I normally don't lede my blog with a prediction, but I just wanted to throw it out there. I don't have any intention of heading to Wichita Falls next week, yet I intend on going to a SR4 playoff game.

For that to happen, Northwest Missouri will have to beat top-seed Midwestern State, the 10-0 team that on paper, looks about unbeatable.

I'm not going to waste any time. That WILL happen. I'll tell you why I think that way a bit later, but first, let's talk about where I'll be going to see the Bearcats play.

Washburn (10-2) at Pitt State (9-1)
Saturday, Nov. 26; 1 p.m. CDT
Carnie Smith Stadium; Pittsburg, KS
Ticket Information: Here
Free Live Video: Here

Whoever wins the Washburn Pitt game would host Northwest Missouri, assuming - as I am - that the Bearcats win. You might remember three weeks ago, when Washburn came into Pittsburg, completely shut down their offense, manhandled their defense and made them look silly on special teams. The Ichabods came out with a 43-25 victory in a game that could have been a lot closer, but at the same time could have been a lot more lopsided.

Can that happen again?

There's some obvious similarities between the games. Washburn is coming off a game where they avenged a loss the week before with a big offensive output and Pitt returns from a bye after a dominating victory.

But frankly, I don't see what happened three weeks ago in the Jungle happening again. Pitt was downright sloppy. If that does happen, I'll go personally find Tim Beck's MIAA Coach of the Year award and give it to 'Bod head man Craig Schurig. But like I said, it won't happen. Beck is too good a coach to let his team fall flat again.

The bye week worries me, sure, but I think this time teh Gorillas come ready to play. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though. That doesn't mean I'm calling a Pitt State victory. Not yet at least.

For Beck and company to get revenge, a number of things have to happen.

First, quarterback Zack Dickey needs to step it up. And as much as I preached how Pitt needs a passing attack to be successful, I'm not talking - exclusively - about the air game.

You see, before the Washburn game, Dickey had gone for at least 90 rushing yards and/or two touchdowns in every game this season, but against the Ichabods, he only accumulated 59 yards on 13 carries and was kept out of the red zone. Dickey's rushing inabilities weren't unique to him though. Pitt rushed for just 132 yards that game, nearly 140 yards under their season average.

A lot of that goes to the play of the Washburn defensive line and lack of play for the Pitt offensive line, but any way you put it, the Gorillas will need more output from Dickey.

Second, John Brown is going to need to keep up his mind-blowing play over the last two games (eight touchdowns). When Pitt sputtered against Washburn, Brown was there to make some plays. When Pitt was clicking offensively against Southern, it was Brown who scored five touchdowns. Perhaps even more than Dickey, this team needs John Brown and they need a lot of him. It doesn't hurt that he can return kicks and punts too.

Third, Pitt has to get to Dane Simoneau. The Gorillas sacked the Harlon Hill finalist on the second play of the drive, and it took a few possessions before he really found his stride, but then he was pretty much lights out the rest of the way. Pitt never got a second sack and Simoneau ending up scorching the Gorillas for 290 yards, actually a rather pedestrian number by Simoneau standards.

So if these things HAVE to happen for a Pitt win, does that mean I'm calling for a Washburn victory? Not necessarily. The 'Bods have some must-haves on their end if they want to come out of Pittsburg winners for the second time in less than a month.

First of all, it would certainly help if Justin Cooper could average nearly six yards a carry like he did the last time out against Pitt. Having an effective Cooper to accompany Simoneau is invaluable in playing a team like Pitt in a place like the Jungle.

Secondly, and probably more importantly, Simoneau needs to avoid the turnovers. He threw two interceptions against Central Missouri, one of which was returned for a touchdown. It's just scary to think how good Simoneau would be, and what kind of stats he would have, if he didn't go through these patches in games where he can't seem to get things done. It happened agains last week in the Abilene game and it nearly cost them a victory - he was just 4 for 11 while ACU quarterback Mitchell Gale turned on the jets and scored three straight touchdowns.

Lastly, we'll need to see if the Ichabod defense can match that lights-out performance they put up in the first game. Dickey heated up a bit when he found Brown for a couple touchdowns, for the most part, Washburn was where they needed to be when they needed to be there, forcing turnovers and making the plays. It certainly bodes well for Washburn fans that the defense is coming off of a seven-sack performance against Abilene, though they are definitely facing a more shifty QB this week.

So what happens? Who wins? Can the Pitt rushing attack find a way through Washburn's defense or will another set of blunders and offensive struggles plague the Gorillas yet again?

We speak so much about offense, maybe it comes down to the defense? Heck, any game comes down to defense, as someone has to be out there making plays. Pitt's got their all-world linebacker Nate Dreiling (who by the way is just a sophomore), who is by far the best defender in this game, so I have to give them an advantage on big-play ability on the defensive side of the ball.

Still though, when Washburn is on their game, I think they're the better all-around team and I'm going with another mild upset in the Jungle.

Prediction: Washburn 38 Pitt State 31

Northwest Missouri (10-2) at Midwestern State (10-0)
Saturday, Nov. 26; 12 p.m. CDT
Memorial Stadium; Wichita Falls, TX
Ticket Information: Here
Live Video: NONE

I already told you who I think is going to win. The question is, why?

Is it that Northwest Missouri has beaten an LSC teams in the playoffs in each of the last seven years? Maybe.

Is it that since 2002, the LSC is a dismal 5-14 against teams outside their conference in the playoffs? Perhaps.

Or is it because despite all their issues this year, when Northwest Missouri turns it on, they are still among the most talented and clutch teams in the country? That's probably getting a little closer.

How easy would it have been for the Bearcats, namely Trevor Adams, to curl up and die after the first four minutes last week? Knowing this is still the Bearcats and that's not Bearcat football, I still don't think anyone would have been that surprised. But instead Adams hung in there, throwing a strike to David Mosley who turned it into a 51-yard touchdown.

I'm obviously worried about the talent Midwestern State has on offense (for a complete breakdown of the Mustangs, check out my blog post from Tuesday), and even though Northwest's defense was dominant last week, Missouri Western's weapons are toy guns compared to Midwestern's.

But here's the thing. I don't know that Midwestern's guns have had the target practice required to take aim at a team like Northwest. I'm not dissing the LSC. I think it's easily a top-tier Division II conference, but it's not as strong as it's been in years past and I'm fairly confident Northwest, Pitt, Washburn and maybe even MoWest or Central could have gone through the LSC unscathed or darn close to it.

We have not seen anything like quarterback Brandon Kelsey though, so we'll have to be watching (or listening to) him to see if he's as good as his numbers would indicate. And the group of running backs and what they're capable of doing is like little else I've ever seen before, but I think Northwest's defense is good enough to keep this team in check. You throw in an improving Trevor Adams without his first-playoff-game jitters and the onslaught of weapons Northwest has, I think the Bearcats take this one fairly easily.

Prediction: Northwest Missouri 47 Midwestern State 31

So that sets up yet another rematch, this time in Topeka, where Northwest would take on Washburn. See you there!

Speaking of Topeka, the playoffs aren't the only postseason action this weekend. The third annual Kanza Bowl kicks off this Sunday in Kansas' capital city.

Kanza Bowl
Central Missouri (8-3) vs. West Texas A&M (7-3)
Sunday, Nov. 27; 1 p.m. CDT
Hummer Sports Park; Topeka, KS

I love the Kanza Bowl. One of these years, I hope to get to one, and the decision to move it to a Sunday was genius. This matchup is very intriguing, and I'll get to it later this week.

Agree with my picks? Think I'm an idiot? Good, now tell me why by leaving a comment below, emailing me at [email protected], mentioning me on Twiter @miAARONd2 or sending me a message at Facebook.com/apheintz!