Rankings- 12-28-11

RPI

1) Davidson 35
2) College of Charleston 45
3) Elon 145
4) Western Carolina 180
5) Furman 199
6) Wofford 218
7) Appalachian State 265
8) Georgia Southern 304
9) UNC-Greensboro 305
10) Chattanooga 310
11) Samford 312
12) The Citadel 317

SoCon Rank: 24

Sagarin

1) College of Charleston 78
2) Davidson 80
3) Wofford 204
4) Furman 206
5) Western Carolina 215
6) Elon 221
7) Appalachian State 252
8) Georgia Southern 266
9) Chattanooga 279
10) Samford 291
11) UNC-Greensboro  329
12) The Citadel 330

SoCon Rank: 25

Pomeroy

1) Davidson 92
2) College of Charleson 109
3) Wofford 207
4) Furman 217
5) Western Carolina 222
6) Elon 223
7) Appalachian State 233
8) Chattanooga 248
9) Georgia Southern 273
10) Samford 289
11) UNC-Greensboro 292
12) The Citadel 312

ANALYSIS

All of the rankings still have a solid top six that are all the same, but the strangest occurrence in the last week to me is that Elon has fallen from the top three. The Phoenix are in the top three in the RPI, but are now falling behind in both Sagarin and Pomeroy, and are sixth in both. It may be time to reconsider my stance that they are clearly the third best team. Maybe they aren't.

The RPI is very fluid at the bottom of the rankings. Numbers 8 through 12 are separated by a total of 13 spots. So all sorts of crazy things could happen- at any moment! There's no telling. Appalachian State is starting to separate from the pack a little bit and are getting much closer to the top six. The Mountaineers may find their way that high as soon as this week if things break right for them.

There are still only two teams from the North in the top six. That means that Western Carolina and Elon are the clear favorites for the byes, while Appalachian State is inching closer to the competition. In the mean time, Samford, Chattanooga, and UNC-Greensboro appear to be prepared to fight it out for the bottom spot. Can any of these teams turn it around?