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| Rahshan La Mons got off to a slow start for Susquehanna because of injury but has had 20 or more carries in each of his last three games. Susquehanna photo by Alex Geibel |
The postseason is here, and Quick Hits is going into playoff mode. That means the extra questions and creative detours take a seat on the bench. For the next three rounds, it’s simple: pick the winners, pick the scores, and let the games speak for themselves.
Eight first-round matchups await, each with its own stakes, styles, and potential for November drama. Are we headed for comfortable favorites, bracket-busting surprises, or something in between? Our panel's prediction help set some expectations for what you might see on Saturday.
As was the case last season, every first-round game will stream live on ESPN+, so be prepared for that.
Our playoff panel rolls in with the regular crew- Greg Thomas, Pat Coleman, Logan Hansen, Riley Zayas, Carlo Guadagnino, and Kobe Manzo- plus the return of UW-Eau Claire alum Mike Shoultz from the Voices in the Stands podcast and Around The Nation founder and longtime D-III sage Keith McMillan.
— Greg Thomas
Mount Union bracket
Union at Muhlenberg
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| Greg's take: | 17 | 31 |
| Patrick's take: | 27 | 22 |
| Keith's take: | 26 | 28 |
| Logan's take: | 21 | 31 |
| Riley's take: | 17 | 23 |
| Carlo's take | 25 | 35 |
| Kobe's take: | 21 | 28 |
| Mike's take: | 23 | 30 |
Consensus: It's not unanimous, but the Muhlenberg is the favorite in a close game.
LaGrange at Framingham State
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| Greg's take: | 34 | 27 |
| Patrick's take: | 38 | 10 |
| Keith's take: | 37 | 20 |
| Logan's take: | 42 | 10 |
| Riley's take: | 31 | 13 |
| Carlo's take | 26 | 7 |
| Kobe's take: | 35 | 17 |
| Mike's take: | 48 | 10 |
Consensus: Unanimous for LaGrange and mostly by multiple scores.
North Central bracket
Grove City at Hanover
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| Greg's take: | 14 | 17 |
| Patrick's take: | 20 | 28 |
| Keith's take: | 26 | 19 |
| Logan's take: | 20 | 24 |
| Riley's take: | 27 | 10 |
| Carlo's take | 21 | 14 |
| Kobe's take: | 27 | 21 |
| Mike's take: | 24 | 27 |
Consensus: It's a split panel! Expect a ccompetitive game between evenly matched squads.
Coe at Concordia(Wis.)
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| Greg's take: | 41 | 35 |
| Patrick's take: | 28 | 14 |
| Keith's take: | 41 | 14 |
| Logan's take: | 34 | 14 |
| Riley's take: | 17 | 13 |
| Carlo's take | 38 | 24 |
| Kobe's take: | 38 | 10 |
| Mike's take: | 42 | 17 |
Consensus: A second unanimous and comfortable pick for a first round road team.
Wartburg bracket
Crown at Wheaton
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| Greg's take: | 12 | 55 |
| Patrick's take: | 6 | 52 |
| Keith's take: | 7 | 56 |
| Logan's take: | 0 | 56 |
| Riley's take: | 6 | 42 |
| Carlo's take | 14 | 51 |
| Kobe's take: | 7 | 45 |
| Mike's take: | 6 | 63 |
Consensus: The Thunder shall roll into the second round.
Chapman at Whitworth
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| Greg's take: | 28 | 29 |
| Patrick's take: | 28 | 24 |
| Keith's take: | 24 | 27 (OT) |
| Logan's take: | 21 | 24 |
| Riley's take: | 23 | 21 |
| Carlo's take | 28 | 35 |
| Kobe's take: | 17 | 24 |
| Mike's take: | 26 | 27 |
Consensus: Whitworth is our panel's favorite in a split decision, but we're unanimous in seeing a one-score game.
Christopher Newport bracket
Washington & Jefferson at Susquehanna
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| Greg's take: | 33 | 31 |
| Patrick's take: | 31 | 30 |
| Keith's take: | 24 | 35 |
| Logan's take: | 31 | 30 |
| Riley's take: | 27 | 33 |
| Carlo's take | 49 | 42 |
| Kobe's take: | 24 | 35 |
| Mike's take: | 31 | 34 |
Consensus: Another even split across the panel in a game that shapes up to be a shootout.
Cortland at Springfield
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| Greg's take: | 17 | 15 |
| Patrick's take: | 31 | 18 |
| Keith's take: | 31 | 24 |
| Logan's take: | 28 | 17 |
| Riley's take: | 24 | 28 |
| Carlo's take | 28 | 14 |
| Kobe's take: | 14 | 21 |
| Mike's take: | 26 | 10 |
Consensus: In a majority decision, the panel sees Cortland returning the favor to the Pride for last year's playoff ouster.
Got picks? Put them in the comments! Include your scores!