I just keep underestimating the Central Oklahoma Bronchos. At 3-0, with victories over 2-1 Fort Hays, 2-1 Missouri Western and 1-2 Emporia, I have continued to pick against them. Their surprising start to 2014 has assisted in landing me at 10-7 overall in picks through 3 weeks.

Sorry UCO, but I'm doing it again.

Central Oklahoma welcomes No. 1 Northwest Missouri to Edmond on Saturday. Yes, I expect the Bronchos to put up a better fight than they did against the Bearcats in their first two years in the conference (70-7 in 2012, 72-10 in 2013), but it's hard to imagine the Bearcats faltering, at least at this point in the season.

Before we dive more into the marquee matchup of the week, let's talk a little about the rest of this week's action, which begins Thursday night on national television.

Missouri Western (2-1) at Lindenwood (1-2)
Thursday, Sept. 25; 7 p.m. CT
Harlan C. Hunter Stadium; St. Charles, Mo.
CBS Sports Net
LINK: Injured Lindenwood player Sterling Thomas to attend game

Since dropping 44 points in a surprising and exhilarating season opener at Washburn, Lindenwood has only scored 14 points in the last two games - with 7 coming in garbage time in a beatdown to Pittsburg State.

The Lions have been plagued by costly turnovers (6 in last 2 games), an inability to run the football (89 yards on the ground in each of the past 2 weeks) and a dismal 3rd-down conversion rate (3 of 15 in both games).

Meanwhile, Missouri Western has been nearly as bad on 3rd downs, going 4 of 15 and 2 for 13 in the past 2 weeks. The crazy thing is they nearly pulled out the first game and won the second 30-0.

I don't see a whole lot of offensive fireworks coming in this game. First off, Missouri Western's defense is good - probably their brightest aspect of their shaky start. Couple that with Lindenwood's recent struggles, and I can't see the Lions putting up a lot of points.

Western's offense looked a little better last week as the QB duo of Skylar Windmiller and TJ LaFever returned to action. LaFever missed the loss to UCO with a concussion But dropping 30 on Northeastern may prove to be one of the lower outputs the Riverhawks give up all year, so I'm not ready to crown them "fixed."

Prediction: More game-changing turnovers for Lindenwood, whose offensive woes will continue. Missouri Western 28 Lindenwood 10

Nebraska-Kearney (0-3) at Central Missouri (1-2)
Saturday, Sept. 27; 1:30 p.m.
Walton Stadium; Warrensburg, Mo.

Does Central bounce back after getting dominated on the lines in Maryville? I think so. Kearney's struggles don't seem to be going anywhere. The Lopers are giving up a near MIAA-worst 224 yards per game on the ground, and I don't see a repeat of last week's gameplan for the Mules, which had little to do with star RB LaVance Taylor.

Prediction: 100 yards and 2 scores for Taylor, by halftime. Central Missouri 39 UNK 13

Fort Hays State (2-1) at No. 8 Pittsburg State (3-0)
Saturday, Sept. 27; 2 p.m.
Carnie Smith Stadium; Pittsburg, Kan.

Maybe Hays has turned into a solid middle-of-the-pack MIAA team. Heck, I've got them ranked 4th in my weekly power rankings. Whether or not their early rise in my poll is due to not really playing anyone or their real improvements, I don't think they stand a chance.

Prediction: The Gorillas end another one early, but finally allow an early score. Just one, though. Pittsburg State 55 Fort Hays 7

Emporia State (1-2) at Northeastern State (0-3)
Saturday, Sept. 27; 6 p.m.
Doc Wadley Stadium; Tahlequah, Okla.

This year was Emporia's chance to prove the last two years weren't a fluke. They've failed miserably at attaining that goal, and haven't even hit the beef of their schedule yet. The defense has been (and I'm being nice here) bad, and the offense took a major step back last week, falling ineffective at home against Central Oklahoma.

Prediction: I think the Hornets, up or down as they may be, can hang with Northeastern's 4.3 points per game. ESU 48 Northeastern State 6

Washburn (1-2) at Missouri Southern (1-2)
Saturday, Sept. 27; 6:30 p.m.
Fred G. Hughes Stadium, Joplin, Mo.

Missouri Southern's option offense has gotten them to about where I think we expected them to be, so far. This is the week they need to make a statement if they want to move back out of the MIAA basement. Washburn is dangerously close to replacing the Lions there, and a 1-3 start for the 'Bods would be one of the stories of the young year in the conference.

Prediction: Washburn RB Vershon Moore finally finds the end zone late in a competitive game throughout. Washburn 27 Missouri Southern 23

No. 1 Northwest Missouri (3-0) at Central Oklahoma (3-0)
Saturday, Sept. 27; 1 p.m. CT
Wantland Stadium; Edmond, Okla

As good as Northwest's defense has looked this year, they have allowed a touchdown on all five of their opponents' trips into the red zone this year. They're the only team in the MIAA that's allowed a score on 100 percent of defensive red zone attempts. Conversely, the Bearcats have scored a TD in 11 of 14 of their own trips inside the opponent's 20.

Central Oklahoma has scored in 8 of their 9 trips to the red zone this year, but only twice have found the end zone. Their scoring success is a part of the reason for their 3-0 start but also a big factor in their relatively low scoring totals through 3 games.

I said it last week, and even though I was wrong, I'm going to say it again. UCO will need to step it up offensively if they want to compete in this game, and in the end, in this conference. That means converting red zone trips into touchdowns and not field goals.

And that's not going to be easy against a defense like Northwest's. UCO QB Chas Stallard is obviously more mobile than UCM's Hayden Hawk, so he might be able to avoid it a little better, but the defensive line I saw last week in Maryville was as good as I've seen in my 6 years covering this conference.

Northwest is going to have to start showing up in the first half, offensively, too. One of these days, letting teams hang around until or after halftime is going to bite them, and it could be this week.

Prediction: It won't be this week, but I do expect a close game at halftime. Northwest Missouri 38 Central Oklahoma 25.3.