Heading into the fourth week of Division II football play, most of the GSC Five have formed identities. Delta State is the same group of cardiac kids who will play up and down to the best and worst opponents. If North Alabama plays to their potential they're the big you know what in the shower. And Valdosta State is going to grind their way to a top ten national rankings.

What we don't know is where West Alabama is at this point in the year. They're 1-1 and have looked solid. But with the play makers the Tigers have on both sides of the ball, they have a chance to be more than that. It's going to take a couple more weeks for us to know who they are.

Finally West Georgia returns to play for the Thursday night Gulf South Conference Game of the Week. The Wolves will play just their second game of the year. How will the week two bye effect their play? All signs point to them becoming a decent program, but an odd schedule lay out may be ill timing. The good thing is, we will find out right away.

Coming off a rough predictions week, your boy Swede rebounded with a 3-1 record last week, bringing this year's total up to 6-4. Here is how things shook out last week:

Swede's Predictions:
Valdosta State over Newberry College 35-14
Delta State over Fort Valley State 33-13
North Alabama over Glenville State 34-3
Tarleton State over West Alabama 21-20

Actual Outcomes:
VSU over NC 24-17
DSU over FVSU 27-7
UNA over GSC 48-21
UWA over TSU 42-35

What is the biggest question for each team heading into this week's match ups?

West Georgia- Teams make their greatest improvements from week one to week two. Will the Wolves bye hinder their improvement?

West Alabama- Is this Will Hall coached offense going to click like last week, just as it did with Hall calling plays and Deon Williams playing quarterback for three years?

Valdosta State- Which offense is going to show up? The dominant ground game? Or the team needing their defense and special teams to bail them out?

North Alabama- Pepperoni or sausage pizza after the game?

Delta State- Will the concession stands start selling Bayer aspirin to help Statesmen fans cope with possible heart attacks?

Thursday 7:00 pm Miles at West Georgia

Let's see if the Wolves can shake the rust off from their week off. Luckily for them they welcome a lackluster Miles program to the most beautiful stadium in Division II. The Golden Bears are a 1-1 SIAC team, sporting a win over Concordia-Selma.

SIAC team + win over a school with two cities in it's name + facing GSC opponent = Welcome to the win column West Georgia.

With the obvious strength of the UWG offense in it's deep running back core, you know that is where the Wolves will go early. Often when returning from a bye week teams don't have their timing in the passing attack in sync.

As the Wolves get more comfortable running the ball, they will begin to take what the Miles defense gives them. With seven and eight players in the box to defend this run, that's when it will be time to go to the air.

This isn't a new revelation here. Expect UWG to use their run to setup the pass. In his second career start for the Wolves, Emmanuel Taylor will be the guy to watch. For them to get to the next level, his potential will have to be reached. As a legitimate dual threat guy, expect a hostile takeover of the Thursday night highlights.

Prediction: UWG over MC 27-14

Saturday 5:00 pm Abilene Christian at North Alabama

It doesn't get better than this in Division II football. Two top five teams, the pinnacle of their respective conferences, pro players on their resumes...and they both wear purple. This is a litmus test for North Alabama.

The test isn't to see where they stack up in the country, but to see if they have come together. A knock on past UNA teams has been the chemistry and continuity come playoff time against elite opponents. Well here we are in week three, this is the best team you will see all year, possibly including the playoffs.

ACU quarterback Mitchell Galle is not afraid to sling the rock. He threw the ball 49 times in their lone contest against Tarleton State. He completed 26 of those passes for 335 yards, three touchdowns but a rare two interceptions. That's where UNA needs to be aggressive. If he leaves a mistake out there for the taking, the Lions must make him pay. Giving this offensive unit and staff second and third chances will result in them walking all over you. Galle doesn't make a lot of mistakes (38 touchdowns to three interceptions in 2010), if he makes them UNA must capitalize.

The Lions defensive strength is in their secondary. Janoris Jenkins is used to playing in the spotlight in the GSC. Well Janoris, you still want to be an NFL draft pick? This is where you show the attitude change. This is where you prove how serious you are taking things now, and why you chose to enroll at North Alabama. They say great players rise to the occasion. Can he do what Darrelle Revis did for the New York Jets and make the big play when it matters?

Expect a heavy dose of Antwan Ivey, Wes Holland and Chris Coffey for UNA. Terry Bowden is going to limit what quarterback Lee Chapple has to do. He has been susceptible to mistakes this year and this is a game where UNA can not afford them. Keep in mind ACU was off last week so they have been prepping for the Lions for two weeks. Expect them to get the better of Chapple a couple of times.

Prediction: ACU over UNA 24-21

Saturday 6:00 pm Valdosta State at Albany State

Valdosta State continues it's run with out of conference opponents that they always seem to have epic battles with this week. After a couple of years off, they renew a rivalry with Albany State, another South Georgia program just a short two hour drive away.

In the years of this rivalry, ASU has always brought out the best in the VSU offense, whatever characteristic that may be. Despite an abysmal performance last week, the Blazer attack's strength is on the ground. Theseus Jackson, David Bailey and quarterback Austen Roberts will get plenty of rushes in their multiple formations.

But if there is one player who needs the ball in his hands it's wide receiver Quin Roberson, he is the mismatch to watch. The sophomore is averaging 79 receiving yards, one touchdown per game thus far and added a punt return touchdown last week.

ASU quarterback Stanley Jennings is a stud. In a conference where quarterback play is limited, Jennings give the conference a legitimate star under center. He can pass and run as well as anybody in Division II and it isn't just against SIAC teams. Jennings lit Wingate up last week for 307 yards and four touchdown passes.

The problem for Albany State is that Jennings has to do it all. He makes everything happen. To do that for four quarters against a GSC team is difficult, especially a VSU defense that has been impressive through two games.

ASU doesn't have the speed on the lines to beat VSU off the ball and enough help for Jennings on offense to beat a top tier VSU secondary.

Prediction: VSU over ASU 24-14

Saturday 7:00 pm Delta State at Arkansas Tech

Arkansas Tech, I have heard of them before. The name is familiar but I can't place it. I feel like I used to know them but the memory seems to have left overnight.

ATU is nothing special on paper right now. Preston Conder is a solid quarterback and AJ Whitmore is the focal point of the attack. Whitmore averages over 80 receiving yards a game and has three touchdowns through two games. But those were games against schools from Arkansas. The DSU boys from Mississippi are a different story.

The Wonderboys don't have the thoroughbreds to handle the Statesmen offense. This diverse attack features too many weapons for ATU to contain. Micah Davis has become a consistent just under 300 yard, two touchdown, one or two interception machine this year.

ATU's secondary could be just what the doctor ordered. They're giving up 323 passing yards a game through the air. Davis could break in some of his new receiving weapons, with teams beginning to key in on Chance Dennis.

Could receivers Tim Smith or DeJarrius Adams break out this week? Or will the heavy defensive back sets open up the middle of the field for Brandon Lucas. He is beginning to thrive in the Trevar Deed role. Perhaps his receiving numbers go up.

The key as usual will be how DSU approaches this opponent. On paper the Statesmen are superior. But time and time again this team lets inferior opponents hang around. Hopefully there is some resentment for the forming of the Great American Conference in the middle of the night a few summers ago and DSU gets one for the GSC. Ok maybe I'm still bitter about how things went down.

Prediction: DSU over ATU 35-17

Saturday 8:00 pm Central State at West Alabama

Consider UWA quarterback Gary Johnston comfortable in his starting role. Through two games the junior is averaging 89 rushing yards per contest and 159 yards through the air. He is coming off a 16 of 21 217 yard, three touchdowns to one interception passing performance against Tarleton State. He also ran for 106 and a touchdown.

CSU is coming off a 42-3 loss at the hands of NC Central, so expect this one to get ugly. If Johnston's dominance last week against a quality Tarleton State squad is any indication of what he will do against Division II teams (he faced FCS South Alabama to open the year), then he may chugging Gatorade and wearing a visor in the fourth quarter this week.

Expect a complete offensive performance from UWA. Gerald Worsham will likely amass 100 receiving yards, while T-Ray Mitchell, Don Smith and Matt Willis will compile big rushing totals to use up the clock.

I don't know what else to say about CSU, because there just isn't a lot of info on them. They're 0-2, got smashed by NC Central and barely tallied 100 passing and rushing yards each. From what I can tell, this is a nice opportunity for Will Hall's squad to fine tune things.

Prediction: UWA over CSU 48-7