Rating the Group of 5 Groups Combating for the Last Faculty Soccer Playoff Spot

There’s a very actual universe through which the ACC misses the playoffs, and two non-power-conference groups sneak in. In most years, I’d like to dwell in that world, however I don’t suppose there are two groups that may compete within the playoffs this 12 months.

For this train, we’re going to assume that Virginia takes care of enterprise, and the Group of 5 is enjoying for the twelfth seed. Three groups are combating for one spot, so I’m going to rank these groups by who I feel is the very best guess to make the playoffs. UNLV technically isn’t eradicated but, however I’d be shocked in the event that they have been capable of soar over JMU or both crew combating out of the AAC.

With these tips out of the best way, let’s get into the rankings.

JMU +130

Of the three Group of 5 groups with an actual shot at making the playoffs, JMU has the bottom odds to make it. Nonetheless, I feel they’re the very best guess as a result of they’re 23.5-point favorites of their convention championship.

North Texas and Tulane are enjoying an elimination recreation towards one another, and if neither of them impresses — and JMU can blow out Troy — that may make a superb case for the ultimate playoff spot.

Exterior of a straightforward convention championship, the Dukes have a really stable résumé. Their solely loss is to an excellent Louisville crew, with whom they have been tied going into the 4th quarter. They beat six bowl-eligible groups, they usually have the very best power of file of the three groups. Hopefully, the committee ignores their weak power of schedule on this state of affairs.

North Texas -135

There’s nothing that individuals love extra in faculty soccer than an amazing story, and North Texas has simply that.

If you happen to haven’t heard by now, Drew Mestemaker by no means performed a varsity snap as a quarterback in highschool, walked on at North Texas, and is now the FBS chief in passing yards. It’s a narrative Disney wouldn’t even attempt to write as a result of it sounds so ridiculous.

North Texas has by far the very best offense within the Group of 5. I desire when a Group of 5 crew leans on their offense as a substitute of their protection, as that performs higher towards stiffer competitors.

The one purpose I don’t have them as my primary crew is that their odds aren’t nice, they usually obtained blown out in certainly one of their two conference-play challenges towards USF. Additionally, North Texas’s power of schedule will go up after they play Tulane, however for all this speak of JMU enjoying such a straightforward schedule, North Texas really has a decrease power of schedule as of now.

I simply don’t see how they’re presently the favourite.

Tulane +115

I’ve Tulane in third as a result of they’ve two losses. On the finish of the day, the committee is made up of people, and having two losses on their schedule makes issues an uphill battle. Nonetheless, Tulane is the one crew right here to schedule difficult out-of-conference video games and win them.

They beat Duke, who would possibly win a convention championship, and Northwestern, who’s enjoying in a bowl recreation. Nonetheless, the losses are tough. Ole Miss utterly outclassed them, and UTSA ran them out of the Alamodome.

We’re nonetheless ready to see if the committee respects high quality wins or amount of losses extra — that’s why I’m unwilling to guess on them to make the dance.