D2 Frontrunners?

[Ram040506]

NW is banged up but that defense is pretty salty. I'm not sure they have the team speed they have had in years past. Even that salty defense got gashed by Ferris with ease last year. PItt is too Jekyll and Hyde to make a deep run. They are a couple of players and a year or two away. I don't understand all the Angelo State love, they made a good run in a weak region last year. I say this because they beat a very one dimensional with a questionable defense UNK team last year. But every team that beat them in the playoffs went on to get whupped.

Ferris, and GV are the class. Mines has a shot. I like Bagent and Shepherd but man once they got out of the region last year the difference between them and Ferris was immense.

The shepherd performance against Ferris was not good at all. The only solace I personally took in that game was that Ferris seemed to have their way with Valdosta and everyone else in the playoffs as well, that may have been an all timer of a team last year.

[Gliac_fan10]

It’s way too earily to be predicting who the regional finalists will be and how they’ll be seated but my prediction is:

SR 1: Shepherd or IUP - seeded # 4
SR 2: Delta State or West Florida - seeded # 2
SR 3: Ferris State or GVS - seeded # 1
SR 4: Angelo State or Mines - seeded # 3

I definitely agree the SR3 winner will be the 1 seed and SR1 region will be the 4... the 2&3 seeds will be interesting, especially if Delta and Angelo are there and both undefeated.

[Gliac_fan10]

I agree with this 100%. I might add Ouachita in group 3. I would add them to group 2 but they have to get through Ferris or GVSU and possibly Pitt to get that far.

I thought about Ouachita too, but the fact GV, FS (and Pitt St) are in their region doesn’t bode to well for their path.

[Gliac_fan10]

Now don't get me wrong. I love WF and we got two really good players from there (Newton Brothers), but I don't think they are that good this year I mean they almost lost to NG and the defense hasn't ever really been good but this year they seem worse for some reason. Would be surprised if they even made it past the first let alone the second round this year. You can't go in every year with the mentality that the offense will win you every game as you saw last year in the first round to Newberry. The defense needs to step it up and also from the games I've seen so far this year the offense is too in-between they need to find consistency to hot then cold often. I would say they are great at the run, but they love throwing it deep when they don't have to. If they can get it together it wouldn't surprise me to see them back in the Natty. With that being said I still think Ferris repeats or Grand valley. dark horse for natty is Mines they are scary good on offense.

Don’t disagree on WF, I could see an early exit too. I think there is very very little chance anyone out of that top 5 I had will win it all. I haven’t watched WF much but I just get the feeling that they wouldn’t be a utter shock if they were able to win it all

[OldBison]

It’s way too earily to be predicting who the regional finalists will be and how they’ll be seated but my prediction is:

SR 1: Shepherd or IUP - seeded # 4
SR 2: Delta State or West Florida - seeded # 2
SR 3: Ferris State or GVS - seeded # 1
SR 4: Angelo State or Mines - seeded # 3

[KleShreen]

How are the regions bracketed for the play offs this year? That may determine a lot of things...

They don't matter how the regions are bracketed anymore. The semifinalists are always reseeded 1-4 now.

[d2 football fan]

I agree with this 100%. I might add Ouachita in group 3. I would add them to group 2 but they have to get through Ferris or GVSU and possibly Pitt to get that far.

How are the regions bracketed for the play offs this year? That may determine a lot of things...

[GoneBlastin]

IMO

Legitimate shot to win it all
FSU
GVSU
Delta
Angelo
Mines

Wouldn’t completely shock me
Pitt St
WF

Could be SF contender but no further
Shepherd
IUP
Ashland
SRU

I agree with this 100%. I might add Ouachita in group 3. I would add them to group 2 but they have to get through Ferris or GVSU and possibly Pitt to get that far.

[MarsHillU2022]

NW is banged up but that defense is pretty salty. I'm not sure they have the team speed they have had in years past. Even that salty defense got gashed by Ferris with ease last year. PItt is too Jekyll and Hyde to make a deep run. They are a couple of players and a year or two away. I don't understand all the Angelo State love, they made a good run in a weak region last year. I say this because they beat a very one dimensional with a questionable defense UNK team last year. But every team that beat them in the playoffs went on to get whupped.

Ferris, and GV are the class. Mines has a shot. I like Bagent and Shepherd but man once they got out of the region last year the difference between them and Ferris was immense.

Shepherd has no chance against Angelo State let alone mines Ferris and GV.

[MarsHillU2022]

IMO

Legitimate shot to win it all
FSU
GVSU
Delta
Angelo
Mines

Wouldn’t completely shock me
Pitt St
WF

Could be SF contender but no further
Shepherd
IUP
Ashland
SRU

Now don't get me wrong. I love WF and we got two really good players from there (Newton Brothers), but I don't think they are that good this year I mean they almost lost to NG and the defense hasn't ever really been good but this year they seem worse for some reason. Would be surprised if they even made it past the first let alone the second round this year. You can't go in every year with the mentality that the offense will win you every game as you saw last year in the first round to Newberry. The defense needs to step it up and also from the games I've seen so far this year the offense is too in-between they need to find consistency to hot then cold often. I would say they are great at the run, but they love throwing it deep when they don't have to. If they can get it together it wouldn't surprise me to see them back in the Natty. With that being said I still think Ferris repeats or Grand valley. dark horse for natty is Mines they are scary good on offense.

[Wallst]

NW is banged up but that defense is pretty salty. I'm not sure they have the team speed they have had in years past. Even that salty defense got gashed by Ferris with ease last year. PItt is too Jekyll and Hyde to make a deep run. They are a couple of players and a year or two away. I don't understand all the Angelo State love, they made a good run in a weak region last year. I say this because they beat a very one dimensional with a questionable defense UNK team last year. But every team that beat them in the playoffs went on to get whupped.

Ferris, and GV are the class. Mines has a shot. I like Bagent and Shepherd but man once they got out of the region last year the difference between them and Ferris was immense.

[Gliac_fan10]

IMO

Legitimate shot to win it all
FSU
GVSU
Delta
Angelo
Mines

Wouldn’t completely shock me
Pitt St
WF

Could be SF contender but no further
Shepherd
IUP
Ashland
SRU

[d2 football fan]

I know you can't be the best until you beat the best... but based on this seasons results, GV has played some big teams and looked really good in winning all of them - and smashing the teams they should smash. If I had a vote, there would be 2 votes for GV. But, we get a sneak peak next week and it will make a lot of this conversation moot.

[MarsHillU2022]

I Think Shepherd will take SR1 but Ashland is a very interesting team.

[Ram040506]

SR1 is going to come down to 1 of 4 teams it appears at this point. Notre Dame College from the MEC, Shepherd and IUP from the PSAC, and Ashland from the GMAC. Those 4 have started to separate from the pack.