FB: Northwest Conference

[MonroviaCat]

I don't normally like to talk about the playoffs too soon, but I'm thinking that if we win from here on out we go. How could we not? We've historically done well in Pool B, and even with fewer of those, we'd still have a chance at a Pool C bid. I don't think they'd take two teams from the SCIAC, IIAC, and MIAC and leave the NWC out, unless an NWC team has 3 losses.

Our best shot of course is to make pool B which teams like REdlands don't qualify for.  If we have to go in Pool C then their are more options against us.  Still, if we win out I think we're going to be o.k.  One week at at a time though.  Menlo this week!

[d-train]

I think the west region rankings are miss leading......Linfield is ranked 15th in the Nation, and Redlands is 36th, But the west region has Linfield 9th and Redlands 6th??
If we all win out.........Look for that big win over Haskell Indian Nations to come back and bit you in the *&)%. Just MHO.

In theory, the regional rankings are closer to what the playoff selection committee will be thinking than the Top 25 poll.

[d-train]

RFB,

Remember with the automatic bids and the national at-large bids, there's no guarantee eight teams from any region will make it. The line is meaningless and misleading.

Pat...what is misleading about it? Isn't it just a published list of ranked teams by the AFCA region by region ......that they just published?

The dashed line after the 8th team in each region is misleading in RFB's listing (it's not in the NCAA's by the way). We could end up with 9 teams from the West and 7 from somewhere else, for example.

[d-train]

 
Teams LINFIELD fanatics think we could beat at home...

I don't think a home playoff game is in the works for the NWC.

[wildcat11]

IMO...there are many things that can or will happen over the next 3 weeks.  It's so cliche but so very true that our 'Cats just need to focus on the next game and take care of business.  If we lose any of the next three then we're done.

However, from a conference standpoint I just have a hard time seeing our conference champ being left at home during the playoffs.  However looking at the inital data it looks like it could happen and I think it would be criminal.

[MonroviaCat]

RFB,

Remember with the automatic bids and the national at-large bids, there's no guarantee eight teams from any region will make it. The line is meaningless and misleading.

Pat...what is misleading about it? Isn't it just a published list of ranked teams by the AFCA region by region ......that they just published?

The dashed line after the 8th team in each region is misleading in RFB's listing (it's not in the NCAA's by the way). We end up with 9 teams from the West and 7 from somewhere else, for example.

And they have a teams like Redlands, Bethel/St. Johns, and Wartburg/Central  ranked above Linfield which is fine (most them are currently more deserving of the ranking) but that doesn't reflect the fact that 3 of those teams will be out of Pool A and do not qualify for Pool B.  In other words, their higher regional ranking does not necessarily give them a better chance at the Playoffs than a team from the NWC (or other non-auto bid conference) who have a shot at the additional 3 Pool B spots.

[RedandPurple]

Want to read a great story about Linfield ?  Then click here: http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=227513

[Pat Coleman]

RFB,

Remember with the automatic bids and the national at-large bids, there's no guarantee eight teams from any region will make it. The line is meaningless and misleading.

Pat...what is misleading about it? Isn't it just a published list of ranked teams by the AFCA region by region ......that they just published?

The NCAA doesn't put a line in. The line suggests that teams above are in and teams below are out. That isn't the case.

[DuffMan]

You forgort we'd beat MUC, SJU, UWWW and UMHB...any day of the week!  .....with half our brain tied behind our back.

You'd get beat by Crown this year

[Wildcat'64]

I sense a bit of over confidence with all this playoff talk.....Remember Willamette!!! Remember Menlo last year when the Cats won 21-3  but it was not a "blow out" and it was at the Catdome.  The Oaks always seem to play the Cats tough when they are on their home turf...remember it's a LONG road trip.  Like Tux Guy says we need to focus on one play at a time, one game at a time.....then the future will take care of itself.  The Cats just need to "take care of business" and not start worrying about where we will land in the playoff scenario.  Three more weeks can turn the applecart upside down.

GO CATS---One Game At A time

[bluenote]

Well...basically Keith puts in in pretty simple terms when he made this statement in his Around the Nation column:

"Pool B has some solid candidates who could steal a Pool C. So at-large hopefuls should root for Salisbury to hand Wesley its second loss, Case Western Reserve to hand Wash. U. its second loss and Whitworth or Linfield to run the table (they play each other). That would leave just three Pool B teams with one loss or fewer."

I don't think there is any overconfidence in discussing playoff scenarios. It just amounts to speculation at this time, but what's wrong with that? We know what we have to do to even be considered so it's not a mystery....   

Duffman....hey...we're looking for games....bring 'em on!   

[MonroviaCat]

Saturday just doesn't come quick enough!  Cats need to play hard, play smart, and fine tune everything this week!  First we chop down some Oaks then we prepare our Rat traps!   

[Foss]

I don't think there is any overconfidence in discussing playoff scenarios. It just amounts to speculation at this time, but what's wrong with that? We know what we have to do to even be considered so it's not a mystery....   

bluenote, I don't think there is any problem with discussing the playoffs either. There is no magical force that throws the 'Cats off their game simply because a few posters are talking about their (or other NWC teams') playoff possibilities. If we have a team that is fragile enough to lose it's focus because of playoff talk on this website, then we have a team that doesn't deserve to go anyway.

[Proud Papa Joe]

hey, the wildcats are going to menlo. The players will make it happen. They know whats at stake and they know what they have to do to win. The defense will step up and sut them down.

Hope to see some of you there.

GO WILDCATS

PPJ

[cawcdad]

PPJ, I'll be roaming the sidelines with a camera. Grab my attention and say hi.