The 2015 Schedules

Temple dropped baseball and there are no new D1 teams so there are 301 teams in the 2015 field. The average team has just under 22 D1 opponents who contribute an average of about seven unique opponent's opponents each. 235 teams (78%) will have half the field or better as either opponents or opponents' opponents and more than 90 percent of the teams will be as well-connected to 44 percent of the field.

2015 Milestones

13 FebOpening day
14 MarThe last team (UMass) has it's first game. Having just one opponent will connect the games graph.
27 MarCentral Connecticut State becomes the last team to play its 10th game. (Oklahoma's 10th is February 22nd.)
7 AprThe last home opener (North Dakota State.) Sadly, it's not against a D1 opponent. It will be 10 more days before the Bison get a D1 visitor, and that will be it's 16th conference game.
17 AprMore than 50 per cent of all team-pairs will either have played at least one game or have at least one common opponent. This is when computer ratings begin to become meaningful.
24 MayLast day of regular season
29 MayRegionals begin
5 JunSuper-Regionals begin
13 JunCWS Begins

Fun Facts

Schedule Topology

Hate all you want, but the RPI has apparently done its job. We would like even more inter-regional play, and teams from the West still have to spend too many non-conference scheduling opportunities on games against other teams from the West, but more than half are now against non-West teams. Even better, the road-home split for the West vs non-West opponents is 50.3 to 49.7 per cent. Note to RPI-haters - the cure for its "bias against the West" is proving to be better scheduling by western teams.

Inter-Regional Game Counts

27 Jan 2015
#AwayRegionNortheastMideastEastMidwestCentralWestAtlanticSouth
548Northeast⟫109⟪5126021301912245Northeast
640Mideast30⟫106⟪112128798510997Mideast
654East15979⟫154⟪184260168128East
335Midwest810616⟫37⟪34713961Midwest
288Central3243238⟫87⟪1744130Central
238West651237821⟫384⟪1940West
325Atlantic183411611337⟫189⟪106Atlantic
304South7354538713177⟫52⟪South
NortheastMideastEastMidwestCentralWestAtlanticSouth
#Home:145254466273272235514553
#Neut:861261385938556454
 Includes road and neutral site games
⟫ ⟪ non-conference games against teams from the same region. These are not included in the sums.

The interconference details are shown below. In both tables, the entries are sorted left to right and top to bottom by increasing percentage of home games.

27 Jan 2015

#AwayConfIvyMACMAACHorSummSWACAENEPatB10BigEIndWACWCCMEACMVCA10OVCMWSLCAACCAABigWSBCB12BigSCUSASoConASUNP12ACCSEC
146Ivy24   612166  11 24   9875 331415 46Ivy
272MAC27183 3 6366 287121726  7421010251113173116MAC
265MAAC71241 141613131416  27347 71520 4 61277 1611MAAC
110Hor 17 244  71 7  7193  1   545451113Hor
95Summ 41 8 2 78 13  14 1023 2 19 5 222 Summ
133SWAC    1    1   10426 406 1167 95 3220SWAC
149AE6384  13331010349511  3214 7 416  119AE
136NE4 14 2 105511123 10115 24310   1033342 NE
119Pat10211   683122  15 15 3 16   9 101 23Pat
259B10221844 2 116 811 81219149154420122067121415B10
149BigE17414176910 432313  3121 35345133175BigE
62Ind2 10   6116    4 6    7   7    3 Ind
151WAC   3103   84 11  4215811281163   2238WAC
154WCC         6  26 3  21 6 33 17    31 11WCC
130MEAC 32  95 6 2    73  56 7 2471213 118MEAC
143MVC 4238111 155 13 424 9 131319 735137MVC
205A10371211 127151112 13638  994321284223189A10
135OVC 2  46   31 24 284 27  651111663222OVC
91MW        655 61213 33  18 6  3 18 2MW
152SLC    313   51 12  9  28 13417 16 17419SLC
122AAC114131 3 83 163 3576654111319 1016AAC
134CAA 14 1 3534611 4 19  335111741046199CAA
130BigW     1   15  1634 3  1812 37 3  261 BigW
125SBC1   17   32   31425 2411212210661913SBC
119B12 2  4    14  31 82 46 11110263 2976B12
148BigS 1       32   15 104  918 235275 3311BigS
127CUSA 32  41  21   5338 1983 104521131218CUSA
116SoCon21   1   31   9 52  511 6 2531221414SoCon
109ASUN 1 1   3 48 7 61310 161 6 1686 813ASUN
106P12         2  721 1  96  22119342 36P12
127ACC1222212 184 1 1 92 1109136117146318ACC
96SEC 14  1   51    111 516169311375312SEC
IvyMACMAACHorSummSWACAENEPatB10BigEIndWACWCCMEACMVCA10OVCMWSLCAACCAABigWSBCB12BigSCUSASoConASUNP12ACCSEC
#Home:255067353347556258132974110310910011917613088151129142146158156198173170160163228264
#Neut:1747327211427143782460211313195067173114711339242014273634

Forthcoming Fun

I've published the teams' Presumed SOS based upon the teams' opponents' 2014 ISR values. Although the overall and non-conference SOS are ranked by average opponents' ISR values, I think it is more insightful to compare the opponents' average to the team's 2014 value. For instance, Air Force faces the 228th-toughest non-conference schedule, but the average non-conference opponent's ISR value is higher than Air Force's. Arguably, that's tougher for the Falcons than Stanford's "#1" SOS, since their opponsnts' average ISR was worse than Stanford's.

That's mostly just an observation that averages are not always telling. It is always better to look at value distributions as well As just a nod to that thought I included in that report a value labeled "MedR", which is the opponent's 2014 ISR rank that represents the 50th percentile. At least half of the team's overall/non-conference opponents are ranked that highly or better. Before the season starts I'll probably publish a rank-based list that explores alternative methods to illustrate SOS.

Meanwhile, here's a list of the non-conference series and single-game matchups that my computer says look really interesting.

2015 Rank-Based Interest for Interconference Series

Ranks are final 2014 ISR Rankings

Date#GmsSeries
13 Feb3#9 Indiana at #24 Stanford
3#45 West Virginia at #54 Clemson
3#44 Tennessee at #65 Florida International
3#41 Kansas at #10 Louisiana State
3#11 Oklahoma State at #31 Arizona State
4#5 Texas at #19 Rice
3#51 College of Charleston at #20 South Carolina
3#35 Nebraska at #38 Nevada-Las Vegas
15 Feb2#40 New Mexico vs #2 Oregon State (Surprise Tournament, Surprise, AZ)
19 Feb2#64 UC Riverside at #25 San Diego State
20 Feb4#22 UC Irvine at #47 California
3#34 Alabama at #14 Houston
3#6 Texas Christian at #31 Arizona State
3#23 Miami Florida at #18 Florida
3#62 UCLA at #49 North Carolina
3#42 Dallas Baptist at #37 San Diego
3#24 Stanford at #28 Cal State Fullerton
3#26 Kentucky at #30 UC Santa Barbara
21 Feb2#25 San Diego State at #64 UC Riverside
26 Feb4#47 California at #29 Arkansas
27 Feb3#3 Cal Poly at #6 Texas Christian
3#8 Mississippi at #52 Central Florida
3#44 Tennessee at #22 UC Irvine
3#37 San Diego at #5 Texas
3#46 Indiana State at #48 Georgia Tech
Date#GmsSeries
3#13 Oregon at #30 UC Santa Barbara
4#24 Stanford at #19 Rice
3#35 Nebraska at #57 Loyola Marymount
4#66 Bryant at #50 Liberty
3#1 Louisiana-Lafayette at #34 Alabama
3#9 Indiana at #51 College of Charleston
3 Mar2#38 Nevada-Las Vegas at #11 Oklahoma State
5 Mar4#5 Texas at #24 Stanford
6 Mar3#56 Illinois at #11 Oklahoma State
3#37 San Diego at #32 Mississippi State
3#57 Loyola Marymount at #29 Arkansas
3#17 Texas Tech at #28 Cal State Fullerton
3#27 Long Beach State at #31 Arizona State
3#63 Alabama-Birmingham at #60 Kennesaw State
3#16 Pepperdine at #15 Washington
10 Mar2#52 Central Florida at #12 Florida State
2#8 Mississippi at #21 Louisville
13 Mar3#17 Texas Tech at #25 San Diego State
3#28 Cal State Fullerton at #9 Indiana
2#58 Western Carolina at #50 Liberty (Liberty Invitational, Lynchburg, VA)
17 Mar2#46 Indiana State at #35 Nebraska
20 Mar3#43 Southern California at #3 Cal Poly
3#14 Houston at #40 New Mexico
24 Mar2#28 Cal State Fullerton at #35 Nebraska
27 Mar3#3 Cal Poly at #2 Oregon State
Date#GmsSeries
3#5 Texas at #35 Nebraska
7 Apr2#40 New Mexico at #41 Kansas
2#22 UC Irvine at #25 San Diego State
14 Apr2#35 Nebraska at #67 Creighton
17 Apr3#28 Cal State Fullerton at #39 Maryland
8 May3#27 Long Beach State at #9 Indiana
Single-game "series"
DateGame
13 Feb#50 Liberty at #60 Kennesaw State (Atlanta Challenge, Kennesaw, GA)
14 Feb#39 Maryland vs #55 Old Dominion (Caravelle Resort Tournament, Conway, SC)
15 Feb#28 Cal State Fullerton vs #21 Louisville (Clearwater Tournament, Clearwater, FL)
#50 Liberty at #48 Georgia Tech (Atlanta Challenge, Atlanta, GA)
17 Feb#72 Georgia at #60 Kennesaw State
#57 Loyola Marymount at #25 San Diego State
#43 Southern California at #28 Cal State Fullerton
#16 Pepperdine at #27 Long Beach State
18 Feb#60 Kennesaw State at #53 Mercer
19 Feb#41 Kansas vs #15 Washington (Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge, Mesa, AZ)
#26 Kentucky at #43 Southern California
#11 Oklahoma State vs #2 Oregon State (Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge, Surprise, AZ)
20 Feb#65 Florida International vs #48 Georgia Tech (Caravelle Resort Baseball at the Beach, Conway, SC)
#29 Arkansas vs #52 Central Florida (South Alabama Tournament, Mobile, AL)
21 Feb#39 Maryland vs #52 Central Florida (South Alabama Tournament, Mobile, AL)
22 Feb#65 Florida International vs #59 North Carolina State (Caravelle Resort Baseball at the Beach, Myrtle Beach, SC)
#11 Oklahoma State vs #15 Washington (Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge, Peoria, AZ)
#41 Kansas vs #2 Oregon State (Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge, Surprise, AZ)
#29 Arkansas vs #39 Maryland (South Alabama Tournament, Mobile, AL)
24 Feb#50 Liberty at #55 Old Dominion
#27 Long Beach State at #62 UCLA
#30 UC Santa Barbara at #16 Pepperdine
#37 San Diego at #25 San Diego State
#57 Loyola Marymount at #64 UC Riverside
25 Feb#60 Kennesaw State at #72 Georgia
DateGame
27 Feb#20 South Carolina at #54 Clemson
28 Feb#54 Clemson vs #20 South Carolina (Greenville, SC (Fluor Field))
1 Mar#54 Clemson at #20 South Carolina
#56 Illinois vs #45 West Virginia (Chanticleer Classic, Myrtle Beach, SC)
3 Mar#19 Rice at #6 Texas Christian
#42 Dallas Baptist at #36 Texas A&M
#16 Pepperdine at #28 Cal State Fullerton
#43 Southern California at #30 UC Santa Barbara
#25 San Diego State at #22 UC Irvine
#57 Loyola Marymount at #27 Long Beach State
#18 Florida at #52 Central Florida
#64 UC Riverside at #37 San Diego
4 Mar#8 Mississippi at #61 Southern Mississippi
#52 Central Florida at #18 Florida
6 Mar#14 Houston vs #10 Louisiana State (Houston College Classic, Houston, TX)
#35 Nebraska vs #36 Texas A&M (Houston College Classic, Houston, TX)
#6 Texas Christian at #43 Southern California (Dodgertown Classic, Los Angeles, CA)
7 Mar#4 Vanderbilt at #43 Southern California (Dodgertown Classic, Los Angeles, CA)
#14 Houston vs #36 Texas A&M (Houston College Classic, Houston, TX)
8 Mar#6 Texas Christian vs #4 Vanderbilt (Dodgertown Classic, Los Angeles, CA (Dodger Stadium))
#10 Louisiana State vs #35 Nebraska (Houston College Classic, Houston, TX)
10 Mar#62 UCLA at #16 Pepperdine
#14 Houston at #33 Sam Houston State
#28 Cal State Fullerton at #37 San Diego
#25 San Diego State at #27 Long Beach State
DateGame
#6 Texas Christian at #57 Loyola Marymount
#43 Southern California at #22 UC Irvine
#45 West Virginia at #50 Liberty
11 Mar#38 Nevada-Las Vegas at #31 Arizona State
#55 Old Dominion at #7 Virginia
17 Mar#72 Georgia at #53 Mercer
#19 Rice at #14 Houston
#48 Georgia Tech at #60 Kennesaw State
#25 San Diego State at #57 Loyola Marymount
#12 Florida State at #18 Florida
18 Mar#60 Kennesaw State at #58 Western Carolina
#40 New Mexico at #31 Arizona State
#42 Dallas Baptist at #69 Texas-Arlington
23 Mar#37 San Diego at #24 Stanford
24 Mar#21 Louisville at #9 Indiana
#40 New Mexico at #17 Texas Tech
#54 Clemson at #58 Western Carolina
#30 UC Santa Barbara at #57 Loyola Marymount
#62 UCLA at #25 San Diego State
#53 Mercer at #72 Georgia
#16 Pepperdine at #43 Southern California
#33 Sam Houston State at #19 Rice
#32 Mississippi State vs #61 Southern Mississippi (Pearl, MS)
25 Mar#45 West Virginia at #69 Texas-Arlington
#19 Rice at #33 Sam Houston State
DateGame
#7 Virginia at #50 Liberty
31 Mar#38 Nevada-Las Vegas at #27 Long Beach State
#3 Cal Poly at #16 Pepperdine
#58 Western Carolina at #60 Kennesaw State
#17 Texas Tech at #40 New Mexico
#1 Louisiana-Lafayette vs #10 Louisiana State (Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic, Metairie, LA)
#67 Creighton at #35 Nebraska
#55 Old Dominion at #50 Liberty
#18 Florida vs #12 Florida State (Jacksonville, FL)
#33 Sam Houston State at #36 Texas A&M
#9 Indiana at #26 Kentucky
#34 Alabama at #63 Alabama-Birmingham
#37 San Diego at #22 UC Irvine
6 Apr#27 Long Beach State at #25 San Diego State
7 Apr#44 Tennessee at #58 Western Carolina
#53 Mercer at #48 Georgia Tech
#72 Georgia at #54 Clemson
#14 Houston at #1 Louisiana-Lafayette
#42 Dallas Baptist at #6 Texas Christian
#8 Mississippi vs #61 Southern Mississippi (Pearl, MS)
#31 Arizona State at #38 Nevada-Las Vegas
#16 Pepperdine at #3 Cal Poly
#37 San Diego at #28 Cal State Fullerton
#30 UC Santa Barbara at #43 Southern California
#64 UC Riverside at #57 Loyola Marymount
DateGame
#45 West Virginia at #39 Maryland
#19 Rice at #36 Texas A&M
8 Apr#50 Liberty at #49 North Carolina
#26 Kentucky at #21 Louisville
14 Apr#14 Houston at #19 Rice
#33 Sam Houston State at #5 Texas
#28 Cal State Fullerton at #62 UCLA
#63 Alabama-Birmingham at #34 Alabama
#9 Indiana at #46 Indiana State
#39 Maryland at #50 Liberty
#43 Southern California at #16 Pepperdine
#18 Florida at #12 Florida State
#38 Nevada-Las Vegas at #57 Loyola Marymount
#27 Long Beach State at #37 San Diego
#58 Western Carolina at #54 Clemson
15 Apr#52 Central Florida at #23 Miami Florida
21 Apr#38 Nevada-Las Vegas at #64 UC Riverside
#16 Pepperdine at #30 UC Santa Barbara
#54 Clemson at #72 Georgia
#42 Dallas Baptist at #11 Oklahoma State
#22 UC Irvine at #62 UCLA
#60 Kennesaw State at #48 Georgia Tech
#27 Long Beach State at #57 Loyola Marymount
22 Apr#50 Liberty at #7 Virginia
28 Apr#64 UC Riverside at #38 Nevada-Las Vegas
DateGame
#57 Loyola Marymount at #30 UC Santa Barbara
#6 Texas Christian at #42 Dallas Baptist
#28 Cal State Fullerton at #43 Southern California
#61 Southern Mississippi at #34 Alabama
#33 Sam Houston State at #14 Houston
#22 UC Irvine at #37 San Diego
#21 Louisville at #26 Kentucky
#7 Virginia at #55 Old Dominion
#62 UCLA at #27 Long Beach State
29 Apr#46 Indiana State at #9 Indiana
5 May#69 Texas-Arlington at #42 Dallas Baptist
#25 San Diego State at #37 San Diego
#16 Pepperdine at #62 UCLA
#27 Long Beach State at #38 Nevada-Las Vegas
#22 UC Irvine at #43 Southern California
6 May#51 College of Charleston at #54 Clemson
#48 Georgia Tech at #53 Mercer
12 May#36 Texas A&M at #33 Sam Houston State
#57 Loyola Marymount at #22 UC Irvine
#11 Oklahoma State at #42 Dallas Baptist
#50 Liberty at #39 Maryland
#4 Vanderbilt at #21 Louisville
#14 Houston vs #19 Rice (Sugar Land, TX)
#53 Mercer at #34 Alabama
#62 UCLA at #28 Cal State Fullerton
DateGame
#37 San Diego at #27 Long Beach State
#31 Arizona State at #40 New Mexico
13 May#37 San Diego at #64 UC Riverside
19 May#62 UCLA at #22 UC Irvine

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SEBaseball.com

Paul Kislanko