PLayoff Possibilities

Go Scats Go · Post by **Go Scats Go** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:08 am

I just cant see PSU or MSU getting in if the Griz do not Lose. This is not because I want to start a fight, but because there are 8 Atomatic bids. and one of those bids is going to go to a terrible team from the Southland Conference. Believe me when I say that I live in Texas and PRAY that the Griz will get the Southland winner in Missoula in 3 weeks. THAT CONFERENCE SUCKS.

Also, I think that since this is the first year for the Ivy's- One will get in.
And San Diego will get a nod if they do not lose.

AUTOMATIC BIDS
Atlantic 10: #3-Massachusetts (7-1) #4-James Madison (7-1) #9-New Hampshire (6-2) #15-Richmond (5-3) #21-Towson (6-2) #22-Maine (5-3)

Gateway: #7-Youngstown (7-2) #8-Illinois State (6-2) #12-Southern Illinios (6-2) #14-Northern Iowa (5-3)

MEAC: #13-Hampton (8-1)

Ohio Valley: #10-Tennessee-Martin (7-1) #20-Eastern Illinois (5-4)

Patriot: Lehigh (Colgate) ???

Southern: #1-Appalachian State (8-1) #11-Furman (6-3)

Southland: Sam Houston State (4-3) ???

OTHERS
Great West: #5-North Dakota State (7-1) #6-Cal Poly (6-2) #24-South Dakota State (5-3)

Pioneer: #16 San Diego (8-0)

Big South: #17-Coastal Carolina (6-2)

Ivy: #18-Harvard (6-1) #23-Princeton (6-1)

MY GUESS:
A-10 gets 3 teams
Gateway gets 3 teams
Southern gets 2 teams
MEAC 1 team
Ohio Valley 1 team
Patriot 1 team
Great west 2 teams
Ivy 1 team
San Diego...

BIG SKY CONFERENCE ONE TEAM 2 if the Griz lose and San diego or Ivy team gets the boot.

anacondagriz · Post by **anacondagriz** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:11 am

The Ivy League does not allow their football teams to participate in post-season play so they are ineligible. Also South Dakota St & North Dakota St. are still ineligible because they are "in transition".

Cat in NC · Post by **Cat in NC** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:03 am

I also just don't see San Diego getting in. Sorry, but their ridiculous schedule just can't warrant a bid. Same thing Coastal Carolina went through a couple of years back. Not saying that this makes a difference for the Cats, I just don't buy the Torrero hype when their only halfway "quality" win was against Yale and (in order to play in the playoffs) they'd have to cancel their only other quality game against Cal-Davis, which is scheduled for the same day as playoff round 1.

BobcatOninetails · Post by **BobcatOninetails** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:04 am

The Cats will not get in the playoffs without beating the griz. Plain and simple. Despite whatever else may have been posted, the loss to Chadron will hurt. Couple this with the severe butt whomping UCD gave MSU and the only way for the Cats to get to the post season is to continue to run the table which I think they can do.

torrybruce · Post by **torrybruce** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:06 am

I think that loss to chadron is really starting to sting right now as that might be the deciding factor if we lose for some god awful reason against the griz. I think with our conference schedule, and our D-I win we could have gotten an at-large with 3 losses (Davis, EWU, UM). Damn you number 4 team in D-II

catatac · Post by **catatac** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:37 am

torrybruce wrote:I think that loss to chadron is really starting to sting right now as that might be the deciding factor if we lose for some god awful reason against the griz. I think with our conference schedule, and our D-I win we could have gotten an at-large with 3 losses (Davis, EWU, UM). Damn you number 4 team in D-II

Absolutely, no question. If we had won any of the 3 we lost, and win one of the next 2 we'd be in for sure.

Go Scats Go · Post by **Go Scats Go** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:47 am

anacondagriz wrote:The Ivy League does not allow their football teams to participate in post-season play so they are ineligible. Also South Dakota St & North Dakota St. are still ineligible because they are "in transition".

Ivy changed their rules- And they now let them in.

The Dakotas are eligible in 2008- so you are correct.

I still however to not see the cats or PSU getting in with 4 L's- Just is not going to happen.

Go Scats Go · Post by **Go Scats Go** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:49 am

Cat in NC wrote:I also just don't see San Diego getting in. Sorry, but their ridiculous schedule just can't warrant a bid. Same thing Coastal Carolina went through a couple of years back. Not saying that this makes a difference for the Cats, I just don't buy the Torrero hype when their only halfway "quality" win was against Yale and (in order to play in the playoffs) they'd have to cancel their only other quality game against Cal-Davis, which is scheduled for the same day as playoff round 1.

If they are 10-0 and in the top 12 how can you keep them out???

ANSWER: You cant!!!!

MSU Toddler · Post by **MSU Toddler** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:49 am

I still however to not see the cats or PSU getting in with 4 L's- Just is not going to happen.

couldn't agree more. cats have to win out due to early season slips. have to slay some bears back to back to get in - only way.

old wise one · Post by **old wise one** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:07 am

For starters, Scats, do some research please.

This is the year where a 7-4 team may get in, but it won't be the Cats. (Maybe PSU.) The Cats are too low in the GPI(which is a good indicator for playoff inclusion). It may be a Youngstown St, if they lose their last two to S. Ill and W. KY. Or Cal Poly, should they lose both to the Griz, and NDSU. The reason I see this scenario, is there just won't be enough eligible teams with records of 8-3 or better.

The one positive about the Cats beating Colorado, and losing to Chadron, is they can get the necessary 7 Div I wins with a record of 7-4, while others cannot, because one of their 7 wins was against a DII. So in a fluke scenario, they have a slim chance at 7-4(but very, very, unlikely). At this point, I think the committee would include a 10-0 San Diego, before a 7-4 MSU. Which by the way, the Torreros have no shot at post season.

Since I told you to do some research Scats, I will provide mine for you, to back my words up. In this scenario, I am being optomistic with the Cats winning the next two.

A-10
JMU(auto) 10-1
Umass 9-2
New Hampshire 9-2 with a big win over UMASS and 2 road wins to finish the season

Bubble teams: The winner of the Towson/Richmond game in two weeks

Big Sky
MSU (auto) 8-3
Montana 8-3

Gateway
No. Iowa (auto) 7-4, by virtue of tiebreaker of tiebreaker with 3 other teams.
YSU 8-3
Ill. St. 8-3

Bubble team: So. Ill (8-3, but only 4-3 in conference with non-con wins over Lock Haven and Ark Pine Bluff, so they are the odd team out.)

Great West
Cal Poly 8-3 (at large spot with win over Griz and loss to NDSU to end the season).

MEAC
Hampton (auto) 10-1

Bubble team: Deleware St. 9-2 (very questionable but the committee always seems to throw one of these teams in there.)

Ohio Valley
Tenn-Martin

Patriot
Either Holy Cross/Lehigh/Lafayette get the auto, and it's a 1 bid league. Too many tiebreaking scenarios to sort out.

Southland
McNeese St (auto) 7-4(if they win the last 3, but they still seem to be the best shot at this point).

Southern
App St. (auto) 10-1

Bubble team: Furman(they must win both remaining games, at Elon, vs. GA. So., to finish 8-3. If they do, they are in).

That's 15 teams as I see it counting two more Furman wins. One remaining spot from the list below(listed according to this weeks GPI ranking), and I will let the nation decide who it should be?

San Diego 10-0
So. Ill 8-3
Portland St. 7-4
Richmond/Towson winner 8-3, or Towson could be 9-2, which would be my 16th team.
Coastal Carolina 9-2
Deleware St 9-2

If Furman loses one, then I definitely see a posibility of a 7-4 at large team:

Post by **kmax** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:15 am

Go Scats Go wrote: Ivy changed their rules- And they now let them in.

Link/proof? This would be huge news and would be all over I-AA sites if this were true.

Now, the Pioneer league (of which San Diego is a part) did make a modification to their post season bowl game (against the MAAC champion I believe?) to keep that from being a restriction that kept San Diego from participating in the playoffs. Perhaps that is what you were thinking of Scats?

CatsRback · Post by **CatsRback** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:15 am

nice to speculate - I agree the CATS have the tools to beat the griz - wever, we were all on this board two months ago, looking forward to the UCD game and looking past that little Div II team from nebraska....

bottom line - we have to win this week before worrying about anything else

old wise one · Post by **old wise one** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:19 am

I agree CatsRback. I am not looking past UNC, and neither should the Cats. It just irritates me, when people start posting playoff scenarios, without any knowledge of how it works. For example SCATS, the IVY teams will not be in the playoffs.

Cat in NC · Post by **Cat in NC** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:45 am

Go Scats Go wrote:
Cat in NC wrote:I also just don't see San Diego getting in. Sorry, but their ridiculous schedule just can't warrant a bid. Same thing Coastal Carolina went through a couple of years back. Not saying that this makes a difference for the Cats, I just don't buy the Torrero hype when their only halfway "quality" win was against Yale and (in order to play in the playoffs) they'd have to cancel their only other quality game against Cal-Davis, which is scheduled for the same day as playoff round 1.
If they are 10-0 and in the top 12 how can you keep them out???

ANSWER: You cant!!!!

Are you kidding me?

Azusa Pacific (2-6 in NAIA)
Dixie State (1-7 in D2)
Yale (6-1)
Davidson (5-3)
Butler (3-6)
Valparaiso (2-7)
Drake (7-2)
Morehead State (1-8)
Jacksonville (4-4)
Dayton (3-5)
Cal-Davis (will be cancelled in event of USD bid)

It's a joke. That's how.

LuvMaroon · Post by **LuvMaroon** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:05 am

old wise one wrote:For starters, Scats, do some research please.

This is the year where a 7-4 team may get in, but it won't be the Cats. (Maybe PSU.) The Cats are too low in the GPI(which is a good indicator for playoff inclusion). It may be a Youngstown St, if they lose their last two to S. Ill and W. KY. Or Cal Poly, should they lose both to the Griz, and NDSU. The reason I see this scenario, is there just won't be enough eligible teams with records of 8-3 or better.

The one positive about the Cats beating Colorado, and losing to Chadron, is they can get the necessary 7 Div I wins with a record of 7-4, while others cannot, because one of their 7 wins was against a DII. So in a fluke scenario, they have a slim chance at 7-4(but very, very, unlikely). At this point, I think the committee would include a 10-0 San Diego, before a 7-4 MSU. Which by the way, the Torreros have no shot at post season.

Since I told you to do some research Scats, I will provide mine for you, to back my words up. In this scenario, I am being optomistic with the Cats winning the next two.

A-10
JMU(auto) 10-1
Umass 9-2
New Hampshire 9-2 with a big win over UMASS and 2 road wins to finish the season

Bubble teams: The winner of the Towson/Richmond game in two weeks

Big Sky
MSU (auto) 8-3
Montana 8-3

Gateway
No. Iowa (auto) 7-4, by virtue of tiebreaker of tiebreaker with 3 other teams.
YSU 8-3
Ill. St. 8-3

Bubble team: So. Ill (8-3, but only 4-3 in conference with non-con wins over Lock Haven and Ark Pine Bluff, so they are the odd team out.)

Great West
Cal Poly 8-3 (at large spot with win over Griz and loss to NDSU to end the season).

MEAC
Hampton (auto) 10-1

Bubble team: Deleware St. 9-2 (very questionable but the committee always seems to throw one of these teams in there.)

Ohio Valley
Tenn-Martin

Patriot
Either Holy Cross/Lehigh/Lafayette get the auto, and it's a 1 bid league. Too many tiebreaking scenarios to sort out.

Southland
McNeese St (auto) 7-4(if they win the last 3, but they still seem to be the best shot at this point).

Southern
App St. (auto) 10-1

Bubble team: Furman(they must win both remaining games, at Elon, vs. GA. So., to finish 8-3. If they do, they are in).

That's 15 teams as I see it counting two more Furman wins. One remaining spot from the list below(listed according to this weeks GPI ranking), and I will let the nation decide who it should be?

San Diego 10-0
So. Ill 8-3
Portland St. 7-4
Richmond/Towson winner 8-3, or Towson could be 9-2, which would be my 16th team.
Coastal Carolina 9-2
Deleware St 9-2

If Furman loses one, then I definitely see a posibility of a 7-4 at large team:

You are crazy if you think the Griz will lose 2 home games in a row. Not gonna' happen. I understand you backing your Cats and expecting them to win the game, but the Griz are way too good to lose 2 home games in a row!!!

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:08 am

LuvMaroon wrote:
old wise one wrote:For starters, Scats, do some research please.

This is the year where a 7-4 team may get in, but it won't be the Cats. (Maybe PSU.) The Cats are too low in the GPI(which is a good indicator for playoff inclusion). It may be a Youngstown St, if they lose their last two to S. Ill and W. KY. Or Cal Poly, should they lose both to the Griz, and NDSU. The reason I see this scenario, is there just won't be enough eligible teams with records of 8-3 or better.

The one positive about the Cats beating Colorado, and losing to Chadron, is they can get the necessary 7 Div I wins with a record of 7-4, while others cannot, because one of their 7 wins was against a DII. So in a fluke scenario, they have a slim chance at 7-4(but very, very, unlikely). At this point, I think the committee would include a 10-0 San Diego, before a 7-4 MSU. Which by the way, the Torreros have no shot at post season.

Since I told you to do some research Scats, I will provide mine for you, to back my words up. In this scenario, I am being optomistic with the Cats winning the next two.

A-10
JMU(auto) 10-1
Umass 9-2
New Hampshire 9-2 with a big win over UMASS and 2 road wins to finish the season

Bubble teams: The winner of the Towson/Richmond game in two weeks

Big Sky
MSU (auto) 8-3
Montana 8-3

Gateway
No. Iowa (auto) 7-4, by virtue of tiebreaker of tiebreaker with 3 other teams.
YSU 8-3
Ill. St. 8-3

Bubble team: So. Ill (8-3, but only 4-3 in conference with non-con wins over Lock Haven and Ark Pine Bluff, so they are the odd team out.)

Great West
Cal Poly 8-3 (at large spot with win over Griz and loss to NDSU to end the season).

MEAC
Hampton (auto) 10-1

Bubble team: Deleware St. 9-2 (very questionable but the committee always seems to throw one of these teams in there.)

Ohio Valley
Tenn-Martin

Patriot
Either Holy Cross/Lehigh/Lafayette get the auto, and it's a 1 bid league. Too many tiebreaking scenarios to sort out.

Southland
McNeese St (auto) 7-4(if they win the last 3, but they still seem to be the best shot at this point).

Southern
App St. (auto) 10-1

Bubble team: Furman(they must win both remaining games, at Elon, vs. GA. So., to finish 8-3. If they do, they are in).

That's 15 teams as I see it counting two more Furman wins. One remaining spot from the list below(listed according to this weeks GPI ranking), and I will let the nation decide who it should be?

San Diego 10-0
So. Ill 8-3
Portland St. 7-4
Richmond/Towson winner 8-3, or Towson could be 9-2, which would be my 16th team.
Coastal Carolina 9-2
Deleware St 9-2

If Furman loses one, then I definitely see a posibility of a 7-4 at large team:

You are crazy if you think the Griz will lose 2 home games in a row. Not gonna' happen. I understand you backing your Cats and expecting them to win the game, but the Griz are way too good to lose 2 home games in a row!!!

Then make them 9-2. Either way, they lose to the Cats on the 18th.

MSU Toddler · Post by **MSU Toddler** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:09 am

You are crazy if you think the Griz will lose 2 home games in a row. Not gonna' happen. I understand you backing your Cats and expecting them to win the game, but the Griz are way too good to lose 2 home games in a row!!!

odds are that the griz don't drop 2, but if there ever was a chance Cal Poly and the Cats could do it. i don't think that is too crazy if you are somewhat realistic. in fact, i think it is closer to even odds then further away.

Go Scats Go · Post by **Go Scats Go** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:39 am

Hot off the press from Matt Dougherty

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

Week 10: The search for a second bid
by Matt Dougherty, Executive Director of I-AA Football

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - With two teams in the top five and three in the top ten, the Atlantic 10 should pick up at least two playoff bids. The Gateway Conference can feel safe about its position as a multiple-bid league with four teams in the top 14 of the rankings and Western Kentucky lurking with a good conference mark.

After that, I-AA automatic bid conference offices are hoping, praying for more than one game to watch on Thanksgiving weekend.

The Southern and Big Sky Conferences usually boast national championship contenders and garner at least two spots in the postseason. Part one of the equation is in good shape, with Appalachian State and Montana ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the country and in line to put significant home field advantages to work in the postseason. But getting multiple bids will be tough for both leagues, because only a handful of teams are even in the mix outside of the league leaders.

The Southern Conference owns six national championships and has sent multiple teams to the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons, with Appalachian State, Furman and Georgia Southern all making the postseason in five of those campaigns. The Mountaineers are still on top, but Georgia Southern is out of the playoff picture and the hopes for a second bid lie with Furman. The Paladins can get to 8-3 with a 6-1 Southern Conference record by winning out, but that mark is not a guarantee with the way they have played in the last month.

In the Big Sky, a streak of seven seasons with two or more teams in the postseason field is in even greater jeopardy. Montana has national championship aspirations, but the Grizzlies could keep the league to one bid by winning out. A Montana win over Montana State would probably end the Bobcats’ playoff hopes and leave any chances for an at-large bid with Portland State. Even if the Vikings win out to finish at 7-4, they would have to buck a trend and become the first four-loss team to earn an at-large berth since Idaho did it, out of the Big Sky, in 1995.

The other four automatic bid leagues have an even bleaker look for an at-large berth. The Southland Conference and the Patriot League both earned a second playoff spot in 2004 and 2005, but the leagues collectively struggled in non- conference play and aren’t likely to have a team with at-large playoff credentials. The Ohio Valley Conference and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference have both been shut out of at-large berths for the past two seasons, and could be on the short end again if league leaders Tennessee-Martin and Hampton go on to earn the automatic nods.

Somehow, someway, there will be eight at-large berths awarded on Nov. 19. For Cal Poly, Coastal Carolina, and even San Diego and Monmouth, the lack of quality playoff candidates in the eight automatic bid conferences is creating an opportunity for a year where a couple of at-large spots get away from the usual suspects.

For the final three weeks of the regular season, The Sports Network will evaluate the remaining contenders for playoff spots. First, to go over the parameters and basics for playoff selections:

Sixteen playoff teams will be announced on Nov. 19 (1 pm EST), of which eight will be automatic qualifiers (the champions of the Atlantic 10, Big Sky, Gateway, MEAC, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern and Southland conferences) and eight will be chosen as at-large entries by the Division I-AA Football Committee, with assistance from four regional advisory committees. The I-AA committee will also seed the top four teams. The committee will be asked to judge at-large teams on the following points - which come straight out of the NCAA manual:

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 will 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.

Here are a few clarifications for who is and who is eligible for the playoff field: The Ivy League does not participate in the I-AA playoffs by decree of the Ivy school presidents.; - The SWAC will send its division champions to the SWAC title game on Dec. 16, so only second place teams and below are playoff eligible. -The Great West Conference does not have an automatic bid, but both Cal Poly and Southern Utah are playoff eligible. UC Davis, North Dakota State and South Dakota State are in their transitional phase from Division II football and are not playoff eligible.; - The five-team Big South Conference’s teams are eligible for the playoffs, but the league does not have an automatic bid. The MAAC, NEC and PFL are also eligible for the playoffs, but do not have an automatic bid.

And remember folks, we will be playing the Division I Football Championship.

Below, take a look at the prospects of I-AA teams that can still entertain realistic playoff hopes with three weeks remaining in the regular season. Schools are ranked by their chances of making the 16-team field, as determined by The Sports Network, and not by current top 25 rank or potential playoff seeds. Current overall and conference records are in parentheses, and each team’s remaining schedule is listed with a brief synopsis of its chances.

1. Appalachian State (8-1, 5-0 SoCon)

The Games: The Citadel (11/4), at Western Carolina (11/11)

Outlook: With Saturday’s victory over Furman, the Mountaineers have all but locked up the Southern Conference title and should coast to a top two seed by winning the final two games.

2. Montana (7-1, 6-0 Big Sky)

The Games: Cal Poly (11/4), at Northern Colorado (11/11), Montana State (11/18)

Outlook: A playoff berth seems to be a near certainty, with only one more win needed to land in comfortable postseason position. Winning out would likely produce a seed, possibly in the top two, and the Grizzlies will clinch the Big Sky automatic bid with a victory in the season finale.

3. Massachusetts (7-1, 5-0 A-10)

The Games: at New Hampshire (11/4), Maine (11/11), Hofstra (11/18)

Outlook: The Minutemen are all but in the playoffs, and should lock up a bid with one more win. They are also in line for the Atlantic 10 automatic bid and a seed in the postseason by winning out, though games against New Hampshire and Maine will pose challenges.

4. James Madison (7-1, 5-0 A-10)

The Games: Delaware (11/4), at Villanova (11/11), at Towson (11/18)

Outlook: The Dukes should be in the playoffs with one more win, and still have a good shot at a seed. They could get a second seed out of the Atlantic 10 behind Massachusetts, and could still surpass the Minutemen for the top A-10 spot by posting a better mark against a softer November schedule.

5. Illinois State (6-2, 3-1 Gateway)

The Games: Missouri State (11/4), at Indiana State (11/11), at Northern Iowa (11/18)

Outlook: Saturday’s home loss to Youngstown State could leave the Redbirds behind the Penguins in the pecking order for a potential seed out of the Gateway, but remaining games against Missouri State and Indiana State should at least make their playoff spot safe.

6. Youngstown State (7-2, 4-1 Gateway)

The Games: Southern Illinois (11/4), at Western Kentucky (11/11)

Outlook: Youngstown State is probably the No. 1 team out of the Gateway at this point, and it needs one more win to lock up a playoff spot and two to stand in line for a possible seed. But the Penguins are one spot behind Illinois State for a certain playoff spot because the remaining games are tougher.

7. Tennessee-Martin (7-1, 4-0 OVC)

The Games: at Southeast Missouri State (11/4), Eastern Kentucky (11/11), at Murray State (11/18)

Outlook: The OVC automatic bid could be a bit dicey even if the Skyhawks win out, since they could be tied at 7-0 with Tennessee State and the teams do not play this year. But with a 7-1 record and no losses to I-AA teams, Tennessee- Martin should be able to at least clinch a playoff spot with two wins.

8. Hampton (8-1, 5-1 MEAC)

The Games: Bethune-Cookman (11/2), at Florida A & M (11/11)

Outlook: One week after losing to South Carolina State, Hampton is back in the driver’s seat for the MEAC title after the Bulldogs lost to Delaware State. The Pirates clinch the MEAC title with wins in the final two games, and will probably need to do it because the resume wouldn’t look great for an at-large spot with another loss.

9. New Hampshire (6-2, 3-2 A-10)

The Games: Massachusetts (11/4), at Rhode Island (11/11), at Maine (11/18)

Outlook: The Wildcats have a victory against I-A Northwestern to strengthen their playoff case, and the lack of quality candidates in the at-large pool should allow them to get in the playoff with an 8-3 mark that includes three conference losses. That means two wins in the final three games, which is not a given with Massachusetts and Maine on the schedule.

10. Southern Illinois (6-2, 3-2 Gateway)

The Games: at Youngstown State (11/4), Northern Iowa (11/11), Southern Utah (11/18)

Outlook: It didn’t look overly impressive at the time, but the Salukis’ win at Indiana has turned into the best victory against a I-A foe. That win should allow the Salukis to feel comfortable for a playoff spot with an 8-3 record, even though the conference mark would be 4-3. But two wins against Youngstown State, UNI and a dangerous Southern Utah team is still a tough task.

11. Cal Poly (6-2, 2-1 Great West)

The Games: at Montana (11/4), at North Dakota State (11/11), Savannah State (11/18)

Outlook: Cal Poly’s playoff prospects should be pretty easy to decipher after last week’s win at San Diego State. The Mustangs’ tough schedule gets them in at 8-3 and a win over Savannah State is a given, so they have to split the next two on the road against top five teams.

12. McNeese State (4-4, 2-1 Southland)

The Games: Southeastern Louisiana (11/4), at Northwestern State (11/11), Nicholls State (11/18)

Outlook: Road victories at Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State put the Cowboys in the driver’s seat, and they will earn the Southland Conference automatic berth by winning out. The game at Northwestern State provides the greatest remaining test.

13. Montana State (6-3, 5-1 Big Sky)

The Games: Northern Colorado (11/4), at Montana (11/18)

Outlook: Montana State’s case is pretty clear-cut at this point. Win the final two games, and the Bobcats earn the Big Sky’s automatic berth. One more loss almost certainly dooms both their conference title hopes and the at-large prospects are a longshot at best.

14. Lehigh (4-4, 3-0 Patriot)

The Games: Colgate (11/4), Fordham (11/11), at Lafayette (11/18)

Outlook: A Lehigh team that lost its first three home games is now in sole possession of first place in the Patriot League after beating Holy Cross, 28-14, on Saturday. The Mountain Hawks are obviously in by winning out, and might be able to suffer a loss in one game, though that could make the situation dicey.

15. Towson (6-2, 3-2 A-10)

The Games: William & Mary (11/4), at Richmond (11/11), James Madison (11/18)

Outlook: The Tigers are quietly in very good playoff position. The non- conference games are looking better as the season goes on, and wins in two of the final three games would get them to eight Division I victories and probably in the postseason. Still, winning against either Richmond or James Madison will be difficult.

16. Furman (6-3, 4-1 SoCon)

The Games: at Elon (11/4), Georgia Southern (11/11)

Outlook: An 8-3 Paladins team would have seven Division I wins, lack a signature victory and own a loss at fellow potential bubble team Coastal Carolina. But that record would also include a 6-1 conference mark, and winning the final two to get there would probably get Furman in as a second Southern Conference representative.

17. Coastal Carolina (6-2, 2-0 Big South)

The Games: Savannah State (11/4), at Gardner-Webb (11/11), Charleston Southern (11/18)

Outlook: They haven’t looked great for the past few weeks, but the Chants played a pretty good non-conference schedule and own wins against Furman and Wofford. They need to get to 9-2 to have a shot, but that record would look good for an at-large berth with an improved Big South Conference to strengthen their case.

18. Richmond (5-3, 2-3 A-10)

The Games: at Villanova (11/4), Towson (11/11), at William & Mary (11/18)

Outlook: Getting in the playoffs with three conference losses is never an easy task, but like New Hampshire a win over a I-A team and an all Division I schedule could help Richmond do it. The schedule is favorable for a perfect November mark, but the Spiders need to play better than they have in the last two games.

19. Western Kentucky (5-3, 4-1 Gateway)

The Games: at Northern Iowa (11/4), Youngstown State (11/11), Austin Peay (11/18)

Outlook: Another team that is quietly rising through the ranks, Western Kentucky is one play from a perfect Gateway record. But the Hilltoppers do have losses to Illinois State and Eastern Kentucky, and probably need to keep winning to get in the playoffs as an at-large team or with the Gateway Conference automatic bid.

20. Northern Iowa (5-3, 3-1 Gateway)

The Games: Western Kentucky (11/4), at Southern Illinois (11/11), Illinois State (11/18)

Outlook: The Panthers hurt their playoff hopes with a home loss to Western Illinois, but victories in the final three games would earn them the Gateway Conference automatic bid. They might be able to afford a loss (most likely to Southern Illinois) and earn the automatic berth with a 5-2 record, but that would rely on another Youngstown State loss.

21. Portland State (5-4, 4-2 Big Sky)

The Games: at Northern Arizona (11/4), at Sacramento State (11/11)

Outlook: It’s been more than a decade since a four-loss team earned an at-large berth (Idaho, 1995), but the Vikings will present the most interesting case in years with a 7-4 mark that includes two I-A losses and a I-A win. Still, they have to get there first, and winning two road games is not a given.
22. Maine (5-3, 4-1 A-10)

The Games: Northeastern (11/4), at Massachusetts (11/11), New Hampshire (11/18)

Outlook: The Black Bears put a serious dent in their playoff hopes with a loss at Rhode Island on Saturday. An 8-3 mark with a 7-1 Atlantic 10 record would get them in, but that would mean winning out against a very tough November schedule.

23. Tennessee State (5-3, 4-0 OVC)

The Games: at Eastern Illinois (11/4), Southeast Missouri State (11/11), at Eastern Kentucky (11/18)

Outlook: Winners of three in a row, the Tigers sort of control their own destiny in the OVC race. They could get to 7-0 in the conference by winning the final three games, but would have their fate decided by a coin flip if Tennessee-Martin has the same mark. An at-large berth is unlikely with losses to Alabama A & M and Florida A & M, though the committee could give the Tigers a break if they are 7-0 and lose an automatic spot.

24. Delaware State (6-2, 5-1 MEAC)

The Games: Concord (11/4), at Norfolk State (11/11), at Howard (11/18)

Outlook: After beating South Carolina State, the Hornets are in decent shape in the MEAC race, needing just one Hampton loss to control their own destiny. Even if the Pirates win the league, the Hornets can become an at-large candidate by winning out, though they would not have a great win and played non-conference games against St. Francis (PA) and Concord.

25. Eastern Illinois (8-4, 4-1 OVC)

The Games: Tennessee State (11/4), at Tennessee Tech (11/11), Jacksonville State (11/18)

Outlook: The Panthers would present an interesting case to the committee with 12 Division I games, which would include losses to two I-A teams and a pair of I-AA teams that are currently ranked in the top 10. But it would also be devoid of quality wins, so the Panthers probably have to get past Tennessee-Martin to earn the OVC automatic bid.

anacondagriz · Post by **anacondagriz** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:19 pm

Go Scats Go wrote:
anacondagriz wrote:The Ivy League does not allow their football teams to participate in post-season play so they are ineligible. Also South Dakota St & North Dakota St. are still ineligible because they are "in transition".
Ivy changed their rules- And they now let them in.

Give me even one shred of evidence that this is true please.

Live4Griz · Post by **Live4Griz** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:38 pm

anacondagriz wrote:
Go Scats Go wrote:
anacondagriz wrote:The Ivy League does not allow their football teams to participate in post-season play so they are ineligible. Also South Dakota St & North Dakota St. are still ineligible because they are "in transition".
Ivy changed their rules- And they now let them in.
Give me even one shred of evidence that this is true please.

From The Sports Network 11/01/06

Sixteen playoff teams will be announced on Nov. 19 (1 pm EST), of which eight will be automatic qualifiers (the champions of the Atlantic 10, Big Sky, Gateway, MEAC, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern and Southland conferences) and eight will be chosen as at-large entries by the Division I-AA Football Committee, with assistance from four regional advisory committees. The I-AA committee will also seed the top four teams. The committee will be asked to judge at-large teams on the following points - which come straight out of the NCAA manual:

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 will 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.

Here are a few clarifications for who is and who is eligible for the playoff field: The Ivy League does not participate in the I-AA playoffs by decree of the Ivy school presidents.; - The SWAC will send its division champions to the SWAC title game on Dec. 16, so only second place teams and below are playoff eligible. -The Great West Conference does not have an automatic bid, but both Cal Poly and Southern Utah are playoff eligible. UC Davis, North Dakota State and South Dakota State are in their transitional phase from Division II football and are not playoff eligible.; - The five-team Big South Conference’s teams are eligible for the playoffs, but the league does not have an automatic bid. The MAAC, NEC and PFL are also eligible for the playoffs, but do not have an automatic bid.

Link-->http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.as ... 047162.htm