Bubble Teams

[LarryBoy]

Teams with 3 losses (off the top of my head) that are normally considered for playoff contention--if any of these teams win out, who has the credentials to make the field (if any)? Please feel free to add teams to the list and correct my mistakes.

Northern Iowa
--losses: North Dakota, Iowa St (barely), Western Illinois
--big wins: SDSU, YSU
--remaining: W Kentucky, S Illinois, Illinois St.
--Prognosis: Vision hazy, ask again later.

Furman
--losses: UNC, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian
--big wins: Wofford, Citadel (I guess)
--remaining: Elon, Georgia Southern
--Prognosis: Furman has prestige on their side, but that's about it. Lack of quality wins and a 40-7 blasting at the hands of ASU could seal the Paladins fate, keeping them out of the playoffs for only the second time in 8 seasons. Also, Elon and Georgia Southern have a good shot at adding to the misery.

Richmond
--losses: New Hampshire, Delaware, James Madison
--big wins: Duke
--remaining: Nova, Towson, Bill and Mary
--Prognosis: 8-3 A-10 teams should be given a berth, that's my policy. The conference schedule is too brutal.

Maine
--losses: YSU, BC, and Rhode Island
--big wins: Towson, Hofstra
--remaining: Northeastern, UMass, New Hampshire
--prognosis: Thanks for playing, guys. (see remaining games)

Montana State
--losses: Chadron St., UC Davis, Eastern Washington
--big wins: Colorado, Portland State
--remaining: N Colorado, Montana
--Prognosis: They've done well to recover from their 3 weeks of temporary insanity, and an upset of Montana to finish the season could let them slip in. But at Missoula? Not seeing it.


(Edited to remove Cal-Poly after their come from behind victory over SDSU. Congrats!)

[grizbeer]

Teams with 3 losses (off the top of my head) that are normally considered for playoff contention--if any of these teams win out, who has the credentials to make the field (if any)? Please feel free to add teams to the list and correct my mistakes.

Northern Iowa
--losses: North Dakota, Iowa St (barely), Western Illinois
--big wins: SDSU, YSU
--remaining: W Kentucky, S Illinois, Illinois St.
--Prognosis: Vision hazy, ask again later.

Furman
--losses: UNC, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian
--big wins: Wofford, Citadel (I guess)
--remaining: Elon, Georgia Southern
--Prognosis: Furman has prestige on their side, but that's about it. Lack of quality wins and a 40-7 blasting at the hands of ASU could seal the Paladins fate, keeping them out of the playoffs for only the second time in 8 seasons. Also, Elon and Georgia Southern have a good shot at adding to the misery.

(Possibly) Cal Poly--will update if they can't come back tonight.

Richmond
--losses: New Hampshire, Delaware, James Madison
--big wins: Duke
--remaining: Nova, Towson, Bill and Mary
--Prognosis: 8-3 A-10 teams should be given a berth, that's my policy. The conference schedule is too brutal.

Maine
--losses: YSU, BC, and Rhode Island
--big wins: Towson, Hofstra
--remaining: Northeastern, UMass, New Hampshire
--prognosis: Thanks for playing, guys. (see remaining games)

Montana State
--losses: Chadron St., UC Davis, Eastern Washington
--big wins: Colorado, Portland State
--remaining: N Colorado, Montana
--Prognosis: They've done well to recover from their 3 weeks of temporary insanity, and an upset of Montana to finish the season could let them slip in. But at Missoula? Not seeing it.If MSU beats Northern Colorado (almost a given) and UM it won't let MSU slip in, they will be solidily in with the Auto bid and an 8-3 record. Hard to believe after the way they started the season, but MSU is for real again.

[Ronbo]

We will not allow it. Period.

[CCU97]

Teams with 3 losses (off the top of my head) that are normally considered for playoff contention--if any of these teams win out, who has the credentials to make the field (if any)? Please feel free to add teams to the list and correct my mistakes.

Northern Iowa
--losses: North Dakota, Iowa St (barely), Western Illinois
--big wins: SDSU, YSU
--remaining: W Kentucky, S Illinois, Illinois St.
--Prognosis: Vision hazy, ask again later.

Furman
--losses: UNC, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian
--big wins: Wofford, Citadel (I guess)
--remaining: Elon, Georgia Southern
--Prognosis: Furman has prestige on their side, but that's about it. Lack of quality wins and a 40-7 blasting at the hands of ASU could seal the Paladins fate, keeping them out of the playoffs for only the second time in 8 seasons. Also, Elon and Georgia Southern have a good shot at adding to the misery.

(Possibly) Cal Poly--will update if they can't come back tonight.

Richmond
--losses: New Hampshire, Delaware, James Madison
--big wins: Duke
--remaining: Nova, Towson, Bill and Mary
--Prognosis: 8-3 A-10 teams should be given a berth, that's my policy. The conference schedule is too brutal.

Maine
--losses: YSU, BC, and Rhode Island
--big wins: Towson, Hofstra
--remaining: Northeastern, UMass, New Hampshire
--prognosis: Thanks for playing, guys. (see remaining games)

Montana State
--losses: Chadron St., UC Davis, Eastern Washington
--big wins: Colorado, Portland State
--remaining: N Colorado, Montana
--Prognosis: They've done well to recover from their 3 weeks of temporary insanity, and an upset of Montana to finish the season could let them slip in. But at Missoula? Not seeing it.

Have to add:

South Dakota St.
--loses: Wisconsin-La Crosse, Montana, N. Iowa
-- big wins: C. Arkansas, Cal - Poly, Cal-Davis
-- remaining: William Penn, S. Utah, N.Dakota St.
--Prognosis: Up in the air as NDSU will be a road test and so I would have to say enjoy the playoffs from home.

W. Kentucky
--loses: Georgia, E. Kentucky, Illinois St.
--big wins: ok...so they really don't have any...
-- remaining: N. Iowa, Youngstown St., Austin Peay
-- Prognosis: Enjoy the time off after regular season and regroup for next year.

C. Arkansas
--loses:Illinois St, S. Dakota St. , Cal-Davis
--big wins: None so why is the GPI so high?
-- remaining: Southern Arkansas, Augustana (SD),Georgia Southern
--Prognosis: They could win out and still sit home

[LarryBoy]

UCA isn't playoff eligible, right?

[griz37]

UCA isn't playoff eligible, right?

Neither is South Dakota St.

[skinny_uncle]

Have to add:

South Dakota St.
--loses: Wisconsin-La Crosse, Montana, N. Iowa
-- big wins: C. Arkansas, Cal - Poly, Cal-Davis
-- remaining: William Penn, S. Utah, N.Dakota St.
--Prognosis: Up in the air as NDSU will be a road test and so I would have to say enjoy the playoffs from home.

W. Kentucky
--loses: Georgia, E. Kentucky, Illinois St.
--big wins: ok...so they really don't have any...
-- remaining: N. Iowa, Youngstown St., Austin Peay
-- Prognosis: Enjoy the time off after regular season and regroup for next year.

C. Arkansas
--loses:Illinois St, S. Dakota St. , Cal-Davis
--big wins: None so why is the GPI so high?
-- remaining: Southern Arkansas, Augustana (SD),Georgia Southern
--Prognosis: They could win out and still sit home
Ahem! Nice to know you don't consider their win over SIU as a big win.

[DTSpider]

Richmond
--losses: New Hampshire, Delaware, James Madison
--big wins: Duke
--remaining: Nova, Towson, Bill and Mary
--Prognosis: 8-3 A-10 teams should be given a berth, that's my policy. The conference schedule is too brutal.



Thanks for the love, but UR is not a playoff team. This years team plays with no heart. 22 carries for -2 yards against your in-state rival for a "power rushing team"? JMU is a great team & I don't want to take anything away from them, but the UR team I saw today cannot win out. We'll be lucky to finish above .500.

[CharlestonAppFan]

I didn't think a score like this was possible. First time posting, but I still convinced App is still the team to beat, freshman or not. Defense wins championships, offense wins games, and we have a defense. And defense is what we have as long as we have home field advantage. Just my 2 cents........thanks for having me....

[wkukid]

Ahem! Nice to know you don't consider their win over SIU as a big win.

beat me to it

[birdsflyhigh]

WKU has 2 quality wins: SIU and WIU. If the Hilltoppers win out, they are 8-3 with 2 more quality wins over YSU and UNI. That record and resume would top just about ANY of the bubble teams mentioned in this thread.

[redbirdtim]

I agree. If the Toppers finish 8-3 with a 5-1 GFC record, that's more than good enough to get in. Who knows, might even be a share of the GFC title. The only problem is a loss to EKU (3-5). EKU finishes 2-1 or better, won't look as bad. However, EKU is a I-AA team, so it isn't like they lost to a DII school. WKU wins out and they will be one of the Gateway 3/4 to get in. It really hinges on the schedules: WKU has to play UNI and YSU, YSU has WKU and SIU, UNI has SIU and ISU, and ISU has UNI. My hope right now is that WKU wins out. Then, if my Redbirds win out, we win the Gateway.

[Toppermaniac]

Have to add:

South Dakota St.
--loses: Wisconsin-La Crosse, Montana, N. Iowa
-- big wins: C. Arkansas, Cal - Poly, Cal-Davis
-- remaining: William Penn, S. Utah, N.Dakota St.
--Prognosis: Up in the air as NDSU will be a road test and so I would have to say enjoy the playoffs from home.

W. Kentucky
--loses: Georgia, E. Kentucky, Illinois St.
--big wins: ok...so they really don't have any...
-- remaining: N. Iowa, Youngstown St., Austin Peay
-- Prognosis: Enjoy the time off after regular season and regroup for next year.

C. Arkansas
--loses:Illinois St, S. Dakota St. , Cal-Davis
--big wins: None so why is the GPI so high?
-- remaining: Southern Arkansas, Augustana (SD),Georgia Southern
--Prognosis: They could win out and still sit home

I'd say the win on the road at SIU was a very big win. Also a 1 point loss to Ill. St. on a missed 19 yard field goal. Still a loss, but should've been a win.

[TexasTerror]

Have to add:

South Dakota St.
--loses: Wisconsin-La Crosse, Montana, N. Iowa
-- big wins: C. Arkansas, Cal - Poly, Cal-Davis
-- remaining: William Penn, S. Utah, N.Dakota St.
--Prognosis: Up in the air as NDSU will be a road test and so I would have to say enjoy the playoffs from home.

W. Kentucky
--loses: Georgia, E. Kentucky, Illinois St.
--big wins: ok...so they really don't have any...
-- remaining: N. Iowa, Youngstown St., Austin Peay
-- Prognosis: Enjoy the time off after regular season and regroup for next year.

C. Arkansas
--loses:Illinois St, S. Dakota St. , Cal-Davis
--big wins: None so why is the GPI so high?
-- remaining: Southern Arkansas, Augustana (SD),Georgia Southern
--Prognosis: They could win out and still sit home

SDSU and UCA sit home regardless...UCA wouldn't even get to seven wins if they were playoff eligible because of the four sub-Div I games they have played...

There's a reason they were overlooked by everyone...

[galojay]

Making any projections at this point from the Gateway is foolish to say the least. I see three teams getting in from the Gateway and five teams fighting to grab a spot. Next week should clear the air for sure.

[LarryBoy]

I left WKU out because I don't see them beating YSU and UNI. If they do, then of course they deserve to be in.

[PantherRob82]

UNI has to get the autobid at this point. Can't lose again.