Talking about playoffs: a breakdown of the top eight shows who might make the NJCAA football semifinals

By Ben Short / Sports Editor

As the end of the college football season is quickly approaching, here’s the latest top eight in the NJCAA Division 1 football rankings, and my odds for them to reach the semifinals.

• No. 8 Coffeyville – +3000

I don’t see Coffeyville making the playoffs, being in the hardest conference in the NJCAA, it’s hard to win out. Even if the Red Ravens did, by beating Iowa Western and Garden City, the pollsters don’t like two-loss teams.

• No. 7 Jones, Mississippi – +2700

Coming off a loss, it’s gonna be tough to squeeze into the top four. But a win this week over Northwest Mississippi would help. If they win out and put up big numbers in the Mississippi playoffs they could have a shot.

• No. 6 Georgia Military – +4000

Georgia Military has one loss, and it was a slaughter fest when they played Snow College, which is currently ranked fifth. I don’t see them making the playoffs, even with wins over Division 3 No. 2 DuPage, Illinois and No. 11 Lackawanna, Pa.

• No. 5 Snow, Utah – +1700

Snow has two losses, but they were top-10 losses. If a two-loss team got in, it would be Snow. The Badgers still have Lackawanna and unranked Monroe, N.Y.

• No. 4 Trinity Valley, Texas +800

After a loss to Snow early on, the Cardinals seemed to turn around their season. If they win out I see them keeping their spot and advancing.

• No. 3 Northwest Mississippi +500

If undefeated Northwest can pull out a win against Jones, it’ll help their resume before playoffs. Even a win over Jones and a loss in the Mississippi championship game may not shove Northwest out of the top four.

• No. 2 Iowa Western +300

Iowa Western has a perfect record thus far, but the hardest part has yet to come, with Coffeyville and then Hutchinson on the schedule.

• No. 1 Hutchinson +150

Right now it looks like the Blue Dragons hold the keys. They control their own destiny. If they can beat Independence this Saturday, they’ll wrap up another undefeated conference season. Even a loss to Iowa Western likely does not keep the Blue Dragons out.

Views: 217