Well this is a big week in the Northern Sun, there have been a few surprises, but week three is going to be whereh we learn some more about a few teams. And it starts in Duluth this week.

What's cool about this week is that all four undefeated teams play each other, so after week three, there will only be two remaining.


#1 Minnesota State (2-0) at Minnesota Duluth (2-0)

Determinig a favorite in this game isn't an easy proposition. Both teams have been impressive through two weeks, for Minnesota State going on the road and winning at Mary in the season opener certainly wouldn't be easy, but they returned home last week and handled Minnesota Crookston about how they should have.

But Minnesota Duluth has looked equally impressive through two weeks winning at home to open the season against the University of Sioux Falls, and then traveling to Fayette, Iowa, and also getting the win over the Peacocks.

At home, I would think the Bulldogs have to be the favorite, I say that because they are normally very tough to beat at home. Since returning to the NSIC, the Bulldogs have only lost 3 home games, none of them came to a Northern Sun opponent. Central Washington beat them at home in 2009 in a non conference game, Grand Valley State beat them in the 2009 playoffs, and Wayne State (MI) beat them at home in the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 2011. Outside of that, there isn't a blemish on their home record in their time back in the Northern Sun.

That said, Saturday could be their toughest challenge to this point. The Mavericks come in as the #2 ranked team in the D2Football.com Top 25 poll.

Both teams have established they can run the football, and both have efficient and mobile signal callers that can throw when asked to. Offensively the teams are pretty similar on paper, although there are quite a few differences in how they do what they do.

Jon Wolf didn't threw an incomplete pass for the Mavericks last week against Minnesota Crookston, he only had to throw seven of them in the game, while Drew Bauer, in his first year as a starter for the Bulldogs, has only thrown for 196 yards in two games on the season, but he has rushed for 137 yards already.

I expect a battle, and honestly field position and turnovers will probably mark the difference in this one, but it should be a lot of fun. Saturday's tussle will mark the 35th meeting between the teams, in which the Bulldogs hold a 19-14 edge, with one tie. I will take the Bulldogs at home to beat the Mavericks.


#2 St. Cloud State (2-0) at Concordia St. Paul (2-0)

I have to hand it to Concordia, the Golden Bears not only shutout Minot State who inexplicably beat Augustana last week, but then they beat Bemdiji State who had just started the season with an impressive road win at Winona.

This is going to be a classic offensive versus defensive battle. The Huskies have the high flying offense led by quarterback Phillip Klaphake, who impressed again on Saturday against the Warriors, while Concordia has what I think is the biggest weapon on the defensive side of the ball in Zach Moore.

The Golden Bears enter with the top defensive unit in the league, and after two weeks find themselves fourth in the country. Offensively, Concordia has been led in the backfield by running back Tre Spears through a couple of weeks, he has helped to keep balance to a normally high flying offensive attack. Jared Russo has started strong in 2013, with five touchdown passes in two weeks.

Klaphake though is unlike anyone I have ever seen in the conference. Call it a high football I-q, call it incredible athleticism, or whatever you want, the man is the complete package. He has thrown four touchdowns, and rushed for three more, he has thrown for over 600 yards in just two games, and what impresses me the most is how he can recognize all different looks from a defense, and knows how to exploit it.

That in my opinion is what makes the difference on Saturday, and that's why I am taking St. Cloud State.


Bemidji State (1-1) at Augustana (1-1)

I have to admit I am still trying to figure out how these two teams ended up at 1-1, I would have thought after a big win for Bemidji State on the road at Winona State, a 2-0 start for them was in the bag. They probably did too though, and that may have been the problem, because Concordia looks a lot better than we thought.

Augustana on the other hand had a win at home over Moorhead, then hit the road to Minot, a team Concordia had just shutout previously.

Saturday was just one of those days for the Vikings, its not everyday you finish a plus two in the turnover battle, and control the time of possession, and lose the game. It was one of those situations though where the Viking offense couldn't respond.

If Augustana thought they had trouble with the Minot State Beavers on Saturday, they will have a lodge full of problems this Saturday. Bemidji's defense despite the loss to Concordia was solid most of the way. They gave up too many yards on the ground, but it was a running type day.

This could be a season defining game for these teams there's a lot on the line. I like Bemidji to win at home.


Upper Iowa (1-1) at Northern State (1-1)

I picked this one as a Featured 4 game as well this week. Because its one of those weeks where I think we will find out something real about these two squads.

For Upper Iowa, they have played Minnesota Crookston and Minnesota Duluth and sit at 1-1, right where they should be after those two games. They dominated the Golden Eages, which I found interesting because the Peacock defense could be a little better than we thought at first blush.

They then lost to Minnesota Duluth after turning themselves over right out of the game. Two interception returns made the score look a little more lopsided than the stats would indicate as Upper Iowa outgained the Bulldogs 453-407.

The Peacocks will have to cut down on their turnovers if they want to win in Aberdeen this week. They will also have to figure out how to take away a scrambling quaterback. Last week they gave up a 52 yard touchdown run to Drew Bauer, which hurt early in the game, and they will see plenty of Jared Jackson moving around out of Coach Dosch's trickly little read speed option.

Expect it to be a dog fight, but at home I will take the Wolves.

That makes it a clean sweep for the NSIC North in the featured four this week. The other games quickly

Tyler Tonderum rushed for a school record 343 yards last week for Southwest in their win over Minnesota State Moorhead, expect his numbers to come back to normal this week, but expect larger numbers out of the Southwest passing game. I look for the Mustangs to beat Minot at home.

Wayne State lost a tough one at home to the University of Mary last week. I would expect the Wildcats to rebounds and win handily in Crookston.

Winona State is off to their worst start since 2002, at 0-2. While Minnesota State Moorhead is better, when healthy, despite a much closer score than expected in Moorhead they were outclassed phyiscally by the Mustangs along both lines. An 0-3 start for the Warriors would be unthinkable, and at home, I expect the Warriors to take out some frustrations of the last couple of weeks on the Dragons. I will take Winona State.

If I were going to preview five games in depth this week, this would have been the fifth. USF is finding life a little harder in the Northern Sun in their second year, much like the University of Mary did. It's been a transistion in Bismarck for the Marauders, but they have the firepower at home to beat the Cougars. Craig Bagnell threw for 300 yards again last week. It will be the first real test of a passing team the Cougars will see this season, and to be honest, at home, I am going to take "The U." Marauders emerge with a hard fought, high scoring win.