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Enjoy the long, football weekend!
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Well, Gang, another year is upon us. Hard to believe, but this is my tenth year of somehow being involved with covering the league. I'd love to still be doing the column out here...the blessings of where I am in my life simply preclude. Will get back at'er some time or another! Plus, be sure and chip in for Brandon...he'll find someone to take over the mantle soon, I'm sure.
Of course, if you haven't followed @GLIACFootball yet on Twitter, give it a look. I try to keep a few things flowing with that. Plus, the GLIAC Media Day page is good too. Get yourself a GameDay, preseason fix if you haven't already.
All right, enough plugs...on to a few picks! SVSU - Thanks for stepping up and tallying the picks every week. Yeoman's work, My Friend!
Mercyhurst @ Ashland - Tarnowski and Settlemire are scary enough. But Shaheen may be the best TE in the country. Eagles will come out ready to go, and the PA version of the Lakers head home remembering why they didn't want to hang around the GLIAC in the first place.
Tiffin @ Grand Valley State - GV has a whole lotta folks back, and the O should be plenty potent. But, Pipken is likely the best returning player in the league and TU has pretty much everyone back also. And, while the Dragon D has been a weak spot, it tends to be even more so LATE (not early) in the season when depth becomes an issue. I like GV here, but this one could well be interesting.
Ohio Dominican @ Ferris State - Game of the Week in the league, IMO. As I said in my preview on Ferris, anyone who thinks they'll drop off after losing JVL does so at their own peril. TA is a master between the lines. While I don't think they'll be immediately as good as they were last year on O, their D is sick. ODU will be tough this year and could win tomorrow, but I'd like them better if they were at home and if this were AFTER they could see some tape on what the Bulldogs will do this year on O.
Northern Michigan @ Lake Erie - If Shaye Brown has any chemistry with his receivers, he could throw for a whole bunch-a-yards on Saturday. While I tend to always feel like the "Troll Effect" is good for seven to ten points against Northern, I still don't think that makes up the difference here. Gimme the 'Cats.
Walsh @ Michigan Tech - Brandon Cowie is back at the helm, and he has some weapons. If Walsh has had a claim to fame in this league, it's been an above average defense...not sure if that will matter in this one. Tech, at home, fully healthy...a good bet.
Wayne State @ Northwood - This isn't the "game of the week", but it may well be the most interesting match-up of the week. Why? Think about it...this is exactly the kind of game that when you look at it on paper, you think "Wayne...for sure". And then they go out and lose. @ Northwood last year, @ Northern in 2014, @ Lake Erie in 2013. You know? I don't think it happens in this one, particularly with Zezula having a year under his belt, and the Woodies breaking in a new starting QB...could mean a sneaky option attack that could cause issues, but still give me Wayne @ home.
Saginaw Valley @ Findlay - Look, while I get a little edgy about Northwood above, this is the closest I'm coming to an upset special. Why? Because I watched a lot of teams in this league play last year and I saw a TON of heart from SV every game. Truth be told, I didn't see the same weekly from Findlay. That in and of itself could be the difference. I'm gonna take the Oilers at home with Rhys Gervais (no idea who is starting at QB for SV), but something about it smells to me. I guess until I see otherwise, SV still only has three wins in the last two seasons...
Indianapolis @ Hillsdale - While UIndy has a ton back, the five starters they lost were all multi-year ALL-GLVC guys. And, most importantly, their QB and best WR/all-purpose guy are gone. Hillsdale has lost three straight in this series, but Lou Brown and I "gotta hunch they're due".
Chagas won four straight to close out 2015, have a solid QB and RB, and get a QB in his first college start on the road at Muddy Waters. Digging the GLIAC homer pick here.
Enjoy the weekend, Folks! Weather looks ridiculously good this weekend...get out and enjoy a ballgame! As always, follow things at the GLIAC Week 1 GameDay homepage.