Wayne State (4-3) at Concordia (2-5)
Last Year: 27-24, Concordia

Turnovers play a factor in every college football game, and is maybe the biggest thing that Concordia has going against them this week, as they get ready for Wayne State. James Peterson has been intercepted 13 times this year, including three last week.

And Concordia's passing offense, plays right into the teeth of this big play Wayne Defense, allowing Richard Daniel and his other counterparts on that front line an opportunity to get after the quarterback.

The Wildcats defense had a nice bounce back game against Winona State last week, after a tough showing against Southwest two weeks ago. Even in the loss last week, they held a tough Warriors running attack to just 121-yards, and that was on 41-carries on the day.

The key to watch in this game other than Concordia turnovers, is who gets out to an early lead. If Wayne gets out to an early lead, that forces Concordia to throw more than usual, which then gives Daniel and company more chances to get after Peterson, which leads to potentially more turnovers.

However, Wayne State is really not built to come from behind. The Wildcat passing game has been extremely inconsistent so far this season, and that has hampered them in each of their last two losses. In fact over the last two weeks Brian Kent and Nate Most, the two taking the snaps for the Wildcats this season, have combined to complete just 50-percent of their passes, and neither has thrown for 100-yards in a game over the last couple of weeks.

If Concordia gets out to a lead, they could run away with this thing, but I look for Wayne's defense to make some plays this week, and allow the Wildcats to come out of this with a victory.


Sioux Falls (6-1) at Augustana (3-4)

The two schools are seperated by merely three blocks, in the heart of Sioux Falls. Yet they haven't played in 26-years.

Exepct Saturday to be full of emotion, and maybe even feel like a playoff game, because for all practical purposes it is just that, at least for USF anyway.

The Cougars have never beaten the Vikings, the series began in 1922, and Augustana has won all 19 meetings between the two schools. But don't think there's not a lot on the line for Augustana this week, with the playoffs out of reach for 2012, the Vikings can ill-afford a loss to Sioux Falls' other college. Especially if a win by the Cougars were to say help catapult the team to a run in the Super Region 3 Playoffs.

The key will come down to how USF stops the run. Both teams can move the ball, but the Vikings are coming off of a performance, against Upper Iowa last week, where they ran the ball for over 300 yards. Dajon Newell will give the Cougars defense a test again this week, and as a team the Vikings are second in the Northern Sun in yards per game.

I would expect the Cougars defense shows up this week. The err of invincibility for Augustana at home is gone. They were embarrassed at home two weeks ago by Mankato, and even after their resounding win on the road last week at Upper Iowa, I don't think they stop the Coo this week.

I like USF, to take home the Key to the City this season, and beat the Vikings for the first time, in a series that goes all the way back to 1922!



Bemidji State (4-3) at Minnesota Duluth (6-1)
Last Year: 26-23, Minnesota Duluth

In recent seasons Minnesota Duluth has been that thorne in the side of Bemidji State, the Beavers despite playing them tough a couple of times in the last three seasons, have not been able to get over the hump.

I outlined it earlier this week for Duluth, the Bulldogs need to run the table to make the playoffs, even that doesn't gurantee them anything, but they will get some help on the way. While, I think Minnesota Duluth has the ability to run the table, that is still the biggest hurdle in the way of them making the playoffs, because their strength of schedule won't help them much. The Bulldogs need a team like Southwest to get hot to finish the season, that for example could really help their strength of schedule.

But, they can't worry about that today, or the Beavers will get them. I don't know if anyone has noticed, but after a disappointing 1-3 start to the season, the Beavers are playing better football, they have won three straight games, so they will come into Duluth as a confident bunch.

In the last two weeks they have been strengthening their run defense, holding both Northern State and the University of Mary to less than 100-yards on the ground, infact they held the Wolves last week to 38 yards rushing.

Minnesota Duluth will have to change that trend to win today, and don't be surprised if they do. Bemidji is their toughest challenge remaining on the schedule, but I look for the Bulldogs to take care of business Saturday and get the victory.



Minnesota State (7-0) at Winona State (6-1)
Last Year: 24-14, Minnesota State

There's a lot on the line this week in this matchup. At 7-0, the Mavericks might be the only team in the Northern Sun who can afford a loss and still get into the playoffs, the problem is, that if they lose this week, to Winona, they will throw themselves right into the thick of things.

They also have some very difficult games remaining on their schedule, and if last week is any indication, the NSIC South is turning into an anyone can beat anyone division. Add to it the two teams are playing for a lead in the NSIC South Division Conference Title Race, not to mention the NSIC Crown is also very much in reach for both squads. A couple of years ago, I believe some Winona fans called the game, the single most important game of all time, correction, that is this week.

The Mavericks are not a very complicated offense, instead they rely on their athleticism to win games for them. Defensively, the scheme is fairly similar, they like to keep it simple, and there are reasons, namely, it works.

The Mavericks have four players who have rushed for more than 250-yards this season, two of the four are quarterbacks. They have played three different quarterbacks on the season, all three can run, and they have Adam Thielen who can make any big catch at a receiver, he is just at a different level than any other receiver in the league that I have seen this season. They are 7-0 for a reason.

Those weapons will be a tough challenge for Winona State. But, the Warriors Defensive unit is playing as well as anyone's right now. Last week they held Wayne to 13-points, just one week after holding the University of Sioux Falls to 9. In those same two games, Winona gave up only 262 yards of total offense to the Wildcats, and only 309 yards to Sioux Falls. What's more, they shut USF's running game down, holding that to 81-yards in the game, and forced five turnovers.

That will be the key Saturday, can they keep the Mavericks in check. Neither team can afford to get careless with the football, there is too much on the line for that. At home, I am going to take the Warriors to throw a giant monkey wrench into the playoff picture this week, I predict they end Minnesota State's undefeated run.



Minnesota Crookston (1-6) at Minot State (1-6)

Crookston suffered a disappointing loss last week, in a game, that quite honestly I thought going into it , they probably could have won.

Richard Haley was over 100-yards last week ofr the first times, since they upset Southwest Minnesota State, but four interceptions really hurt the Golden Eagles in their loss to Minnesota State Moorhead last week.

Minot's offense is continuing to try to find its identity. The Beavers have struggled with any type of consistency, their passing attack isn't completing 50-percent of their passes, and combined their quarterbacks have thrown 14 interceptions. And they only have two rushing touchdowns on the season.

If Crookston had won last week they would have a chance to win two in a row this week, but off of their loss, I am going to change my mind on this one, and take the Beavers.

Upper Iowa (2-5) at Southwest Minnesota State (2-5)
Last Year: 28-24, SMSU

These two teams have nearly mirrored each other this season, both losing close games that could have completely changed their seasons.

Upper Iowa, was a pick-6 away from upsetting a powerful Winona State squad, and Southwest, was moments away from ending Minnesota State's 6-0 undefeated start, but a late fourth quarter implosion stopped that.

Now both teams find themselves with little to show for those efforts, and really beat up. Since nearly beating Winona, the injury depleted Peacocks have been routed twice by Concordia and Augustana.

While, the Mustangs are hoping the trend doesn't repeat itself, but Southwest is tredging through some big injuries themselves after their loss a week ago.

If Chris Smith is unable to go, I think the Peacocks will have a tough time though beating the Mustangs, in Marshall, so I will take Southwest.


MSU Moorhead (1-6) at Mary (3-4)
Last Year: 52-13, Mary

The battle for the paddle, as this game has become affectionately known over the last few seasons.

The Marauders have not been the same team without their signal caller Craig Bagnell. Last week again, in the loss to St. Cloud State, Mary quarterback Zach Roberson was intercepted five times. Bagnell hasn't been able to go since finishing a 32-23 loss at Winona State, since then the Marauders have dropped three straight.

Over that three game stretch, Roberson has been intercepted 11-times. Five times last week, four a week earlier, and two in his first start.

Moorhead picked off Crookston's Aj Barge, four times last week, don't think for a minute that if Bagnell can't go, and Roberson continues throwing interceptions that the Dragons couldn't extend that losing streak to five.

I don't think they will though, but expect this to be closer than at first blush, I will take the Marauders though.