Bryant DIII - Season 84 Playoff Preview
Going through the brackets one by one, we will first rank the teams in the individual bracket using Elkhour Power Rankings. The format is Team (overall rating, offense rating-offense rank in this bracket, defense rating-defense rank in this bracket). We will then throw in few comments, and end with Upset Alert and Prediction. We will then compare the 4 brackets and rank them among each other in terms of talent (teams average rating) and competitiveness (standard deviation to show how close the team ratings are to each other)
Sorry no hyperlinks this time as I don't have enough time :S Off We Go!
North Bracket
EPR:
1. Huntingdon (612, 613-2. 610-1)
2. Ferrum (596, 616-1, 575-2)
3. Susquehanna (571, 566-3, 568-3)
4. Colorado College (547, 565-4, 529-7)
5. Carleton (542, 546-5, 538-4)
6. Otterbein (538, 539-6, 537-5)
7. Bluffton (533, 536-7, 530-6)
8. Wilmington (510, 515-8, 505-8)
This bracket features the last 3-time national championship runner-up and the current #1 team in the nation Huntingdon, the best offense in DIII Ferrum, last seasons final four qualifier Colorado College, and last season quarter finalists Carleton College. Huntingdon and Ferrum are on a roll, and undefeated, while Susquehanna and Colorado College only suffered one loss during the season.
While they don't have the easiest of draws, Huntingdon and Ferrum are not only the best 2 teams in this bracket, but the best 2 teams in the nation right now.
Upset Alert: (7) Bluffton vs. (2) Colorado College
Prediction: Ferrum beats Huntingdon in the bracket final
South Bracket
EPR:
1. Loras (578, 574-3, 582-1)
2. MIT (578, 583-2, 573-2)
3. California Lutheran (570, 593-1, 547-4)
4. Gettysburg (562, 559-4, 566-3)
5. Menlo (547, 557-5, 537-5)
6. Trinity (TX) (527, 521-6, 533-6)
7. Bridgewater (VA) (500, 505-7, 495-7)
8. Waynesburg (492, 492-8, 492-8)
This bracket has 2 of the last 3 national champions in MIT and Loras (they have been playing each other in the playoffs for the last 3 seasons!), air attack Menlo lead by Paul Lewis, the powerful Gettysburg, and the much under-seeded California Lutheran. While Menlo is the only undefeated team in this bracket, MIT is pretty close to being another one, dropping only one game to a SIM in a huge upset. Menlo have been setting offensive records all season, but they will be put to the test when they play great defenses like Loras or Gettysburg.
Upset Alert: (8) California Lutheran vs. (1) MIT
Prediction: Although I have them on the upset alert, but that's why it's called an alert, I still think MIT will come on top on CLU, and then beat Loras once again to win the bracket.
East Bracket:
EPR:
1. Concordia (WI) (570, 575-1, 565-1)
2. Whittier (539, 538-3, 540-2)
3. Macalester (530, 552-2, 508-8)
4. Curry (523, 523-6, 523-4)
5. Norwich (522, 525-5, 520-4)
6. Wisconsin-Stevens Point (522, 530-4, 514-5)
7. Albion (513, 511-7, 515-6)
8. St. Norbert (507, 504-8, 511-7)
While not the best bracket in terms of talent, it is the most competitive one (see below). We have the defending national champions Concordia (WI) and 7 teams that are very close from each other in terms of ratings. Should be very interesting.
Upset Alert: (7) Whittier vs. (2) Macalester
Prediction: Concordia (WI) beats Whittier to win the bracket
West Bracket:
EPR:
1. Mount Union (579, 592-1, 566-3)
2. Linfield (572, 578-4, 567-2)
3. St. Olaf (566, 588-2, 544-6)
4. Austin (564, 586-3, 543-7)
5. Greenville (561, 565-5, 557-4)
6. Merchant Marine (559, 564-6, 553-5)
7. Washington (MO) (556, 542-7, 569-1)
8. Hiram (480, 478-8, 482-8)
One of the best rated defenses in the country Washington (MO) faces some of the most prolific offenses in Austin, Linfield, St. Olaf, and Mount Union. The bracket also features recent national champions in Greenville and Merchant Marine, as well as the newcomer Hiram. Austin is undefeated, Mount Union only lost to a SIM in a big upset, and Linfield only lost to Menlo by 1 point in the conference championship!
Upset Alert: (7) Greenville vs. (2) Mount Union
Prediction: Linfield beats St. Olaf to win the bracket
Brackets Comparison:
Ranking by talent (average of teams ratings):
1. North: 556
2. West: 555
3. South: 544
4. East: 528
Ranking by competitiveness (standard deviation of teams ratings):
1. East: 1.95
2. West: 3.10
3. North: 3.41
4. South: 3.45
Final Four Prediction:
Well, as per above, we have Ferrum vs. MIT and Linfield vs. Concordia (WI). I pick Ferrum to beat Linfield in the national championship game.