A look at the CAA South's 2008 schedule

Back on Thursday, April 3rd, I took a look at the CAA North's 2008 schedule with an eye on the various teams chances of making the playoffs.

An FCS team needs a minimum of seven DI wins to make the playoffs. Eight is a better goal because seven wins means being the last team named. Eight DI wins will usually being chosen and being sent on the road. Nine DI wins means a home game in the first and maybe another game in the second round. Ten wins or better means home games up until Chattanooga.

Let's take a look at the CAA South.

Delaware: Twelve games in 2008. The Hens retain their home money game against DII West Chester, so they still play an eleven game playoff schedule. Delaware's other OOC games include Maryland, Furman and Albany. I think the Hens have a chance to win all those games, but also could lose against the Terps and the away game at Furman. Delaware must also play UMass at McGuirk.

James Madison: Eleven games in 2008. The Dukes play Appalachian State, Duke and North Carolina Central as their OOC. JMU could win all those games or they could just as well lose two of three. The Dukes do get UMass at home. Getting eight DI wins is not going to be easy. This is a difficult schedule.

Richmond: Twelve games in 2008. The Spiders play Elon, Virginia, VMI and Georgetown as their OOC. They also have to play @UMass. The Spiders should get three DI wins against their FCS OOC schedule. They may have a chance to upset Virginia.

Towson: Twelve games in 2008. The Tigers play Navy, Coastal Carolina, Morgan State and Columbia. That is not a strong OOC, but Towson was not a good team in 2007. Still, the Tigers should win at least two of those games. They do have to play at @ UMass, @ Delaware, @ UNH and @ Richmond.

Villanova: Eleven games in 2008. The OOC includes West Virginia, Lehigh and Penn. The two FCS games are good games, but I think the Wildcats can win both. They do not play UMass.

William & Mary: Eleven games in 2008. The OOC includes North Carolina State, VMI and Norfork State. The Tribe should have no trouble with the latter two. They do not play UMass this year.

Analysis: I think Villanova has the easiest road to the playoffs. The Wildcats could be the surprise team in the CAA in 2008. Richmond is my second choice as the Spiders should get three OOC DI wins and give themselves a leg up on seven DI wins to be playoff eligible. William & Mary and Towson have favorable schedules, which should improve their win total, but not enough to make the playoffs. This article by Myron Hosea of CSN covers three of the CAA's inter league games.