfield
Redlands vs. Bethel

Wisconsin–Whitewater vs. Martin Luther
St. John's vs. Aurora
Wheaton vs. Wabash
Wartburg vs. Hope

[wally_wabash]

Are we "once ranked, always ranked" in football this year?

Sadly, no.

[MRMIKESMITH]

My 1st stab at my mock Bracket

1. Muhlenberg vs. MIT
2. Salisbury vs. Framingham State
3. Union vs. Western New England
4. Delaware Valley vs. Ithaca

1. UMHB vs. Redlands
2. Chapman vs. Linfield
3. Bridgewater (Va.) vs. Wesley
4. B-SC vs. Huntingdon

1. Mount Union vs. SUNY-Maritime
2. Wheaton (Ill.) vs. Hanover
3. Case Western vs. Wabash
4. Brockport vs. Susquehanna

1. UW-Whitewater vs. Hope
2. Wartburg vs. Aurora
3. St. Johns vs. Martin Luther
4. Bethel vs. Lake Forest

I pray to the football gods that they don't do this.  If that's what they're going to do with the island teams, I'd rather they just make Redlands and Chapman play each other in round 1.  Redlands, with their current criteria doesn't deserve to play the top seed in the tournament because that's the convenient thing to do. 

Ditto with your UWW/Hope pairing.  That's not a proper first round game for those teams given where they are ranked today.

If the committee was to open pocket book, it could have BS-C and Huntingdon each fly to UMHB and Redlands, respectively. If we really want to get fancy, not considering historical context of matchup. Linfield to UMHB, BS-C to Redlands, and Huntingdon to Chapman. Also, flip the seeding so that if BS-C and Huntingdon were to win, there would be no need for flight and the same would apply for both Redlands and Chapman not having a flight 2nd round.

Also, Wesley and Delaware Valley could be switch to reward H2H winner, but the possibility of Wesley flying to Linfield gives me a chuckle.

It scenario seems like you are trying to force feed Muhlenberg in as the #1 seed in the East. And Hope to Whitewater would be very unfair to both parties.

Doesn't matter, you can flip the Mount match-up and Muhlenberg match-up, but this scenario saves the most money for NCAA. However, if you do that, that would require multiple flights 3rd round and this bracket eliminates that. Honestly, playing Mount round 3 or 4 isn't a big deal for me, a team from the East would have to play them or UMHB at some point and beat them.