It is a Gulf South Conference world and you're all just living in it. As evident by the latest D2Football.com Poll, the GSC is still the premiere conference in the Division II world. North Alabama leads the pack at number two, Delta State sits at three while Valdosta State jumped up to five. Shazam!

The GSC went 5-0 last week. Normally we would just acknowledge this like everyday business. But UNA dropped another top five perennial power in Abilene Christian, Valdosta State knocked off rival and top ten ranked Albany State (in order to have perennial power status you must win games in the playoffs, in my un-humble opinion). Then there was Delta State rallying past Arkansas Tech, West Georgia edging Miles and West Alabama dropping the hammer on Central State.

Here is the link to the poll, http://www.d2football.com/top25poll/11/ should you care to take a look at who is looking up at cream of the crop of this level. Cream, one of the legendary rock super groups is a great way to look at the GSC.

Consider UNA, the Eric Clapton of the band. Like Clapton, they have bigger and better things in their future. But at this moment they are going to create something magical in Division II, contending for a couple more national titles and doing it in a manner different from anybody else in the game.

Delta State is the Jack Bruce. One of the best at an unglamorous game/instrument (Bruce's legendary playing of the base to Delta State's reloading of DII talent to fit their system). Like Bruce, DSU is unsung considering their resume's but when it comes to performing on the stage/gridiron; these two perform.

Now Ginger Baker and Valdosta State go together perfectly. Baker was always adding new elements to his percussion on songs. Like Baker, Valdosta State has changed the way they have done things to find new success. Whether it's going to the run more, running a spread option type offense or going under center, VSU's offense seems to always bring something new to the table. Just like Baker.

Sorry the West Alabama and West Georgia, but Cream only had three elite members. But that doesn't make your accomplishments insignificant. West Alabama will be ranked in the top 25 within the next three weeks, in fact they received my vote for the 25th spot this past week. And West Georgia continues to do what I expected of them. Don't underestimate the significance of this. There are new expectations here and for them to already live up to them speaks volumes to the direction they are going in.

If last week was the week marked by huge match ups, this week can be described as by one word; revenge.

The teams from the Great American Conference take on the remaining GSC teams. Make no mistake about it, there are agendas on the line. The GAC boys want to prove they can hang with their former conference member mates. Meanwhile the GSC men have an agenda against the schools that bolted from heir conference over night and essentially left them for dead as a group of five teams.

To show my allegiance to the GSC five, I will not acknowledge these traitors by name.

Saturday 4:00 pm Delta State at Maroon Team from Arkadelphia

This game should be simple. DSU's opponent has a lackluster passing game. Nathan Nall, their quarterback is completing less than 60 percent of his passes and doesn't have a receiver averaging more than 25 yards per game. When the Statesmen take the lead, expect it to be difficult for the team they are facing to come back.
Don't expect DSU to come out guns a blazin'. I have stopped expecting that. This team just doesn't know how to get things going. But it's fine because they always find a way to turn on the jets when it mattered.

If Chance Dennis can get 12 targets again this week, it could get ugly. The GSC's most proven commodity at receiver went off for 155 yards last week. Now that Micah Davis knows he can go to the well often with his top wide out, will he? And could less sharing of the football and this be the key to consistency?

Prediction: DSU wins 33-20

Saturday 7:00 pm Can't Let Girls Sleep on Couches at North Alabama

It's-a-gonna-get-ugly. Kale Gelles is an absolute stud for the team heading to UNA this week. He is as good of a running back as there is in the country and the option offense he is in has to be a concern for the Lions.

With a lot of Division I transfers, UNA players have rarely seen an option offense. In the last few years they have struggled against this type of offense. What will bail them out this year is more chemistry on defense and an offense that has no problem going shot for shot.

Gelles can't play defense, leaving his team in trouble with this high powered UNA offense. I smell a career day for UNA running back Antwan Ivey. The more the ball is in his hands, the less likely Lee Chapple is to throw a pick.

Prediction: UNA 35-17

Saturday 7:00 pm The Mules are the ones doing the riding at Valdosta State

New conference, same team for the boys from Magnolia. They will look to Mark Johnson to carry the load offensively on the ground and hope he can do anything against a high energy Valdosta State defense.

The fact that VSU's opponent's quarterback has thrown seven interceptions through three games is not a good sign for them. With a secondary led by Harrison Dreiling, Matt Pierce and Alex Webster, quarterback Tyler Sykora could be adding three or four more interceptions to his stat sheet.

This is a perfect time for the VSU running game to grab an early lead. Expect both Theseus Jackson and David Bailey to get plenty of touches, with big gains.

Prediction: VSU 28-7 wins

Saturday 7:00 pm West Alabama at Nobody in Wonder for decades

This is the toughest game to gauge this week. UWA's opponent gave Delta State a scare last week but are susceptible to mistakes. They will try and get the ball to AJ Whitmore who has five touchdowns and is averaging 90 receiving yards per contest through three games.

Unfortunately for West Alabama, the strength of their game in in their front seven. Shontral Ford's help over the top will be crucial for the Tiger defense. If he can help his cornerbacks slow down Whitmore, UWA will be able to let their offense do the talking.

Karl Birkenfeld did the work against Central State last week, is this now his job? Or was that a play to rest Johnston and avoid an injury? Either way, as long as Matt Willis can get his touches, it seems like West Alabama can offer a balanced attack.

Prediction: UWA wins 28-24

Saturday 7:00 pm No Buisson, who cares? at West Georgia

Scott Buisson left that school that was on the credit card commercial for their odd mascot, so is there anyone left that matters? He put that school on the tiny map it was on with his dominant play for four years and it seems as though Hunter Leppert is looking like a quality replacement. Leppert is completing 60 percent of his passes, averaging 257 passing yards a game and has thrown five touchdowns without being intercepted.

His top target DJ Stephens may be too much for UWG to handle this week. He's averaging 7 receptions a game, 89 yards and has scored a touchdown in each contest so far in 2011. The Wolves are good enough on offense to go shot for shot with their opponent. But the defense and specifically their secondary, who are entering their prime after playing right away as freshmen and sophomores, have to be at the top of their game.

Prediction: UWG loses 31-24