So who is in the FCS Playoffs if the season ended today? Who is on the bubble, and who could fix the mess and get in next month? We take a look at the bubble teams and give you a feel for what they need to do to stick, or to elevate themselves.
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Right now it feels like there are two dozen teams in the mix for about 10 or so not-so-rock-solid spots.
THE PLAYOFF SEEDS: Here's how HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin and co-hort Sam Herder feels about the first eight seeds
IN SOLIDLY (AS OF NOW): Illinois State, Southern Utah, Samford, Wofford, Sam Houston State, Villanova, Elon, Western Carolina
NOTE: We don't consider automatic bids (Big South, NEC, Patriot, Pioneer) in any of the picks below, yet, as we see them as one-bid leagues as of this week.
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IN BY A HAIR …
WEBER STATE (5-2) 
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: Two weeks ago I had the Wildcats in, then they lost to Southern Utah, now they're looking a bit better. Two big weeks lie ahead that will help sort out this crazy Big Sky Conference picture. Weber State hosts Montana and travels to Eastern Washington. If Weber State wants to stay in this spot, the next two weeks are everything.[divider]
STONY BROOK (5-2)
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: The SeaWolves have done rather well this year. They looked decent against FBS power South Florida, and the lone FCS loss is to Delaware by four. There is no Villanova or James Madison or Elon on the schedule, either. The next four weeks are all winnable, but the two toughest games (Richmond and Maine) are on the road. If the SeaWolves win out? They may be hosting a first-round game. If they only win two, they'll be hanging by a thread on whether they get in for the first time since 2012.[divider]
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (5-2)
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: At this point, the Jackrabbits' signature win is either its blowout over likely NEC champion Duquesne in week one or its blowout win over what has turned out to be a decent Southern Illinois team. The next four weeks are as brutal as anybody's remaining schedule in the country, what can we say? Two wins in the next four guarantees a playoff spot and probably a first-round home game. One win? Means a fringe chance of getting in as a 6-5 depending on what other teams around the country have done.[divider]
EASTERN WASHINGTON (5-3)
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: The losses to Texas Tech and North Dakota State the first two weeks don't hurt as much as the one to Southern Utah this past weekend, but the Eagles are still in pretty good shape and look like they have a decent path to finishing 8-3. The Eags have the week off to recoup for the most critical game left on their schedule — Nov. 4 at home against Weber State.[divider]
OUT, BUT ON THE BUBBLE …
MONTANA (5-2)
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: The Griz have won five, but don't have a signature win. That could change this week, or next — or better yet for the Griz, both weekends at Weber State and with Northern Arizona at home. Knock those two out and win the last two winnables vs. Northern Colorado and Montana State and we're talking about a potential seed. We'll see.[divider]
NORTHERN IOWA (4-3)
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: One could argue that the team that has played the best the past two weeks has been Northern Iowa, not North Dakota State. To make things easier — as we've seen in the Valley week in and week out — they meet in Fargo this Saturday to settle that question. The Panthers need one win in the next two weeks, then close with wins against the bottom two teams in the Valley — and they're in.[divider]
AUSTIN PEAY (5-3)
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: The Governors have everything in front of them. Once they get past this weekend's bonus game at UCF — which won't count toward the FCS playoffs — the Govs have a chance to finish 8-1 in the FCS, and that easily gets them in. The big one will be against Eastern Illinois in the final game of the season. If APSU pulls this off, it'll be the greatest program feat in 40 years.[divider]
MCNEESE (6-1)
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: The problem right now for the Cowboys is they don't yet have that signature win, and time is starting to run out. They lost in week one to Nicholls, and that two-point loss in August really hurts right now. Basically, if McNeese doesn't knock off Central Arkansas on the road this weekend, they're going to have to obliterate the three teams afterwards to earn a bid, and/or they're going to have to pray that other FCS conferences weaken in the last month to get three Southland teams in (UCA, Sam Houston State and ???).[divider]
NEW HAMPSHIRE (5-2)
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: The Wildcats definitely have a path to getting into the playoffs, but their best win right now is the FBS win over Georgia Southern, who just fired its coach. The road game at James Madison this weekend isn't going to happen, so UNH will need to go on the road and knock off William & Mary and Albany, and beat Elon at home the final three games to get in. I'm not sure 7-4 gets UNH in because of its head-scratching loss to Holy Cross and Stony Brook putting it away last week. It may be a repeat of what Albany went through last year at 7-4 — only to be home for the playoffs.[divider]
FURMAN (5-2)
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: Furman is really, really interesting. It has won five in a row and has road trips remaining to SoCon leaders Western Carolina and Samford, with a home game vs. The Citadel. Win these three games and you may be atop of the SoCon and even nab a seed. Win only one of them? And you're out. That's how big the final three games are. Furman is one of those rare bubble teams that completely controls its own destiny.[divider]
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (4-3)
THE STRAIGHT DOPE: The Salukis have a massive signature win with their blowout of Illinois State (Valley fans, please take two Tylenol and call the doctor in the morning if this league gives you headaches trying to figure out). SIU played Memphis tough and has a close loss to Northern Iowa and a blowout to SDSU on the resume. The Salukis have three brutal games ahead out of the next four, so it's looking tough — but hey, ask Illinois State about this team. The Nov. 11 game at home with Youngstown State could determine which of the two moves to the postseason.[divider]
