Bracket Thoughts

[jacksdude0109]

has the first round always been televised on espn3? I am excited to watch.

[Grizalltheway]

has the first round always been televised on espn3? I am excited to watch.

Just started in the last few years, I believe.

[htownbearkat]

If Sam can defend CP's crazy version of the option, they certainly have a chance. But if CP gets up early, watch out.

I'm sure Sam already has them, but film of CP's games with Sac and EWU will be VERY instructive on Mustang tendencies and how to beat them. For contrast, they may want a VERY quick look at CP's ISU film for how quickly they can get up on an opponent; that is, for motivation (not that they'll need much, of course) to NOT allow that to happen.

The only debate ive heard so far is on how will Sam stop Caly Poly's run game. The more significant question may be how will Cal Poly's average def stop the Bearkats off?

[CPAlum]

If Sam can defend CP's crazy version of the option, they certainly have a chance. But if CP gets up early, watch out.

I'm sure Sam already has them, but film of CP's games with Sac and EWU will be VERY instructive on Mustang tendencies and how to beat them. For contrast, they may want a VERY quick look at CP's ISU film for how quickly they can get up on an opponent; that is, for motivation (not that they'll need much, of course) to NOT allow that to happen.

The only debate ive heard so far is on how will Sam stop Caly Poly's run game. The more significant question may be how will Cal Poly's average def stop the Bearkats off?

Actually I think the first debate (how will Sam stop Poly's run) is more pertinent. Time of possession is a huge part of any option offense. If (big if) Cal Poly is able to run on SHSU they can control time of possession. Cal Poly would like nothing more than to have long drives that end in touchdowns. If (again big if) they can do that effectively then it's actually the Cal Poly offense that can limit the Bearkat offense.

[isumatt]

Barring disaster, it looks like ill be making the trip to Boone, NC. The wife has approved of my intentions to go!!

[SloStang]

SloStang,

I expect that Cal Poly will have a big win over Sam Houston St. I know my sentiments are shared by many of my fellow EWU fans. Good luck, the Big Sky is pulling for you.

Thanks and good luck to the Eagles. I had such a great time in Cheney (except the losing part) this season I am hoping we get past the our first and second round games and get a return trip. The Eagle fans were/are great.

[SloStang]

Barring disaster, it looks like ill be making the trip to Boone, NC. The wife has approved of my intentions to go!!

Lucky man. I am still working on mine.

[ASUG8]

Barring disaster, it looks like ill be making the trip to Boone, NC. The wife has approved of my intentions to go!!

PM me as we get closer to kickoff - I can't let a guy travel that far without feeding him some beers.

[Blue Hen Fanatic]

Missed out
Lehigh 10-1
Albany 9-2
Northern Arizona 8-3
Richmond 8-3
Eastern Kentucky 8-3
Tennessee-Martin 8-3
Tennessee State 8-3
Towson 7-4
James Madison 7-4
Youngstown St. 7-4
Citadel 7-4

There are definetly some better teams left out than made it in, more so this year than most

[∞∞∞]

ODU just sold out its regular tickets for the 2nd round. Student tix go on sale next Monday.

[BisoNation]

Barring disaster, it looks like ill be making the trip to Boone, NC. The wife has approved of my intentions to go!!

Matt, have fun! I'm a fan of Ill State and App State but obviously I'll be pulling for you guys! App State would be a fun place to visit. Represent the Valley well! Go Redbirds!

[kalm]

SloStang,

I expect that Cal Poly will have a big win over Sam Houston St. I know my sentiments are shared by many of my fellow EWU fans. Good luck, the Big Sky is pulling for you.

Thanks and good luck to the Eagles. I had such a great time in Cheney (except the losing part) this season I am hoping we get past the our first and second round games and get a return trip. The Eagle fans were/are great.

You are welcome anytime. I'm a big 'Stangs fan now.

[Grizalltheway]

Thanks and good luck to the Eagles. I had such a great time in Cheney (except the losing part) this season I am hoping we get past the our first and second round games and get a return trip. The Eagle fans were/are great.

You are welcome anytime. I'm a big 'Stangs fan now.

Did I invite you onto the bandwagon, bub? Didn't think so.

[isumatt]

Missed out
Lehigh 10-1
Albany 9-2
Northern Arizona 8-3
Richmond 8-3
Eastern Kentucky 8-3
Tennessee-Martin 8-3
Tennessee State 8-3
Towson 7-4
James Madison 7-4
Youngstown St. 7-4
Citadel 7-4

There are definetly some better teams left out than made it in, more so this year than most

Who do you think???

[kalm]

You are welcome anytime. I'm a big 'Stangs fan now.

Did I invite you onto the bandwagon, bub? Didn't think so.

[The Kicker]

1st Round
SDSU - EIU
Coastal - BCC
Villanova - Stony Brook
Wagner - Colgate

2nd Round
NDSU - SDSU
New Hampshire - Wofford
Georgia Southern - Central Arkansas
Old Dominion - BCC
Montana St - Villanova
Cal Poly - Sam Houston St
Appalachian St - Illinois St
Eastern Washington - Wagner

Quarters
NDSU - Wofford
ODU - GSU
Villanova - SHSU
EWU - Appalachian St

Semis
ODU - NDSU
SHSU - Appalachian St

Finals
NDSU - Appalachian St

[JohnStOnge]

{quote]I'm sure they do, but a lot of people are overlooking SHSU because of their record this year.[/quote]

Several things about Sam Houston:

First, they did not dominate in the playoffs last year. They had one blowout. They could very easily have lost in the first round to Stony Brook and they could very well have lost in the semis to Montana. And they had all their games at home.

Second, they did dominate the Southland conference last year. Nobody came close to them. This year was different. They did not get the Southland automatic bid because they lost to Central Arkansas. Also, they barely escaped Stephen F. Austin. Stephen F. Austin was threatening to score and have a shot to tie the game late and threw an interception. The Lumberjacks finished with 566 yards of offense in a 51-43 loss.

Now, SHSU blew everybody else int he Southland out. But, again, they did NOT win the Southland automatic bid. They did not have the kind of dominant run within that conference as they had last year. And if you had watched that SFA game as I did you'd realize they could very easily have not even made the playoffs. It wouldn't have taken much at all for SFA to win that game (for instance, there was a time when SFA was leading 14-13 in the second quarter and was deep in SHSU territory threatening to score but threw an interception that was returned 92 yards for a TD). Had they not won that game they'd have finished 7-4 and I think we all know that wouldn't have done it.

[LDopaPDX]

Missed out
Lehigh 10-1
Albany 9-2
Northern Arizona 8-3
Richmond 8-3
Eastern Kentucky 8-3
Tennessee-Martin 8-3
Tennessee State 8-3
Towson 7-4
James Madison 7-4
Youngstown St. 7-4
Citadel 7-4

There are definetly some better teams left out than made it in, more so this year than most

Honestly, given how many legit teams were out there this year, I think the committee did a very good job. I feel for Lehigh, Northern Arizona, and Richmond as winning 10, 8, and 8 are all playoff-worthy resumes. I don't have much sympathy for anyone with 4 losses, as every team has always known 4 losses usually keeps you out. Even as the playoffs move to 24-teams (which I think is a little absurd and sort of diminishes the regular season), unless you have very notable wins on your resume, you typically won't get in with 4-losses.