College Sports Madness Top 44 - Countdown

[codecat]

#44 Howard 2018 FCS
#2 MEAC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16411


FCS Conference Summary - College Sports Madness Top 44

• Missouri Valley
• 01.....01-North Dakota State
• 06.....02-South Dakota State
• 16.....03-Northern Iowa
• 21.....04-South Dakota
• 24.....05-Illinois State
• 27.....06-Youngstown State
• 37.....07-Western Illinois
  
  Big Sky
• 05.....01-Eastern Washington
• 11.....02-Northern Arizona
• 15.....03-Montana
• 22.....04-Montana State
• 25.....05-Idaho
• 29.....06-UC Davis
• 32.....06-Sac State
• 41.....08-Weber State
  
  CAA
• 02.....01-James Madison
• 04.....02-New Hampshire
• 09.....03-Elon
• 12.....04-Villanova
• 18.....05-Delaware
• 33.....06-Stony Brook
  
  Ohio Valley
• 08.....01-Jacksonville State
• 19.....02-Austin Peay
• 34.....03-Eastern Illinois
• 39.....04-Tennessee State
  
  SoCon
• 07.....01-Samford
• 20.....02-Furman
• 23.....03-Wofford
• 26.....04-Mercer
  
  Southland
• 10.....01-Sam Houston State
• 13.....02-McNeese State
• 17.....03-Nicholls
  
  Big South
• 03.....01-Kennesaw State
• 31.....02-Monmouth
• 35.....03-Charleston So
  
  Patriot
• 36.....01-Colgate
• 42.....02-Lehigh
  
  NEC
• 38.....01-Bryant
• 43.....02-St. Francis
  
  MEAC
• 14.....01-North Carolina A&T
• 44.....02-Howard
  
  Pioneer
• 28.....01-San Diego
  
  Ivy
• 30.....01-Yale
  
  SWAC
• 40.....01-Grambling State

[BleedingBLue]

Gotta say I love the site and the dude that does the bracketology is usually pretty accurate, but the following statement from the article about matchups that each conference won't see is just plain stupid.

"The Eastern Washington/Montana/Northern Arizona triangle of top contenders all miss each other, at least in official conference action. And each of them could be favored to win every conference game they play, opening the potential for tri-champions all going 8-0. That would be interesting!"

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16337

[gtapp]

How is that stupid?

[BleedingBLue]

How is that stupid?

3 times since the conference expanded has a team gone 8-0 in conference. EWU 2 times and UND once. Both UND and EWU did it in the same season. 3 teams doing it is pretty unrealistic. And only Griz fans think the Griz going 8-0 is possible in conference. For as solid as NAU seems to be, they cant ever get over the hump in conference play. I don't see anybody going 8-0.

[The Butcher]

How is that stupid?

3 times since the conference expanded has a team gone 8-0 in conference. EWU 2 times and UND once. Both UND and EWU did it in the same season. 3 teams doing it is pretty unrealistic. And only Griz fans think the Griz going 8-0 is possible in conference. For as solid as NAU seems to be, they cant ever get over the hump in conference play. I don't see anybody going 8-0.

I completely agree. NAU always under preforms and Montana will NOT go undefeated. Eastern might have a shot at 8-0...

[Long Time Cat]

I also think that with a new coach and a new quarterback it's unrealistic to think the griz will go 8-0 in conference play.

On another note do the Cats make the top 44? I think so because of the respect for our conference but I don't think we break the top 30.

[codecat]

#43 Saint Francis 2018 FCS
#2 NEC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16413

[Colter_Nuanez]

I also think that with a new coach and a new quarterback it's unrealistic to think the griz will go 8-0 in conference play.

On another note do the Cats make the top 44? I think so because of the respect for our conference but I don't think we break the top 30.

I bet the winner of the Big Sky this season has two losses. To me, Weber State will be a playoff team. NAU with a schedule that misses Montana, Montana State and Idaho and plays EWU in the non-conference should also have the inside track on a playoff spot but as has always been the case, it's hard to pick them to actually win the league because they will figure out a way to lose a game they are not supposed to, maybe two. At some point everyone needs to stop disrespecting Southern Utah. They have made the playoffs three of the last five seasons and won the conference two of the last three years, including sharing the title with Weber last season. SUU returns the best offensive line in the league, every single starter on offense aside from quarterback and has a reputation as the most physical defense in the conference, a unit that always gets major influx of talent each off-season with the return of LDS missionaries.

To me, the battle for the fourth spot (I'm not saying any of these teams are 4th, in fact I think the following group are all in the mix for the title and a top 3 league finish, but all play each other so not an inside track like the above three mentioned) is between Montana State, Montana, Idaho and Eastern Washington. EWU's game in Bozeman will swing the race as will Idaho's trip to Bobcat Stadium, Montana's trip to Moscow, MSU's trip to Weber State, Idaho's trip to Cheney.

[CelticCat]

I also think that with a new coach and a new quarterback it's unrealistic to think the griz will go 8-0 in conference play.

On another note do the Cats make the top 44? I think so because of the respect for our conference but I don't think we break the top 30.

I bet the winner of the Big Sky this season has two losses. To me, Weber State will be a playoff team. NAU with a schedule that misses Montana, Montana State and Idaho and plays EWU in the non-conference should also have the inside track on a playoff spot but as has always been the case, it's hard to pick them to actually win the league because they will figure out a way to lose a game they are not supposed to, maybe two. At some point everyone needs to stop disrespecting Southern Utah. They have made the playoffs three of the last five seasons and won the conference two of the last three years, including sharing the title with Weber last season. SUU returns the best offensive line in the league, every single starter on offense aside from quarterback and has a reputation as the most physical defense in the conference, a unit that always gets major influx of talent each off-season with the return of LDS missionaries.

To me, the battle for the fourth spot (I'm not saying any of these teams are 4th, in fact I think the following group are all in the mix for the title and a top 3 league finish, but all play each other so not an inside track like the above three mentioned) is between Montana State, Montana, Idaho and Eastern Washington. EWU's game in Bozeman will swing the race as will Idaho's trip to Bobcat Stadium, Montana's trip to Moscow, MSU's trip to Weber State, Idaho's trip to Cheney.

I feel like NAU is consistently gifted an easy conference schedule, or is it just me?

[Cledus]

I also think that with a new coach and a new quarterback it's unrealistic to think the griz will go 8-0 in conference play.

On another note do the Cats make the top 44? I think so because of the respect for our conference but I don't think we break the top 30.

I bet the winner of the Big Sky this season has two losses. To me, Weber State will be a playoff team. NAU with a schedule that misses Montana, Montana State and Idaho and plays EWU in the non-conference should also have the inside track on a playoff spot but as has always been the case, it's hard to pick them to actually win the league because they will figure out a way to lose a game they are not supposed to, maybe two. At some point everyone needs to stop disrespecting Southern Utah. They have made the playoffs three of the last five seasons and won the conference two of the last three years, including sharing the title with Weber last season. SUU returns the best offensive line in the league, every single starter on offense aside from quarterback and has a reputation as the most physical defense in the conference, a unit that always gets major influx of talent each off-season with the return of LDS missionaries.

To me, the battle for the fourth spot (I'm not saying any of these teams are 4th, in fact I think the following group are all in the mix for the title and a top 3 league finish, but all play each other so not an inside track like the above three mentioned) is between Montana State, Montana, Idaho and Eastern Washington. EWU's game in Bozeman will swing the race as will Idaho's trip to Bobcat Stadium, Montana's trip to Moscow, MSU's trip to Weber State, Idaho's trip to Cheney.

I feel like NAU is consistently gifted an easy conference schedule, or is it just me?

It’s in the conference bylaws.

[codecat]

#42 Lehigh 2018 FCS
#2 Patriot
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16416

[Rich K]

My guess is the Bobcats will appear on this list somewhere between 26-30

[codecat]

#41 Weber State 2018 FCS
#8 Big Sky
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16419

[Rich K]

#41 Weber State 2018 FCS
#8 Big Sky
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16419

Wow. Not much respect for WSU. I'm among those that think they'll be competing for a Big Sky title. They seem like a top 20 team at least.

[Montanabob]

#41 Weber State 2018 FCS
#8 Big Sky
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16419

Wow. Not much respect for WSU. I'm among those that think they'll be competing for a Big Sky title. They seem like a top 20 team at least.

Yup. 8 in top 41.... We need to win the out of conference and get the respect.

[codecat]

#41 Weber State 2018 FCS
#8 Big Sky
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16419

Wow. Not much respect for WSU. I'm among those that think they'll be competing for a Big Sky title. They seem like a top 20 team at least.

Yup. 8 in top 41.... We need to win the out of conference and get the respect.

I was really surprised with this one too - seems these guys place most of their weight on returning or losing proven production, and unless they see the trends that we do, i don't expect much respect for the Bobcats. Your right, winning those first two out of conference games will get their attention.

[Catsrgrood]

I know pre season polls like this mean nothing, they’re just fun to read for fans and give people something to discuss for the next few weeks until we actually get to see some games.

BUT, this just lost some credibility for me by having Weber this low. Maybe they do struggle this year more than anticipated, but the program Hill has built down there suggests more of a “reloading” year than an”rebuilding” year, even after losing some key players.

As for the Cats, there’s no way they should be above Weber at this point in the year based off of last years results.

[BleedingBLue]

I know pre season polls like this mean nothing, they’re just fun to read for fans and give people something to discuss for the next few weeks until we actually get to see some games.

BUT, this just lost some credibility for me by having Weber this low. Maybe they do struggle this year more than anticipated, but the program Hill has built down there suggests more of a “reloading” year than an”rebuilding” year, even after losing some key players.

As for the Cats, there’s no way they should be above Weber at this point in the year based off of last years results.

Yeah not sure how he came up with this for Weber. I think Hill has done a great job and I'm not sure he needs to reload to be successful. After seeing Weber at 41 I think the Cats show up in the next few days, or not at all.

[luckyirishguy25]

#41 Weber State 2018 FCS
#8 Big Sky
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16419

Wow. Not much respect for WSU. I'm among those that think they'll be competing for a Big Sky title. They seem like a top 20 team at least.

Yup. 8 in top 41.... We need to win the out of conference and get the respect.

I'm not sure that would help, Weber was the No 3 team in the nation, IMO, after finishing last year.

[Rich K]

#41 Weber State 2018 FCS
#8 Big Sky
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16419

Wow. Not much respect for WSU. I'm among those that think they'll be competing for a Big Sky title. They seem like a top 20 team at least.

Yup. 8 in top 41.... We need to win the out of conference and get the respect.

I'm not sure that would help, Weber was the No 3 team in the nation, IMO, after finishing last year.

While we're mentioning Weber State......