What are the games of the week this week?

[Predatory Primates]

They don't have to be top 25, but post the games that you think will be really good from your conference or area.

I'll start it off.
From the MIAA, I expect MW vs. Hays to be a close one.

[Predatory Primates]

Maybe a mod can get rid of the date and time thing for me. No idea how that happened?

[Purple Mav Man]

NSIC: Wayne at MSU-Moorhead should be a fun battle of high level QBs. That game might get to 1000 total yards of offense.

[Turbonium]

UTPB @ Pueblo should be a good one

[Finchwidget]

This is more of a personal preference so others may definitely disagree with me here, but I'm always sort of fascinated by games between two teams that are both equally bad. Even though the stakes are lower than a match between two good teams, it still gives both teams something to strive for, whether that's using this game as a springboard to turn their fortunes around and get more wins later down the line or just avoiding the shame of finishing winless.

That said, I'm particularly interested in Bluefield State @ Concord, and not just for personal reasons. Both teams started last season with above average expectations (Concord coming off a 9 win 2022 campaign and Bluefield State walking all over Livingstone in their first ever game in the CIAA), and both teams completely fell on their face meeting them, with both of them finishing with only 1 win each. They're both from South WV, and they both also have relatively new head coaches, with Concords in his 2nd year and Blue States in his 1st. A win for either team would be an improvement and could help set the tone for the rest of the season, while a loss will likely mean another long football season ahead for the loser.

[EveryCatAWildman]

Bemidji @ MN State - I think fairly easily the best game in the nation for the week. Both playoff teams from last year trying to get the first leg up in the NSIC.

Permian-Basin @ CSU Pueblo - UTPB was a playoff team last year, CSU Pueblo just missed under first year coach Phillip Virgil so looking to set themselves up in year 2.

MO West @ FHSU - game of the week in the best conference

Angelo @ Emporia - Angelo on the road for the second week in a row to an MIAA team, both teams will probably look better than last weeks showing so this should be a good one.

WT A&M @ CO Mines - Texas got a game under their belt and most improvement is usually from game 1 to 2...CO Mines opening may start off sluggish making for a possible upset?

Midwest TX @ Western CO - same scenario as above Midwest has a game already Western does not.

NW MO @ Kearney - Just hoping to see the wheels fall of NW MO completely in an otherwise uninteresting game

[LegalRam]

For the CIAA two stick out to me:

UNCP (MEC) at Fayetteville State - This is a rivalry game as the schools are about 45 minutes apart, both schools are predicted to finish towards the top of their conferences, and even though UNCP holds a 9-1 advantage the majority of these games have been decided by a TD or less.

VA Union at Hampton (FCS - CAA) - Hampton used to be in the CIAA until they moved up in the 90's, plus the schools are only about an hour and a half away. Union beat Hampton in 2019 and was tied with them until the 4th quarter in 2021. Union is pretty loaded this year and has a very good chance to win this game.

[cwfenn]

UTPB at Pueblo might be the best game this week.

I’m probably biased here, but don’t sleep on New Haven at Slippery Rock. Rock is really good, but New Haven was the top NE10 team last year.

[laker]

Bemidji State at MN State Mankato 6 PM Saturday. Both playoff teams from last year.

And don't sleep on Wayne State at MN State Moorhead Thursday night. Wayne beat Augustana last year and Moorhead was 7-4 and lost at the Mavericks on a last second field goal. Two great quarterbacks.

[Predatory Primates]

This is more of a personal preference so others may definitely disagree with me here, but I'm always sort of fascinated by games between two teams that are both equally bad. Even though the stakes are lower than a match between two good teams, it still gives both teams something to strive for, whether that's using this game as a springboard to turn their fortunes around and get more wins later down the line or just avoiding the shame of finishing winless.

That said, I'm particularly interested in Bluefield State @ Concord, and not just for personal reasons. Both teams started last season with above average expectations (Concord coming off a 9 win 2022 campaign and Bluefield State walking all over Livingstone in their first ever game in the CIAA), and both teams completely fell on their face meeting them, with both of them finishing with only 1 win each. They're both from South WV, and they both also have relatively new head coaches, with Concords in his 2nd year and Blue States in his 1st. A win for either team would be an improvement and could help set the tone for the rest of the season, while a loss will likely mean another long football season ahead for the loser.

I like a good match up. Even if both teams are winless.

I especially like it when these matchups happen later in the season.

[ShepAlum]

I’m probably biased here, but don’t sleep on New Haven at Slippery Rock. Rock is really good, but New Haven was the top NE10 team last year.

This is an important matchup. For two teams who have a very, very good shot at making the playoffs each season, games like this help decide ranking/seeding/who has to travel and who gets to play at home.

[ShepAlum]

The above pretty much hit on the big games/matchups of the week.

The IUP @ Ashland game was one I had tagged, and I had it streaming on my tablet (Ashland has a good broadcast). Two teams that are contenders year in and year out in SR1 (final year for GMAC), and this was a game that could have significant implications come end of the season.

An under the radar game I plan to keep an eye on/seek the result is Lock Haven (PSAC) @ Glenville State (MEC). Lock Haven has been a doormat for the PSAC, and DII football in general for many, many years. Last year they made significant strides and had, for them, an incredible season. Glenville State tends to be a middle-tier MEC team, and I’m curious to see how Lock Haven builds on last year’s success. It’s a big game for them in terms of setting the tone and riding the wave.

[BisonBones]

GAC had all their week 1 games last night. Arkansas was 6-0 against Oklahoma.

The game of the week was Tech vs OkBU because it was the only one expected to be close. Tech won in OT.

SAU only winning by 1 score against SEOSU is likely to raise eyebrows. SAU seemed ready to compete for a playoff spot this year, but maybe SEOSU has stepped out of mediocrity, hoping to knock off one of the top 3?

[OldBison]

I don’t see anything in the GAC that rises to this level of importance although the SEOSU at Henderson State next Saturday could be interesting considering the game SEOSU gave So. Ark. last night.

[Predatory Primates]

Pitt/ESU might be a good one in the MIAA.

A good one between 2 teams who have struggled the last 2 weeks would be MoSouthern at MoWest.