Rockne Playoffs Projections - Season 141
Conference Standings:
Conference composite won/loss record:
LSC: 3 - 1 SIAC: 3 - 2
CIAA: 1 - 2 GLIAC: 3 - 3
GSC: 2 - 4 NSIC: 1 - 2
NCC: 3 - 2 PSAC: 6 - 3
NE10: 5 - 2 SAC: 3 - 4
MIAA: 0 - 2 RMAC: 0 - 3
The "smart dog" is back to see if he can improve on his 18 and 13 record from last season. The defending champion, Long Island, coached by Bigpoppa85 finished the season and starts the playoffs as the overall #1 seed. Hopefully Long Island will not suffer the same misery University of Virginia met recently in a different tournament. Then again, for the rest of the teams benefits, come on North Carolina Central and score the humongous upset.
Brackets are always interesting on how they turned out. For those who don't know, it is pretty simple. If you take a piece of paper and write the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 left to right across it on one line. Then on the next line, write the numbers 5, 6, 7, and 8 right to left across it. Then keep going back in forth until you reached 32. Now matched the WIS ranked team to that number. So when you get to play your conference teammate early on, it is just bad luck, nothing more. Now do the "smart dog" wish WIS could tweak it so at least conference teams don't play in the first round--sure do.
The East bracket seems to be the least talented of the four brackets. For the "smart dog", he likes it since his Valdosta State team got placed there. Will it work out for him? The West bracket has two and maybe three or four teams that may have been favored to win the East bracket. The South bracket has a potential second round game between Texas A&M-Commerce and North Dakota State the the "smart dog" is already drooling over. And lastly, the North bracket with the defending champion, Long Island, starts to defend their title.
The conference championship games were fairly tame this time around. There were two outstanding games that saw Humboldt State sneaked by North Dakota State 34-31. These two teams have been having a fantastic series the past two seasons. Another game between them would be great, but it would have to be in the semi-finals. Can it happen--yes; will it happen--maybe. The other outstanding game had Presbyterian outlasting Shepherd 49-45. These two coaches have been matching wits against each other for a LONG time so the "smart dog" isn't sure why the game was so competitive. Is #1 seed Presbyterian ranked too high or #4 seed Shepherd (who had a fabulous run last season) ranked too low?
First Round: (14 - 2)
1) Long Island
32) North Carolina Central Long Island
16) Morehouse
17) West Liberty State Morehouse
8) Southern Connecticut St
25) Harding Southern Connecticut St
9) Humboldt St
24) Edinboro Humboldt State
4) Saint Joseph's
29) Missouri-Rolla Saint Joseph's
13) Winona St
20) Ferris St Winona State
5) Texas A&M-Commerce
28) New Mexico Highlands Texas A&M-Commerce
12) North Dakota St
21) Hillsdale North Dakota State
2) Presbyterian
31) East Stroudsburg Presbyterian
15) Shepherd
18) Cheyney Shepherd
7) Bloomsburg
26) Central Arkansas Bloomsburg
10) Valdosta St
23) Western New Mexico Valdosta State
3) North Alabama
30) Stonehill North Alabama
14) West Chester
19) Glenville West Chester
6) Northern Michigan
27) Colorado-Mines Northern Michigan
11) Virginia St
22) Tusculum Virginia State
The "smart dog" had to look twice to make sure he saw the 120-3 score correctly. Northern Michigan made a statement, but we will hold off to see how they do tonight. But 120 points against a non-SIM in a playoff game--WOW! Another fact that happened...all of the top 16 WIS ranked teams won. Hats off to WIS for what turned out to be an accurate ranking. Now we will see how tonight's games will go since we have many competitive games. One game features a conference championship game rematch between Presbyterian and Shepherd. Presbyterian won that game 49-45 and also won their regular season game 45-24. Can they pull the three-peat? Or will Shepherd repeat their surprising run from last season by advancing to the third round. Another game that may be a season early is the junior-led Morehouse team getting to measure themselves against Long Island. While that game is going on, coach Bigpoppa85 will be keeping one eye on fellow conference teammate Southern Connecticut St as they play predicted finalist Humboldt State. Then there is the game the "smart dog" wants to see as the pass happy North Dakota State takes on coach akua29 and seasoned Texas A&M-Commerce. Lastly we have a redemption game for coach Fazbear05 as he attempts to get his favored North Alabama team past the second round this season.
Second Round: (5-3) (19-5)
1) Long Island
16) Morehouse Long Island
8) Southern Connecticut St
9) Humboldt St Humboldt State
4) Saint Joseph's
13) Winona State Saint Joseph's
5) Texas A&M-Commerce
12) North Dakota St Texas A&M-Commerce
3) North Alabama
14) West Chester West Chester
6) Northern Michigan
11) Virginia State Northern Michigan
2) Presbyterian
15) Shepherd Shepherd
7) Bloomsburg
10) Valdosta St Bloomsburg
Well a few things are clear after today's results. First, I picked against the "smart dog" favorite team, Valdosta State and they promptly loss handily to Bloomsburg 40-14. Now when the time come for the "smart dog" to pick Valdosta State to to further in the playoffs, it would be much appreciated if the applicable teams cooperated. Next, the "smart dog" will never pick North Alabama to go past the second round again after they give up a go-ahead/winning touchdown to West Chester with 21 seconds left. Then we have the "third time the charm" as Shepherd jumped out to an astoundingly 38-17 halftime lead and cruised to a 52-34 win after losing twice earlier to Presbyterian. And lastly, the "smart dog" will be careful about upsetting coach akua29. Although it wasn't a surprise to anyone to see Texas A&M-Commerce beat North Dakota State, but 41-0...come on man.
As we get down to the final eight teams, the "smart dog" see Bloomsburg ending Shepherd's season 42-24. Texas A&M-Commerce has a let down, but still manages to escape Saint Joseph's 31-28. Northern Michigan gets tested but pulls away from West Chester 38-21. And the marquee game that could result in the winning team going all the way and winning the title, Humboldt State takes on Long Island. In a back-and-forth contest Humboldt State scores first and last and wins the game 35-31.
Third Round: (1-3) (20-8)
1) Long Island
9) Humboldt State Long Island
4) Saint Joseph's
5) Texas A&M-Commerce Texas A&M-Commerce
14) West Chester
6) Northern Michigan Northern Michigan
15) Shepherd
7) Bloomsburg Bloomsburg
Just can't knock the champion out. The "smart dog" tried but unfortunately, may have only aggravated coach Bigpoppa85. The "smart dog" also thought coach akua29 also would be down after last season and outside considerations. Now we have these two Rockne heavyweights battling for the right to to back to the championship game. On the other half of the bracket , Shepherd saw their surprising run end in the third round for the second straight season. Bloomsburg and coach jms245 are back after a first round wipeout last season. Will this be the season coach jms245 get his team into the championship game after several near misses over his 25-season Rockne career. And then we have Northern Michigan, a team with an outstanding resume over the past 24 seasons. Last two seasons have been disappointing with second round losses, but coach mrbig987 seems to have found his groove have them poise to return to the title game.
The "smart dog" could make arguments for each of these teams to win tonight, but y'all come to know the "smart dog" is fearless with his predictions...regardless if they are correct or not. The hot teams are rolling and the "smart dog" is jumping on their band wagons; although he may get on the others tomorrow. So for tonight it is TAMC 39, Long Island 28 and Northern Michigan 37, Bloomsburg 33 in two fabulous games with four top teams. Good luck to each of them.
Semi-Finals: (0-2) (20-10)
1) Long Island
15) Texas A&M-Commerce Long Island
6) Northern Michigan
7) Bloomsburg Bloomsburg
I think after these last few marvelous picks by the "smart dog", other coaches will join coach Clememp in paying the "smart dog" to NOT pick their team. The Long Island-Texas A&M-Commerce was a nail biter that was decided by the clock as much as anything else. TAMC got the ball back after stopping Long Island on a 4th and 1 with the need to have to go 61 yards in 2:14 with no timeouts. They made it to a 4th in 1 at the LI 8 yard line when the buzzer sounded. Tough loss for coach Akua29 as coach Bigpoppa85 takes advantage of the "smart dog" pickings. The other semi-final game had a lot of excitement to. After battling to a 21-21 tie at the half, Northern Michigan took control of the game in the third quarters by scoring all 10 points. The fourth quarter started with three punts that ended up with Bloomsburg starting their second possession from the NMU 45-yard line. One play later, we had a ball game again with NMU holding a slight 31-28 lead. After two long drives that ended with each team punting, NMU got the ball back with a chance to run the last 4:38 out of the game. Unfortunately a sack on first down ruined the drive and forced them to punt. Bloomsburg then went down the field and then on third and 10 at the NMU 24, they converted it for a touchdown instead of having to settle for a game tying field goal. NMU gave it a valiant effort getting the ball down to the 35-yard line when the clock ran out and NMU surprisingly still had a time-out left in their pocket.
Tonight's game has the makings of a classic and the "smart dog" believes it will live up to expectations. As both coaches hope to see the "smart dog" pick the other team to win, the "smart dog" boldly declare the championship classic to finish with a 41-38 score with coach Bigpoppa85 congratulating coach Jms245 on his first title. Congratulations to both coaches on a fabulous season.
Championship:
1) Long Island
7) Bloomsburg
CHAMPION:
North Alabama
Don't agree, then please respond with your championship game teams and the champion.