HOW ARE THE PLAYOFF TEAMS CHOSEN?

[LDopaPDX]

Transitive properties don't work in sports. Sort of like Ken Norton beat Muhammad Ali, and Gerry Cooney knocked out Ken Norton; therefore, Gerry Cooney would have mowed down Muhammad Ali. Not likely.

Eastern beat Oregon State, who beat Utah, who beat Stanford, who beat Oregon; therefore, Eastern is on the way to a BCS bowl game. Again, not likely.

[JayJ79]

I'd have to think that if a team has won the past two NCs and finishes the current season undefeated, they would get the #1 seed regardless of their "strength of schedule". And besides that, though NDSU did play two cupcakes, the rest of their schedule isn't exactly a cakewalk.

[SuperHornet]

Looking at the relative records between EWU and NDSU, I'm not sure what to think. On the Bison's side, they are completely undefeated (and likely to remain so). On the Eagles' side, though, is the fact that their B(C)$ win (though of the same spread as NDSU's) was over a better team in a better conference than NDSU's. The normally valid argument that the MVC is deeper than the Big Sky does not seem to hold this year, however.

I'm not so sure that I'd put too much stock in holding up SW MO State as the poster child of how weak the MVC is this year, though. After a horrible start, the Bears got their act together once the conference season started. That's much too late to make the playoffs, of course, but it bodes well for next season for them, as they beat some historically decent teams in the process, including South Dakota State, who was held up as a potential playoff team for much of the season (and still might be if they can win out).

That said, I can see the argument for putting EWU #1. The problem is that NDSU started the season there, and they never lost. Except for their supposed upset of K-State and a struggle with an upstart UNI squad, every game has been a blowout (or at least a decisive win). On the other hand, EWU lost what SHOULD have been winnable games against Toledo and SHSU, and struggled to beat Montana. While I am confident that the Eags are the best team in the Big Sky and SHOULD be highly ranked, I find that in the final analysis, they are NOT (yet) the best team in the land. As The Nature Boy once said, "To be the man, you have to beat the man." And hopefully that will happen in the Chipper, as EWU-NDSU could be a titanic matchup for the ages....

[EWURanger]

#3 or #4 is about right for EWU at this point. Zero reason NDSU shouldn't be projected as the #1 seed when they are sitting at 9-0 and are the two time defending Champs. And EIU has one less loss, so I'm fine with that too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Grizzlies1982]

I'd have to think that if a team has won the past two NCs and finishes the current season undefeated, they would get the #1 seed regardless of their "strength of schedule". And besides that, though NDSU did play two cupcakes, the rest of their schedule isn't exactly a cakewalk.

This. If No. Dakota State wins out their schedule they will be the #1 seed.
Being the reigning champs and undefeated will do that for you.

[BlackFalkin]

If ndsu losses to Youngstown state they'll still be ranked #1. Bank it.

[89Hen]

For those that don't want to open the spreadsheet the top 10 for SRS are:

If anyone thinks they will just pick according to the SRS, they're nuts.

[93henfan]

For those that don't want to open the spreadsheet the top 10 for SRS are:

If anyone thinks they will just pick according to the SRS, they're nuts.

The article states that the SRS is used as a guide, like GPI used to be. We all know from recent history that the eventual selections were significantly different that a straight run down the GPI. I don't think SRS would ever be used to put a 7 win team in over an 8 win team, but more likely might put an 8 win team ranked (for example) number 20 in over an 8 win team ranked #15 if that team had a weak SRS based on weak schedule.

The committee leaves the rationale ambiguous so they don't have to be accountable, but I still think they'll continue to use fairly good judgement in making their selections. There's always going to be one or two schools pissed off (ala 2012 Towson or whatever year it was Wofford), but when the field is now up to 24, a team arguing that it was 24th best and might have had a chance to beat NDSU in its 5th consecutive road game can piss up a rope.

[vutomcat]

For those that don't want to open the spreadsheet the top 10 for SRS are:

If anyone thinks they will just pick according to the SRS, they're nuts.

HOW ABOUT IF THEYJUST MAKE SURE THE TOP 5 BY THE SRS GET IN? SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. THEN THEY CAN OPEN IT UP TO THE TEAMS WITH THE CUPCAKE SCHEDULES.

1 NDSU
2 EIU
3 SELA
4 EWU
5 Nova

[Grizalltheway]

If anyone thinks they will just pick according to the SRS, they're nuts.

HOW ABOUT IF THEYJUST MAKE SURE THE TOP 5 BY THE SRS GET IN? SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. THEN THEY CAN OPEN IT UP TO THE TEAMS WITH THE CUPCAKE SCHEDULES.

1 NDSU
2 EIU
3 SELA
4 EWU
5 Nova

[vutomcat]

Won't hurt the Grizzlies. You're still in. What's your issue with it?

[Grizalltheway]

Won't hurt the Grizzlies. You're still in. What's your issue with it?

6-5 (at best) teams don't belong in the playoffs.

[93henfan]

Won't hurt the Grizzlies. You're still in. What's your issue with it?

6-5 (at best) teams don't belong in the playoffs.

But the five losses were so close!

[Grizalltheway]

6-5 (at best) teams don't belong in the playoffs.

But the five losses were so close!

Yeah. So were most of Montana's 6 losses last year.

[vutomcat]

Good softball there 93. Lol. Please leave the Nova arguments to me.

[vutomcat]

But the five losses were so close!

Yeah. So were most of Montana's 6 losses last year.

6 losses different than 5 and remember extra teams make it this year!!

[Mvemjsunpx]

If anyone thinks they will just pick according to the SRS, they're nuts.

The article states that the SRS is used as a guide, like GPI used to be. We all know from recent history that the eventual selections were significantly different that a straight run down the GPI. I don't think SRS would ever be used to put a 7 win team in over an 8 win team, but more likely might put an 8 win team ranked (for example) number 20 in over an 8 win team ranked #15 if that team had a weak SRS based on weak schedule.

I'd prefer if they didn't use this. For the most part, computer rankings just don't work for football. There aren't enough games, & certainly not enough FCS non-conference games.

[JayJ79]

The article states that the SRS is used as a guide, like GPI used to be. We all know from recent history that the eventual selections were significantly different that a straight run down the GPI. I don't think SRS would ever be used to put a 7 win team in over an 8 win team, but more likely might put an 8 win team ranked (for example) number 20 in over an 8 win team ranked #15 if that team had a weak SRS based on weak schedule.

I could see them putting a 7 win team (7-4) with a good SRS ranking in over an 8 win team (8-4) with a bad SRS ranking. But I could also see them not doing that.

[BlackFalkin]

The article states that the SRS is used as a guide, like GPI used to be. We all know from recent history that the eventual selections were significantly different that a straight run down the GPI. I don't think SRS would ever be used to put a 7 win team in over an 8 win team, but more likely might put an 8 win team ranked (for example) number 20 in over an 8 win team ranked #15 if that team had a weak SRS based on weak schedule.

I could see them putting a 7 win team (7-4) with a good SRS ranking in over an 8 win team (8-4) with a bad SRS ranking. But I could also see them not doing that.

Way to contradict yourself chief.

[93henfan]

The article states that the SRS is used as a guide, like GPI used to be. We all know from recent history that the eventual selections were significantly different that a straight run down the GPI. I don't think SRS would ever be used to put a 7 win team in over an 8 win team, but more likely might put an 8 win team ranked (for example) number 20 in over an 8 win team ranked #15 if that team had a weak SRS based on weak schedule.

I could see them putting a 7 win team (7-4) with a good SRS ranking in over an 8 win team (8-4) with a bad SRS ranking. But I could also see them not doing that.

How about a 6-5 team with five real quality losses?

[CAA Flagship]

Playoffs are overrated. The bowl system is much better.

[89Hen]

HOW ABOUT IF THEYJUST MAKE SURE THE TOP 5 BY THE SRS GET IN? SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. THEN THEY CAN OPEN IT UP TO THE TEAMS WITH THE CUPCAKE SCHEDULES.

1 NDSU
2 EIU
3 SELA
4 EWU
5 Nova

I'm sure that does sound good to you.

[GannonFan]

If anyone thinks they will just pick according to the SRS, they're nuts.

HOW ABOUT IF THEYJUST MAKE SURE THE TOP 5 BY THE SRS GET IN? SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. THEN THEY CAN OPEN IT UP TO THE TEAMS WITH THE CUPCAKE SCHEDULES.

1 NDSU
2 EIU
3 SELA
4 EWU
5 Nova

You're just upset that your cupcake this year (Fordham, well, and I Penn too actually) didn't end up being a cupcake this year. Oh, and your administration failed to count and didn't realize they hadn't scheduled 12 games. A 7-5 nova team probably has at least an outside chance of the playoffs. A 6-5 nova team, if they get there, has been eliminated from the playoffs since October. The math department at nova must be responsible for both the schedule making, the distribution of phone cards, and the law school rankings, how else to explain the mixup?

[dbackjon]

Playoffs are overrated. The bowl system is much better.

[grizzaholic]

Playoffs are overrated. The bowl system is much better.