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D2Football.com Columnists Gulf South Conference

Gulf South Conference

November 3rd, 2009

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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