Play-in Game Winners

[AZGrizFan]

Pick the winners from the 8 play-in games. I left off the Sacred Heart & Fordham game because a) you only get 15 poll choices and there's 16 teams playing and b) I don't think Sacred Heart would get a single vote).

Nov. 30 at Orangeburg, S.C., 1 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
Furman (7-5) at South Carolina State (9-3)

Nov. 30 at Conway, S.C., 1 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
Bethune-Cookman (10-2) at Coastal Carolina (10-2)

Nov. 30 at Durham, N.H., noon ET (ESPN3)
Lafayette (5-6) at New Hampshire (7-4)

Nov. 30 at Huntsville, Texas, 3 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
Southern Utah (8-4) at Sam Houston State (8-4)

Nov. 30 at Flagstaff, Ariz., 8 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
South Dakota State (8-4) at Northern Arizona (9-2)

Nov. 30 at Jacksonville, Ala., 8 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
Samford (8-4) at Jacksonville State (9-3)

Nov. 30 at Bronx, N.Y., 1 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
Sacred Heart (10-2) at Fordham (11-1)

Nov. 30 at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
Tennessee State (9-3) at Butler (9-3)

[89Hen]

I'm just amazed that through 6 votes, everyone actually picked one and only one winner from each game.

[grizzaholic]

I'm just amazed that through 6 votes, everyone actually picked one and only one winner from each game.

Does that mean the intelligence of CS has improved?

[AZGrizFan]

I'm more amazed at the love being given to SUU.

[dbackjon]

I'm more amazed at the love being given to SUU.

Is it SUU love, or lack of confidence in SHSU?

[Grizalltheway]

I'm more amazed at the love being given to SUU.

Post this poll on AGS and see what happens.

[JohnStOnge]

Ok I was with the majority with all but two. The two I picked that are not in the majority are Sam Houston State and South Dakota State.

[JohnStOnge]

Interesting that someone picked Butler to win. I wouldn't mind if they did. I think it would be cool. But I'm surprised anybody picked them.

[JohnStOnge]

On Sam Houston State: They had a real chance to beat Southeastern Louisiana until QB Brian Bell had to leave the game with an injury. I thought he'd be gone for the year.

But the next week they got down to Central Arkansas 28-3 and they put him in. He was obviously in pain but he made a big difference. The final score was 49-31 and I don't think there's any question that it makes a big difference if he's in there even if he's not 100%.

I have no doubt he's going to start against Southern Utah.

[JohnStOnge]

BTW it's no! "play in games!" You're talking about 16 of the 24 teams in the tournament. It's more along the lines of what happens in the NFL.

[AZGrizFan]

BTW it's no! "play in games!" You're talking about 16 of the 24 teams in the tournament. It's more along the lines of what happens in the NFL.

Yes they are. It gets the field down to 16, which it should be in the first place. That's a play-in game.

[BlackFalkin]

So is South Dakota state terrible or?

[JohnStOnge]

BTW it's no! "play in games!" You're talking about 16 of the 24 teams in the tournament. It's more along the lines of what happens in the NFL.

Yes they are. It gets the field down to 16, which it should be in the first place. That's a play-in game.

Oh c'mon. Four of those teams would've been in as automatic qualifiers from the Southern, MEAC, OVC, and Patriot under the old 16 team system.

BTW is the Fordham/Sacred Heart game in the poll and I'm just not seeing it on my screen?

[SuperHornet]

Yes they are. It gets the field down to 16, which it should be in the first place. That's a play-in game.

Oh c'mon. Four of those teams would've been in as automatic qualifiers from the Southern, MEAC, OVC, and Patriot under the old 16 team system.

BTW is the Fordham/Sacred Heart game in the poll and I'm just not seeing it on my screen?

Did you read AZ's intro? The poll function only allows for 15 options, but having THAT game as well would beg for 16. Besides, AZ believes that NOBODY would pick Sacred Heart. In MY case, he was actually correct. LOL.

[grizinidaho]

Should be some fun games to watch this weekend.

[UNHWildCats]

Interesting that someone picked Butler to win. I wouldn't mind if they did. I think it would be cool. But I'm surprised anybody picked them.

I just couldn't pick an OVC team to win, no matter who the opponent.

[AZGrizFan]

Yes they are. It gets the field down to 16, which it should be in the first place. That's a play-in game.

Oh c'mon. Four of those teams would've been in as automatic qualifiers from the Southern, MEAC, OVC, and Patriot under the old 16 team system.

BTW is the Fordham/Sacred Heart game in the poll and I'm just not seeing it on my screen?

Uh, OVC's autoqualifer is EIU. Patriot's REAL autoqualifier is Fordham. MEAC doesn't deserve an autobid, nor does NEC or Pioneer. 24 teams is just too many.

[craneac27]

Rooting for Southern Utah to beat Sam Houston because if i don't go to the McNeese Samford game (yeah i said it) i will probably drive over to Hammond, America and check out that game in Strawberry stadium. Ive seen Sam Houston state play at McNeese back in 09. would like to see Southern Utah. *pretty sure grizzaholic approves also would want SHSU or SUU to win *

[JohnStOnge]

Uh, OVC's autoqualifer is EIU. Patriot's REAL autoqualifier is Fordham.

I don't know what I was thinking with the OVC but I don't see Fordham as the real Patriot qualifier. If you look at Lafayette's schedule and count Fordham as a Patriot League game the Leopards were 5-1 including a win over Fordham. If you look at Fordham's record and count their Patriot League wins they were 5-1 as well. So if Fordham had been eligible they'd have tied at 5-1 for the conference title but Lafayette won the head to head. So I'd expect the tiebreaker would go to Lafayette.

Look, Lafayette entered the last two weeks of the season having to beat a 10-0 team that was ranked in or near the top 10 in FCS the first week then beat a 8-2 team the second week. The second game was like a playoff game with the winner getting the automatic bid and the loser staying home. They won both games and the won both games by double digits. They earned their spot.

[grizzaholic]

Rooting for Southern Utah to beat Sam Houston because if i don't go to the McNeese Samford game (yeah i said it) i will probably drive over to Hammond, America and check out that game in Strawberry stadium. Ive seen Sam Houston state play at McNeese back in 09. would like to see Southern Utah. *pretty sure grizzaholic approves also would want SHSU or SUU to win *

[andy7171]

Why isn't Fordham vs Towson included?

[Grizalltheway]

Why isn't Fordham vs Towson included?

What is your damage, boy?

[AZGrizFan]

Uh, OVC's autoqualifer is EIU. Patriot's REAL autoqualifier is Fordham.

I don't know what I was thinking with the OVC but I don't see Fordham as the real Patriot qualifier. If you look at Lafayette's schedule and count Fordham as a Patriot League game the Leopards were 5-1 including a win over Fordham. If you look at Fordham's record and count their Patriot League wins they were 5-1 as well. So if Fordham had been eligible they'd have tied at 5-1 for the conference title but Lafayette won the head to head. So I'd expect the tiebreaker would go to Lafayette.

Look, Lafayette entered the last two weeks of the season having to beat a 10-0 team that was ranked in or near the top 10 in FCS the first week then beat a 8-2 team the second week. The second game was like a playoff game with the winner getting the automatic bid and the loser staying home. They won both games and the won both games by double digits. They earned their spot.

A 10-0 and 8-2 team from THEIR OWN SHITTY CONFERENCE. See the difference? They didn't beat NDSU & Towson to get in....

[JohnStOnge]

A 10-0 and 8-2 team from THEIR OWN SHITTY CONFERENCE. See the difference? They didn't beat NDSU & Towson to get in....

White I have to correct myself and say that they didn't have to beat Fordham to get in they did beat the Rams and Fordham seems to be fairly highly regarded. This site's poll has them at 10 and the Sports Network poll has them at 9. Sagarin's ratings have them at 28 and Massey has them at 20 so maybe not quite as "highly regarded" in power ratings. But still a top 25 team or close to it anyway.

[JohnStOnge]

The one that continues to surprise me the most is the lopsided vote for Northern Arizona over South Dakota State.