Rob Weiss, FCS Update
Not much has changed since last week. If the right teams win on Saturday, the bracket should be a pretty easy pick for the committee. The bracket will release at 3pm EST on ESPNNews if my info is correct.
Autobids:
Big Sky: Montana – locked up CAA: Villanova – Still have to play Delaware, and will be in the playoffs either way MEAC: South Carolina State – locked up MVFC: Southern Illinois– locked up OVC: Eastern Illinois - locked up Patriot: Holy Cross – locked up SoCon: Appalachian State – locked up Southland: Stephen F. Austin – locked up with a win over winless Northwestern State
At-large bids:
New Hampshire(2nd CAA) – at 9-2 or 8-3, Richmond(3rd CAA) – 9-2 at worst, William and Mary(4th CAA) – 9-2 at worst , Eastern Washington (2nd Big Sky) in for sure with a win and a loss by Montana State , Elon(2nd SoCon) – in with a win over Samford, South Dakota State (2nd MVFC) in with a win over Western Illinois, Northern Iowa (3rd MVFC) in with a win over Illinois State, McNeese State(2nd Southland) in with a win over Central Arkansas,
Last Four In:
Elon, McNeese State, Northern Iowa, Eastern Washington
Last Four out:
Liberty, Weber State, Montana State, Delaware
Bracket:
Eastern Illinois @ (1) Southern Illinois
Elon @ McNeese State
Eastern Washington @ South Dakota State
William and Mary @ (4) Appalachian State
New Hampshire @Northern Iowa
Stephen F Austin @ (2)Montana
Richmond @ South Carolina State
Holy Cross @ (3)Villanova
Bracket Analysis:
The bracket gets harder and harder as seeds change and the balance of east to west changes.
Eastern Illinois to Southern Illinois seems like a no brainer. Has happened many times in the past 10 years.
Elon at McNeese is a bit of a stretch. Might change before my final bracket on Sunday.
Eastern Washington at South Dakota State makes sense to me. 2nd place team from the MVFC with good attendance gets another Western team.
William and Mary to Boone looks doable.
UNH @ UNI? Why not? The two have met in the playoffs 4 out of the last 5 years. Sorry Panther and Wildcat fans.
SFA to Missoula. SLC traditionally gets sent to the Griz. Especially when Cal Poly isn’t in. McNeese would bid more money so the NCAA sticks SFA on the road.
Richmond at SC State? SC State should be at home, whether or not they are remains to be seen. Especially with their AD pushing for the Heritage Bowl.
Holy Cross to Nova should be the matchup.
If this were the bracket, my quarter predictions would be:
Elon @ (1) Southern Illinois
South Dakota State at (4) Appalachian State
New Hampshire @ (2) Montana
Richmond @ (3) Villanova
Semis:
(4) Appalachian State @ (1) Southern Illinois
New Hampshire @ Richmond
Championship:
Appalachian State vs. Richmond
Champion:
Appalachian State
Appalachian State appears to be clicking at just the right time. I feel like Armanti Edwards is one of the few quarterbacks in FCS football that can really take over a game. There are some good quarterbacks, but Armanti may be the only one who can single handedly win games.
