2019 Pool C

[mdrem7]

Interesting to see UMHB and Whitewater in the same section.

Should be a really fun quarterfinal matchup. Also, North Central going to Mount Union could be a fun one.

[TheChucker]

Could Mount Union's toughest test on the way to the finals be in the 2nd round (North Central)? It seems like the left side of the bracket has several more heavyweights than the right. Or maybe I'm just giving to much credence to the two UW schools, St. Johns and Wheaton (who all would likely need to go through UMHB).

[cover2]

I think you're exactly right, Chucker.  I posted this on the South Board:

The real bracket is basically swapping UMHB and amount Union from the D3FB mock bracket!

[Ralph Turner]

We have geographic proximity in Division 2. Lone Star Conference foes Tarleton State and Texas A&M Commerce meet on Saturday for a first round rematch.

(The D-2 Championship will be played at McKinney Independent School District School Stadium in the DFW suburb of McKinney.)

[TheChucker]

We have geographic proximity in Division 2. Lone Star Conference foes Tarleton State and Texas A&M Commerce meet on Saturday for a first round rematch.

(The D-2 Championship will be played at McKinney Independent School District School Stadium in the DFW suburb of McKinney.)

It looks like the winner of the Texas schools probably travels to Minnesota again for the quarterfinals if I'm reading it right. Similar bracket as last year except Tarleton and Commerce play in the first round.

[Captain_Joe08]

I still remember several years back that a Texas D2 school (Angelo State) had to go all the way up to the Upper Peninsula for a playoff game. Angelo State won that game I recall.

[Ralph Turner]

I still remember several years back that a Texas D2 school (Angelo State) had to go all the way up to the Upper Peninsula for a playoff game. Angelo State won that game I recall.

That was probably a 40 to 50 degree swing in temperatures.

[Captainred81]

I think when looking at the 4 quadrants of the bracket, and trying to say, "are their any teams in this quadrant that can win the Stagg Bowl?" 

Look at the top left... (2) Teams could win the Stagg Bowl.  UMHB, UWW
Bottom Left ... (2) Teams could win the Stagg Bowl. St. Johns, Wheaton
Top Right ... Not sure any of these could win the Stagg Bowl. 
Bottom Right ... (2) Teams could win the Stagg Bowl.  Mount Union, NCC

Each quadrant has relatively the same difficulty.  Some play the tough teams earlier, some play them later.  I should say that I think Muhlenberg is the real deal, I just don't see them slowing down Mount, or NCC for that matter and I don't think they have the offense to keep pace.  Likewise, I threw NCC in there because of their offensive prowess, but I don't think they have the defense to slow down Mount at all.  While Mount does have the defense to prevent some scoring and will most likely win those football games.

I think this bracket seems like one of the most competitive in a long time.  Even Mount vs. Hanover in round one is more difficult than some past years. 

I'm not sold that Wesley beats Framingham St.  Framingham State lost to Brockport 14-0 on 23 interception returns for TD.  Wesley beat Endicott 20-17.  It could be a game.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Hypothetical 32 Team Bracket (DIII Top 25 only guaranteed) with Top 8 being group 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5.:

1. Mount Union (#1)  vs. Stevenson (#32)
2. St. Johns (#8) vs. UW-Lacrosse (#25)
3. Delaware Valley (#9) vs. Central (#24)
4. Hardin-Simmons (#16) vs. Redlands (#17)

1. UMHB (#2) vs. Hanover (#31)
2. UW-Whitewater (#7) vs. Texas Lutheran (#26)
3. Wesley (#10) vs. Berry (#23)
4. Susquehanna (#15) vs UW-Oshkosh (#18)

1. Wheaton (Ill.) (#3) vs Hope (#30)
2. Salisbury (#6) vs. Case Western-Reserve (#27)
3. John Carroll (#11) vs. Wartburg (#22)
4. St. Thomas (#14) vs. Bethel (#19)

1. Muhlenberg (#4) vs. Ithaca (#29)
2. North Central (Ill.)(#5) vs. Brockport (#28)
3. Chapman (#12) vs. Bridgewater (Va.) (#21)
4. Union (#13) vs. Linfield (#20)

[retagent]

Is edit needed? 23 int returns for TD. I think that would have been news.

Hey, I make typing errors too.

[MRMIKESMITH]

I think when looking at the 4 quadrants of the bracket, and trying to say, "are their any teams in this quadrant that can win the Stagg Bowl?" 

Look at the top left... (2) Teams could win the Stagg Bowl.  UMHB, UWW
Bottom Left ... (2) Teams could win the Stagg Bowl. St. Johns, Wheaton
Top Right ... Not sure any of these could win the Stagg Bowl. 
Bottom Right ... (2) Teams could win the Stagg Bowl.  Mount Union, NCC

Each quadrant has relatively the same difficulty.  Some play the tough teams earlier, some play them later.  I should say that I think Muhlenberg is the real deal, I just don't see them slowing down Mount, or NCC for that matter and I don't think they have the offense to keep pace.  Likewise, I threw NCC in there because of their offensive prowess, but I don't think they have the defense to slow down Mount at all.  While Mount does have the defense to prevent some scoring and will most likely win those football games.

I think this bracket seems like one of the most competitive in a long time.  Even Mount vs. Hanover in round one is more difficult than some past years. 

I'm not sold that Wesley beats Framingham St.  Framingham State lost to Brockport 14-0 on 23 interception returns for TD.  Wesley beat Endicott 20-17.  It could be a game.

Common Opponent between Wesley, Salisbury, and NCC. Salisbury beat CNU by 51 (48 in 2 quarters), NCC beat CNU by 30, Wesley beat CNU by 35. I guess it's all subjective. What was the last time a team outside of UW-W and UMHB beat Mount?

[USee]

Are you trying to say we can learn anything from 3 beat downs of CNU because one team beat them by 50 and another by only 30/35? I am not sure your point with the CNU common opponent. I take only that they all beat CNU easily. It tells me nothing of those teams other than that.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Are you trying to say we can learn anything from 3 beat downs of CNU because one team beat them by 50 and another by only 30/35? I am not sure your point with the CNU common opponent. I take only that they all beat CNU easily. It tells me nothing of those teams other than that.

I'm just saying that Salisbury scored 47 in two quarters. If we are going to base a merit to say a team having a realistic chance based upon offensive prowess, then I think Salisbury would have a case IMHO, just like D1 FBS and their game control factor, I watch both games closely for this reason. I think it comes down to matchups. Some teams matchup better against the big dogs (UMU, UMHB, and UW-W) than other teams. I do believe some teams have a higher ceiling due to depth and pure skill.

Even out of the Top teams, some teams match-up better against the others. I created an hypothetical bracket based upon DIII football rankings. However, that wouldn't sastify many on here. Hansen Ratings has UWW, Wheaton, NCC, Mount , UMHB, Hardin Simmons, and St. Johns, and St. Thomas as the highest 8 teams. 4 of those teams lost to a team not included in that grouping. You have to play the game.

[USee]

I just don't think you can draw any real conclusions from 3 blowouts of the same team.

[smedindy]

The system is fine. The issue is bracketing where the NCAA is penny wise and pound foolish. I know we need some region specific matchups, but not allowing Redlands a home game, and not allowing a Wabash / Mt. Union / North Central / Monmouth bracket because Monmouth is 575 miles away from Alliance is just...odd. So Wabash gets an 'advantage' of being a 6 or 7 in seeding and not an 8, which they deserve, and Hanover gets to get run over in Alliance.