FCS Bracketology - Pt. 1

Last season's FCS Bracketology done by The Sports Network was a hit, because it was an attempt at predicting the finish line, not what the bracket would be if the playoffs began today.  Today was Craig Haley's first projection of the season. What follows is the link and analysis of Delaware's current projection.

Click Here for the FCS Bracket Projection - TSN.
(My apologies for not having an image, but it turns out that this link will update as the season continues, and not stay static.  Look for an image of the bracket in future articles.)

Delaware is currently slotted in 7th.  Technically the bracket only ranks the top-5 teams, but if the Hens were to win their first matchup, currently with New Hampshire (the 10-seed), they would have to travel to the 2-seed, which essentially makes them the #7.

This current format would send them out to #2 Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals and then if they continued their run back to Frisco, they would return back east to play at #3 William & Mary (this is assuming the top seeds win out up to their matchups with Delaware).  One last CAA team yet to be mentioned here is James Madison (6-seed) who would travel to #5 Jacksonville State in the first round.

It's really hard to complain about a bracket projection before the first week of the season, but I'm honestly shocked that the Hens aren't in the top-5.  Looking at their schedule, they play only one team in this current bracket (W&M) during the regular season.  JMU & UNH were the skipped games this year and that should benefit the Hens.  So with an easier than normal CAA Schedule, and what looks to be a piece of cake non-conference slate (West Chester & Delaware State [Not counting Navy since a loss does not affect rankings]), you would think that Delaware would get a better seeding.  Or could this come back to hurt the Hens come playoff time when a two-loss season (Navy + one CAA loss) might not look as good as a team who played a tougher schedule?

So where would you slot the Hens?  Remember, this is a pre-season projection so try not to get TOO bent out of shape.