1) MVC: NDSU Tough to go against the defending champs again this season. NDSU until proven otherwise.
2) CAA: Richmond CAA is good this season....JMU and William&Mary will challenge.
3) Big Sky: Montana Yeah, I get it. BUT, year 2 of Stitt, an easy schedule, MSU rebuilding, North Arizona unproven, Southern Utah's new coach, and EWU's brutal schedule? The Griz have the best shot at winning the war of attrition in league.
4) Southland: Sam Houston State November 5 vs McNeese will tell the tale.....and it is in Huntsville.
5) Southern: Chattanooga Possible national sleeper....lots of talent, with solid QB play can go far.
6) OVC: Jaxsonville State Many questions surrounding Jax, but the schedule is ultra-soft. Also check out the transfers to fill holes...more than a couple from the SEC.
7) Big South: Liberty Good home field advantage, and they get Charleston Southern at home. The final record will have at least 3 losses, but that should be good enough to win league.
8) Patriot: Colgate Went undefeated in league last season...with everyone back, no reason to think different here.
9) Northeast: Saint Francis Surprise pick....looks like a crapshoot type situation to me, and I am not sold on Duquesne as the preseason fave. Honestly, I do not know much about the northeast, so this is a flyer.
10) Pioneer: San Diego Much the same as the Northeast.....preseason fave is Dayton, but San Diego can throw it around a bit and has a somewhat manageable schedule getting Dayton at home.
Never Make A Winner A Loser. Never.
0
Playoff projections:
Division Winners (Auto Bids):
1) MVC: NDSU Tough to go against the defending champs again this season. NDSU until proven otherwise.
2) CAA: Richmond CAA is good this season....JMU and William&Mary will challenge.
3) Big Sky: Montana Yeah, I get it. BUT, year 2 of Stitt, an easy schedule, MSU rebuilding, North Arizona unproven, Southern Utah's new coach, and EWU's brutal schedule? The Griz have the best shot at winning the war of attrition in league.
4) Southland: Sam Houston State November 5 vs McNeese will tell the tale.....and it is in Huntsville.
5) Southern: Chattanooga Possible national sleeper....lots of talent, with solid QB play can go far.
6) OVC: Jaxsonville State Many questions surrounding Jax, but the schedule is ultra-soft. Also check out the transfers to fill holes...more than a couple from the SEC.
7) Big South: Liberty Good home field advantage, and they get Charleston Southern at home. The final record will have at least 3 losses, but that should be good enough to win league.
8) Patriot: Colgate Went undefeated in league last season...with everyone back, no reason to think different here.
9) Northeast: Saint Francis Surprise pick....looks like a crapshoot type situation to me, and I am not sold on Duquesne as the preseason fave. Honestly, I do not know much about the northeast, so this is a flyer.
10) Pioneer: San Diego Much the same as the Northeast.....preseason fave is Dayton, but San Diego can throw it around a bit and has a somewhat manageable schedule getting Dayton at home.
6) James Madison We will see how the new coach handles it JMU, but transfers are plenty with 16 back.
7) William & Mary Sr. QB Cluley and 14 returners from a 9-4 team are back. Should be part of the logjam in the CAA, and with preseason ranking should have the rep to get in.
8) Towson 18 guys back and they miss JMU. Could make a run with a win @Richmond.
9) McNeese State Should have a great record with a heads up shot with SHSU.
10) Charleston Southern Looked pretty good the other night against NDSU. That gained them national respect, and with 8 or 9 wins they will go.
11) Wofford Surprise return to the playoffs. 17 returning starters and a manageable schedule. I look for them to replace the Citadel as #2 in that league.
12) Fordham Maybe a little east coast bias from the pollsters?
13) Weber State Surprise team in the Big Sky. 6-5 last season, 17 returners and the winnable games at home. They will need 8 or 9 wins to get in because of reputation.
14) EWU Despite what is likely a tough start, EWU should look pretty good down the stretch, getting UM at home. 8-4 will work here. 9-3 and they will host.
No surprise, the MVC will send 5 or 6 to the playoffs, as being above .500 in that league gives you a shot to get in. Spared the individual write-ups because #2 through #7 are pretty good and pretty close.
Never Make A Winner A Loser. Never.
0
14 At large Bids:
1) UNI
2) South Dakota State
3) Illinois State
4) Youngstown State
5) Western Illinois
6) James Madison We will see how the new coach handles it JMU, but transfers are plenty with 16 back.
7) William & Mary Sr. QB Cluley and 14 returners from a 9-4 team are back. Should be part of the logjam in the CAA, and with preseason ranking should have the rep to get in.
8) Towson 18 guys back and they miss JMU. Could make a run with a win @Richmond.
9) McNeese State Should have a great record with a heads up shot with SHSU.
10) Charleston Southern Looked pretty good the other night against NDSU. That gained them national respect, and with 8 or 9 wins they will go.
11) Wofford Surprise return to the playoffs. 17 returning starters and a manageable schedule. I look for them to replace the Citadel as #2 in that league.
12) Fordham Maybe a little east coast bias from the pollsters?
13) Weber State Surprise team in the Big Sky. 6-5 last season, 17 returners and the winnable games at home. They will need 8 or 9 wins to get in because of reputation.
14) EWU Despite what is likely a tough start, EWU should look pretty good down the stretch, getting UM at home. 8-4 will work here. 9-3 and they will host.
No surprise, the MVC will send 5 or 6 to the playoffs, as being above .500 in that league gives you a shot to get in. Spared the individual write-ups because #2 through #7 are pretty good and pretty close.
So, who are the elite teams headed for the national semifinals? Always tough to pick this early because of seeding in the playoffs, and this season is fairly wide open.
In any case, in no specific order, my selections to be the last 4 standing for the national semis:
1) NDSU No surprise there.....QB Easton Stick will improve as the year moves forward behind a talented offensive line. If NDSU is forced to play a road game in the playoffs, then they may not extend the streak to #6.
2) SHSU Lots of talent here on offense, and the record should be very good, with a great shot at 11-0. Even with one loss to McNeese St, SHSU will likely get a first round bye an host a playoff game or two.
3) Richmond Richmond is loaded....7 preseason all CAA players including the preseason OPY in QB Lauletta and S Jones. Possibly a one loss squad (UVA week #1) heading into the playoffs.
4) Chattanooga This is a surprise pick, but one that is very possible with the annual regional seeding that we see. If Chattanooga can finish in the top #5 at the end of the year, then there is a good shot of hosting Jax St. QB Bennifield is the key to the whole deal as he replaces 3 year starter and coach's son QB Huesman. With the questions surrounding Jax St's returners and QB Jenkins' shoulder, a one loss Chattanooga team (to Alabama) will get to play host to other regional contenders.
The common sense move is to pick 2 MVC squads to play in the final 4 as there are easily 2 that are capable......but the seeding is a bit on the tough side. Last year SDSU was solid, but had to play @ Montana with the winner going to NDSU.....UNI also played @ Portland St with the winner getting the winner of UM/NDSU. Basically, you saw NDSU, SDSU and UNI potentially eliminating one another.
Of course, we do see this stuff in many leagues that send a bunch of teams, but the regional play has been emphasized in recent years, and teams from the same conference end up eliminating one another.
Well, that is it.....I guess we will see....... Good luck to all this season, make some
Never Make A Winner A Loser. Never.
0
So, who are the elite teams headed for the national semifinals? Always tough to pick this early because of seeding in the playoffs, and this season is fairly wide open.
In any case, in no specific order, my selections to be the last 4 standing for the national semis:
1) NDSU No surprise there.....QB Easton Stick will improve as the year moves forward behind a talented offensive line. If NDSU is forced to play a road game in the playoffs, then they may not extend the streak to #6.
2) SHSU Lots of talent here on offense, and the record should be very good, with a great shot at 11-0. Even with one loss to McNeese St, SHSU will likely get a first round bye an host a playoff game or two.
3) Richmond Richmond is loaded....7 preseason all CAA players including the preseason OPY in QB Lauletta and S Jones. Possibly a one loss squad (UVA week #1) heading into the playoffs.
4) Chattanooga This is a surprise pick, but one that is very possible with the annual regional seeding that we see. If Chattanooga can finish in the top #5 at the end of the year, then there is a good shot of hosting Jax St. QB Bennifield is the key to the whole deal as he replaces 3 year starter and coach's son QB Huesman. With the questions surrounding Jax St's returners and QB Jenkins' shoulder, a one loss Chattanooga team (to Alabama) will get to play host to other regional contenders.
The common sense move is to pick 2 MVC squads to play in the final 4 as there are easily 2 that are capable......but the seeding is a bit on the tough side. Last year SDSU was solid, but had to play @ Montana with the winner going to NDSU.....UNI also played @ Portland St with the winner getting the winner of UM/NDSU. Basically, you saw NDSU, SDSU and UNI potentially eliminating one another.
Of course, we do see this stuff in many leagues that send a bunch of teams, but the regional play has been emphasized in recent years, and teams from the same conference end up eliminating one another.
Well, that is it.....I guess we will see....... Good luck to all this season, make some
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