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A couple tough picks this week for me. Of course, as already has been pointed out, the NSIC is drunk this season so who knows what surprises await us.
Minnesota State-Moorhead at Concordia-St. Paul (12:00) - Moorhead has been dropping a lot of games they could have/should have won this season. Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, CSP has been dropping nearly all their games. I don't think Moorhead is going to lose this one.
Sioux Falls at Wayne State (1:00) - A week ago I would have said this probably would have been a much easier pick. Then the Coo goes into Mankato and manhandles the Mavericks, and Wayne goes into UIU and somehow drops a game to a (at that point) winless squad. Suddenly the pick gets murkier. I will say that Wayne losing is probably not a good situation for USF as now the Wildcats are probably pretty angry and looking to try and salvage their playoff hopes. The Coo has been really inconsistent. Sometimes they look like a juggernaut, and sometimes you're scratching your head wondering. Similar to what I've said in weeks past, I think the outcome of this game depends on which USF team gets off the bus. If it's the team that played against Augie, Mary and 'Kato, then USF rolls. If it's the team that played against Bemidji, Northern and Winona, then I think it will be all Wayne. I'm picking Wayne just because if the Coo loses I'll have a small consolation prize in getting the pick correct.
Minnesota State-Mankato at Southwest Minnesota State (1:00) - Oddly enough, overall Mankato has played better on the road this season. SMSU is still struggling. Now they get an upset Maverick squad coming in to Marshall. I have a feeling this won't be close.
Augustana at Minnesota-Duluth (1:00) - GOTW? Quite possibly. A Viking loss could throw the NSIC playoff picture into complete turmoil. Duluth is solid, but not elite. The VIkings this year are a much more complete team and should win this one, although I doubt it will be a cakewalk. Of course, I also said the same thing when they played against USF, so who knows?
Upper Iowa at Winona State (1:00) - UIU managed to get their first win of the season last Saturday, which means no NSIC team will finish the season without a win. Winona fought a hard game against Augie but came up short. I suspect Wayne went to Upper Iowa completely overlooking the Peacocks. I don't think the Warriors will make the same mistake. However, perhaps UIU having a taste of victory is starting to put some things together? I think Winona wins, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if UIU makes them work for it.
Bemidji State at Northern State (1:00) - Another good matchup. With Wayne's loss that really opens the door for the Green Beavers to make the playoffs, as long as they don't lose another game. Northern has been surprisingly inconsistent, going down early in games and then having to claw their way back. Both teams appear to be better at offense than they are at defense. I think Bemidji will take this one but I don't think it will be a cakewalk.
Minot State at Mary (2:00) - Minot was mostly dominated in their first four games, but in the last five they've been a lot more competitive (even winning one.) They surprised me in Duluth, putting up much more of a fight than I expected they would. Good for them. To me, Mary feels like a better team than their 3-6 record would indicate. The Marauders have one of the better offenses in the league. This feels like it's going to be a competitive game. I'm picking Mary, but a Red Beaver win wouldn't surprise me either.
Minnesota State-Moorhead at Concordia-St. Paul (12:00) - Moorhead has been dropping a lot of games they could have/should have won this season. Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, CSP has been dropping nearly all their games. I don't think Moorhead is going to lose this one.
Sioux Falls at Wayne State (1:00) - A week ago I would have said this probably would have been a much easier pick. Then the Coo goes into Mankato and manhandles the Mavericks, and Wayne goes into UIU and somehow drops a game to a (at that point) winless squad. Suddenly the pick gets murkier. I will say that Wayne losing is probably not a good situation for USF as now the Wildcats are probably pretty angry and looking to try and salvage their playoff hopes. The Coo has been really inconsistent. Sometimes they look like a juggernaut, and sometimes you're scratching your head wondering. Similar to what I've said in weeks past, I think the outcome of this game depends on which USF team gets off the bus. If it's the team that played against Augie, Mary and 'Kato, then USF rolls. If it's the team that played against Bemidji, Northern and Winona, then I think it will be all Wayne. I'm picking Wayne just because if the Coo loses I'll have a small consolation prize in getting the pick correct.
Minnesota State-Mankato at Southwest Minnesota State (1:00) - Oddly enough, overall Mankato has played better on the road this season. SMSU is still struggling. Now they get an upset Maverick squad coming in to Marshall. I have a feeling this won't be close.
Augustana at Minnesota-Duluth (1:00) - GOTW? Quite possibly. A Viking loss could throw the NSIC playoff picture into complete turmoil. Duluth is solid, but not elite. The VIkings this year are a much more complete team and should win this one, although I doubt it will be a cakewalk. Of course, I also said the same thing when they played against USF, so who knows?
Upper Iowa at Winona State (1:00) - UIU managed to get their first win of the season last Saturday, which means no NSIC team will finish the season without a win. Winona fought a hard game against Augie but came up short. I suspect Wayne went to Upper Iowa completely overlooking the Peacocks. I don't think the Warriors will make the same mistake. However, perhaps UIU having a taste of victory is starting to put some things together? I think Winona wins, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if UIU makes them work for it.
Bemidji State at Northern State (1:00) - Another good matchup. With Wayne's loss that really opens the door for the Green Beavers to make the playoffs, as long as they don't lose another game. Northern has been surprisingly inconsistent, going down early in games and then having to claw their way back. Both teams appear to be better at offense than they are at defense. I think Bemidji will take this one but I don't think it will be a cakewalk.
Minot State at Mary (2:00) - Minot was mostly dominated in their first four games, but in the last five they've been a lot more competitive (even winning one.) They surprised me in Duluth, putting up much more of a fight than I expected they would. Good for them. To me, Mary feels like a better team than their 3-6 record would indicate. The Marauders have one of the better offenses in the league. This feels like it's going to be a competitive game. I'm picking Mary, but a Red Beaver win wouldn't surprise me either.
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