NCAA Playoff Picture - Game 153 by miggyt4

as of Game 153 or 10/6 PM1 cycle

AL PLAYOFF PICTURE

CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTHS:
Philadelphia Owls (AL EAST Division Winner)
Little Rock Razorbacks (AL SOUTH Division Winner)
Salem Beavers (Lead AL WEST, mathematically clinched playoff berth)
Anaheim Trojans (2nd AL WEST, mathematically clinched playoff berth)

AL NORTH
Division Leader: Fargo Bison
Magic Number: 3
In the hunt: Portland Ducks (8 GB)

Analysis: Fargo cut their magic number in half by keeping pace with Portland over the last 3 games with both teams going 2-1.

AL EAST
Division Winner: Philadelphia Owls (3rd Division Title in a row; 3rd Division Title Overall)

AL SOUTH
Divison Winner: Little Rock Razorbacks (1st Division Title Overall)

AL WEST
Division Leder: Salem Beavers
Magic Number: 5
In the hunt: Anaheim Trojans (6 GB)

Analysis: Salem's magic number now sits at 5 as both Salem and Anaheim go 1-2 in their last 3 games.

AL WILD CARD
Wild Card Leader 1: Anaheim Trojans
Magic Number: Anaheim has clinched a playoff berth. Anaheim is still in the running for the AL West Division title.

Wild Card Leader 2: Portland Ducks
Magic Number: 8
In the hunt: Oakland Golden Bears (3 GB), New York Red Storm (7 GB), Jackson Rebels (10 GB)

Analysis: Oakland is gaining ground on Portland winning 5 in a row. However Portland has gone 4-1 over that same time period. If Oakland stays hot, Portland is going to need to continue winning to hold onto the 2nd Wild Card spot. Portland starts a 4 games series with AL South Winner Little Rock in the PM2 cycle. Little Rock is still playing for the #2 seed in the playoffs so don't expect them to rest their starters to get ready for the playoffs.

UPCOMING SERIES IN THE AL THAT WILL HELP DETERMINE PLAYOFF PICTURE:
10/6 PM2 4-Game series between Little Rock and Portland. Portland is trying to nail down the 2nd wild card spot while Little Rock, while already clinching a playoff berth, is trying to overtake Philadelphia and Fargo for the #2 seed which gives you a bye in the playoffs.

10/6 PM2 4-Game series between Anaheim and Fargo. Anaheim is trying to catch Salem in the West while Fargo is on the verge of clinching the East while also playing for the #2 seed.

10/8 AM 3-Game series between Salem and Oakland. While Salem has already clinched a berth and appears to be headed towards the #1 seed in the AL, Oakland is still in the hunt for the 2nd wild card position.

10/9 AM 3-Game series between Anaheim and Oakland. By this point in the season Salem will have probably clinched the AL WEST title and the #1 seed. Anaheim will have guaranteed the #5 seed in the playoffs while Oakland will trying to capture the 2nd wild card spot.

10/9 AM 3-Game series between Fargo and Portland. It looks like Fargo will have clinched the East by time this series rolls around but Portland may still be playing for the 2nd wild card spot. Also, Fargo will still be trying to capture the #2 seed in the playoffs.

EASIEST ROAD TO THE PLAYOFFS:
Salem Beavers (vs opponents with 216-240 record while leading the West by 6 games)

TOUGHEST ROAD TO THE PLAYOFFS:
Oakland Golden Bears (vs opponents with 265-191 record while trailing Portland for the 2nd wild card spot by 3 games)


NL PLAYOFF PICTURE

CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTHS:
Syracuse Orange (Lead NL EAST, mathematically clinched playoff berth)
Charlotte Tar Heels (2nd NL EAST, mathematically clinched playoff berth)

NL NORTH
Division Leader: Detroit Wolverines
Magic Number: 10
In the hunt: Dover Fightin Blue Hens (1 GB)

Analysis: Detroit's magic number shrank, but Dover is nipping on the heels now only 1 game back after going 2-1 the last 3 to Detroit's 1-2 record.

NL EAST
Division Leader: Syracuse Orange
Magic Number: 9
In the hunt: Charlotte Tar Heels (2 GB)

Analysis: Charlotte has won 5 in a row and has closed the gap to just 2 games behind division leading Syracuse. Syracuse has gone 1-2 over the last 3 games.

NL SOUTH
Division Leader: Huntington Thundering Herd
Magic Number: 8
In the hunt: Texas Mustangs (3 GB), Memphis Tigers (4 GB)

Analysis: Huntington has gained some ground on both teams. Huntington has held onto the 3 game lead over Texas and gained a little ground on Memphis over the last 3 games. Huntington and Texas have both gone 2-1 while Memphis went 1-2.

NL WEST
Division Leader: Kansas City Wildcats
Magic Number: 9
In the hunt: Arizona Sun Devils (2 GB)

Analysis: Kansas City is currently in a 5 game slide that allowed Arizona to make up 2 games over the last 3 games played by going 2-1.

NL WILD CARD
Wild Card Leader 1: Charlotte Tar Heels
Magic Number: Charlotte has clinched a playoff berth. Charlotte is still in the running for the NL East Divsion title.

Wild Card Leader 2: Texas Mustangs
Magic Number: 10
In the hunt: Memphis Tigers (1 GB), Buffalo Bills (1 GB), Arizona Sun Devils (1 GB), Louisville Cardinals (2 GB)

Analysis: The race for the 2nd Wild Card spot could not be any closer with 5 teams all within 2 games of each other battling for 1 position. Arizona and Louisville are making charges with Arizona going 8-2 and Louisville going 9-1 over the last 10 games. Many of the teams in the wild card race are also in divisional races including Texas, Memphis and Arizona. This should be the best race of all races still up for grabs.

UPCOMING SERIES IN THE NL THAT WILL HELP DETERMINE PLAYOFF PICTURE:
10/6 PM2 4-Game series between Charlotte and Huntington. Charlotte has clinched a playoff berth but only sits 2 games behind Syracuse in the East while Huntington is trying to clinch the South with only a 3 game lead over Texas.

10/6 PM2 4-Game series between Dover and Texas. Dover is currently trailing Detroit by 1 game in the East and with a crowded wild card race, Dover's best chance of getting into the playoffs is by winning the East. Texas is currently 3 games behind Huntington in the South but more importantly currently leading the 2nd wild card spot with 4 teams all within 2 games of them. They cannot afford to lose any ground on Huntington or allow the wild card chasers catch them.

10/6 PM2 4-Games series between Detroit and Buffalo. Detroit currently has a 1 game lead over Dover in the East and as mentioned above, Detroit's best chance of reaching the playoffs is by winning the East. Buffalo is currently 1 game behind Texas for the 2nd wild card spot.

10/6 PM2 4-Game series between Kansas City and Syracuse. Syracuse is trying to fend off Charlotte who is currently 2 games back in the East while Kansas City is trying to snap a 5 game skid and fend off a charging Arizona team.

10/8 AM 3-Game series between Texas and Memphis. This is a huge series that could determine the 2nd wild card spot. Both teams are still chasing Huntington in the South and both have a shot of catching the Thundering Herd. This is a HUGE series in the wild card race.

10/8 AM 3-Game series between Louisville and Charlotte. Louisville currently sits 2 games behind Texas for the 2nd wild card spot while Charlotte is trying to catch Syracuse in the East who is currently 2 games ahead of the Tar Heels.

10/8 AM 3-Game series between Syracuse and Buffalo. Syracuse is trying to hold onto the East lead while Buffalo is trying to clinch the 2nd wild card spot.

10/9 AM 3-Game series between Charlotte and Syracuse. This series could decide the winner of the East along with who will get the #1 seed and the ever important bye and who will be playing in the 1st round as the #5 seed.

10/9 AM 3-Game series between Louisville and Buffalo. These two teams are both battling for the 2nd wild card spot and this series could possibly determine who clinches the spot. Both teams have a very tough road ahead though (see below).

EASIEST ROAD TO THE PLAYOFFS:
Arizona Sund Devils (vs opponents with 195-261 record while trailing Kansas City by 2 games in the West)

TOUGHEST ROAD TO THE PLAYOFFS:
Buffalo Bulls (vs opponents with 242-214 record while trailing Texas by 1 game for the 2nd wild card spot), Louisville Cardinals (vs opponents with 243-213 record while trailing Texas by 2 games for the 2nd wild card spot)