Sounds simple, but will it be?

No. 5 Pittsburg State and No. 7 Northwest Missouri will advance to the NCAA Division 2 playoffs - and potentially play each other in the first round - with wins Saturday.

Pittsburg State (9-1) seemingly has the harder test, heading south to Edmond, Okla., to face 8-2 Central Oklahoma. Northwest Missouri, whose only loss came a month ago to Pitt, has an unexpected home game against 4-6 Washburn.

The Gorillas and Bearcats currently sit at 4 and 5 in the Super Region 3 poll, the only one that matters when it comes to the playoffs. Teams 4 and 5 play each other, so if those positions hold, they'll meet up in the first round next week in Pittsburg.

Will that happen? It's hard to say.

First off, undefeated Ouachita Baptist, No. 2 in SR3, plays 9-1 Henderson State. Henderson has owned the GAC pretty much it was created a few years ago, and with the schools being right across the street from each other, it could definitely go either way. If Henderson wins, Ouachita will drop and Pitt and Northwest - if they win - would move up to 3 and 4, meaning both would have 1st-round home games.

Second, there's been much debate as to whether undefeated Minnesota Duluth's weak SOS could drop them below Pitt and Northwest. Duluth currently sits at No. 3 in SR3 and finishes the season at 1-9 Minot State. I'm not going to predict whether that will happen or not, but if it does, I won't be complaining. Duluth hasn't played anybody all year.

So what if OBU loses AND Duluth's SOS drops them below our MIAA duo? Pitt would end up at No. 2 in the region with a 1st-round bye and Northwest at No. 3 with a 1st-round home game.

Ah, but first, we must play the games. And don't forget. Central Oklahoma still has a lot to play for, as they are still very much alive for a spot in the Mineral Water Bowl and potentially even the playoffs. And even Washburn, after an awful start to the season, has finally showed some life in the past 2 weeks.

So while it's obvious Pitt and Northwest come in as favorites to clinch a spot in the playoffs, I'm not ruling out the possibility of an upset.

Let's take a look at this week's games.

No. 5 Pittsburg State (9-1) at Central Oklahoma (8-2)

I think this is going to be a good game. UCO doesn't turn the ball over (9 all year - 5 games with 0) and leads the conference in TO ratio. Pitt is pretty protective with the ball, but we've seen QB Anthony Abenoja struggle in the biggest games so far this year - He threw 3 INTs each (his only 6 of the year) in wins over Northwest Missouri and Central Missouri.

We've talked all year about Pitt's defense, but we know it's not impenetrable. Last week, they got gashed by LaVance Taylor. Sure, UCO doesn't have a guy like Taylor on the team, but their trio of skill position players - QB Chas Stallard, RB Jake Gandara and WR Marquez Clark - are as good of a package deal as Pitt has seen all year. And throw in Christian Hood, who has quietly become the Bronchos' all-time leading receiver, and I think UCO will be able to put up points.

What about Pitt? We know 2 things. Abenoja is going to put the ball in the air a lot, and likely for a lot of yards. And their running game is going to be meh - not great, not awful.

So can this stingy UCO defense force Abenoja into a few more INTs? Can Pittsburg stop the MIAA's best red zone offense if or when they march inside the Gorilla 20?

And don't forget the question everybody should REALLY have on their minds. Will Pittsburg State choke away the playoffs again? Last year, Missouri Southern beat them by 14 points in the season finale, sending Pitt to the Mineral Water Bowl. The Bronchos could do the same thing this year.

I don't think that's going to happen though. Sure, Abenoja has at times struggled in the biggest games since taking over for Zac Dickey after Pitt's 2011 title run, but the senior is playing better than ever, and I think he's ready to leave his imprint on the Gorilla football program - and the 2014 season.

Plus, he's got two awesome wideouts in Marquise Cushon and Gavin Lutman, who rank No. 1 and 2 in the MIAA in receiving.

Prediction: This will be fun. UCO has a 2nd-half lead, but Pitt prevails. PSU 38 UCO 28

Washburn (4-6) at No. 7 Northwest Missouri (9-1)

Like I said, Washburn has been showing some signs of life. But it's taken games against a plummeting Emporia team and a still-winless Northeastern State.

That's fine. Momentum, now matter how achieved, is big going into a game against the Bearcats.

You have to feel a little bad for the 'Bods, who instead of playing this game at Arrowhead Stadium have to go up to Bearcat Stadium. Granted, Arrowhead was going to be 90 percent empty, 8 percent Northwest fans and 2 percent WU fans anyway, but you'd still take that over an always-rowdy Maryville crowd.

I see some ways UCO could beat Pitt, but I'm struggling to find ways Washburn can pull off the upset. If the past 2 weeks are truly a more accurate depiction of what Washburn can do, and they can limit turnovers and convert in the red zone, then maybe. I guess anything can happen.

But Northwest should win this game easily.

Prediction: The Bearcats roll from start to finish. NWMSU 42 WU 13

Emporia State (4-6) at Nebraska-Kearney (2-8)

I think the Hornets salvage a somewhat-respectable season while Kearney continues to look for answers in their new conference.

Prediction: Emporia State 35 Kearney 21

Lindenwood (1-9) at Northeastern State (0-10)

The combined losing streak for these 2 teams is 19. Something's gotta give, right? Last year, the RiverHawks managed to pull out a 2nd win in their finale at home against an at-the-time awful UCO team. Lindenwood is pretty awful. I think NSU does it again.

Prediction: NSU 24 Lwood 13

Missouri Western (6-4) at Missouri Southern (4-6)

The Griffons were reeling after convincing losses to Emporia and Northwest, but got back on track in a big way last week against Kearney. Southern has had some success against Western in recent years and I think will keep it close, but won't have enough in the end.

Prediction: MWSU 27 MSSU 21

Fort Hays State (6-4) at Central Missouri (7-3)

Hays has already clinched its 2nd winning season in a row and wants to get another top(ish)-tier win on their resume for the season. UCM is still alive for a Mineral Water Bowl spot. I think UCM's got too much firepower for an up-and-down Hays team.

Prediction: UCM 37 FHSU 20

Where would that leave us?

If my predictions come true (I've only gone 6-0 once this year), here's a look at where we'd stand after the season.

MIAA Standings

%*Pittsburg State 10-1
%*Northwest Missouri 10-1
&Central Missouri 8-3
Central Oklahoma 8-3
Missouri Western 7-4
Fort Hays 6-5
Emporia State 5-6
Missouri Southern 4-7
Washburn 4-7
Nebraska-Kearney 2-9
Northeastern State 1-10
Lindenwood 1-10

% clinched MIAA title
* clinched NCAA playoff berth
& clinched Mineral Water Bowl berth