Sports Network Extra Point

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 9:13 pm

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.as ... apoint.htm

Matt Dougherty picks Cats to win 45 - 10 over NAU, Griz to win 31 - 24 over PSU.

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:05 pm

He also says a few times that the 'Cats need to win out in order to make the playoffs.

It's a four game season now fellas. Let's start the season out right this Saturday!!

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:47 am

The Cats do need to win out to make the playoffs. If that happens, I think we've got a shot at hosting. That being if we win out, we most likely win conference title (if the Griz beat PSU). BSC champ should be able to host a playoff game.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:19 am

He also says that PSU could make it in with 4 losses. If that is the case, MSU could still make it in with 4 losses (assuming some scenarios happen .. PSU loses 2 more (which could happen), EW loses to Cal Poly or UC Davis, we beat the Griz etc.).

Just win baby!

We need to win our next 3 and let the CHIPS fall at Cat/Griz.

iaafan · Post by **iaafan** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:53 am

I'd say he has PSU in with four losses because they've played two I-As and almost beat one quality I-A in Boise St. Their I-AA record is 4-1.

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 1:34 pm

Cat Pride wrote:The Cats do need to win out to make the playoffs. If that happens, I think we've got a shot at hosting. That being if we win out, we most likely win conference title (if the Griz beat PSU). BSC champ should be able to host a playoff game.

I personally agree with you. I was thinking about sending an e-mail to Matt in order to catch his thoughts. But, it's possible he's looking at the record of the top 16. Obviously it's going to change, but there are lots with 1 and two losses.

iaafan · Post by **iaafan** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 2:26 pm

If Daugherty said that, then he's not necessarily right and is speaking way too soon. There are a lot of teams that may finish at 7-4 that played I-A teams close and played tough schedules. I happen to believe the committee will not take a 8-3 team that has 5-6 wins against weak (sub .500 and Div. II) competition and didn't beat a good (.600?) team over a 7-4 team that has played a tough schedule. If MSU has wins vs. NDSU and SFA and either UM or EWU and it's only losses are to OSU, C-P, PSU and either UM or EWU, they will take MSU over a team with the former criteria.

If you're a team from a non-autobid conference or even a low Sagarin autobid conference and you go 8-3 with nothing of note, you shouldn't go ahead of a 7-4 team that has faced the type of schedule MSU has seen. This week and next are the worst two teams on MSU's schedule. The teams MSU has played so far are a combined 26-18 and MSU is 4-2 against them. So in all other games those opponents are 24-14. None of them has a losing record (Weber is worst at 4-4).

jagur1 · Post by **jagur1** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 3:08 pm

The only problem with that thought is the cat sched is getting weaker and weaker..NDSU is falling of the table, SFA lost last week and should lose this week, PSU with any luck will fall, Weber and ISU is a wash. OSU isn't going to win this week either, and Cal Poly can lose to Davis this week. Long way to go before anybody can claim strenght of Sched.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 3:13 pm

Pretty much comes down to this regardless of strength of schedule.

If Griz win the Conference title they will get in and one other Big Sky Team will get in (MSU/EW/WEBER/PSU).

If a team besides the Griz win the conference (they get in) if the Griz have 4 or less losses, then they get in.

$$$$$$$$$ Money talks. That is why I think Dougherty thinks the Cats need to win out. If the Griz have 4 losses or less and don't win the conference they will be the 2nd from the Big Sky team to go. It's that simple (their guidelines for the selection pretty much state that as team play is #4 on their list

).

Obzerver · Post by **Obzerver** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 3:22 pm

If UM doesn't win the title(losses to PSU) and PSU puches out and EWU punches out...PSU wins auto bid, UM goes with a 8-3 record(if they win all but the PSU game) and EWU goes with a 8-3 record. One highly doubtful scenerio but still a possible one.

grizbeer · Post by **grizbeer** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:18 pm

How about this scenario -
UM loses to MSU, but wins the rest, finishes 5-2, 8-3
EWU wins out, finishes 5-2, 8-3
MSU loses to EWU, but wins the rest, finishes 5-2, 7-4
WSU wins out (beats ISU, PSU and SUU), finishes 5-2, 7-4 (if WSU beats ISU and UM beats PSU this weekend I think is a likely scenario).

Weber's win over Eastern eliminates the straight head to head eliminator, and I can't really figure out how it goes for the 2nd tie breaker, I assume EWU wins by having wins over 2 of the top 3 team, where as the rest win by having only 1 win over the top 3 teams, but I have given up on trying to understand BSC tie breakers when there is no clear-cut winner. Imagine if in some way Weber ends up winning the auto-bid.

iaafan · Post by **iaafan** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:22 pm

grizbeer wrote:How about this scenario -
UM loses to MSU, but wins the rest, finishes 5-2, 8-3
EWU wins out, finishes 5-2, 8-3
MSU loses to EWU, but wins the rest, finishes 5-2, 7-4
WSU wins out (beats ISU, PSU and SUU), finishes 5-2, 7-4 (if WSU beats ISU and UM beats PSU this weekend I think is a likely scenario).

Weber's win over Eastern eliminates the straight head to head eliminator, and I can't really figure out how it goes for the 2nd tie breaker, I assume EWU wins by having wins over 2 of the top 3 team, where as the rest win by having only 1 win over the top 3 teams, but I have given up on trying to understand BSC tie breakers when there is no clear-cut winner. Imagine if in some way Weber ends up winning the auto-bid.

You start out with best record among the four. MSU and EW would both be 2-1, while UM and WSU would be 1-2. That'd leave MSU and EW. They'd go headtohead and EW would get autobid. By rights MSU would get at-large over UM because of headtohead and tougher sked. But the committee would probably give it to UM because of money. Maybe both.

iaafan · Post by **iaafan** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:26 pm

jagur1 wrote:The only problem with that thought is the cat sched is getting weaker and weaker..NDSU is falling of the table, SFA lost last week and should lose this week, PSU with any luck will fall, Weber and ISU is a wash. OSU isn't going to win this week either, and Cal Poly can lose to Davis this week. Long way to go before anybody can claim strenght of Sched.

Yes it is a long way. UM needs to win three of four, because if they lose before MSU game they'll be in big trouble thanks to the Div. II game. They would be 6-4 with a lost to MSU and the committee will have a hard time making excuses for letting them in the playoffs.....but they probably will. It'll be fun listening to them explain how UM gets in at 7-4 and MSU doesn't even though MSU beat UM and played a tougher schedule. Watch 'em squirm.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:47 pm

iaafan wrote:
jagur1 wrote:The only problem with that thought is the cat sched is getting weaker and weaker..NDSU is falling of the table, SFA lost last week and should lose this week, PSU with any luck will fall, Weber and ISU is a wash. OSU isn't going to win this week either, and Cal Poly can lose to Davis this week. Long way to go before anybody can claim strenght of Sched.
Yes it is a long way. UM needs to win three of four, because if they lose before MSU game they'll be in big trouble thanks to the Div. II game. They would be 6-4 with a lost to MSU and the committee will have a hard time making excuses for letting them in the playoffs.....but they probably will. It'll be fun listening to them explain how UM gets in at 7-4 and MSU doesn't even though MSU beat UM and played a tougher schedule. Watch 'em squirm.

If the Griz don't win the Big Sky Conference and have 4 losses or less you can guarantee they will be in there. Is it right? No, but they will be in according to those rules. It's nice to see team's performance at #4 down in the list

See rules below:

When determining host institutions for playoff games when both teams are unseeded, criteria shall apply as follows: (1) quality of facility, (2) revenue potential plus estimated net receipts, (3) attendance history and potential, (4) team’s performance (i.e., conference place finish, head-to-head results and number of Division I opponents), and (5) student-athlete well-being (e.g., travel, missed class time).

iaafan · Post by **iaafan** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 6:10 pm

CARDIAC_CATS wrote:
iaafan wrote:
jagur1 wrote:The only problem with that thought is the cat sched is getting weaker and weaker..NDSU is falling of the table, SFA lost last week and should lose this week, PSU with any luck will fall, Weber and ISU is a wash. OSU isn't going to win this week either, and Cal Poly can lose to Davis this week. Long way to go before anybody can claim strenght of Sched.
Yes it is a long way. UM needs to win three of four, because if they lose before MSU game they'll be in big trouble thanks to the Div. II game. They would be 6-4 with a lost to MSU and the committee will have a hard time making excuses for letting them in the playoffs.....but they probably will. It'll be fun listening to them explain how UM gets in at 7-4 and MSU doesn't even though MSU beat UM and played a tougher schedule. Watch 'em squirm.
If the Griz don't win the Big Sky Conference and have 4 losses or less you can guarantee they will be in there. Is it right? No, but they will be in according to those rules. It's nice to see team's performance at #4 down in the list See rules below:

When determining host institutions for playoff games when both teams are unseeded, criteria shall apply as follows: (1) quality of facility, (2) revenue potential plus estimated net receipts, (3) attendance history and potential, (4) team’s performance (i.e., conference place finish, head-to-head results and number of Division I opponents), and (5) student-athlete well-being (e.g., travel, missed class time).

Really...I thought it was this:

The following principles shall apply when selecting at-large teams:
1. The committee shall select the best teams available on a national at-large basis to complete the bracket;
2. There is no limit to the number of teams the committee may select from one conference;
3. The won-lost record of a team will be scrutinized to determine a team’s strength of schedule; however, less than seven Division I wins may place a team in jeopardy of not being selected;
4. The committee may give more consideration to those teams that have played all Division I opponents; and
5. If the team of a committee member is under consideration, the member may not vote for the team being considered and will not be in the room when a vote is taken.

I think what you posted is for selecting home teams.

iaafan · Post by **iaafan** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 8:16 am

I'd like to see more BSC coaches saying this:

Walsh says three teams should be in
By SCOTT MANSCH
Assistant Sports Editor and GEORGE GEISE Tribune Sports Editor

Only one time in the last 15 years has the Big Sky Conference been represented in the national playoffs by three teams.

This year it isn't likely to happen, either, although the league has been ranked No. 1 among NCAA I-AA loops all season.

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"That's the problem with the Big Sky," said veteran Portland State coach Tim Walsh. "There's so much parity once again."

Only Montana has as few as two losses overall. Generally the I-AA selection committee has avoided teams with four defeats, no matter who they were against.

"This year it would be a darn shame not to have three teams," Walsh said. "We've been considered the best league in I-AA all year long, and just look at what our league's done in nonconference games."

Indeed there have been several near-misses in nonleague games with I-A teams, including Portland State's effort at Boise State, Montana State's game at Oklahoma State and Idaho State's battle at Kentucky.

"We play in a great league," said Walsh. "If somebody doesn't take notice of that when it comes time to pick the playoffs, it would be an injustice to the kids on those teams."

The Big Sky had three teams in the playoffs in 1988, with Montana, Idaho and Boise State. Then two years ago the league was represented in the postseason by Montana, Montana State and Northern Arizona