We're getting there folks! It's almost the end of the regular season and we have five games on the slate for this Saturday, as both Valdosta and Delta are playing non-conference opponents. A few of these match-ups will be blowouts, while two could be closer than most expect.

#18 Valdosta State (6-2, 4-2) vs. UNC-Pembroke (1-6) @ 1 PM EST

First off, this obviously isn't the same playoff-caliber UNC-P team from last season. The most the Braves have scored in any game this season was 17 points, which they have done three times (all losses). I don't see the Black Swarm allowing anything near that this weekend. The Braves defense allows an average of 335 yards and 23 points per game. The Blazers average 467 yards and 35.5 points per game.

VSU will be looking to avenge the five-point victory the Braves had in Valdosta last year and will do so easily.

Blazers 35-3


*Florida Tech (6-3, 3-2) vs. West Georgia (7-2, 3-2) @ 2 PM EST

The last-second miracle Panthers travel to Carrollton to take on the Vest. Both teams are currently tied for 4th in the conference. This is definitely the most interesting matchup of the week on paper.

The game will feature two talented quarterbacks and a pair of outstanding rushers. FIT is led by QB Mark Cato, the assumed GSC Freshmen of the Year, while UWG's Dallas Dickey is seasoned and consistent. Both of the starting running backs are ranked in the top 3 in the conference. UWG has Seth Hinsley who averages over 84 yards per game, which ranks him third in the GSC, and Trevor Sand from FIT leads the conference averaging over 100 yards per game. The Panther's Xavier Milton leads the conference in reception yardage with over 115 per game.

UWG is +11 in turnovers as the defense ranks #11 nationally in that category. FIT's J.J. Sanders leads the conference averaging 8.7 tackles a game while Chris Stapleton is third in the conference with a 7.8 per game average.

This game is either going to be a UWG blowout or another close Panther victory. For the sake of attempting to move up the cookie rankings, I'm going against several leaders in the GSC Pick'em and picking FIT.

Panthers 33-30


Concordia-Selma (1-8) vs. #13 Delta State (7-1, 5-1) @ 2 PM CST

I'll just be honest here. DSU would have a more competitive game this Saturday if they held a Green vs. White scrimmage game. I know that scheduling is the issue and all due respect to the team from Selma, but this isn't going to be pretty. Delta State got 5 turnovers last year and beat the USCAA Hornets 77-0, and that was with the Statesmen not attempting a pass in the second half.

Expect DSU records to fall or the back-ups to get a lot of work. I think the starters will play a few series and then the second and third-stringers will get some reps.

Statesmen 55-0


Shorter (3-5, 1-4) vs. #14 North Alabama (7-1, 4-1) @ 3 PM CST

The Hawk's option could take a bit for UNA to adjust to, but Wallace and Gross were pretty dang good at the option back in the day, themselves. Yet, Shorter does have the second-ranked rushing offense in the GSC and the Lions have been gashed by a few good runners in recent weeks.

This contest features two of the top four rushers in the conference. Shorter is led by QB Eric Dodson with just over 64 yards per game (4th in GSC) while UNA"s Lamonte Thompson is second in the conference averaging almost 87 yards per game. The Lion's Steven Rich is second in the GSC in tackles averaging 8.2 per game and UNA leads the conference in total defense.

UNA will be home and coming off a tough loss on-the-road, while Shorter will be traveling after a heartbreaker at home. I'm giving the advantage to the home team.

Lions 28-14


*West Alabama (4-5, 1-5) vs. Mississippi College (1-7, 0-5) @ 3 PM CST

What to say about this? The Choctaws are giving it their all this season, but it's just not enough in their first transition year back to the Gulf South Conference and D2. The Tigers are coming off another close GSC loss to VSU last week at home and won't be happy. MC has given up over 40 points five times this season and I look for UWA to rack up some scoring plays with Caldwell and Toocheck hoping to salvage a winning season. Or UWA may look to its rushing offense (ranked third in the conference) to be the work horse of the day.

Either way, it's a no brainer that the Tigers will prevail in this one.

Tigers 42-14

* GSC-TV Game of the Week on ESPN3


Capital One Academic All-District Team:

Six players from the Gulf South Conference are featured on this season's Academic All-District Team sponsored by Capital One. The GSC was represented by standouts from five teams including two from North Alabama and one each from Delta State, Florida Tech, West Georgia and Valdosta State.

Congratulations to these deserving student-athletes!

QB Tyler Sullivan (DSU) - Biology/Pre-Med with 3.75 GPA

WR Alex Mccaulay (UWG) - Marketing/Finance with 3.8 GPA

WR Lee Mayhall (UNA) - Industrial Hygiene with 4.0 GPA

OL Colin Glasco (VSU) - Computer Science with 3.5 GPA

DB Manny Abad (FIT) - Accounting with a 3.79 GPA

DL DeAndre Harrison (UNA) - Exercise Science with a 3.49 GPA


- Davis is a musician, freelance writer and owner of Singing River Media. He has followed the GSC since 1985 and resides in Pensacola, Florida.