From: pdunn@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Patrick L Dunn)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: I-AA Report for Nov. 14 (3/3): Big Games and Predictions
Date: 12 Nov 92 19:57:37 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University

Isn't I-AA getting wierd?  Whooda thunk that Marshall would have lost two
straight games to unranked teams?  Or that UNI would lose to Eastern Illinois?
Or that Northeast Louisiana would be number one?

This week is critical.  With two weeks to go before the playoff pairings are
announced, 23 teams have a chance to end the season with less than three losses
and/or ties, which is usually the benchmark for playoff consideration.  Only
Delaware, Yankee Conference Champ, has clinched an automatic bid.  The other
contenders are:

Big Sky: Idaho, E. Wash.
Gateway: N. Iowa, W. Illinois, SW Missouri
Ohio Valley: Middle Tennessee, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech
Southern: The Citadel, Marshall, Western Carolina
Southland: NE Louisiana, McNeese St., Sam Houston St.
Yankee: Delaware (clinched spot), Massachusetts, Villanova, Richmond.
Independents: Samford, Youngstown St., Georgia Southern, Central Florida,
                William and Mary.

In the BIG SKY, Idaho should beat Montana St. handily.  Eastern Washington will
play a competitive Boise St. team at home.  #20 Eastern Washington will lose
this game and be out of what small chance was left for a playoff bid.

In the GATEWAY, two of the principles, #4 N. Iowa and #19 W. Illinois, will
meet.  N. Iowa is coming off a big upset to E. Illinois last week, and should
be good and angry.  The Gateway is a one team league this year, regardless of 
what the polls say.  Look for N. Iowa to win handily at home.  The other 
remaining team with hopes, SW Missouri, plays at hapless Indiana St., and will 
also win big, setting up a Gateway Conference championship game on Nov. 21.  
Scratch Western Illinois.

In the OHIO VALLEY, Eastern Kentucky plays Austin Peay; Middle Tennessee plays
Morehead St.  Both teams win to stay alive.

In the SOUTHERN, the Citadel plays at home against VMI.  These two military
academies hate each other with an ungodly sort of hate.  Both are wishbone
teams as well.  VMI has a nascent passing game, though.  UPSET OF THE WEEK: VMI
will brighten an otherwise miserable season by defeating the Citadel in a
sqeaker.  The Citadel stays alive, though.  Western Carolina should also have
an easy time with East Tennessee St.  Look for them to be ranked in the low
teens next week.

In the SOUTHLAND, NE Louisiana should defeat S. F. Austin and earn an automatic
bid to the playoffs.  The other two hopefuls, Sam Houston and McNeese, face off
with the winner staying alive.  McNeese will win this one; Sam Houston will be
out.

In the YANKEE, Delaware has clinched, but plays at Richmond this weekend.
Delaware will win on the road, eliminating Richmond from the playoff picture.
Villanova plays Fordham, and should win big.  UMass plays Maine; this game may
be close; look for UMass to pull it out.

Among INDEPENDENTS, Youngstown St. loses in the Rubber Bowl to arch rival
Akron, dropping them to 7-3 on the year.  Georgia Southern will lose to
suprising Troy St.  This will set up a meeting next week between these two
teams with the winner probably receiving a playoff bid.  Samford will defeat
UT-Martin to stay alive.  Central Florida loses to James Madison, dashing their
slim playoff hopes.  William and Mary defeats another weak opponent in Lehigh
to stay alive.

In the only big interconference game this week, Marshall, losers of two
straight, wins big over Tennessee Tech.  Tennessee Tech
stays alive, however, at 7-3.

Soooooo, after this week, the teams that will be alive for the playoffs are:

Idaho                    Marshall
N. Iowa                  Villanova
SW Missouri St.          Delaware
Eastern Kentucky         Massachusetts
Middle Tennessee St.     Youngstown St.
Tennessee Tech           Samford
The Citadel              Georgia Southern
Western Carolina         William and Mary
                         McNeese St.

PDunn
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college