Saturday (In order of time)

Tusculum (0-0, 0-0 SAC) @ UrbanaBo Cordell is back. For two more years. He went out in the third game last year with a foot injury and got a redshirt. Backup Torrey SlavenFrankie DeBusk was sticking with Cordell and Slaven is no longer listed on the Pioneer roster. No word on where he transferred.

Cordell returns but no longer flanked out to his right and left are future Pioneer hall of famers in Rashaad Carter and . Statistically,running back Brian Marshall is the leading returning receiver. Xzanvion SmithMike IezziDavid Taynor.Prediction : Tusculum 28, Urbana 24

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Catawba (0-0, 0-0 SAC) @ West Liberty (0-0, 0-0 WVIAC)
1:00 p.m. - West Liberty, West Va.
SAC Members Picks = CAT (12) over WL (8)
Spread = Catawba (-4.5)
Last meeting = Never

Catawba took a step back in 2011 after a solid 2010 campaign, finishing 2-5 in the SAC with just one non-conference win. They struggled down the stretch again, finishing 1-4 in 2011 after 0-2 in 2010. Catawba seemed like they never could mesh together at the right times, especially on offense.

Quarterback Jacob Charest returns for his second season under center and can only hope for a major improvement in 2012. The first season under Charest turned out to be the worst offensive season in the Chip Hester era. Catawba scored just 206 points in 11 games, ranking 126th in Division II. Lenoir-Rhyne quarterback Major Herron, who ran the option, tossed more touchdown passes than Charest. The good news is Charest will have four offensive linemen back along with brother Nate Charest back at wide out. The offense must get better in the red zone, after converting just 65 percent of opportunities. Charest is a good runner and moved out of the pocket frequently and it will be interesting how much that continues in 2012. Bobby Morrison will take over as tailback and needs to have a good year to balance out the offense.

A pair of former defensive freshman of the year in CJ Barksdale and Damien Lee will lead a veteran crew on the front line. The loss of Lakeem Perry definitely hurts but expect senior Cory Johnson to step up as the leader in the middle. LJ McCrayLD Crow is back and pressure is on after 23 interceptions in 2011. Leading receiver Brandon SchroederPrediction : Catawba 21, West Liberty 17

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Wingate (0-0, 0-0 SAC) @ Cody Haffly, who could go down as one of the best to ever play in the SAC. Redshirt-junior Robbie NallenwegChris BowdenTyron Laughinghouse. He is the leading receiver , kick returner, and punt returner. You have to wonder if he can handle all three all season long. That is a lot of abuse and plays. Quarterback Teddy Bacote is in his third year as starter and is already the school record holder in touchdowns. Star junior linebacker Chaz Robinson went over the century mark in tackles last year and leads the physical defensive unit for coach Michael Costa.

This is another one of many interesting and hard to predict games. WU has only lost once in the 11 season openers for Joe ReichPrediction : None (Calling game)

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Brevard (0-0, 0-0 SAC) @ PresbyterianAaron Reese is one of seven returning starters on offense and should be ready to improve in his second full season as starter. Reese had good success in his first season in triple option but must improve decision making through the air (46 percent). It is easy to see how important the four to six passes a game can be in an option style offense. Reese has a major threat in stud wide receiver Eric Watts, who caught 33 passes last year, up 15 from his 2010 total. Watts also hauled in 8 touchdown receptions last season, easily the most for a wide out in the Hamilton era. Former SAC freshman of the year Kelvin JeterPrince Simunyu, Michael Gist or Christian Lumbu. All three were all-conference and major contributors, with Simunyu collecting 112 stops, including 11 for loss. Lumbu helped BC finish second in sacks. The Tornados will rely heavily on Rufus Jenkins to lead this young defense to another top three SAC ranking. The first focus should be getting better on third down, after ranking last in the league last season.

There is a ton of excitement in Blue Hose country after Presbyterian turned in a school record (at D1 level) four wins and are now full-fledged Division I members. PC returns 17 starters for a team that is already talking about Big South Championships. The quarterback situation is still a major concern with PC, having two redshirt-freshman listed on the depth chart. They will have experienced backs and receivers to help relieve the pressure but the Blue Hose will go as far as the rookie QB takes them. The difference at their level of Division I defense always turns to physicality, something they must have to make a run at the Big South.

Brevard played well against Gardner-Webb the last two seasons and I think they will again versus PC. Of the 17 returning starters for the Blue Hose, eight are on offense. As I mentioned earlier, BC only has three defensive starters back. Bad news for the Tornados. I like BC to find the end zone a couple times but not enough in Clinton on Saturday.

Prediction : Presbyterian 45, Brevard 21

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Elizabeth City St. (0-0, 0-0 CIAA) @ Newberry (0-0, 0-0 SAC)
6:30 p.m. - Newberry, S.C.
SAC Members Picks = NC (14) over ECSU (6)
Spread = Newberry (-3)
Last meeting = Newberry 49, ECSU 33 (2006)

After turning in five straight winning seasons, the Wolves have stumbled to consecutive 4-6 seasons. Hidden in the 2011 record was yet another brutal non-conference schedule but on the other side a solid 4-3 record and a third place finish in the South Atlantic Conference. Even deeper inside the numbers will show that Newberry lost the last five games of season by average of five points. This team was close in 2011 and has to be using that as their motivation. The coaches have spoken as well, picking them to be back in the top three.

In 2009 when Newberry finished 6-4, quarterback Brandon Gantt took 96 percent of the snaps. In the past two seasons due to injury and inconsistency, four different Wolves have been under center for at least 28 plays. After Bryan Ehrlich has transferred, it looks like the offense will be s for the taking. Murden only started two games but completed on 65 percent of his attempts. Newberry threw a SAC high 15 picks last year and must get consistent play from the redshirt freshman to direct the number five offense from a year ago. The Wolves need help at wide out with pro prospect Brandon Bostick moving on after catching seven of the 14 TD passes from a year ago. The true bright spot from this unit in 2011 was the offensive line, which returns three starters that only allowed an astonishing five sacks during 306 drop backs in 10 games.

Head coach and defensive coordinator Todd Knight brings back my pick for pre-season defensive player of the year candidate in linebacker Apollo Stretch along with six other starters. Stretch is as good as they come, piling up 105 tackles last year for the Scarlet and Gray. The Newberry defense finished third, fourth, or fifth in almost every defensive category last season. With that being said, the good news is it seems they are just a few adjustments with personnel from getting back to being great. The major advantage they
had was in the red zone, ranking 15th in the nation. Stretch is joined by three other returning starters at linebacker, which will be the strength of the team. Replacing a pair of defensive linemen will be the main focus in the eight man front coach Knight likes to run.

Elizabeth City State is riding high after a playoff berth last year and being pick to win the CIAA north in 2012. All-American Daronte McNeil#23 Lenoir-Rhyne (0-0, 0-0 SAC) @ Concord (0-0, 0-0 WVIAC)
7 p.m. - Athens, West Va.
SAC Members Picks = LRU (17) over CU (3)
Spread = LR (-2.5)
Last meeting : Lenoir-Rhyne 26, Concord 6 (2011)

16 years, multiple coaches, no championships. Enter Mike Houston: one year, one championship. And of course I know Goldsmith had a lot to do with building this team. Houston will try to make it two-for-two as the Bears begin their title defense. LR scored 195 points in the final four games in 2011 and seemed to be blazing their way into the postseason but the season ended without their first ever D2 playoff appearance. One fourth quarter fumble at Tusculum cost them the NCAA spot and with that being said, no need to ask where this team wants to go next.

Three-year backup quarterback Ruben HayesChandler Reardon has graduated but he will be only loss on a very good line. Isaiah Whitaker and Corron BostonArtis Gilmore will step up as the number one receiver in a role that proved to be a huge asset last season. This offense can be great again. Hayes has the blueprint and time will tell if he can build another run towards the postseason.

Coach Houston should once again be excited about his defensive unit. Seven returners are back for the number 10 defense n the nation. LR once again had the defensive player of the year in Demetrius Green who returns for his final year. The Bears lost four starters but have the anchor back at the secondary (Michael Green), linebacker (D. Green) and lineman (Brandon Martin) to lead the new faces. Lenoir-Rhyne forced the least turnovers (shockingly with co-champ Mars Hill) in the league and must find a way to get more takeaways this season if the offense runs into trouble. The Bears biggest asset may have been the ability to close games, allowing only a mind-blowing 21 fourth quarter points in 2011.

Concord is riding high after a winning its first WVIAC title in 22 years and a first-ever playoff berth. The Mountain Lion offense will return plenty of talent and will be an exciting match-up against the vaunted Bear defense. Quarterback Zack GrossiPrediction: #23 Lenoir-Rhyne 30 , Concord 20


-Ryan ( @RyanBrown_PxP )