There's been some big weekends of MIAA football this year, and the final two weeks promise to add to that mix, but this week...not so much.

Last year, there was a marquee matchup each and every week of the season. This year, for the third time, we're stuck with the good versus the bad and a non-con stuck in the middle. I get it. These games can get interesting, but my cupcake theory from a few weeks ago didn't exactly pan out, so I'm not hopeful for very much.

One reason for fewer marquee games this year is the absence of Nebraksa-Omaha. When the doofuses that run that school decided to move to Division I and drop their football program, it took a good team out of the conference (one that was replaced by Lincoln).

So instead of Pitt State taking on UNO in what probably make for an interesting game at this juncture, we have Hays at Washburn and Central at Lincoln among the 'big' games on the docket. Yay.

Oh, you can't forget about the MIAA TV game of the week. We've got 2-6 Truman at 3-5 Emporia. Is your popcorn ready?

Alright, forgive my saltiness. I just long for a good matchup to look forward to, but I'll have to wait until next week to get one.

Let's start the predictions in Emporia, because like I learned last week when I saw Millersville ruin East Stroudsburg's homecoming, when cellar dwellers collide, fun things can happen.

Truman State (2-6, 1-6) at Emporia State (3-5, 2-5)
Saturday, Oct. 29; 2 p.m.
Welch Stadium; Emporia, KS
MIAA TV

These teams like to play each other tough. The last five have been decided by an average of 6 points a game.

The big difference this year is the quarterback play, specifically in Emporia. Tyler Eckenrode has proven himself a worthy starting quarterback in the MIAA.

The Hornets, 2-3 in those last five games against Truman, have averaged just over 100 yards a contest. Eckenrode is good for a lot more than that this year.

I think Eckenrode has a big game and Emporia takes this one pretty easy.

Prediction: Emporia State 37 Truman State 20

#4 Northwest Missouri (7-1, 6-1) at Misouri Southern (3-4, 2-4)
Saturday, Oct. 29; 2 p.m.
Fred G. Hughes Stadium; Joplin, MO

It must be nice to have two of the best quarterbacks in the conference. This game, like they all are from here on out, is huge for Northwest. Sitting at No. 3 in the region, the Bearcats need to maintain their positioning in order to secure a first-round home game.

A bye isn't out of the question either, but it's hard to say what might happen if Midwestern State loses a game down the stretch and if Northwest would leapfrog them. Unless Pitt loses their final two games, we're not going to see Northwest as the SR4 top seed.

For Southern, a win here would be... well, a miracle. There's no reason the Bearcats shouldn't end this by sometime early in the second quarter.

Prediction: Northwest Missouri 46 Missouri Southern 17

Fort Hays (3-5, 2-4) at #15 Washburn (7-1, 6-1)
Saturday, Oct. 29; 1 p.m.
Yager Stadium; Topeka, KS

I like that Hays handled Central Oklahoma, and fairly easily. But don't get your hopes up Tiger fans. Washburn may have fell apart in the fourth quarter last week at Northwest, but that's the kind of thing the Bearcats do to you.

Washburn sits at 4th in the region and is in line to host a playoff game. But the 'Bods end the season at Pittsburg and hosting Central Missouri, so they're a long way from locked into anything.

An upset loss here for Washburn would drop them to the playoff bubble before it even gets tough. It's a scary thought, but one that won't come to fruition.

Sure, Hays is only seven points away from being 5-3, but they haven't played very good against any of the MIAA's elite, and it ain't gonna start here.

Prediction: Washburn 37 Fort Hays 17

#23 Central Missouri (5-3, 4-3) at Lincoln (1-7, 0-7)
Saturday, Oct. 29; 2 p.m.
Dwight T. Reed Stadium; Jefferson City, MO

Somebody tell me why Central is still ranked? I didn't like it the last few weeks, and I REALLY don't like it now. Their losses are good ones, if there is such a thing. There's no shame in losing to Western, Northwest and Pitt State.

But while this team has advantages, they have no business being in the Top 25 right now.

Regardless of their standings in the national polls, they stand 10th in the SR4 rankings. They already need a bucketload of help to get into the playoffs, and a loss here would... I'm not even going to go there.

Lincoln lost by less than 35 last week, an improvement over all but one of their previous conference games, but Central is going to light this team up like, well most of the rest of the MIAA has.

Prediction: Central Missouri 75 Lincoln 20

Missouri Western (6-2, 5-2) at Southwest Baptist (6-2, IND)
Saturday, Oct. 29; 2 p.m.
Plaster Stadium; Bolivar, MO

As nice as Southwest Baptist's 6-1 start was, and it even included a win over future MIAA cohort Fort Hays, Missouri Southern officially welcomed SBU to the jungle last weekend, and it's not going to get any easier.

With consecutive three-TD passing performances under his belt, Griffon quarterback Travis Partridge looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

Western sits at seventh in the regional rankings. If they get past Baptist, their matchup next week against Northwest will help decide a lot about where the Griffs go in the postseason.

As for this week, SBU could pose some problems, but if Partridge continues to improve, this game shouldn't be an issue.

Prediction: Missouri Western 41 Southwest Baptist 14

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