Root for (gulp) K.e.n.t?

[MDZip]

The Zips are definitely alive for a top four seed. It's not still possible to grab the number one, since either Toledo or CMU will finish with at least 12 wins. The fact that the Zips lost to lower division teams much more than the upper division teams oddly works in their favor.

The first thing that must happen is the Zips must win their final two. If they don't, there are still some outside scenarios that could still give them seed #4 but they are pretty remote (like requiring both Buffalo and Can't to lose their final two games).

Top four seed contenders remaining games:

East:

Zips: @Miami, @Can't

BGSU: Can't, @Buffalo

Buffalo: Ohio, BGSU

Can't: @BGSU, Akron

West:

Toledo: @CMU, @EMU

CMU: Toledo, @WMU

WMU: @NIU, CMU

Buffalo looks to be in the best shape since both of their games are at home with the easiest draw

So as it looks right now, here are the best scenarios for the Zips.

Games tonight.

Toledo is the Zips kryptonite and are the only top team to hold an advantage on the Zips, so probably best for them to beat Central and bring Central back to the pack as they could also lose the Western and the Zips hold the tiebreaker with them.

The Zips pretty much need to beat Can't in the finale so yep root for them against Bowling Green (I threw up a little in my mouth there).

It'd be great if Ohio upset the Bulls too but I don't think there is much chance of that happening.

Those are the important games tonight and if the Zips can beat Can't it sets up some really interesting final scenarios.

If the Zips tie with only these teams, here is how the tiebreakers would go:

1. Tie only with CMU, Can't State, BGSU or WMU: Zips win all of these.

2. Tie only with Buffalo: Zips win it, with a 1-1 record against Buffalo, but the Zips are 1-2 against Toledo and CMU while Buffalo is 0-3 and at least one of those team will have 12 wins (if BGSU factors in the Zips already have two wins there)

3. Tie only with Toledo (not even sure that is possible): Zips lose

If the Zips tie with these two teams, here is how the tiebreakers would go:

Can't and Buffalo: Can't eliminated (0-4 vs. UB and UA), goes to tiebreaker 2

Can't and BGSU: Zips win 4-0 vs these two

BGSU and Buffalo: Zips 3-1 and BGSU at best 1-3 even if they beat Buffalo (buffalo at worst 2-2), Zips win again

CMU and Buffalo: Zips 2-1, CMU 2-1, Buffalo 1-3, Buffalo eliminated, Zips win head to head against CMU

CMU and BGSU: Zips 3-0, BGSU 1-2, CMU 0-2, Zips win

CMU and Can't State: Zips 3-0, Can't State 1-2, CMU 0-2, Zips win

Toledo and almost anybody: We're screwed

Three way ties:

Can't State, Buffalo, BGSU: UA 5-1, Buffalo (5-1, best they can be), BGSU (3-3, best they can be), Can't State (1-5, best they can be), Zips win

Can't State, Buffalo, CMU: UA 4-1, CMU 2-1, Buffalo 3-3, Zips win

Buffalo, CMU, BGSU: UA 4-1, CMU 2-2, Buffalo 3-3 (best case), BGSU 2-3 (best case), Zips win

Can't State, BGSU, CMU: UA 5-0, case closed, Zips win

Toledo and anybody: Zips are screwed

So if the Zips can manage to at least get into a tie with any teams for the fourth (or better) seeding position, they win an awful lot of tiebreakers.

Just win baby.

[Sportsjunkie330]

All that being said....I will NEVER root for Can't, ever.

[Dave in Green]

You don't have to root for Can't. Just root for what's best for the Zips.

[skip-zip]

As someone else who would never root for Ken+, I guess I can make an exception when I KNOW that a Ken+ win benefits us.