CSNbbs

The Big Three of the MAC (it terms of conference standings; no disrespect intended to the other teams) are Akron, Kent, and Miami, and they have two games left amongst themselves: Miami @ Kent Saturday and Kent @ Akron the following Saturday.

Let's assume that in both cases, the home team holds serve and none of the big 3 loses any other games. That would mean Kent and Akron would be tied for the MAC East and had split with each other. Who would win the tiebreaker and the #1 seed?

Or, let's assume that Miami picks off Kent this weekend, Akron does so as well the following weekend, and again, no one loses to anyone else. Now Miami and Akron are tied and split their season series. Who wins THAT tiebreaker?

I also see that MaddDawgz has figured it out and posted the seeding scenario in the present state, but I wonder if/how they would change in the scenarios described above.

More to the point, I am wondering, As an Akron fan, am I going to need Kent or Miami to lose a game they shouldn't to have a shot at the #1 seed? Who should I be rooting for in the Kent/Miami game this weekend?

Note: I did see the MAC tiebreaker on the MAC-sports website:

2. Winning percentage vs. ranked conference teams (top to bottom, regardless of division; vs. common opponents, regardless of the number of times played)

That's kind of obtusely put. "Ranked" conference teams? Surely they don't mean ranked in the top 25? Is this just a long-winded way of saying, "Better winning % against all common conference opponents?"

I believe Akron loses the tie-breaker to Kent in that scenario based on its loss to Ohio (the highest rated team that one of the two lost to). However, I believe Akron would win the tie-breaker vs. Miami in that scenario based on it's win vs. WMU (assuming WMU wins the West...otherwise it would go to record vs. Ohio, also won by Miami).

As of today, Kent State is the only team that controls its destiny.

First, we can win outright with upcoming games against the two other top teams. We still have the chance to sweep both Akron and Miami.

Second, say we win home games against Ohio and Miami and lose to Akron for a tie ( assuming the Zips don't drop anymore games.) We lose the last game to Akron. We win the tie breaker with the Zips due to the Miami and Ohio sweeps.

Third, if we sweep one or the other- Miami or Ohio- and lose to the Zips- the Flashes are in pretty good shape in a tie breaker with the Zips, as the best they can do is split with both. Even if the Zips win Saturday, we win a tie breaker if we beat Miami and lose to the Zips.

All that assumes the Flashes lose to the Zips or the Zips don't lose any more games, which I don't.

I won't even go to the Miami scenario. My head hurts.

From a Miami perspective, a tie with Akron would be broken in this order:

1) Record vs Kent-- obviously if we lose to Kent we'll need Akron to lose to them also. If we beat Kent, Akron would need to beat them also in order to stay in the tiebreaker

2) Record vs West champ: If WMU wins the west, Akron wins the tiebreaker. If NIU wins the west, we move onto the next tiebreaker

3) Record vs the 5 seed: If WMU gets the 5 seed, Akron wins the tiebreaker. If Ohio gets the 5 seed, Miami wins the tiebreaker.

A summary of Miami's situation:

- We've clinched a bye to Cleveland

- If we win out, we'd at least be the 3 seed (and would at least get a share of the East championship)-- we'd get the 1 seed if both of the following happen:
1) Kent loses to someone in addition to Miami (Ohio, at Akron)
2) Akron loses one more game (Ohio, at Buffalo, Kent) OR NIU wins the West and Ohio gets the 5 seed

- If we lose only at Kent, we get the 3 seed if either Akron loses 2 more games (Ohio, at Buffalo, Kent) OR Akron loses to Kent and NIU wins the West with Ohio getting the 5 seed.