BREAKING DOWN THE BRACKETS
Now that the playoff brackets have been revealed, it's time to analyze each of them for the NCAA Division II, D-III, and NAIA levels. First up will be the D-II playoff bracket.
Northwest:
1. Grand Valley State (10-0)
2. Nebraska-Omaha (8-2)
3. North Dakota (9-1) vs. 6. Winona State (9-2)
4. Northwood (8-2) vs. 5. South Dakota (8-3)
Analysis: GVSU remains the team the beat for a national championship until, of course, another squad can prove otherwise. The biggest surprise here is the North Central Conference getting three teams (UNO, UND, and USD) into the playoff field, especially the Coyotes, who had been snubbed from postseason play, despite decent won-loss records the last two years, before the third time finally proved to be the charm this year.
Southeast:
1. North Carolina Central (11-0)
2. North Alabama (10-0)
3. Newberry (10-1) vs. 6. Albany State (7-3)
4. Elizabeth City State (9-2) vs. 5. Delta State (9-2)
Analysis: The fact that NCCU and UNA are not only undefeated, but also have the top two seeds in this bracket comes as no surprise. But there were a lot of surprises in this year's field, as Newberry makes its first-ever postseason trip, while DSU and ECSU have advanced to this year's Big Dance after lengthy absences. The Statesmen advanced to the D-II playoffs for the first time since winning the national championship in 2000, while the Vikings will play their first postseason contest since 1981.
Northeast:
1. Shepherd (10-0)
2. Bloomsburg (10-1)
3. Bryant (8-2) vs. 6. West Chester (8-3)
4. Merrimack (7-3) vs. 5. Southern Connecticut (7-3)
Analysis: Again no surprises here, as both Shepherd and Bloomsburg again have the top two seeds in this bracket. But it also has three of the five teams with three losses in Merrimack, Southern Connecticut, and West Chester, which should least make for an interesting first round this weekend.
Southwest:
1. Northwest Missouri State (11-0)
2. Chadron State (11-0)
3. West Texas A&M (10-1) vs. 6. Abilene Christian (8-2)
4. Midwestern State (9-2) vs. 5. Missouri Western State (9-2)
Analysis: This probably has to be the toughest of the four brackets in the NCAA Division II playoffs, as all six teams have two or fewer losses coming into this weekend's first round action. The Bearcats of Northwest Missouri are the obvious favorites to come out of this bracket, although a fine-feathered flock of football players from western Nebraska might have something to say about that.
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