Concordia (2-8) at Winona State (8-2)
Last Year: 58-24, Winona State

While there are a lot of good games that remain on the Northern Sun schedule this season, perhaps there is nothing bigger than this one. Why? Well, there is a lot on the line for Winona.

You could look at this one on the surface and say there are two different teams that are headed in two different directions. But Concordia, has lost five games by one possession, including last week, this season, and in the old NSIC (pre 2009) there was no bigger rivalry than Concordia and Winona.

Offensively, Concordia has a lot of weapons and those weapons could help to keep them in the game, especially if the weather is as cooperative as it is suppose to be on Saturday.

But, Winona put up over 700 yards against Augustana last week, in a week in which the Warrior offense scored 73-points, which included over 500 yards passing. Now can you imagine, the task the Concordia has on their hands this week, not only do they have to stop the NSIC's all time leading rusher in Rayon Simmons, but they have to face an offense that threw for over 500 yards against the Vikings last week.

This won't be an easy task, meanwhile the Warriors are going to be watching a game out of the MIAA with bated breath this week. Why you ask, well Missouri Western State has to face Northwest Missouri State, and if the Bearcats can win a battle of the two schools that are less than 20-miles apart, that could knock the Griffons from the top six, and a Warrior win, could put them into the playoffs.

Not bad, considering two weeks ago, it looked like their might only be one NSIC team in the playoffs. Now there is a legitimate shot, that three could make it.

I expect a spirited effort from Concordia on Saturday, but I like the Warriors to win. Winona is 9-2, Northwest Missouri does their job, and the Warriors make the playoffs.... maybe they even pull an upset in the first round.


Northern State (6-4) at Minnesota Duluth (9-1)
Last Year: 37-6, Minnesota Duluth

The NSIC North Championship game this year. The Wolves get set to take on the Bulldogs as both teams roll in with just one loss in the NSIC North Division.

Unfortunately, for Northern, that is all that is on the line, losses to Augustana and Southwest Minnesota State earlier this season negated any hope of a 12th game. However, they have been playing really well the last few weeks.

The Wolves have won six of their last seven games since then. Since upsetting St. Cloud State a few weeks ago, the Wolves have been playing with a lot of confidence, beating their last two opponents by a combined 117-37.

Hey, don't think there isn't a lot on the line for the Bulldogs this week. Right now, even with just their one loss on the season, they are the #6 team in the region, this is not a team that can afford another loss in the region (although, I don't think Winona or Sioux Falls fans would complain if it happened).

The Wolves are playing at a different level right now, they are playing at the level of the Bulldogs. However, they are going to run into one of the top teams in the Northern Sun this week. They will need to find a way to slow down a Bulldog rushing attack that sparks an offense scoring 45-points a game.

Northern's last loss last season came to Minnesota Duluth, in fact, the argument could be made that, the game was maybe the turning point of Northern's program. Minnesota Duluth won't see the same Wolves team that they beat 37-6 last year, they will see a confident group that will challenge them all the way to the end.

In the end though, I believe it will be Minnesota Duluth that comes out with the win.


Wayne State (6-4) at Sioux Falls (8-2)

Last week's loss to Minnesota State was a major blow to the Cougars hopes of making the NCAA Super Region 3 Playoffs. But they aren't dead yet, they need some help, of course, they also need to win.

But if somehow, the NSIC gets three teams into the playoffs which could happen if Missouri Western State loses to Northwest Missouri State (an MIAA game) the Cougars could find themselves in the Mineral Water Bowl. Or better yet for Cougar fans, if some how the Wolves would beat Minnesota Duluth, and Missouri Western loses, they still have a shot at the palyoffs.

The contest between these two clubs I think comes down to the matchup between USF's high powered offense, and Wayne State's defense.

Outside of a couple of let downs, the Wildcat defense has been solid this season, but this week, they will get tested by a really talented group. Taylor Perkins has thrown 25-touchdowns this season, and 22 of them have gone to either Carrington Hanna or Jeremiah Oates. That passing attack sparks an offense that can be tough to stop, because both Kristian Porter and Jordan Taylor can give the Cougars balance offensively.

Wayne's defense needs to find a way to keep that group under wraps this week if they want to try and get the road win. I am not sure that will be possible for the Wildcats, I like the Cougars, there is just too much hope for USF this week.


Other games

I am going to make this quick, because its already Friday night, and most of the other games don't have a lot of playoff consequences.

I like Minnesota State to beat Upper Iowa this week. The Peacock offense gets to face a defense that doesn't make a lot of mistakes, and I don't see that defense allowing an upset to happen at this stage of the season.

Phil Klaphake was named as one of the 24 Harlon Hill finalists for St. Cloud State this week. He should look every bit of it this week against Minnesota State Moorhead. I like the Huskies to get their seventh win of the season by defeating the Dragons.

Its the Beaver Bash this week as Minot State heads to Bemidji State. And while, Minot has won two of their last three games, Bemidji has won five of their last six, and Lance Rongstad has been a big reason why. The Senior quarterback not only has thrown 13 touchdown passes this season, he also leads the team in rushing, and has run for seven more scores--no wonder he's a two sport athelte. Look for Bemidji to keep their winning streak over Minot alive this week.

There's another big rivalry in the NSIC South Division this week, although it hasn't been an even rivalry as of late, but there's no one that Southwest Minnesota State likes playing as much as they like facing Augustana. The Vikings have had a disappointing season, especially considering they have the NSIC's second leading offense, in yards and points. That will test the Mustang defense, but Southwest has won three straight at home, and even though it hasn't happened since 1991, I like the Mustangs to pull a mild upset in this one, and beat the Vikings.

I will also take the University of Mary to finish their season with a victory. They will beat Minnesota Crookston on Saturday as well.