Post by Yotes on Nov 25, 2019 18:53:06 GMT -6
Let's breakdown SIU's schedule:
Okay, so those are 5 losses to 5 good teams that are in the postseason.
Where is the good win? All logic states that UTM is their best win, and it's reasonable to think that shouldn't be the marquee win for a playoff bound team. The rest of their wins came against a bunch of teams who couldn't beat anyone worth a damn either.
Further, as you look at the field, the only 7 win teams in the playoffs are UND and SE Louisiana who both went 7-4 (rather than SIU's 7-5). Both those teams playoff seeds and had other marquee wins better than SIU. If you wanted to look at the 8-win bids you've got the MVFC teams and then Furman and Albany, but again all of those teams have better wins than SIU plus a better record.
I think SIU got exactly what they deserved (unlike state). There simply aren't any at-large teams in the field that I would put them ahead of. They were a very hot team down the stretch but never really beat anyone.
Losses:
Southeast Missouri State
9-3 (7-1 OVC), hosting Illinois State in 1st round
Arkansas State
7-4 (5-2 Sun Belt), good FBS team
South Dakota State
8-4 (5-3 MVFC), 7 seed in FCS playoffs (shouldn't be, but the committee thinks so so it counts)
Illinois State
8-4 (5-3 MVFC), visiting SEMO in first round of playoffs
North Dakota State
12-0 (8-0 MVFC), 1 seed in FCS playoffs
Southeast Missouri State
9-3 (7-1 OVC), hosting Illinois State in 1st round
Arkansas State
7-4 (5-2 Sun Belt), good FBS team
South Dakota State
8-4 (5-3 MVFC), 7 seed in FCS playoffs (shouldn't be, but the committee thinks so so it counts)
Illinois State
8-4 (5-3 MVFC), visiting SEMO in first round of playoffs
North Dakota State
12-0 (8-0 MVFC), 1 seed in FCS playoffs
Okay, so those are 5 losses to 5 good teams that are in the postseason.
Wins:
Massachusetts
1-11 (independent), technically FBS but these guys suck. They got blown out by Rutgers for crying out loud. UMass's one win was by 8 over Akron who is on a 16-game losing streak.
Tennessee Martin
7-5 (6-2 OVC), had FBS losses to Florida and Kentucky
Youngstown State
6-6 (2-6 MVFC), played a pretty embarrassing non-conference slate
South Dakota
5-7 (4-4 MVFC), one good win and then four against teams who went a combined 8-24 in conference play
Indiana State
5-7 (3-5 MVFC), beat a decent EKY team but rest of their wins came against teams who went a combined 5-27 in conference play. Lost to a non-scholarship team.
Missouri State
1-11 (1-7 MVFC), only win was WIU by 6. Pretty terrible season.
Western Illinois
1-11 (1-7 MVFC), only win was USD. Lost to North Alabama in their first season of playing a full D1 schedule.
Massachusetts
1-11 (independent), technically FBS but these guys suck. They got blown out by Rutgers for crying out loud. UMass's one win was by 8 over Akron who is on a 16-game losing streak.
Tennessee Martin
7-5 (6-2 OVC), had FBS losses to Florida and Kentucky
Youngstown State
6-6 (2-6 MVFC), played a pretty embarrassing non-conference slate
South Dakota
5-7 (4-4 MVFC), one good win and then four against teams who went a combined 8-24 in conference play
Indiana State
5-7 (3-5 MVFC), beat a decent EKY team but rest of their wins came against teams who went a combined 5-27 in conference play. Lost to a non-scholarship team.
Missouri State
1-11 (1-7 MVFC), only win was WIU by 6. Pretty terrible season.
Western Illinois
1-11 (1-7 MVFC), only win was USD. Lost to North Alabama in their first season of playing a full D1 schedule.
Where is the good win? All logic states that UTM is their best win, and it's reasonable to think that shouldn't be the marquee win for a playoff bound team. The rest of their wins came against a bunch of teams who couldn't beat anyone worth a damn either.
Further, as you look at the field, the only 7 win teams in the playoffs are UND and SE Louisiana who both went 7-4 (rather than SIU's 7-5). Both those teams playoff seeds and had other marquee wins better than SIU. If you wanted to look at the 8-win bids you've got the MVFC teams and then Furman and Albany, but again all of those teams have better wins than SIU plus a better record.
I think SIU got exactly what they deserved (unlike state). There simply aren't any at-large teams in the field that I would put them ahead of. They were a very hot team down the stretch but never really beat anyone.