As of this morning, Rice and Marshall are tied for the crucial 8th place position in baseball, the last place that earns an invitation to the tournament in Biloxi...

While we're not too familiar with battling for 8th in baseball, we do know a little bit about going up against Marshall in tiebreakers.

Our doomsday weapon as always is the computer rankings. But let's walk through the scenario first.

Of course, head to head is the first tiebreaker. But we always skip one team in our CUSA rotation. This year, Marshall and Rice don't play.

The next tiebreaker is comparative records against common opponents, in top-to-bottom order of league standings.

Thing is, so far, Rice and Marshall have had the exact same record in all three completed series against common opponents. If ODU beats Marshall today (for the sweep) and Rice wins against UTSA to take the series 2-1, then we'd have the same record in all FIVE completed of our 8 scheduled common series.

If this trend continued to its logical completion for all 8 opponents, then we could be looking at the third tiebreaker to decide the final spot... (wait for it)... RPI!!! (Yay, computers!!)

And yes, last I checked that edge goes to Rice by about 20 spots!!! (Though in all seriousness with both teams' remaining schedules... if this scenario played out then the RPI gap would narrow significantly to put that tiebreaker up for grabs, too!!)

I know this won't go down to the wire since I'm certain Rice will get hot and stay hot to run the table right through to the NCAA's... but it's still a fun scenario to consider... I don't think Marshall fans would really enjoy it if it played out like that though...

RPI: 79-Rice 114-Marshall

I'm sure they'll pay a specifically sought-after expert to sort it out and tell them what they want to hear, err, what should happen.

Congrats, Rice!

Remaining 3 series for each. Included MT and UAB as both of them are 1 game each behind for 8th place going into today's games.

Marshall: WKU, @LT, Charlotte
Rice: @Charlotte, MT, @UAB
UAB: @ODU, @USM, Rice
MT: @UTSA, @Rice, LT

See 2013 football

(04-30-2017 10:05 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  As of this morning, Rice and Marshall are tied for the crucial 8th place position in baseball, the last place that earns an invitation to the tournament in Biloxi...

While we're not too familiar with battling for 8th in baseball, we do know a little bit about going up against Marshall in tiebreakers.

Our doomsday weapon as always is the computer rankings. But let's walk through the scenario first.

Of course, head to head is the first tiebreaker. But we always skip one team in our CUSA rotation. This year, Marshall and Rice don't play.

The next tiebreaker is comparative records against common opponents, in top-to-bottom order of league standings.

Thing is, so far, Rice and Marshall have had the exact same record in all three completed series against common opponents. If ODU beats Marshall today (for the sweep) and Rice wins against UTSA to take the series 2-1, then we'd have the same record in all FIVE completed of our 8 scheduled common series.

If this trend continued to its logical completion for all 8 opponents, then we could be looking at the third tiebreaker to decide the final spot... (wait for it)... RPI!!! (Yay, computers!!)

And yes, last I checked that edge goes to Rice by about 20 spots!!! (Though in all seriousness with both teams' remaining schedules... if this scenario played out then the RPI gap would narrow significantly to put that tiebreaker up for grabs, too!!)

I know this won't go down to the wire since I'm certain Rice will get hot and stay hot to run the table right through to the NCAA's... but it's still a fun scenario to consider... I don't think Marshall fans would really enjoy it if it played out like that though...

To be honest, the vast majority of us do not care at all about baseball, so yay if we win or do well. But won't miss a seconds sleep if we lose every game.

(04-30-2017 10:16 AM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  I'm sure they'll pay a specifically sought-after expert to sort it out and tell them what they want to hear, err, what should happen.

Congrats, Rice!

(04-30-2017 12:24 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  See 2013 football

I knew you guys would remember!

Marshall avoids the sweep AND the RPI tiebreaker by beating ODU 2-1... whew.... Doomsday II Averted!!

(04-30-2017 03:06 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Marshall avoids the sweep AND the RPI tiebreaker by beating ODU 2-1... whew.... Doomsday II Averted!!

It could still happen if say we win 2/3 vs Charlotte but Marshall loses 2/3, no?

(04-30-2017 03:10 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(04-30-2017 03:06 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Marshall avoids the sweep AND the RPI tiebreaker by beating ODU 2-1... whew.... Doomsday II Averted!!

It could still happen if say we win 2/3 vs Charlotte but Marshall loses 2/3, no?

Yes, but only if ODU & Charlotte tie in the standings.