Playoffs Till I Die: Final 2013 Playoff Projection

By Chuck Burton
Publisher/Managing Editor
College Sports Journal

PHILADELPHIA, PA. — It’s the night before Selection Sunday, and here’s my final take on the bracket.

 

 

Eleven Conferences, Eleven Autobids

 

Here is the list of the autobids:

Big Sky Conference: Eastern Washington (10-2, 8-0)

Big South Conference: Coastal Carolina (10-2, 4-1)

Colonial Athletic Association: Maine (10-2, 7-1)

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference: Bethune Cookman (10-2, 7-1)

Missouri Valley Football Conference: North Dakota State (11-0,8-0)

Northeast Conference: Sacred Heart (10-2, 4-2)

Ohio Valley Conference: Eastern Illinois (11-1, 8-0)

Patriot League: Lafayette (5-6, 4-1)

Pioneer Football League: Butler (9-3, 7-1)

Southern Conference: Furman (7-5, 6-2)

Southland Conference: Southeastern Louisiana (10-2, 7-0)

 

At-Large Berths
 

Almost certainly in Already:

 

Towson (9-2, 5-2)

Fordham (11-1)

Montana (10-2, 6-2)

McNeese State (10-2. 6-2)

Northern Arizona (9-2, 7-1)

Samford (8-4, 6-2)

South Dakota State (8-4, 5-3)

 

The bubble

 

Charleston Southern (10-3, 3-2)

Chattanooga (8-4, 6-2)

Delaware (7-5. 4-4)

Jacksonville State (9-3, 5-3)

Lehigh (8-3, 3-2) 

Montana State (7-5, 5-3)

New Hampshire (7-4, 6-2)

Northern Iowa (7-5, 3-5)

Sam Houston State (8-4, 4-3)

South Carolina State (9-3, 7-1)

Southern Utah (8-4, 5-3)

Tennessee State (9-3, 6-2)

UT Martin (7-5, 5-3)

William and Mary (7-5, 4-4)

Youngstown State (8-4, 5-3)

 

In my estimation, here are the 13 at-large teams, in no particular order.

In: Charleston Southern, Chattanooga, Fordham, McNeese State, Montana, New Hampshire, Northern Arizona, Samford, South Dakota State, Tennessee State, Towson, Youngstown State.

 

Sample bracket:

Seeds: North Dakota State, Eastern Illinois, Maine, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, Towson, Southeastern Louisiana, Fordham.

North Dakota State Bracket
Coastal Carolina @ Chattanooga winner at No. 1 North Dakota State
New Hampshire @ Montana winner at No. 8 McNeese State

 

Eastern Washington Bracket
Charleston Southern @ Bethune-Cookman winner at No. 4 Eastern Washington

Furman @ Tennessee State winner at No. 5 Northern Arizona

Maine Bracket
Lafayette @ Youngstown State winner at No. 3 Maine
Sacred Heart @ Fordham winner at No. 6 Towson

Eastern Illinois Bracket
Butler @ South Dakota State winner at No. 2 Eastern Illinois
Samford @ Jacksonville State winner at No. 7 Southeastern Louisiana