I really wanted to post something like this prior to last night's game, but I ran out of time. Wife, kids, house...a "real" job (which I wish writing this was) kinda got in the way. Stinkin' adulthood. Oh well, we'll give it a whirl anyway without any influence from last nights results. I'm thinking it'll be fun to do this again at the beginning of October and November to see how things shape up from month to month during the season.

Tiffin - Sorry, TU fans, but until I see something interesting the Dragons are a SELL. Iowa State transfer James Capello should be an improvement talent-wise at the quarterback position, but the jury is very much out on the offensive line...not to mention the playmakers (or lack thereof) to get the ball to.

Findlay - While the season the Oilers endured was frighteningly poor in 2010, I'm actually willing to BUY them at this point. The new coaching staff has made some solid impressions so far, and nine starters return on defense. Add to that the fact that Monterae Williams had over 1,000 yards despite playing for one of the worst offenses in school history, and there is actually quite a bit to build on. If that wasn't enough, there is also the insertion of a quarterback with the most ability an Oiler QB has had in many seasons (Clay Belton). Considering all of that, it seems likely that UF will be able to win a least a few games this season...far better than the one they did last year.

Ohio Dominican - Despite returning all eleven starters on a offense that runs the ball pretty well (Jeremy Fudge and Mike Noffsinger do most of the heavy lifting), I want to see some more from the Panthers before taking any sides...HOLD. The defense allowed almost 30 points per game a year ago, and I'm not confident yet that without a drastic defensive improvement the O will be able to score enough points to win a few more games.

Northwood - Aaron Shavers and Quilan Mathis are talents, no doubt. But much like ODU I have The Woodies as a HOLD...and for the same reason: I need to see something that shows me the defense will be better than the 32.3 points per game they allowed last year. I just don't see the offense being able to overcome that kind of scoring by the opposition week in and week out. With that said, The Woodbone is still the only true option-based offense left in the league and the challenge that presents for teams in defensive preparation always seems to allow them to generate a ton of rushing yards every year and a team that can be competitive.

Lake Erie - I'm a BUY on The Storm. This team is loaded with seniors who were the original recruiting class of the program, and they want to go out on the right note. Sean Bedevelsky proved last year that if he's running right he's plenty tough to stop, so as long as he's healthy I think LEC can challenge for a .500 record. Don't forget, he led the GLIAC in all-purpose yardage at more than 290 yards per game and I like the odds of those yards netting more scoring this year. Yes, the defense definitely needs to improve, but even if they get a little better they have the offense to score plenty of points.

Ferris State - While the Bulldogs return 16 starters and have an experienced, senior quarterback in Tom Schneider, I'm a HOLD on Ferris. When they hit the more difficult portion of their schedule last year they dropped five straight to close out the season. That doesn't mean they'll fold again this year, but until I see them win a couple of games over teams from the top half of the league I have to maintain some skepticism.

Indianapolis - There seems to be a different feel to the Greyhounds under Barb Bartolomeo, and a positive one. Add in some improving quarterback play and a typically stingy defense and the signs are there for me to have them as a buy. With that said, I'm a HOLD at this point. I'm a big fan of trends, and the trend on UIndy is that they always seem to wind up somewhere between 4-7 and 7-4. While 7-4 would equate to an improvement over last year's 6-5 I'd still like to see what they do over the next few weeks before shelling out any dough to own stock.

Saginaw Valley - Certainly last year's result was well below the standard that the Cardinals have expected over the past decade. With that said, I'm still a HOLD on their return to league prominence. SV does return their top rusher in Ronnie Lark and a couple of key playmakers in the passing game, including Jonathon Jennings who started the last few games of 2010 at quarterback. With that said, Jennings will be just a sophomore with some maturation to come. More importantly, the defense allowed more than 28 points per game last year. 4-7 and giving up 28 points per game has not been the SV trend, and that's why I'm not a sell on them. However, what I saw of them a year ago doesn't instill enough confidence that I'm willing to be a buyer yet either.

Northern Michigan - I'm a BUY on Northern, albeit a soft one. The defense was tops in the league a year ago, and that will always keep you in the game. My issue with the Wildcats is the offense. I couldn't begin to tell you who is supposed to emerge as their go to ball carrier, and they are thin at wide-out as well. Add in an offensive line that really struggled during 2010 and I should have less confidence in them than I do...that's how much Carter Kopach means to this team, and his return is the key to NMU's prospects for 2011.

Michigan Tech - Husky-Nation should be bullish on this year, coming off a solid 8-2 campaign a year ago which included saddling Grand Valley with their only conference loss. I don't blame them if they are, but I'm a bit more cautious. Tech is a HOLD to me, but barely...and I'm itching to be a seller. I do feel like Tom Kearly has built something solid and they should be consistently competiive every year. But beyond that, the offense has to be viewed as a question mark as two program greats must be replaced in Steve Short and Phil Milbrath. Short was, for all intents and purposes, a five+ year starter at quarterback and Milbrath led the GLIAC in rushing a year ago. Tyler Scarlett and Akeem Cason will be charged with carrying the torch at those respective postiions, and while Cason has seen some solid time over the last couple of years both players are essentially unproven. Add in no true playmaking threat on the edge and the offense really will be under fire early in the season. Now, I will admit that the Huskies are returning ten starters on the league's #2 defense from 2010 and a great defense will almost always keep you in games. However, I mentioned earlier I'm a big fan of trends. Prior to last year's stellar performance (allowed 16.6 points per game) the Husky defense had been dismal, allowing 28.5 ppg in 2007, 29.3 ppg in 2008, and 32.2 ppg in 2009. THAT is a trend, and not a good one. So, have the Huskies established a new trend or did they just have one good year? I want to see more before I decide and believe one way or the other.

Ashland - For a lot of the same reasons as Michigan Tech, I'm a HOLD on Ashland as well. I think Taylor Housewright could be a great quarterback in this league and D.J. McCoy is a terrific back. With that said, the offensive line has a few spots to fill and there is little to no experience in the Eagle receiving corps which has been outstanding for several seasons. Most importantly, I'm going to play the trend card again with the defense. The Eagles were solid last year, but allowed at least 27.2 points per game in each of the three prior seasons...again, that's a trend. I'll also caution folks that while what the D did last year was more than solid, it did take advantage of a schedule that included four teams that combined to win seven games...and three of those teams finished at the bottom of the GLIAC in scoring offense. That's not anyone's fault, but it can't be overlooked either. I'd like to see what happens during September before I'm willing to shift any money in a particular direction on the Eagles.

Wayne State - The Warriors are loaded with experienced talent on both sides of the ball. They have a great running back in Josh Renel, talent on the edge with Troy Burrell and Ohio State transfer James Jackson, and perhaps the best offensive line in the league. Toss in a solid defense that includes pre-season All-Americans Jeremy Jones (CB) and Nick Thomas (LB), and it's hard not to want to BUY stock in WSU. If we want to talk trends again, the Warriors have been trending upwards over the past few seasons...but into uncharted territory for the program, as the nine win total of 2010 set a school single season records for wins. If they can handle the transition to being a target this year, Coach Winters and crew should have a great chance to be solidly on the playoff radar come November.

Hillsdale - Change is very much afoot for the Chargers as well, primarily because of the losses of quarterback Troy Weatherhead and receiver Andre Holmes. What isn't changing is their offense, which is based on short passes and runnng the ball a ton. Joe Glendening is back to handle most of the ground work, so while the replacements at quarterback and receiver have big shoes to fill the basic nature of Hillsdale's offense makes those changes a bit easier to make. While their defense has shown they can keep the team in games, it hasn't proven it can win them. I'm a HOLD, but similar to Tech and Ashland I'm really uneasy about it.

Grand Valley - Despite having to break in a new quarterback, the Lakers are flush at the rest of the skill positions. Norman Shuford is a proven commodity at RB, as are Greg Gay and Jovonne Augustus on the edge. Most important for the Lakers is the return of Danny Richard, Andre Thomas and Brandon Allen to the defensive front, which is now a position group that runs as many as eight or nine deep. Add in a coaching staff that should be more settled entering its second season at the helm and I have to say I'm a slight BUY on Grand Valley. It's hard to say something like that with an 11-win team, but I really do see signs that Grand Valley should be improved over last year. We'll know more about them...just like everyone else over the next few weeks.

Well, that's a swing at that folks. I hope everyone enjoyed it. We'll try it again in a month or so after we've had a chance to take a REAL look at everyone, versus just speculating and formulating on paper.