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This regular season has been crazy and as it
comes to a close most of the Gulf South Conference has one foot out the door
ready to recruit. We thought we had parody in the GSC, what we had was a couple
of programs down, a few posers and one team dominant like we have never seen.
Valdosta State and Delta State went from two of the nation's best teams to
average GSC teams to finish the season unranked for the first time together
since?well the internet doesn't go back that far. Ouachita Baptist and West
Alabama spent the regular season looking like contenders to only turn out to be
pretenders. All of this left an opening for a new face to enter the playoff
picture along with North Alabama. Arkansas Tech has been more than solid all
season long, and to their credit have been the best football team nobody knows
about in Division II football for the last 3 seasons. They will make the
playoffs with a win this week and anybody who loves football, regardless of your
ties to schools has to appreciate someone breaking up the Big 3 and allowing
someone else into the playoffs.
Thursday 2:30 pm Henderson State at Ouachita
Baptist
"The Battle of the Ravine" this year
isn't what it could've been. It's always a great game as this year Henderson
State has to cross the street and head to A.U. Williams Field, but these two
teams had different plans. Henderson State has been through a lot this year;
they lost their number one quarterback, top rusher and defensive coordinator
during the season. Ouachita Baptist was nationally ranked for the first time in
school history following back to back upsets of Valdosta State and Delta State;
turns out they weren't what we thought they were. Both teams are 3-4 in GSC play
this year and had a chance to be in Arkansas Tech's shoes as a playoff team had
things not fallen off of their respective rails. Think there isn't a little more
pent up anger in this matchup than usual?
Expect a physical game especially at the line
of scrimmage. Both teams have mammoths on either side of the line and they can
move people around. HSU this season has lost too many key personnel people for
me to have confidence in them in this matchup. Talent wise OBU has too much in
it's arsenal to blow this one and while they lost some games that should have
been easy wins, they have gotten up for their biggest games of the year; and
this one's always their biggest.
Ouachita Baptist 28-13
Saturday 3 pm Arkansas Tech at Harding
Arkansas Tech is going to need a win to
guarantee a playoff spot and head into postseason play. Tech offensively is as
dangerous as it's going to get. We are fortunate enough in this game to have a
matchup of two future all Americans as ATU QB Nick Graziano is coming off
consecutive national player of the week honors and Harding safety Josh Jones is
near the top of most defensive categories. The problem for HU is that Jones is
their best defender and Graziano has been so precise this year, he should be
able avoiding having to throw near him.
Bisons' quarterback Zac Ross should be commended for the leadership role he has
taken with this team and the way he has carried them offensively with the two
top quarterbacks out. Unfortunately he probably doesn't have enough to hang with
The Wonderboys defense. ATU is a big play threat on offense and they need this
game more. I don't see them letting down the Russellville, Ark faithful with
this huge opportunity for the program.
Arkansas Tech 30-17
Saturday 3 pm Arkansas-Monticello at
Southern Arkansas
Southern Arkansas is a work in progress but
they have been able to play the upset special this season beating Ouachita
Baptist and West Alabama. The Muleriders defensive front will need help from a
young secondary this week with Scott Buisson ready to sling the ball around.
Arkansas-Monticello is the better overall team, more experienced, better skill
position players but something about SAU playing a team that's supposed to
overmatch them has me thinking they can pull the upset again.
If the Muleriders can get to Buisson and just
disrupt him and throw him off his rhythm it could be big trouble for UAM.
Buisson is the offense and I can see Cedric Thornton and Ryan Terry creating
enough pressure to force him to make some mistakes. I'll take the upset this
week.
Southern Arkansas 17-14
Saturday 5 pm West Georgia at Delta State
West Georgia has looked like a different team
the last two weeks. They beat West Alabama and hung with Valdosta State for most
of their game last Thursday. Delta State is coming off another loss and really
has nothing to play for, for the first time in forever. Could DSU just mail it
in and UWG get the win? Get real. You thought I was going there right? Lardester
Hicks-Green should be enough to eliminate that one dimensional offensive attack,
it's called give it to Yusuf Holloway.
Don't get me wrong, the Wolves have surprised
me. They have some players, they are just very young. If that had drawn anyone
outside of DSU (even in a down year still has a ton of talent), North Alabama,
Valdosta State or Arkansas Tech I'd say they have a shot this weekend. Brandon
Behenna shows glimpses of becoming a very good pocket passer and has a bunch of
receivers who are going to develop into decent players. The same goes for wide
receiver Malcolm Johnson, he is going to be a serious player. There I said more
good things about UWG in this final preview than I have the entire season.
However they'll still lose.
Delta State 38-17
Saturday 7 pm West Alabama at North Alabama
West Alabama will be the final yawn fest for
North Alabama. UNA is ready to play meaningful games; they haven't had to go all
out in weeks. UWA isn't bad but UNA is great and this won't take too much on
effort.
North Alabama 38-20
Saturday 2 pm Edward Waters at Valdosta
State
Valdosta State scheduled Edward Waters because
nobody wanted to face the Blazers this year; those teams don't know what they
were missing. However, even in a down year this game should be a breeze to
finish out the year. Kellen Lewis alone poses too many matchup problems and
Edward Waters doesn't have the passing game to exploit a weak Blazer secondary.
I see the VSU front 7 forcing a few fumbles in this game and Lewis finishing his
senior year with 400 yard performance.
Valdosta State 42-14
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