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Wow, week six already. The season is half over. Time files like an arrow, and fruit flies like a banana.
Northern State @ Concordia-St. Paul - Concordia has had a tough schedule so far this season, already playing USF, Mankato and Duluth. Understandably they dropped those games. However, their program has taken a good jump forward this season. Northern seems to have gone the other direction, with their only win coming against Minot. For that reason I'm taking the Golden Bears at home.
Upper Iowa @ Minot State - I had a very good chat with a Minot fan last weekend during halftime. We talked about the challenges that have faced Minot in the last couple of years. Coach Aldrich seems to have the program heading in the right direction, but they're probably still a couple seasons out from becoming more competitive. The Peacocks have been competitive in some games, but overall have struggled. Despite UIU's inconsistency and the extremely long trip for them to Minot, I'm going to take the Peacocks in this one.
Wayne State @ St. Cloud State - Here's a game that looks a little ho-hum in the hype department, but actually has the potential to be a pretty good game. Both teams seem to be very close to each other ability-wise. I could see either team walking away with this one, but I'm going to go with the upset pick and choose Wayne even though they have a worse record.
Minnesota Duluth @ Augustana - Augie recovered from their Key to the City loss in a big way, taking out their frustrations on Crookston. The Vikings have some firepower on offense, and if they're clicking can be tough to stop. This will likely be the best offense the Bulldogs have seen yet this season. If Augie plays like they did against Mankato, then I think we could see an upset. I think Augie has the potential to do so, but I'm not enough of a gambler so I'm going to go with the safe pick of Duluth.
Sioux Falls @ Bemidji State - Game of the week, IMO. In looking at the stats, both teams look very similar: run 1st offenses that can put up a lot of points. Fairly stingy defenses. On paper it looks fairly evenly matched. USF has had a slightly more difficult schedule. Bemidji will probably be looking for revenge from the last meeting of these two teams when they decided to go for a win with a 2 point conversion at the end of the game and wound up fumbling to lose. USF seems to be finding its groove. Bemidji will be at home for homecoming. This should be a really good matchup and because I have to pick one I'll go with the Coo simply because: Gabe Watson.
U-Mary @ Winona State - Winona is pretty physically banged up, with the loss of key players greatly affecting a team that most considered would be in the thick of the playoff hunt. I'm not saying they're out of it, but so far they just haven't looked like the dominating team that most of us expected them to be this season. Mary is in full-on rebuilding mode. I think this will be a good chance for Winona to get that dominating win that so far has eluded them this season.
Minnesota State @ MSU Moorhead - Last week I picked the Dragons for the upset down at UIU. I don't have the guts to pick them in an upset two weeks in a row. Unfortunately for Moorhead I can see this game being pretty one-sided.
Minnesota Crookston @ Southwest Minnesota State - I think this game might wind up closer than in years past. Crookston's QB seems to be pretty good, which leads to a poor matchup for the SMSU defense. However, I don't think Crookston has the defense to stop the Mustang's offense. This game might be a bit less one sided than we would expect, but I think SMSU comes away with a victory.
Northern State @ Concordia-St. Paul - Concordia has had a tough schedule so far this season, already playing USF, Mankato and Duluth. Understandably they dropped those games. However, their program has taken a good jump forward this season. Northern seems to have gone the other direction, with their only win coming against Minot. For that reason I'm taking the Golden Bears at home.
Upper Iowa @ Minot State - I had a very good chat with a Minot fan last weekend during halftime. We talked about the challenges that have faced Minot in the last couple of years. Coach Aldrich seems to have the program heading in the right direction, but they're probably still a couple seasons out from becoming more competitive. The Peacocks have been competitive in some games, but overall have struggled. Despite UIU's inconsistency and the extremely long trip for them to Minot, I'm going to take the Peacocks in this one.
Wayne State @ St. Cloud State - Here's a game that looks a little ho-hum in the hype department, but actually has the potential to be a pretty good game. Both teams seem to be very close to each other ability-wise. I could see either team walking away with this one, but I'm going to go with the upset pick and choose Wayne even though they have a worse record.
Minnesota Duluth @ Augustana - Augie recovered from their Key to the City loss in a big way, taking out their frustrations on Crookston. The Vikings have some firepower on offense, and if they're clicking can be tough to stop. This will likely be the best offense the Bulldogs have seen yet this season. If Augie plays like they did against Mankato, then I think we could see an upset. I think Augie has the potential to do so, but I'm not enough of a gambler so I'm going to go with the safe pick of Duluth.
Sioux Falls @ Bemidji State - Game of the week, IMO. In looking at the stats, both teams look very similar: run 1st offenses that can put up a lot of points. Fairly stingy defenses. On paper it looks fairly evenly matched. USF has had a slightly more difficult schedule. Bemidji will probably be looking for revenge from the last meeting of these two teams when they decided to go for a win with a 2 point conversion at the end of the game and wound up fumbling to lose. USF seems to be finding its groove. Bemidji will be at home for homecoming. This should be a really good matchup and because I have to pick one I'll go with the Coo simply because: Gabe Watson.
U-Mary @ Winona State - Winona is pretty physically banged up, with the loss of key players greatly affecting a team that most considered would be in the thick of the playoff hunt. I'm not saying they're out of it, but so far they just haven't looked like the dominating team that most of us expected them to be this season. Mary is in full-on rebuilding mode. I think this will be a good chance for Winona to get that dominating win that so far has eluded them this season.
Minnesota State @ MSU Moorhead - Last week I picked the Dragons for the upset down at UIU. I don't have the guts to pick them in an upset two weeks in a row. Unfortunately for Moorhead I can see this game being pretty one-sided.
Minnesota Crookston @ Southwest Minnesota State - I think this game might wind up closer than in years past. Crookston's QB seems to be pretty good, which leads to a poor matchup for the SMSU defense. However, I don't think Crookston has the defense to stop the Mustang's offense. This game might be a bit less one sided than we would expect, but I think SMSU comes away with a victory.
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