Rockne Playoffs Projections - Season 140
Conference Standings:
LSC: 4 - 3 SIAC: 1 - 2
CIAA: 3 - 2 GLIAC: 1 - 2
GSC: 4 - 3 NSIC: 2 - 3
NCC: 4 - 2 PSAC: 3 - 3
NE10: 5 - 2 SAC: 2 - 4
MIAA: 2 - 2 RMAC: 0 - 3
The "smart dog" decided to impress y'all again with his football wisdom and predict how the playoffs will go. Out of 31 games, I'm shooting to get at least 24 correct. After reading thru my picks and you find some that you just totally disagree with, then post your changes. Just make sure you do it before the games are started; otherwise, you won't be able to impress the "smart dog" with your wisdom.
The conference championships sure had some surprises to them and will be interesting to watch some of these teams in the playoffs. It sure caused the "smart dog" to think twice about some of the teams. Anyways good luck to all the teams and may the best team/coach win.
It is halftime and we have a buffet of different results to look at briefly. All the #1 seeds are winning with North Alabama and Cheyney have all but won their games. Humboldt State has a healthy 17 point lead and Northern Michigan holding a smaller 11 point lead.
Upset alerts: Biggest shocker has to be St Joseph's 13-3 over the two-time champs TAMC. Don't know if it will hold up but it has to let the other coaches know TAMC can be taken down this season. Additionally, #25 North Carolina Central leads #8 Western New Mexico 27-20, #17 West Chester up 24-7 against #16 Fairmont State, and #20 North Dakota State, coming off their conference championship win over Humboldt State, is dominating #13 New Mexico Highlands 31-10.
Close games: In a game that has a total of 267 yards at the half, #12 Southern Connecticut St leads #21 Central Oklahoma 7-6. #6 West Liberty State is holding off #27 Angelo State 13-6. #10 Winona State is doubling up #23 Glenville 20-10, #7 Long Island has the same score over #26 Ferris State, and #11 Bloomsburg also doubling up #22 Shepherd 24-12.
First Round:
1) North Alabama
32) Missouri-Rolla North Alabama
16) Fairmont State
17) West Chester West Chester
8) Western New Mexico
25) North Carolina Central Western New Mexico
9) Virginia State
24) Ediboro Virginia State
4) Humboldt State
29) Tusculum Humboldt State
13) New Mexico Highlands
20) North Dakota State North Dakota State
5) Lane
28) Fort Lewis Lane
12) Southern Connecticut
21) Central Oklahoma Southern Connecticut
2) Cheyney
31) Central Arkansas Cheyney
15) Texas A&M-Commerce
18) Saint Joseph's Texas A&M-Commerce
7) Long Island
26) Ferris State Long Island
10) Winona State
23) Glenville Glenville
3) Northern Michigan
30) St Cloud State Northern Michigan
14) Valdosta State
19) Presbyterian Valdosta State
6) West Liberty State
27) Angelo State West Liberty State
11) Bloomsburg
22) Shepherd Bloomsburg
Second Round:
Halftime at Rockne and we have some blowouts and some interesting ones. First the blowouts. Not totally surprised West Chester is leading North Alabama at the half, but 31-10. Two turnovers and twice the yardage gets you that result. Then we see Long Island beating up on Winona State 31-3. Looks like the coach is trying to win the title to go with the one he just won for the fourth straight season in Heisman. And then despite all the talking about how poor Humboldt State won't have a chance in their third meeting with North Dakota State, coach Jaylien1 needs to explain his 28-7 advantage. And then we find Virginia State in great position to make it into the third round with a 24-10 lead over North Carolina Central.
Now for the closer games...coach Dawgnuts has Shepherd in position to do something they last did 33 seasons ago by advancing to the next round. All they have to do is hold onto their 16-10 lead over Angelo State. Angelo State's conference teammate TAMC finds themselves in a similar boat trailing Cheyney 17-10. Can coach Akua29 repeat his trick from yesterday and have a dominating second half or will the curtain be drawn on this champ's current title streak? Then we have Valdosta State holding a field goal lead over Northern Michigan in a game where both coaches are still playing with the previous coaches' seniors and juniors. It will be tough for VSU to hold off NMU in the second half. Lastly, we have the only tie game between Central Oklahoma and Lane. Lane jumped out to a 14-0 lead before Central Oklahoma scored their two touchdowns in the last eight minutes of the 2nd quarter. Which team will be able to run their offense in the 2nd half?
1) North Alabama
17) West Chester North Alabama
25) North Carolina Central
9) Virginia State Virginia State
4) Humboldt State
20) North Dakota State Humboldt State
5) Lane
21) Central Oklahoma Southern Connecticut
3) Northern Michigan
14) Valdosta State Northern Michigan
27) Angelo State
22) Shepherd Bloomsburg
2) Cheyney
15) Texas A&M-Commerce Texas A&M-Commerce
7) Long Island
10) Winona State Long Island
Third Round:
1) West Chester
9) Virginia State North Alabama
4) Humboldt State
12) Central Oklahoma Humboldt State
3) Valdosta State
11) Shepherd Northern Michigan
15) Cheyney
7) Long Island Long Island
Semi-Finals:
1) West Chester
4) Humboldt State North Alabama
2) Valdosta State
3) Long Island Long Island
Championship:
1) Humboldt State
3) Long Island
CHAMPION:
Long Island
For the first time doing this, the "smart dog" finished with 18 right and 13 wrong. Not quite what I was shooting for, but Rockne is a tough world with so many great teams and outstanding coaches. Plus picking the entire playoffs at the start sure makes early incorrect picks very painful. Until next season...