2021 NCAA DII Football Championship: Series, Schedule, Teams

The 2021 DII Football Championships will start across the country at 1pm ET on Saturday, November 20th. Before the first round begins, an attempt is made to predict the complete series. Click or tap here to see the full video of my forecasts.

If you’ve been following through this, you know full well that it’s a ridiculous idea. After all, we just had a season when all but one of the top 25 teams lost the game – most of the losses were upset. After seeing 18 teams rise to the league with perfect records in the previous two tournaments, only Ferris State has the honor this season.

This goes without saying, so let me say it. First of all, this square bracket is made for fun. Yes, I do honest research into my choices, and I think that’s how things may well go. However, in the same sense, it is an almost impossible task. Why? If you’re among the last 28 teams in a season that has been literally unparalleled, you’re a challenger. The end of the story. As Chuck Bitner of D2football.com pointed out, this is the first time in championship history that all 16 conferences are represented in the industry. If I didn’t choose your school to progress, it’s not a small part of your program.

Let’s see how wrong I am on December 18th. Tap or click here to see the full fork.

NCAA DII Football Predictions: Select each playoff game through the championship

All 27 matches of the DII Football Championship, predicted

Super area one

Wayne Cavadi | NCAA.com

Team to win: Shepherd
Team to follow: Slippery stone
Fastener specification: I am now responding here against recent trends. The last three first places in this series have all advanced to the national semi-finals. That doesn’t mean Kutztown wouldn’t be able to survive the semifinals, I just think this is the year Shepherd survives.

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This means Shepherd is clearly advancing from Findlay, but other first-round games are full of intrigue. Notre Dame (OH) and Slippery Rock are the last two Super Region One teams to advance to the semifinals. The last time these two faced in the exciting semi-finals of 2019 in an exciting 65-59 penalty shootout in favor of Slippery Rock. Slippery Rock overtook Calin (PA) to qualify for the 2021 tournament, and while we know their attack is among the best in the DII, The Rock has serious injuries to beat.

Bentley vs. New Haven is the latest match of the match that turned out to be the NE10 championship match. When I watch DII football, winning a team twice – especially in three weeks – has been a difficult task. I have already opposed one historical trend in this section. I don’t do it twice. Bentley’s biggest conference attack overtakes New Haven’s best NE10 defense.

Super area two

Wayne Cavadi | NCAA.com

Team to win: West Florida
Team to follow: Albany (GA)
Fastener specification: West Florida did program history again. When Argos won their first regular season in Valdosta State, they achieved their first ever Gulf South Conference championship and are now hosting their first home game in the playoffs. West Florida played on a tight schedule in their strange championship defense and answered the call in season 9-1. Argot are still the best challengers in my book.

WEEK 11 SUMMARY: West Florida Wins Valdosta Staten DII Regular Series Last Weekend

You have to keep an eye on Albany State (GA). Golden Rams play highly motivated football after the tragic death of Adonis Butler. They haven’t allowed points since then – and they already had the best score and overall defense in DII. Now, SIAC’s competition is not the same as the enemy of the Gulf South Conference, but I believe the Golden Rams have a victory.

Lenoir-Rhyne is on fire at the right time. The Bears advance to the playoffs with a six-match winning streak, where they make an average of 47.5 points per game. Unfortunately, they have to fight Bowie State. I’ve had a Bowie State higher than most of my Power 10 lists all season. Maybe I’ve blinded serious playmakers in defense, but I don’t see them losing this game.

We hope, of course, that we are on a collision course in West Florida against Valdosta State Part II. That would be one of the best games in the tournament.

Superarea three

Wayne Cavadi | NCAA.com

Team to win: State of Ferris
Team to follow: All of them
Fastener specification: This may be the most loaded superarea in parentheses. Ferris State will participate in the 2021 DII Football Tournament as the only unbeaten team on the field. I can’t say enough how impressive the achievement is in this crazy return to football. This is the perfect team from their depth to top-notch coaching staff, and I don’t choose Bulldog.

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That is contrary to the trend I mentioned earlier, if you notice. I look forward to Grand Valley State creeping past Lindenwood, but this may be the hardest game to pick in the entire first round. If you look at the selection committee’s views, these teams are separated by fractions in categories such as wins against 0.500 teams, performance indicator and weighted OWP-OOWP. I just think the Lakers are on duty this season and want to get into that Anchor-Bone match.

Harding and Northwest Missouri State have a favorable match and are a very good second round game if both should advance. You have Harding’s best offensive attack in the DII series against Northwest Missouri State’s rigid offensive defense – also the best in the country. After all, I think Al McKeller is giving the Bearcats a little extra power, and this turns out to be a heavy series slugfest that ends in low-scoring cases.

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Superarea four

Wayne Cavadi | NCAA.com

Team to win: Bemidji State
Team to follow: Nebraska-Kearney
Fastener specification: As I mentioned in the DII football selection program, this is a strange year for the Super Region Four. Normal heavyweight series – such as Minnesota State, Texas A & M-Commerce and Colorado State-Pueblo – did not survive. That’s why I think this could be a Wild West penalty kick where a surprise team like Bemidji State creeps through.

TOURNEY FAQ: An essential guide to the DII Football Championship

Yes, you read that right. The offseason isn’t always the best team, but the hottest team and Bemidji State are a bit of both. Sometimes Beavers play as if they have the best attack in the NSIC, and it’s definitely hot right now. Bemidji State has won seven in a row and includes a win over Minnesota Duluth and the Northern State team that fought in the playoffs themselves. Beavers lost big to Augustana (SD) last time, so revenge is on his mind. The Colorado School of Mines is very experienced in the playoffs but has not won a second round game in recent years. That’s why Beavers are my shocked specialties.

Of course, Augustana (SD), led by Kyle Saddler as a quarterback, is a phenomenal team and could break my series on the first day of the tournament. If so, I think the Vikings will be challengers in the semifinals.

Angelo State would be a fantastic story. The Rams have one of the best defenses in the country, but they are much better against running than against passing. Therefore, I believe they may have problems if they encounter Augustana (SD) or Bemidji Staten, two very passive crimes. And of course, let’s not forget Western Colorado and Nebraska-Kearney. This is just a funny story. Mountaineers will play in the playoffs for the first time since most of their current roster was born, while TJ Davis – recently named the offensive player of the year for MIAA – is one of the best in DII football when the game is on the line. That’s why I have Lopers a real sleeper in this part of the area.

Semifinals: Shepherd, West Florida, Ferris State, Bemidj State
Championship game: West Florida vs. Ferris State
National champions: West Florida