A look at the Playoff possibilities

Since everyone else is doing it, this Blog looks at the ins and outs of the A10 playoff picture.

• JMU- The Dukes are 5-0 in the A10 and 7-1 overall. They finish with Delaware, @ Villanova and @ Towson. I think JMU runs the table and finishes 10-1 overall. They get a seed and home games in the playoffs.
• UMass- Our UMies are 5-0 in the A10 and 7-1 overall.The Minutemen are the only A10 team with no I-AA losses. However they do have the toughest final three games with @UNH, Maine and Hofstra. Both the Wildcats and the Black Bears have to win. Still, two of the three games are at home. Winning out means UMass gets several home games in the playoffs. Loosing one means the Minutemen should get a first round home game, but remember 2003 when a 9-1 (in I-AA) and C0- A10 Champion UMass squad was shipped to Hamilton, NY. Two losses means a road trip. Three losses would put UMass out of the playoffs.
• Towson- The Tigers are 3-2 in the A10 and 6-2 overall. They end with William& Mary, @ Richmond and home against JMU. Towson has the potential to win 2 of the three. 8-3 would put them into competition with lots of 8-3 teams. They probably would get a road playoff game. Two losses and they're out.
• UNH- New Hampshire is 3-2 in the A10 and 6-2 overall. The Wildcats were riding high just three weeks ago. UNH finishes with UMass, @ Rhode Island and @ Maine. They need to run the table to get a home playoff game, but that's not certain as the NCAA is not fond of crappy Crowell. Two losses and they're out.
• Richmond- The Spiders are 2-3 in the A10 and 5-3 overall. The Spiders need to win out against @ Villanova, Towson and @ William & Mary. The Spider offense has gone into the tank lately and it's likely that the Spiders will not make the playoffs. Even if they win out, it looks like there will be a lot of 8-3 teams this year. Their I-A victory over Duke would help them.
• Maine- The Black Bears are 4-1 in the A10 and 5-3 overall. Maine closes with Northeastern, @ UMass and New Hampshire. The Black Bears need to win out, which is unlikely with that schedule. Even if they do win all three, they will be 7-3 in I-AA and I think the committee will pick one of the numerous 8-3 teams.