If Akeem Satterfield and Slippery Rock lose Saturday, they will have three loses and most likely won't make the playoffs./Photo by Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News

This is the deal.

The winner of Saturday’s PSAC title game between Slippery Rock (8-2) and Kutztown (9-1) will likely make the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The loser? Uh oh.

In the past three years since the PSAC reinstated the championship game, the winner and loser has made it to the playoffs, but the odds of the loser getting in this time aren’t high.

Now both coaches – Slippery Rock’s George Mihalik and Kutztown’s Raymond Monica – are both griping about the loser not getting in.

Focus should solely be on winning, but I see their point and so does the PSAC.

Commissioner Steve Murray said he’ll look into the game if the loser doesn’t make the playoffs, but doesn’t plan on making a knee jerk reaction and cancel the game.

Still, looks like Murray better find some magnifying glasses.

Kutztown, here sacking Mercyhurst College senior quarterback Travis Rearick, needs a win Saturday to improve its playoff chances./Photo by Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News

Six teams from each of the four regions make the playoffs and the PSAC has gotten four teams in the last two years.

The chances of that happening this year are slim.

New Haven, out of the Northeast-10, is 9-0 in region play (9-1 overall) and atop the Super Region One ranking.

Winston Salem State (10-0) and Elizabeth City State (8-2) are riding high in the CIAA and West Virginia Wesleyan, out of the WVIAC, is 9-1.

Second and third respectively in the region, Winston Salem and Elizabeth City will meet in the CIAA title game Saturday. If Winston Salem wins, that will likely knock Elizabeth City out.

If Elizabeth City wins, that won’t help the PSAC, which has three teams in the region’s top six in 8-2 California (Pa.), 9-1 Kutztown and 8-2 Bloomsburg.

Slippery Rock is ninth.

As for West Virginia Wesleyan, it’s seventh and closes out the season Saturday at Concord. The winner will win the WVIAC and if Concord pulls off the upset, that will help the PSAC.

If not, uh oh (again) for the PSAC.

Just can’t see the PSAC getting four teams regardless of how it all unfolds.