Playoff Implications

[kwcat]

Simple. Win out!
For best playoff scenario, both our opponents need to go 1-1

[grizzh8r]

Simple. Win out!
For best playoff scenario, both our opponents need to go 1-1

...with both losses to the cats, of course!

[Catprint]

So, assuming the Cats win out and earn a seed, how likely is it that the Griz would have to come back to Bozeman for a 2nd round game? I'd say very likely if the Griz lose the next two. Of course this depends on how Weber and Sac finish but Ideally they play each other and the winner plays the Cats. Not sure if that's how the brackets would set up or not but would be pretty cool. How long has it been since we've seen two Cat\Griz games in the same season?

I think the quarterfinals are the absolute earliest the committee would possibly have them match up again. It's difficult, but they try their best to avoid regular season rematches in the 1st and 2nd rounds.

I listened to a Podcast with the UM AD who is on the playoff committee. He stated repeat matchups are perfectly ok After the first round. See the Rule book notes below. Web sites like NoBowls.com has MSU playing UM in the second round. Because of geographic proximity guidelines, it is quite possible for their to be a UM-MSU rematch. However, since we did not play Weber State, there may be an attempt to have us match up with Weber.

The FCS bracket pairings rulebook states
4. If a conference has four or more teams in the championship, the committee may allow an additional flight in the first or second round in order to avoid a conference having all of its teams on the same side of the bracket.
5. Regular-season non-conference match-ups in the first round of the championship should be avoided, provided it does not create an additional flight(s).
6. Teams from the same conference will not be paired for first-round games (except for teams from the same conference that did not play against each other during the regular season; such teams may play each other in the first round);
7. Once the first-round pairings have been determined, there will be no adjustments to the bracket (e.g., a seeded team may play a conference opponent that advanced out of the first round)."

[Catprint]

In thinking about these next few weeks should we be rooting for UM to beat Weber. I know it's one week at a time and we have nothing to do with any sort of outcome. . . but can't help but speculate how everything will play out. It would be nice to beat UM when they are a #3 ranked team as opposed to #10 (or whatever ranking the loss would put them at). It is the time of year when your ranking actually does matter. If we beat a highly ranked griz team we can still get seed and a few home games.

Have mixed emotions as I have a really hard time rooting for the griz in any sort of situation. . . even if it could benefit the cats.

I don't think it matters much. If the Cats win out, they'll be seeded regardless of who wins Weber/um.

This!

If the cats win the next two they are a lock for a seed

So I say we all root for the griz to lose two in a row

1) We want to be in the best position if something crazy happens which it almost always does... like UNI loses to SDSU and then SDSU loses to South Dakota or Sac State loses to UC Davis in last game or something else...
2) I agree a #1 and #2 seed are out of the question. However, a #3-6 is possible.
3) We could get a #3 or #4 IF Cats win out; Griz beat Weber; Sac loses to UC Davis; UNI loses, etc. That course of events is not probable but it is possible.
4) I don’t think a #8 seed is always better than unseeded. Generally better but not always. For example, CollegeSportsMadness has an unseeded Cats playing Nicholls in Bozeman (winnable); then going to Weber (winnable but less so) then we would meet a #6 Montana in the Quarterfinals (winnable). Three winnable games and possible a trip to the semis at JMU. Whereas a #8 seed gets us a bye (good) then possibly a very tough opponent at home (such as Griz again (fully allowed) or an unseeded UNI. Then if that game is won, it is on to NDSU (NOT winnable). So the seed gets us a very difficult first round and unwinnable second round.

All that said, I would rather win out and take our chances with a seed but why not have the deck stacked in our favor as best as possible If Griz lose to Weber and Cats win out, we are looking at #7 or #8. Griz beat Weber at least gives us a chance for a better seed – maybe a number 5 or 6. That will result in much more winnable games. It is all about winning.

[coochorama42]

Seeding just got much simpler. With New Hampshire (not a surprise) and Central Arkansas falling flat, there are really only ten teams really in the hunt for a seed and one (the loser of Northern Iowa at South Dakota State) will fall out of contention with a loss this weekend. One team not currently in my playoff seed list that I could see making a run is Southeastern Louisiana. They had a huge win over Central Arkansas this weekend and could end up finishing the FCS season with two losses. I wouldn’t be terribly surprised to see them slip in over a three-loss team from the MVFC or Big Sky. That being said…

I was walking to work this morning when I thought of the following scenario. What if Montana beats Weber State, Montana State beats Montana, and MSU/Weber State/Sacramento State win their other game? That would give the Big Sky an 9-1 FCS team (Weber, the auto-bid), an 8-1 FCS team (Sacramento State), and two 9-2 FCS teams (Montana State and Montana). The top three teams would obviously be seeded (the two one-loss teams and MSU), but it would be difficult for the committee to choose a three-loss team from a power conference over the Grizzlies…

First Tier (control their own seeding destiny) – Only an undefeated winner (in the FCS) of the MVFC is a lock to be a top 2 seed in my opinion. If both the Big Sky and CAA have FCS-undefeated teams, it’ll come down to strength of schedule. These teams are in my next tier (the second tier).

North Dakota State (10-0 FCS) – Key wins @ Delaware, vs. UC Davis, vs. Northern Iowa, @ South Dakota State, @ Youngstown State. Important games remaining include: @ Southern Illinois.

Second Tier (guaranteed top 4 seed if they win out) – I’ll put these teams in order based upon my best guess at how the committee will value their strength of schedule/quality of wins/losses/who they beat on the road.

Weber State (8-0 FCS) – Key wins vs. Northern Iowa, vs. Northern Arizona, @ UC Davis, @ Sac State, vs. North Dakota. Important games remaining include: @ Montana.
James Madison (8-0 FCS) – Key wins @ Stony Brook, vs. Villanova, vs. Towson, vs. New Hampshire. No important games remaining.


Third Tier (possible top 4 seeds if they win out, likely seeded 5-8 if they win out)

Sacramento State (6-1 FCS) – Key win vs. Eastern Washington, @ Montana State, vs. Montana, @ Northern Arizona. Key losses vs. Weber State. Important games remaining include: @ UC Davis.
Montana (8-1 FCS) – Key wins @ UC Davis, vs. Eastern Washington. Key losses: @ Sac State. Important games remaining include: vs. Weber State, @ Montana State.

Fourth Tier (teams that could hypothetically earn a low seed if they win out).

Northern Iowa (7-2 FCS) – Key wins vs. Youngstown State, @ Illinois State. Key losses @ Weber State, @ North Dakota State. Important games remaining include: @ South Dakota State.
Montana State (7-2 FCS) – Key wins vs. Southeast Missouri State, vs. Northern Arizona. Key losses vs. Sac State, @ North Dakota. Important games remaining include: @ UC Davis, vs. Montana.
Illinois State (7-2 FCS) – Key win vs. Northern Arizona, @ South Dakota State. Key losses vs. North Dakota State, vs. Northern Iowa. Important games remaining include: @ Youngstown State.
South Dakota State (7-2 FCS) – Key wins vs. Southern Illinois, @ Youngstown State. Key losses: vs. North Dakota State, vs. Illinois State. Important games remaining include: vs. Northern Iowa.

Furman (7-1 FCS) – No key wins. Key losses vs. Citadel. Important games remaining include: @ Wofford.


Fifth Tier (teams that have a non-zero chance to make the playoffs, even if they don’t earn an automatic bid). The probability of each team depends on their current record and (obviously) future performance. Teams such as UC Davis must obviously win out to make the playoffs.

Wofford
Citadel
North Dakota
UC Davis
New Hampshire
Maine
Villanova
Towson
Southern Illinois
Southeastern Louisiana
Nicholls State
Central Arkansas
Sam Houston State
Austin Peay
Southeastern Missouri State
Kennesaw State
Monmouth
Central Connecticut University

I’ll predict the playoff field if the field were filled today. There will be some small changes as some playoff teams will face each other between now and the end of the season.

First, the seeds:
1. North Dakota State (expected automatic bid – Missouri Valley Football Conference)
2. Weber State (expected automatic bid – Big Sky Conference)
3. James Madison (expected automatic bid – Colonial Athletic Association)
4. Sacramento State (at-large bid – Big Sky Conference)
5. Montana (at-large bid – Big Sky Conference)
6. Northern Iowa (at-large bid – Missouri Valley Football Conference)
7. Furman (at-large bid – Southern Conference)
8. Illinois State (at-large bid – Missouri Valley Football Conference)

Other expected automatic bids:
Monmouth (Big South)
Central Connecticut State (Northeast Conference)
Austin Peay (Ohio Valley Conference)
Lafayette (Patriot League)
San Diego (Pioneer League)
Wofford (Southern Conference)
Southeastern Louisiana (Southland Conference)

This leaves nine additional at large bids. I’ll put them in my expected order from safest to most at-risk given their current situation:

South Dakota State (at-large bid – Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Montana State (at-large bid – Big Sky Conference)
Villanova (at-large bid – Colonial Athletic Association)
Nicholls State (at-large bid – Southland Conference)
Central Arkansas (at-large bid – Southland Conference)
Kennesaw State (at-large bid – Big South)
Southeast Missouri State (at-large bid – Ohio Valley Conference)
Towson (at-large bid Colonial Athletic Association)
Southern Illinois (at-large bid – Missouri Valley Conference)

[coochorama42]

The playoff field is taking shape. Things are pretty self-explanatory. I’ve added a sixth tier and modified the headers on some to reflect the changing situation. If you want to know what games to watch this week (in addition to UM at MSU!) that might be competitive and have real playoff implications, look at Nicholls State at Southeastern Louisiana (played on Thursday); Southern Illinois at North Dakota State; Maine at New Hampshire; and Albany at Stony Brook.

First Tier (control their own seeding destiny) – If Rhode Island somehow upsets JMU (it’s not going to happen, I could see them slipping to the #3 seed. If NDSU loses to Southern Illinois (unlikely, but not impossible), it’d be surprising to see them fall any further than to #2, due to their strength of schedule and recent history.

North Dakota State (11-0 FCS) – Key wins @ Delaware, vs. UC Davis, vs. Northern Iowa, @ South Dakota State, @ Youngstown State. Important games remaining include: @ Southern Illinois.

James Madison (9-0 FCS) – Key wins @ Stony Brook, vs. Villanova, vs. Towson, vs. New Hampshire.

Second Tier (possible top 4 seed if they win out) – I’ll put these teams in order based upon my best guess at how the committee will value their strength of schedule/quality of wins/losses/who they beat on the road.

Montana (9-1 FCS) – Key wins @ UC Davis, vs. Eastern Washington, vs. Weber State. Key losses: @ Sac State. Important games remaining include: @ Montana State.

Weber State (8-1 FCS) – Key wins vs. Northern Iowa, vs. Northern Arizona, @ UC Davis, @ Sac State, vs. North Dakota. Key Loss @ Montana.

Sacramento State (7-1 FCS) – Key win vs. Eastern Washington, @ Montana State, vs. Montana, @ Northern Arizona. Key losses vs. Weber State. Important games remaining include: @ UC Davis.

Third Tier (possible top 4 seeds if they win out, likely seeded 5-8 if they win out)

South Dakota State (8-2 FCS) – Key wins vs. Southern Illinois, @ Youngstown State, vs. Northern Iowa. Key losses: vs. North Dakota State, vs. Illinois State.

Montana State (8-2 FCS) – Key wins vs. Southeast Missouri State, vs. Northern Arizona, @ UC Davis. Key losses vs. Sac State, @ North Dakota. Important games remaining include: vs. Montana.

Illinois State (8-2 FCS) – Key win vs. Northern Arizona, @ South Dakota State. Key losses vs. North Dakota State, vs. Northern Iowa. Important games remaining include: @ Youngstown State.

Fourth Tier Teams that are in the playoff field either because their body of work is strong enough even if they lose their last game.

Northern Iowa
Villanova

Fifth Tier (teams that earn a spot in the playoffs with a win and are likely out with a loss). Note: Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana play each other. Albany has a moderately challenging game against Stony Brook. All other teams are expected to win their games. If Austin Peay wins their game, they win the Ohio Valley Conference and Southeastern Missouri State is playing for an at-large bid. I’ve put the teams in order of how likely they are to make the playoffs even if they lose their game this weekend.

Southern Illinois
Southeastern Missouri State
Southeastern Louisiana
Central Arkansas
Towson
Albany
Kennesaw State
Nicholls State
Austin Peay
Furman

Sixth Tier Teams that are on the outside looking in. They need to win and get help from teams in the tier above and/or the committee to look favorably on their situation. Again, I’ll rank these teams in order of most likely to least likely to make the playoffs. Again, these teams absolutely need to win to even have a chance of making the playoffs.

Maine
North Dakota

I’ll predict the playoff field if the field were filled today. There will be some small changes as some playoff teams will face each other between now and the end of the season.

First, the seeds:
1. North Dakota State (expected automatic bid – Missouri Valley Football Conference)
2. James Madison (expected automatic bid – Colonial Athletic Association)
3. Montana (expected automatic bid – Big Sky Conference)
4. Weber State (expected at-large bid – Big Sky Conference)
5. Sacramento State (at-large bid – Big Sky Conference)
6. South Dakota State (at-large bid – Missouri Valley Conference)
7. Montana State University (at-large bid – Big Sky Conference)
8. Illinois State (at-large bid – Missouri Valley Football Conference)

Other automatic bids:
Monmouth (Big South)
Central Connecticut State (Northeast Conference)
San Diego (Pioneer League)
Wofford (Southern Conference)

Expected automatic bids:
Austin Peay (Ohio Valley Conference)
Holy Cross (Patriot League)
Nicholls State (Southland Conference)

This leaves nine additional at large bids. I’ll put them in my expected order from safest to most at-risk given their current situation:

Northern Iowa (at-large bid – Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Villanova (at-large bid – Colonial Athletic Association)
Kennesaw State (at-large bid – Big South)
Southeast Missouri State (at-large bid – Ohio Valley Conference)
Central Arkansas (at-large bid – Southland Conference)
Towson (at-large bid Colonial Athletic Association)
Southeastern Louisiana (at-large bid – Southland Conference)
Southern Illinois (at-large bid – Missouri Valley Conference)
Furman (at-large bid – Southern Conference)

If I’m a North Dakota fan, I’m watching the Albany @ Stony Brook game very, very closely in addition to my own and cheering for Stony Brook. I’d also be watching Maine @ New Hampshire and Eastern Illinois at Austin Peay in the hopes that Maine or Austin Peay loses. The last few weeks, I really thought UND was going to earn a playoff spot, but Maine’s run to finish the season will have them at 7-3 in the FCS if they win out. Unlike the Fighting Hawks, they don’t have a great win on the schedule (vs. Montana State), but they do have a win against a likely playoff team (@ Albany) and don’t have any bad losses on their resume (like the loss @ Idaho State). Southern Illinois also likely makes the playoffs over UND and Maine even with a loss vs. North Dakota State. They currently have 6 FCS wins and an FBS win. If they lose to NDSU, their 7-5 record will be highlighted by that big win (45-20) over the FBS Massachusetts squad and the fact that their four FCS losses will be to SEMO, SDSU, Illinois State, and NDSU.

[coochorama42]

Just a quick note, I hadn't seen that Illinois State lost their QB for the year last week. For better or worse, this seems to mean that the committee is going to move them down to a much lower seed than they likely deserve, even if they do defeat Youngstown State this week. As such, I've slightly adjusted my current playoff rankings and seedings.

[Catprint]

My question is since Cats/Griz have to play this weekend and it is the only top 10 match up to play each other on the last weekend, it seems somewhat irrelevant to predict Griz at #3 and Cats at #7. If Cats lose, they drop out of the seeds. If Cats win, they stay or move up but Griz certainly drop. It is why I am not a fan of the "if the playoffs were this week" scenarios particularly when we are within the last 2 or 3 weeks of the end of the season and we can see into the short-term future and who the opponents are. Other wise, I mostly agree with your layout. I had Nicholls OR SELA but not both. I see UND with a stronger resume and getting the final spot. Quite a few people agree with your assessment of Maine. I have them out because I have them losing to UNH on Saturday. But that is a game more important to Maine than UNH right now.

[coochorama42]

My question is since Cats/Griz have to play this weekend and it is the only top 10 match up to play each other on the last weekend, it seems somewhat irrelevant to predict Griz at #3 and Cats at #7. If Cats lose, they drop out of the seeds. If Cats win, they stay or move up but Griz certainly drop. It is why I am not a fan of the "if the playoffs were this week" scenarios particularly when we are within the last 2 or 3 weeks of the end of the season and we can see into the short-term future and who the opponents are. Other wise, I mostly agree with your layout. I had Nicholls OR SELA but not both. I see UND with a stronger resume and getting the final spot. Quite a few people agree with your assessment of Maine. I have them out because I have them losing to UNH on Saturday. But that is a game more important to Maine than UNH right now.

It did seem silly continuing the rankings this week, but I did it anyway. I don't really want to predict as much as be data driven. After this year's playoff field is set, I will have a better idea of how (or if) to do this next year. You and I are the only people looking at this anyway!

[Joe Bobcat]

My question is since Cats/Griz have to play this weekend and it is the only top 10 match up to play each other on the last weekend, it seems somewhat irrelevant to predict Griz at #3 and Cats at #7. If Cats lose, they drop out of the seeds. If Cats win, they stay or move up but Griz certainly drop. It is why I am not a fan of the "if the playoffs were this week" scenarios particularly when we are within the last 2 or 3 weeks of the end of the season and we can see into the short-term future and who the opponents are. Other wise, I mostly agree with your layout. I had Nicholls OR SELA but not both. I see UND with a stronger resume and getting the final spot. Quite a few people agree with your assessment of Maine. I have them out because I have them losing to UNH on Saturday. But that is a game more important to Maine than UNH right now.

It did seem silly continuing the rankings this week, but I did it anyway. I don't really want to predict as much as be data driven. After this year's playoff field is set, I will have a better idea of how (or if) to do this next year. You and I are the only people looking at this anyway!

Wait a minute!!!! You and catprint are by far the ones doing most of the heavy lifting and calculating but I can assure you there are hundreds if not thousands looking at it. Thank you both and anyone else adding to this thread.

[Catsrgrood]

My question is since Cats/Griz have to play this weekend and it is the only top 10 match up to play each other on the last weekend, it seems somewhat irrelevant to predict Griz at #3 and Cats at #7. If Cats lose, they drop out of the seeds. If Cats win, they stay or move up but Griz certainly drop. It is why I am not a fan of the "if the playoffs were this week" scenarios particularly when we are within the last 2 or 3 weeks of the end of the season and we can see into the short-term future and who the opponents are. Other wise, I mostly agree with your layout. I had Nicholls OR SELA but not both. I see UND with a stronger resume and getting the final spot. Quite a few people agree with your assessment of Maine. I have them out because I have them losing to UNH on Saturday. But that is a game more important to Maine than UNH right now.

It did seem silly continuing the rankings this week, but I did it anyway. I don't really want to predict as much as be data driven. After this year's playoff field is set, I will have a better idea of how (or if) to do this next year. You and I are the only people looking at this anyway!

Wait a minute!!!! You and catprint are by far the ones doing most of the heavy lifting and calculating but I can assure you there are hundreds if not thousands looking at it. Thank you both and anyone else adding to this thread.

Agreed. I love both these posts during the second half of the season. It may not get a ton of discussion, but I guarantee a ton of people are looking and appreciate it.

[coochorama42]

I've had a blast and would do it even if no one paid attention! There is something special about the FCS. My family had season tickets in Missoula from 1987-1989 (we lived in Polson) and in Bozeman from 1990-present. I was gone five of these years. During that time I lived overseas, but would Skype in and watch Cat-Griz and playoff games when they kicked off at 1am local time (that Sam Houston State game was brutal to watch at 3am). I lived in NYC and attended Cat-Griz watch parties there for two years as well. My Dad died when I was overseas, so my Mom and I started going together (my wife is an East Coaster and could care less!). I love following this game at this level more than anything else. My favorite memory was when Furman came in to face the 6-5 MSU team and they were griping in the media that we didn't belong in the playoffs. Of course we destroyed them. To be fair, that 1988 Grizzly team was fun too. Tim Hauck and Kirk Scraffird went on to long NFL careers and the Griz beat up on Jackson State in the 1st round of the playoffs. One player's Mom came from Mississippi and was so cold that the President of UM invited her into his box for the game. I think the Griz won 63-0. Last year's win over UIW was especially fun as I've now taught a number of the current players. Anyhow, I'm glad people like the research. It'll be fun starting from scratch next year!

[Catprint]

My question is since Cats/Griz have to play this weekend and it is the only top 10 match up to play each other on the last weekend, it seems somewhat irrelevant to predict Griz at #3 and Cats at #7. If Cats lose, they drop out of the seeds. If Cats win, they stay or move up but Griz certainly drop. It is why I am not a fan of the "if the playoffs were this week" scenarios particularly when we are within the last 2 or 3 weeks of the end of the season and we can see into the short-term future and who the opponents are. Other wise, I mostly agree with your layout. I had Nicholls OR SELA but not both. I see UND with a stronger resume and getting the final spot. Quite a few people agree with your assessment of Maine. I have them out because I have them losing to UNH on Saturday. But that is a game more important to Maine than UNH right now.

It did seem silly continuing the rankings this week, but I did it anyway. I don't really want to predict as much as be data driven. After this year's playoff field is set, I will have a better idea of how (or if) to do this next year. You and I are the only people looking at this anyway!

Wait a minute!!!! You and catprint are by far the ones doing most of the heavy lifting and calculating but I can assure you there are hundreds if not thousands looking at it. Thank you both and anyone else adding to this thread.

Agreed. I love both these posts during the second half of the season. It may not get a ton of discussion, but I guarantee a ton of people are looking and appreciate it.

Glad to see people are looking and reading at our posts if not responding and discussing. Where opinions are weak, data runs deep. I think i spent nearly 10 hours the week two weeks ago and nearly 6 hours last week and way over 8 hours this week digging up data, building charts and writing and rewriting. I think I will need to start getting some sleep or pay attention to my business again after Saturday. But love doing the deep dives. I don't know enough about actual football strategy to comment much on the match up this weekend. (but probably will anyway)!

[grizzh8r]

I've had a blast and would do it even if no one paid attention! There is something special about the FCS. My family had season tickets in Missoula from 1987-1989 (we lived in Polson) and in Bozeman from 1990-present. I was gone five of these years. During that time I lived overseas, but would Skype in and watch Cat-Griz and playoff games when they kicked off at 1am local time (that Sam Houston State game was brutal to watch at 3am). I lived in NYC and attended Cat-Griz watch parties there for two years as well. My Dad died when I was overseas, so my Mom and I started going together (my wife is an East Coaster and could care less!). I love following this game at this level more than anything else. My favorite memory was when Furman came in to face the 6-5 MSU team and they were griping in the media that we didn't belong in the playoffs. Of course we destroyed them. To be fair, that 1988 Grizzly team was fun too. Tim Hauck and Kirk Scraffird went on to long NFL careers and the Griz beat up on Jackson State in the 1st round of the playoffs. One player's Mom came from Mississippi and was so cold that the President of UM invited her into his box for the game. I think the Griz won 63-0. Last year's win over UIW was especially fun as I've now taught a number of the current players. Anyhow, I'm glad people like the research. It'll be fun starting from scratch next year!

Minor correction, MSU was 7-4 in 2006 and the major reason they got in the playoffs was because of the win over FBS Colorado to start the season.

[coochorama42]

Thanks!

[coochorama42]

We are here! Here are my final predictions. I will start with my seeds.

#1. North Dakota State (12-0 FCS)
#2. James Madison (10-0 FCS)
#3. Weber State (9-1 FCS)
#4. Sacramento State (8-1 FCS)
#5. Montana State (9-2 FCS)
#6. Central Arkansas (8-2 FCS + FBS win)
#7. Montana (9-2 FCS)
#8. Villanova (9-3 FCS)

Next are the unseeded automatic bids:
Monmouth (Big South)
Central Connecticut State (Northeast Conference)
San Diego (Pioneer League)
Wofford (Southern Conference)
Austin Peay (Ohio Valley Conference)
Holy Cross (Patriot League)
Nicholls State (Southland Conference)

This leaves nine additional at large bids. I’ll put them in my expected order from safest to most at-risk given their current situation:

Northern Iowa
South Dakota State
Albany
Illinois State
Kennesaw State
Southeast Missouri State
North Dakota
Southeastern Louisiana
Southern Illinois


Just outside looking in are:
Furman
Towson
Eastern Washington
New Hampshire

Final edit 1:55am, Sunday Nov 24.

[BleedingBLue]

I like it. I would personally have Nova and UCA switched but I think that's exactly how the seeds will look otherwise. I might argue that Towson gets in over Furman too.

[coochorama42]

I like it. I would personally have Nova and UCA switched but I think that's exactly how the seeds will look otherwise. I might argue that Towson gets in over Furman too.

I think 10 teams belong more than Furman, but they get love. I can see Villanova above UM...maybe the committee will slide them to #8...

[coochorama42]

Updated because I forgot Illinois State...

[GoCats18]

This might have already been discussed and didn’t want to start a new thread, but is the team watching the selection show in the Brick tomorrow? Is it open to the public? Heard this but wasn’t sure if it was legit.