Bracketology Breakdown
Last Four In: Northern Iowa, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Eastern Kentucky
First Four Out: Weber State, Missouri State, North Dakota, Virginia Military
Does anyone enjoy chaos out there? If you answered ‘yes’, you’re probably not a bracketologist. If you answered ‘no’, you’re either a liar or a fan of one of the nine CSM FCS Top 25 teams who lost this weekend. Three of those teams were on the seed lines. For a bracketologist - that’s not fun. Some of that is in jest, because it does allow for some readjustment and re-evaluation, which I’d mentioned last week. But I digress.
Despite the pretty good resume, UC-Davis’ horrific loss to a previously winless Idaho State has to, at least temporarily, knock them off the seed lines. Elsewhere in the national seed area, South Dakota State lost in overtime on a failed two-point conversion to Southern Illinois. With Southern Illinois also being a seed last week, the Jackrabbits will just get shuffled down below the Salukis. The last seed to lose was James Madison, who fell to Villanova. Almost bumped Villanova all the way into the seed lines, but we’re going to keep the Dukes in the seeds, for now, because their two wins over New Hampshire and Weber State slightly outweighs the close loss to the Wildcats. Replacing UC-Davis in the seed group will be East Tennessee State. Why? Why not? The Buccaneers are actually undefeated and have a win against an FBS Power Five opponent. That, and this Week 6 version has a little more play to do something different, so we’ll throw ETSU a bone.
Besides all the other shuffling, there were only a couple at-large apples to fall off the bracket tree this week. North Dakota lost to South Dakota, relinquishing their spot directly to the Coyotes. The other team to fall was Missouri State, who lost at Youngstown State. Taking their spot is Eastern Kentucky, who are riding a three-game win streak and looks like the second best team in the AQ7. That could be a short lived stay with a tough road game to Central Arkansas next week.
Bids By Conference
AQ7 (2): *Sam Houston State, Eastern Kentucky
Big Sky (4): *Eastern Washington, Montana, UC-Davis, Montana State
Big South (1): *Kennesaw State
Colonial (5): *Villanova, James Madison, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Hampshire
Missouri Valley (5): *North Dakota State, Southern Illinois, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota
Northeast (1): *Duquesne
Ohio Valley (1): *Tennessee-Martin
Patriot (1): *Holy Cross
Pioneer (1): *Davidson
Southern (1): *East Tennessee State
Southland (2): *Southeastern Louisiana, Incarnate Word
* denotes projected conference’s automatic qualifier
