Small College Football Playoff Predictions & Bracketology: NCAA Division III

Editor's Note: This is the second 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. Next up is NCAA Division III. In each installment, there'll be some predictions of each first-round game, followed by a brief analysis of each bracket. Now, on to the second post.

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

NOTE: For the NCAA Division II first-round preview & predictions column, please click here, or scroll below.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

NCAA Division III Playoffs-First Round

Saturday, November 17

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket (Courtesy of d3football.com)

Upper Right Bracket

SUNY-Maritime (5-5) at Salisbury (9-0)

Case Western Reserve (9-1) at Union (N.Y.)-(10-0)

MIT (7-2) at Muhlenberg (10-0)

Brockport (8-2) at Western New England (9-1)

Quickie Analysis: The "East Coast" portion of the D-III bracket features two undefeated teams in Salisbury and Union (N.Y.), two 9-1 teams in Case Western Reserve and Western New England, an eight-win team in Brockport, a seven-win squad in MIT, and even a team that advanced to postseason play despite breaking even at .500 in SUNY-Maritime. In other words, this might be the most diverse bracket among this year's playoff field.

Lower Right Bracket

Hanover (9-1) at Mount Union (10-0)

Wabash (7-3) at North Central (9-1)

Framingham State (8-2) at Wesley (9-1)

Delaware Valley (9-1) at Bridgewater (Va.)-(10-0)

Quickie Analysis: Six of the eight teams in this bracket have either the regular season with only one loss, or undefeated going into this year's first-round action. It's a shame that there will be two contests pitting 9-1 vs. 10-0 teams in Hanover and Mount Union and Delaware Valley and Bridgewater respectively. Don't be surprised if there's a battle between two East Coast teams (Delaware Valley vs. Wesley) as well as a clash between the Great Lakes and Midwest (Mount Union vs. North Central) in the second round on November 30.

Lower Left Bracket

Aurora (9-1) at St. John's (9-1)

Linfield (8-1) at Chapman (9-0)

Wisconsin-Oshkosh (8-2) at Central (9-1)

Martin Luther (9-1) at Wheaton (10-0)

Quickie Analysis: Perennial powerhouse teams such as Central, Linfield, St. John's and Wisconsin-Oshkosh, among others, lead a loaded lower-left bracket at the D-III playoffs, with a Wheaton team that enters this year's dance at 10-0, followed by Chapman team from California that comes in at 9-0. Perhaps the best match-up out of the four first-round games in this bracket might be between Central and Oshkosh in a battle of teams that pulled off upsets over previously undefeated teams in Wartburg and Wisconsin-Oshkosh, respectively, just to advance to the playoffs.

Upper Left Bracket

Wartburg (9-1) at Hope (9-1)

Monmouth (Ill.)-(7-2) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (9-1)

Huntingdon (7-3) at Berry (9-1)

Redlands (9-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (10-0)

Quickie Analysis: Defending national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor looks to add yet another national championship to their trophy case after knocking off Mount Union for the title in 2018. However, there are more than enough challengers looking to take down the Crusaders for that championship, with multiple nine-win squads such as Berry, Mary Hardin-Baylor, Wartburg, and Wisconsin-Whitewater looking to mount a serious challenge. Still, don't be surprised if UMHB and Whitewater find themselves clashing with each other in the quarterfinals. 

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.