NCAA Playoff Picture - Game 157 by miggyt4

NCAA Playoff Picture (as of 10/08 AM Cycle)

AL PLAYOFF PICTURE

CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTHS:
Fargo Bison (AL NORTH Division Winner)
Philadelphia Owls (AL EAST Division Winner)
Little Rock Razorbacks (AL SOUTH Division Winner)
Salem Beavers (AL WEST Division Winner)
Anaheim Trojans (1st Wild Card)

AL NORTH
Division Winner: Fargo Bison (3rd Division Title Overall)

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 Winner: Salem Beavers (2nd Division Title in a row; 3rd Division Title Overall)

AL WILD CARD
Wild Card 1 Winner: Anaheim Trojans

Wild Card 2 Leader: Portland Ducks
Magic Number: 3
In the hunt: Oakland Golden Bears (3 GB)

Analysis:

UPCOMING SERIES IN THE AL THAT WILL HELP DETERMINE PLAYOFF PICTURE:

10/8 AM 3-Game series between Salem and Oakland. Salem has clinched the AL WEST Division Title and has guaranteed themselves a bye in the 1st round of the playoffs. Oakland is 3 GB behind Portland for the 2nd Wild Card spot and needs to make up ground fast with only 5 games left in the season. Oakland won the first game of this series 4-3.

10/9 AM 3-Game series between Anaheim and Oakland. Anaheim has clinched the 1st Wild Card spot and will play as the #5 seed in the playoffs. Oakland may or may not be in the playoff picture at this point. They currently trail Portland by 3 games for the 2nd Wild Card spot with 5 to play.

10/9 AM 3-Game series between Fargo and Portland. Fargo has clinched the AL NORTH Division Title and is still in the hunt for the #2 seed in the playoffs so they still having something to play. Portland is trying to hold off a charging Oakland squad that hopes to still be in the playoff hunt for the last series of the season.

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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: 4
In the hunt: Dover Fightin Blue Hens (2 GB)

Analysis: It's coming down to the wire in the NL NORTH with Dover trailing Detroit by only 2 games.

NL EAST
Division Leader: Syracuse Orange
Magic Number: 1
In the hunt: Charlotte Tar Heels (5 GB)

Analysis: Charlotte has lost 3 in a row that has helped open Syracuse's lead in the NL EAST to 5 games. The magic number now sits at 1 and a Syracuse win or a Charlotte loss gives the Division Title to Syracuse.

NL SOUTH
Division Leader: Huntington Thundering Herd
Magic Number: 4
In the hunt: Texas Mustangs (2 GB)

Analysis: Huntington and Texas both just completed very important 4-game series where both teams managed to go 3-1. That kept the Huntington lead at 3 until this morning's game where Huntington lost to Austin and Texas defeated Memphis. Huntington's lead now sits at 2 games with 5 to play. Memphis has officially been eliminated from the NL SOUTH race after dropping 4 in a row.

NL WEST
Division Leader: Kansas City Wildcats
Magic Number: 5
In the hunt: Arizona Sun Devils (1 GB)

Analysis: Arizona momentarily caught Kansas City for the NL WEST lead however Arizona has dropped 2 in a row while Kansas City defeated Boise in this morning's game. That gave Kansas City a 1 game lead in the division.

NL WILD CARD
Wild Card 1 Leader/Winner: 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 2 Leader: Texas Mustangs
Magic Number: 4
In the hunt: Arizona Sun Devils (2 GB), Louisville Cardinals (2 GB), Buffalo Bills (3 GB), Memphis Tigers (4 GB)

Analysis: The race for the 2nd Wild Card spot didn't get any clearer. Memphis has almost been eliminated after dropping 4 in a row. Louisville continues to make a charge while going 8-2 in their last 10 and is currently riding a 4 game winning streak. Arizona momentarily caught Kansas City in the WEST but has fallen back 1 game since then. 5 teams still have a mathematical chance of winning the 2nd Wild Card.

UPCOMING SERIES IN THE NL THAT WILL HELP DETERMINE PLAYOFF PICTURE:

10/8 AM 3-Game series between Texas and Memphis. What seemed like a huge matchup now has less importance, however, if Memphis can win the remaining 2 games of the series, they cut their deficit in half with 3 to play.

10/8 AM 3-Game series between Louisville and Charlotte. Charlotte has lost 3 in a row while Louisville is on a 4 game winning streak. Louisville still has a chance of catching Texas for the 2nd Wild Card spot. Charlotte has pretty much been eliminated from the NL EAST race and will most likely be headed to the playoffs as the #5 seed.

10/8 AM 3-Game series between Syracuse and Buffalo. Syracuse has all but clinched the NL EAST crown and the #1 seed in the playoffs. Buffalo still has an outside chance at the 2nd Wild Card spot but is going to need a good showing against Syracuse and a little help as well. Syracuse won this morning's game 5-0.

10/9 AM 3-Game series between Louisville and Buffalo. Both of these teams still have a chance at winning the 2nd Wild Card spot. Both are also going to need a little help to get there. Or both of these teams may have already been eliminated from the race by time this series rolls around.