IdaGriz01
Well-known member
Only three games for this coming weekend have ranked teams facing each other. However, there are still some other decent matchups ... and several that have really important ramifications.
The JMU-Richmond games is important for both teams, but it’s desperately so for Richmond. If the Spiders lose, and go 7-4, then they have to win on the road at W&M to even be in the playoff conversation. JMU at least gets to face pathetic Elon (1-9), at home, for their final game.
The stakes are also high for the YSU-Indiana State game. Indiana State literally cannot afford to lose. They pick up a fifth loss, they can kiss off any chance at an at-large bid. But YSU has to play at NDSU for their final game ... and are highly likely to lose that one. So that (probable) loss, on top of a loss to Indi-State takes them out of the picture.
Both teams in the SIU-UNI game have four losses. The loser, with five losses, is pretty well toast for a bid. Yes, UNI has been on a roll, but I do not think even they would get a bid if they had five losses.
The Sacred Heart-Bryant game is equally important. This is the final game of the year for SH. If they win, they win the conference: They already have the tie-breaker over Wagner (which is third in the conference), and a win would put Bryant at 4-1 ... and SH would also have that tie-breaker. Bryant, obviously, needs to win to give SH two losses and put them out of the picture. Of course, Bryant still has to play Wagner, so they will have some more work to do even if they win.
The Delaware-UNH game is vitally important for both teams, in radically different ways. Delaware cannot afford to pick up a fifth loss, or they are out of even a remote chance for an at-large bid. Since they still have to play Villanova, their case looks pretty hopeless ... but if they were to pull off both upsets, they probably would get a bid. New Hampshire is going to get a bid, but I’m sure they’d like to get a high seed. They also have to play Maine -- which just proved they can upset anybody -- so a loss really weakens their case for a high seed.
Underdog on left, 2 choices.
The JMU-Richmond games is important for both teams, but it’s desperately so for Richmond. If the Spiders lose, and go 7-4, then they have to win on the road at W&M to even be in the playoff conversation. JMU at least gets to face pathetic Elon (1-9), at home, for their final game.
The stakes are also high for the YSU-Indiana State game. Indiana State literally cannot afford to lose. They pick up a fifth loss, they can kiss off any chance at an at-large bid. But YSU has to play at NDSU for their final game ... and are highly likely to lose that one. So that (probable) loss, on top of a loss to Indi-State takes them out of the picture.
Both teams in the SIU-UNI game have four losses. The loser, with five losses, is pretty well toast for a bid. Yes, UNI has been on a roll, but I do not think even they would get a bid if they had five losses.
The Sacred Heart-Bryant game is equally important. This is the final game of the year for SH. If they win, they win the conference: They already have the tie-breaker over Wagner (which is third in the conference), and a win would put Bryant at 4-1 ... and SH would also have that tie-breaker. Bryant, obviously, needs to win to give SH two losses and put them out of the picture. Of course, Bryant still has to play Wagner, so they will have some more work to do even if they win.
The Delaware-UNH game is vitally important for both teams, in radically different ways. Delaware cannot afford to pick up a fifth loss, or they are out of even a remote chance for an at-large bid. Since they still have to play Villanova, their case looks pretty hopeless ... but if they were to pull off both upsets, they probably would get a bid. New Hampshire is going to get a bid, but I’m sure they’d like to get a high seed. They also have to play Maine -- which just proved they can upset anybody -- so a loss really weakens their case for a high seed.
Underdog on left, 2 choices.
