See what's at stake.
March 24, 2017 by Charlie Eisenhood in News with 3 comments
With two weekends left in the 2017 college regular season, a final flurry of bid battles are set to decide the final allocation of Nationals bids. USA Ultimate’s latest rankings update (released yesterday) gives us a snapshot of where things stand and which teams will have a chance to shake things up at Northwest Challenge, Easterns, and Huck Finn.
Take a look at the current top 20 in each Division and see the projected bid allocation based on these rankings.
D-I Men’s
Projected Bid Allocation
Atlantic Coast: 3
Great Lakes: 1
Metro East: 1
New England: 1
North Central: 3
Northwest: 4
Ohio Valley: 1
South Central: 3 (+1)
Southeast: 1 (-1)
Southwest: 2
Notes
- If BYU does ultimately earn a bid but opts out of participating in the Series, the Northwest will drop to three bids and (as it stands now) the Southeast will rise to two bids as BYU’s bid falls to Central Florida.
- Northwest Challenge, Easterns, and Huck Finn will clearly decide some bids at the bottom end of the top 20.
- #36 UConn is currently in possession of the Metro East’s auto bid, shutting the bid window at #19.
- UMass has nothing to worry about after losing their QCTU results due to playing with an ineligible player: they are back in the top five and also sit in a New England region that is unlikely to claim more than one bid.
- Potential trouble brewing for a deep Southeast region, currently sitting with one bid.
D-I Women’s
Projected Bid Allocation
Atlantic Coast: 3 (+1)
Great Lakes: 1
Metro East: 1
New England: 2
North Central: 1 (-1)
Northwest: 3 (+1)
Ohio Valley: 2 (+1)
South Central: 2 (-2)
Southeast: 1
Southwest: 4
Notes
- Could surprise team Liberty end up claiming a third bid for the Atlantic Coast?
- Bubble team Michigan will be on the hunt for a second bid for the Great Lakes this weekend at the Northwest Challenge.
- The Northwest is in danger of a two bid year if Whitman doesn’t play well at NWC.
D-III Men’s
Projected Bid Allocation
Atlantic Coast: 3 (-1)
Great Lakes: 1
Metro East: 1
New England: 3 (+2)
North Central: 1 (-1)
Northwest: 1
Ohio Valley: 1
South Central: 3
Southeast: 1
Southwest: 1
Notes
- The South Central has all but locked up three bids — and deservedly so given the region’s strong play.
- New England is also sitting pretty with three bids after Dartmouth opted to compete in Division III this season.
- Bad times for the North Central as they drop to a single bid.
- Can High Point hang on to the Atlantic Coast’s third bid? They’re last in right now before auto bids.
D-III Women’s
Projected Bid Allocation
Atlantic Coast: 1
Great Lakes: 1
Metro East: 1
New England: 4
North Central: 2
Northwest: 2
Ohio Valley: 2 (+1)
South Central: 1 (-1)
Southeast: 1
Southwest: 1
Notes
- Ouch! Despite having four teams in the top 16, the South Central currently sits with just one bid, as auto bids take away John Brown, Missouri S&T, and Rice’s shot at a bid.
- The North Central would also love to nab another bid with four teams in the top 20 but just two bids.
- How about that New England region? Four bids for the #1, #2, #3, and #4 ranked teams.
