Florida, S. Carolina to meet for SEC title

We’re down to the wire. Here’s a look at where we stand in the women’s conference races across the country.

Atlantic 10
Top contenders: Dayton (7-1-0); Charlotte (6-1-0)
Outlook: Dayton let the field back in the running with a rare 2-1 loss to St. Bonaventure last week – their first A-10 regular season defeat in 22 matches. With a win against Xavier Friday, the Flyers will earn at least a share of the regular season title. Charlotte can match them with season-ending wins against Saint Joseph’s(w) and Temple.

Atlantic Coast
Top contenders: Florida State (6-1-1), North Carolina (6-2-0), Virginia (5-2-1), Maryland (5-2-1)
Outlook: You’d need a mathematical equation to get a grasp on all the potential outcomes here. Florida State has the slim inside track, but with remaining contests against Maryland and Boston College, nothing is guaranteed. There are no easy wins in the ACC, so any of the aforementioned teams have a great shot to lay claim to the title.

Big South
Top contenders: Winthrop (6-1-1), Charleston Southern (5-2-1), Radford (5-2-1), Coastal Carolina (5-1-0), High Point (5-2-1)
Outlook: What a mess. Winthrop has clinched at least a share of the conference, and for the sake of confusion it'd be nice if they won their last match against Coastal Carolina and wrapped this thing up.

Big Ten
Top contenders: Ohio State (7-1-0), Wisconsin (6-1-2)
Outlook: Ohio State has remaining tests against Indiana and Michigan State, and a win would rap things up. Wisconsin needs to win its final match vs. Northwestern to put the pressure on the Buckeyes.

Conference USA
Top contenders: UCF (7-1-2), Memphis (6-1-3)
Outlook: Today and Friday are the final two days of the regular season. UCF can make things simple with a season-ending win against Southern Mississippi, but if they falter Memphis’ matchup with UAB will loom large.  

South Carolina's Mollie Patton

Ivy League
Top contenders: Penn (3-1-1), Columbia (3-1-1)
Outlook: Who will blink first? Penn has remaining games against Lehigh (last night) and Princeton while Columbia closes out with Yale and Harvard. If both teams win out they’ll take joint ownership of the title.

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Top contenders: Marist (6-1-0), Canisius (5-2-0)
Outlook: Marist controls its own destiny with remaining games against Iona College and Fairfield. Lose one of those two, and Canisius is right in the picture.

Missouri Valley Conference
Top contenders: Creighton (4-1-0), Illinois State (3-1-1), Missouri State (3-1-1)
Outlook: With a win over Illinois State, the title is Creighton's. A loss gives SIU-Edwardsville a share of the pie.

Northeast Conference
Top contenders: Long Island University (7-0-1), St. Francis (PA) (6-2-0)
Outlook: Long Island University and St. Francis (PA) meet for a huge match Friday that will either earn the Blackbirds the conference crown or keep the Red Flash in the hunt.

Pac-10
Top contenders: Stanford (6-0-0), Oregon State (4-0-0)
Outlook: Oregon State still has plenty of work to do with four conference matches remaining, but one in particular could determine how this plays out: Stanford vs. Oregon State on Nov. 5.

SEC Eastern
Top contenders: Florida (8-1-1), South Carolina (8-1-1)
Outlook: As simple as it gets: Florida and South Carolina play for the crown Friday.

West Coast Conference
Top contenders: Portland (5-0-0), Santa Clara (4-1-0)
Outlook: Portland took out Santa Clara on Sunday, so barring a pair of losses the Pilots are home free.

Western Athletic Conference
Top contenders: Boise State (4-1-1), San Jose State (4-1-1)
Outlook: See Boise State vs. San Jose State on Sunday.

ALREADY CLINCHED
Big East: Marquette
Big 12: Texas A&M(w)
Big West: UC Irvine
CAA: Hofstra
Horizon League: Butler
Mid American: Toledo
Mountain West: New Mexico
Ohio Valley: Morehead State
Southern: UNC Greensboro
Sun Belt: Denver