SR4 Regional Discussion: Week 11: 11/9/24

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

The final teams in playoff contention the last week of the year and a regional rankings order guess:

1) Colorado Pueblo (9-1) @ Chadron State (2-7)
2) Augustana (8-1) @ Bemidji State (7-3)
3) Minnesota State (8-2) @ Minnesota Duluth (6-4)
4) Western Colorado (9-1) @ Colorado Mesa (7-3)
5) Angelo State (8-2) vs. West Texas A&M (5-5)
6) Central Washington (7-2) vs. Western Oregon (6-2)
7) Bemidji State (7-3) vs. Augustana (8-1)
8) Sioux Falls (6-3) vs Southwestern Minnesota (0-10)
9) Western Oregon (6-2) @ Central Washington (7-2)
10) Colorado Mesa (7-3) vs. Western Colorado (9-1)
11) Colorado Mines (7-3) vs. Ft. Lewis (2-7)

I think Colorado Pueblo, Augustana, and Western Colorado have already punched their playoff tickets regardless if they lose.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Raw numbers update from Inkblot 's site:

CSU Pueblo	RMAC	9-1	.550	9-0	5-1	1.450	1	28.600	1	1
Augustana (SD)	NSIC	8-1	.527	8-1	4-0	1.416	2	27.778	2	2
Western Colorado	RMAC	9-1	.471	9-1	2-1	1.371	3	26.600	4	4
Minnesota State	NSIC	8-2	.550	8-2	4-2	1.350	4	26.700	3	3
Angelo State	LSC	8-2	.529	8-0	4-2	1.329	5	26.600	4	5
Central Washington	LSC	7-2	.499	7-2	2-2	1.277	6	25.444	6	6
Western Oregon	LSC	6-2	.476	6-2	1-2	1.226	7	24.250	8	8
Sioux Falls	NSIC	6-3	.549	6-3	4-2	1.216	8	24.556	7	7
Bemidji State	NSIC	7-3	.502	7-3	3-2	1.202	9	23.700	10
Colorado Mines	RMAC	7-3	.499	7-3	1-3	1.199	10	24.000	9	10
Colorado Mesa	RMAC	7-3	.496	7-3	3-2	1.196	11	23.700	10	9

[Turbonium]

Western should be in the 3 spot if they're able to beat Mesa next week. Would be nice for them to have a home playoff game in the finished new stadium, not a fun place to travel to and play at.

Pueblo needs to take Chadron very seriously, that defense they have is playing very well. Who knows what the weather will be like this time of the year in Chadron.

CWU vs WOU is basically their first round playoff game, loser goes home for the rest of the season.

[Ironlinks]

Interesting scenarios for the final week:

Augie on the road at Bemidji 1PM CDT
Mankato on the road at Duluth 1PM CDT
Western Co on the road at Mesa 1PM Mountain Time
Pueblo on the road at Chadron 12PM Mountain Time
Home field in the first 3 games could make a huge difference and could really mess up the standings

Home teams: here all the home teams should be favored to win.

USF 1PM CDT
Central Wash 1PM Pacific Time
Angelo 6PM CDT
I guess “that’s why they play the games”. Be a fun week of watching live and following scores on the phone.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Listened to the RMAC podcast which was really good.

Couple of Observations:

1) Colorado Mesa has two problems. That SD Mines loss and the head to head loss against Central Washington.
2) Angelo State is in with a loss due to earned access if Central Washington loses. Need to root more for a Western Oregon win.

[sportsvine]

Pueblo is in HUGE trouble in Chadron. Chadron leads 21-7 at halftime, and Pueblo is lucky Chadron is not up 24-7 as they missed a FG. There is a FIERCE steady wind. According to accuweather, its currently a 22 mph with gusts to 37 mph, but honestly I think those numbers are low. Chadron's D is playing good, and Pueblo's qb is not good, having thrown 2 interceptions.

Chadron ran one of the most beautiful trick plays I have ever seen in my life an any level. They threw a pass wide to the right, looked like going to be one of their usual wr screens. Their best receiver was coming behind and around, like a hook and ladder, and the receiver faked the hook pitch, and then threw all the way back across the field backwards to their qb. He caught it and had blockers and there weren't any Pueblo players within a mile of the qb. He rumbled 50 yards all the way down the sideline and was tackled around the 5. That set up their first touchdown.

Considering the wind and how much the Pueblo qb is struggling to deal with it, I would be absolutely shocked if they come back.

[Turbonium]

Pueblo is in HUGE trouble in Chadron. Chadron leads 21-7 at halftime, and Pueblo is lucky Chadron is not up 24-7 as they missed a FG. There is a FIERCE steady wind. According to accuweather, its currently a 22 mph with gusts to 37 mph, but honestly I think those numbers are low. Chadron's D is playing good, and Pueblo's qb is not good, having thrown 2 interceptions.

Chadron ran one of the most beautiful trick plays I have ever seen in my life an any level. They threw a pass wide to the right, looked like going to be one of their usual wr screens. Their best receiver was coming behind and around, like a hook and ladder, and the receiver faked the hook pitch, and then threw all the way back across the field backwards to their qb. He caught it and had blockers and there weren't any Pueblo players within a mile of the qb. He rumbled 50 yards all the way down the sideline and was tackled around the 5. That set up their first touchdown.

Considering the wind and how much the Pueblo qb is struggling to deal with it, I would be absolutely shocked if they come back.

He had only thrown 1 all year, they look like a completely different team without Howard Russell at RB though. This is the worst RB depth Pueblo has had in a long long time. I'll be surprised if they're able to turn things around in this wind, they were losing at Fort Lewis at half too so maybe they'll wake up.

[Turbonium]

Pueblo woke up, two TDs in the first 6 minutes of the 3rd quarter and it's now 21-21.

[Turbonium]

28-21 Pueblo after a blocked punt and short run.

[Turbonium]

31-21 still in the 3rd quarter. Chadron imploding a bit in the second half...

[Turbonium]

38-21 Pueblo with 5 minutes left to play after a nice TD pass from their not good QB. Looks like it'll be 15 in a row over Chadron for CSUP.

[Turbonium]

Pueblo will be the 1 seed, expect to see Western move up to the 2 spot as they should move ahead of Angelo with their win over Mesa today and losses by both Augie and Mankato.

My guess as to hosts for SR4 first round games:

2. Western
3. Angelo
4. Augustana

[sportsvine]

That was the WORST clock management in the 3rd quarter I have ever seen. Chadron was against the wind and had the wind in the 4th quarter. All Chadron had to do was play good ball and kill the quarter even if allowing a touchdown, they'd still be in good shape. Instead, they have three 3n outs and barely run a minute off the clock when they had the ball and give up huge chunk plays on defense and have costly fumble near the end of the 3rd quarter when they were about to go to the other end of the field and get the wind. Just horrible strategy and bad football all around.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Pueblo will be the 1 seed, expect to see Western move up to the 2 spot as they should move ahead of Angelo with their win over Mesa today and losses by both Augie and Mankato.

My guess as to hosts for SR4 first round games:

2. Western
3. Angelo
4. Augustana

I think Angelo, Western, and Bemidji

[Ironlinks]

This makes the most sense for the NCAA (I believe I have the D2 records correct)
Pueblo 10 – 1
Western Co 10-1
Angelo 9-2
Augustana 8-2
USF 8-3
Central Wash 8-2
Bemidji 8-3

Central Wash could go to Western or Angelo,
Bemidji could go to Western or Angelo.
The NCAA would have to figure out the costs there. Sioux Falls at Augustana would cost the NCAA $0.

Mankato being out: They are 3-3 in last 6 games, Bemidji is 4-2 in last 6 games, USF is 5-1 in last 6 games. How you play to end the season should matter. Mankato lost 2 games by 2 scores, Bemidji and USF’s losses were all within a score.

I know these are not the criteria the NCAA uses and know this makes sense so it will not happen. Pretty sure USF will be sitting home next weekend, if so I would like to hear the NCAA’s justification. For that matter, the justification for whomever gets left home.