Small College Football Playoff Predictions & Bracketology: NCAA Division II

Editor's Note: This is the first installment of a three-part series leading up to the start of the playoffs at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. First up is NCAA Division II. In each installment, there'll be some predictions of each first-round game, followed by a brief analysis of each bracket. So, with further ado, on to the first post.

NOTE: For this week's regular "RFC Top Games" column, please click here, or scroll below.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

NCAA Division II Playoffs-First Round

Saturday, November 23

Interactive Bracket

Super Region #1

BYE: Slippery Rock (11-0)

Shepherd (9-2) at Indiana (Pa.)-(10-1)

Tiffin (9-1) at Kutztown (10-1)

West Chester (9-2) at Notre Dame (Ohio)-(10-1)

Quickie Analysis: Slippery Rock enters the playoffs as the favorite in Super Region 1 after rallying to down Kutztown to win the PSAC championship last week. However, any of the other six teams in this bracket are more than capable of pulling off an upset or two, with four one-loss teams in IUP, Kutztown, Notre Dame, and Tiffin. Don't be surprised if any of these aforementioned teams make a deep run to at least the national semifinals.

Super Region #2

BYE: Valdosta State (10-0)

West Florida (8-2) at Wingate (10-1)

Miles (9-2) at Lenoir-Rhyne (11-0)

Carson-Newman (8-2) at Bowie State (11-0)

Quickie Analysis: Defending national champion Valdosta State leads a loaded field of contenders in Super Region 2, with three other teams in Lenoir-Rhyne, Bowie State, and Wingate also finishing the regular season with double-digit win totals. But don't count out Carson-Newman, Miles, or West Florida, as any of those three teams could mount a serious challenge during this playoff run. Remember that UWF reached the national championship game two years ago (2017), losing to Texas A&M-Commerce. That was despite being just a second-year program at the time.

Super Region #3

BYE: Ferris State (10-0)

Indianapolis (9-1) at Central Missouri (10-1)

Lindenwood (8-3) at Ouachita Baptist (11-0)

Harding (10-1) at Northwest Missouri State (10-1)

Quickie Analysis: Ferris State looks to make a return trip to the national championship game this year after losing to Valdosta State in the title game last year. But in order to get back to McKinney, Texas for another chance at a national championship, the Bulldogs must get by multiple teams that finished the regular season with one loss or less, led by the only other unbeaten team in Super Region 3 in Ouachita Baptist. Don't overlook Lindenwood as a possible sleeper squad, as the Lions won the Great Lakes Valley Conference crown in their inaugural season in the league, finishing undefeated in GLVC play at 7-0.

Super Region #4

BYE: Minnesota State (11-0)

Augustana (S.D.)-(9-2) at Colorado State-Pueblo (10-1)

Texas A&M-Commerce (9-2) at Tarleton State (11-0)

Sioux Falls (8-3) at Colorado School of Mines (11-0)

Quickie Analysis: This year's "Bracket of Intrigue" in the NCAA Division II playoffs could very well be Super Region 4, as it includes two teams each from Colorado (Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State-Pueblo), South Dakota (Augustana and Sioux Falls), and Texas (Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Commerce), as well as one team from Minnesota in top-seed Minnesota State. Undefeated Tarleton takes on Texas A&M-Commerce in a re-match of a regular-season game played on October 19, with the Texans topping the Lions 35-21, while CSU-Pueblo plays host to Augustana in what could be one of the top games of the first round.  

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