Rockne Playoffs Projections - Season 142
Conference Standings:
Conference composite won/loss record:
LSC: 3-0 SIAC: 2-3
CIAA: 3-2 GLIAC: 1-3
GSC: 1-3 NSIC: 2-2
NCC: 2-2 PSAC: 5-3
NE10: 5-2 SAC: 2-2
MIAA: 1-3 RMAC: 1-3
The "smart dog" is back to continue his annual postseason predictions. After my first glance at the brackets, I was wowed by the South bracket. #4 seed Long Island leads the bracket and will be difficult to stop them from appearing in the championship game for the fifth straight time. Their opponent in the bracket finale should be either #5 Morehouse or #12 North Dakota State. Either team would make an interesting game. Could Morehouse and their 44 upperclassmen take out the balanced but talented Long Island. Before that can happen, North Dakota State and their all passing offense could make it difficult for the others. Then there are three teams, Northern Michigan, Valdosta State, and Presbyterian, that may be nothing more than fodder for the amusement of the top three seeds.
The North bracket is one that has some very good teams, but except for Humboldt State, not much in history in making it past the third round in many seasons. #1 Virginia State has beaten several mid-level teams, but hasn't been tested against a top ten team. #8 Shepherd after two successful third round appearance may be able to take the next step this season. Then of all the teams in this bracket, #16 Humboldt State has had the most success in the past five season with a title game appearance just two seasons ago.
Over in the East, #3 North Alabama has the top seed. Although the "smart dog" is rooting for his conference coachmate, he is going to do them a favor and pick against them this season. #6 Winona State had a nice season and avenged their only loss in winning the conference championship game. Unfortunately the coach is still playing with a lot of players from the previous coach and the team hasn't make it past the second round in five seasons. #11 Cheyney will be a tough out despite having three losses. Those losses just happen to be against the #2, #3, and #4 ranked teams. And then there is the unbeaten and untested #14 Texas A&M-Commerce that no one will want to face.
Lastly, the West bracket is the home of the defending champions, #2 Bloomsburg. I don't know if there is a team in the bracket that will be able to give Bloomsburg a tough game, much less beat them. #7 West Liberty St has been disappointing in the playoffs for several seasons now, but has a new coach to change this trend. #10 Southern Connecticut St may be a dark horse after finishing a very successful season with just a tough loss to Long Island.
First Round: (14-2)
1) Virginia State
32) Edinboro Virginia State
16) Humboldt St
17) Bowie St Humboldt St
8) Shepherd
25) Harding Shepherd
9) Western New Mexico
24) East Stroudsburg East Stroudsburg
4) Long Island
29) North Carolina Central Long Island
13) Northern Michigan
19) Valdosta St Northern Michigan
5) Morehouse
28) Stonehill Morehouse
12) North Dakota St
21) Presbyterian North Dakota State
2) Bloomsburg
31) Missouri-Rolla Bloomsburg
15) St Joseph's
18) New Mexico Highlands New Mexico Highlands
7) West Liberty St
26) West Chester West Chester
10) Southern Connecticut St
23) Lock Haven Southern Connecticut St
3) North Alabama
30) Hillsdale North Alabama
14) Texas A&M-Commerce
19) Ferris St Texas A&M-Commerce
6) Winona St
27) Colorado-Mines Winona St
11) Cheyney
22) Albany St Cheyney
Second Round: (6-2) (20-4)
Virginia St
Humboldt St Virginia St
Shepherd
East Stroudsburg Shepherd
Long Island
Northern Michigan Long Island
Morehouse
North Dakota St Morehouse
Bloomsburg
New Mexico Highlands Bloomsburg
West Chester
Southern Conn St Southern Conn St
North Alabama
Texas A&M-Commerce Texas A&M-Commerce
Winona St
Cheyney Winona St
Third Round: (3-1) (23-5)
Virginia St
Shepherd Virginia St
Long Island
Morehouse Long Island
Bloomsburg
Southern Conn St Bloomsburg
Texas A&M-Commerce
Winona St Texas A&M-Commerce
Semi-Finals:
Virginia St
Long Island Long Island
Bloomsburg
Texas A&M-Commerce Texas A&M-Commerce
Championship:
Long Island
Texas A&M-Commerce
CHAMPION:
Long Island
Don't agree, then please respond with your championship game teams and the champion.