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Overall this seems like it should be a pretty good week of football. Most of the matchups are closer to parity than the last two weeks.
Wayne State at Concordia-St. Paul - After their performance the first two weeks I really thought that the Golden Bears would have put up more of a fight in Mankato. I didn't expect them to win, obviously, but I figured they would score more than they did. Wayne has been about what I figured they would be this season: a scrappy team that may not be on top of the conference, but one that is going to win some games and be a thorn in the side for a few. Last year this would be a real easy pick. This year, not so much. I'm thinking that playing at home Concordia bounces back from last week and wins this one in a close match.
Sioux Falls at Augustana - Game of the year for fans of these two teams. Augie has a potent passing attack. USF has the best rushing attack in the NSIC. USF's defense isn't as lights-out as in year's past, but is solid. Augie's defense has given up a lot of points. USF's special teams is aptly named, as they've done more harm than good this season. I think this is going to be a close and entertaining game. I think USF wins as long as they score more touchdowns. If it comes down to relying on the kicking game then advantage Augie. But I've got to pick one so I'm going with the homer pick.
Minnesota State-Mankato at Winona State - I don't think Winona is quite the team they were last year. They were gifted the USF win by inept Coo kicking, then surprisingly lost to UIU. That being said, I think they rebound from that loss at home and play tougher this week. 'Kato is finding their rhythm though, and while the Warriors may play tough I think the Mavericks take this one on the road.
Upper Iowa at Southwest Minnesota State - This has the makings of a pretty evenly matched game. Neither team has much for defense. Both teams rely more on their passing game. Frankly I could see this one going either way as well. Seeing as it's been over a year since SMSU last had a win, I'm going to play the odds and take the Peacocks even though they're on the road.
St. Cloud State at Northern State - Frankly neither of these teams has turned out to be what I thought they would be before the season started. SCSU has a better record, but Northern has played a (very slightly) tougher schedule. Hard to pick either, but I think the Huskies have a little more in them at this point in the season. I may come back and change this one, though.
Minnesota-Crookston at Minot State - Easiest pick of the week. Minot gets their 2nd win of the year and moves to an even record, which they will get to savor for one week before they start playing their games against the NSIC south.
Minnesota State-Moorhead at Mary - Second easiest pick of the week. I kind of see Moorhead in the similar vein to WSC: not the top of the conference but a scrappy solid middle of the conference team that's going to win some games. Mary is struggling and (maybe?) showing a bit more life under their new leadership than last season's team. I think Mary will score a bit, but I think the Dragons win this one in Fargo.
Bemidji State at Minnesota-Duluth - Both Bemidji and Duluth have had the benefit of a pretty soft schedule so far this season. The next five games or so should give us a better idea of who they really are. Few teams win in Duluth, though, so I have to pick the Bulldogs. On paper this should be a pretty good game, though.
Wayne State at Concordia-St. Paul - After their performance the first two weeks I really thought that the Golden Bears would have put up more of a fight in Mankato. I didn't expect them to win, obviously, but I figured they would score more than they did. Wayne has been about what I figured they would be this season: a scrappy team that may not be on top of the conference, but one that is going to win some games and be a thorn in the side for a few. Last year this would be a real easy pick. This year, not so much. I'm thinking that playing at home Concordia bounces back from last week and wins this one in a close match.
Sioux Falls at Augustana - Game of the year for fans of these two teams. Augie has a potent passing attack. USF has the best rushing attack in the NSIC. USF's defense isn't as lights-out as in year's past, but is solid. Augie's defense has given up a lot of points. USF's special teams is aptly named, as they've done more harm than good this season. I think this is going to be a close and entertaining game. I think USF wins as long as they score more touchdowns. If it comes down to relying on the kicking game then advantage Augie. But I've got to pick one so I'm going with the homer pick.
Minnesota State-Mankato at Winona State - I don't think Winona is quite the team they were last year. They were gifted the USF win by inept Coo kicking, then surprisingly lost to UIU. That being said, I think they rebound from that loss at home and play tougher this week. 'Kato is finding their rhythm though, and while the Warriors may play tough I think the Mavericks take this one on the road.
Upper Iowa at Southwest Minnesota State - This has the makings of a pretty evenly matched game. Neither team has much for defense. Both teams rely more on their passing game. Frankly I could see this one going either way as well. Seeing as it's been over a year since SMSU last had a win, I'm going to play the odds and take the Peacocks even though they're on the road.
St. Cloud State at Northern State - Frankly neither of these teams has turned out to be what I thought they would be before the season started. SCSU has a better record, but Northern has played a (very slightly) tougher schedule. Hard to pick either, but I think the Huskies have a little more in them at this point in the season. I may come back and change this one, though.
Minnesota-Crookston at Minot State - Easiest pick of the week. Minot gets their 2nd win of the year and moves to an even record, which they will get to savor for one week before they start playing their games against the NSIC south.
Minnesota State-Moorhead at Mary - Second easiest pick of the week. I kind of see Moorhead in the similar vein to WSC: not the top of the conference but a scrappy solid middle of the conference team that's going to win some games. Mary is struggling and (maybe?) showing a bit more life under their new leadership than last season's team. I think Mary will score a bit, but I think the Dragons win this one in Fargo.
Bemidji State at Minnesota-Duluth - Both Bemidji and Duluth have had the benefit of a pretty soft schedule so far this season. The next five games or so should give us a better idea of who they really are. Few teams win in Duluth, though, so I have to pick the Bulldogs. On paper this should be a pretty good game, though.
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