Week 7 Predictions- Jay

Jay’s Picks (3 of 4 Week 6, 22 of 28 on the Season

3 out of 4 isn’t bad, but it’s definitely not where I want to be. Furthermore, I really need to put distance in between me and Tommy. By the way, his article is just another piece of journalism brilliance that he has been delivering all year. I hope everyone enjoys loving it, hating it, laughing at it, crying over it, or sending some hate mail our way. You have to love the UMAC. By the way, I haven’t conferred with anyone at UMAC Central, but my vote for most passionate fans/players has to go to Minnesota Morris. They have been carrying a chip on their shoulder all year, and we have been happy to keep adding to it. I think what I am trying to say is…You’re welcome! Now down to the picks.

Presentation @ Minnesota Morris-  This is a game where the Cougars should be able to establish a good running game and whoever is playing QB should be able to find open WR’s anywhere on the field. The Saints defense has been allowing close to 448 yards a game to opposing offenses that are not as good as Minnesota Morris. Look for WR Brandon Foss to have another big game going up against smaller DB’s from Presentation. Morris won’t really be challenged until they play St. Scholastica to end the season. Minnesota Morris 38 Presentation 17

Westminster @ MacMurray- For all the grief I have given MacMurray all year, they have been surprisingly competitive against everyone except Wartburg and the top two teams in the conference. Westminster is like one of those NFL teams that seem like they are playing for the number one pick in the draft. They just kind of seem like they have mailed in the season and are already on to next year.  While Westminster seems ripe for the upset, I just don’t have any faith that MacMurray can finish a game even though it is at home. Westminster might not be an offensive juggernaut but they won’t have a hard time scoring against MacMurray’s defense that allows a UMAC worst 38 points a game in conference play (43.8 points on the season if you count Wartburg as well). I have no clue where they stand in the country for points allowed, but that defense ranks 213^th in the country for yards allowed. What I am trying to get at is that this game will be very close, but I’m just not sure that MacMurray is mature enough to withstand Westminster’s attack for four quarters. Westminster 38 MacMurray 31

Crown @ St. Scholastica- The Saints seemed a little off their game in the win against Westminster probably due to both the weather and possibly residual shock from their loss to Northwestern. The thing is St. Scholastica isn’t out of this race. Not by a long shot. Northwestern faces 3 tough games to finish out the year, and St. Scholastica has to position itself to win the championship. I am not sure what the tie breakers are but even if it comes down to a coin flip, the Saints better take care of business. For Crown, its tough playing back to back games against Northwestern and St. Scholastica. No amount of tweeting will get them through that mess. Although they played their worst “half of a game” of the season last week, they have had a pretty solid season all things considering. This week, tackling should be the focus against the Saints because I truly believe whoever put together the box score last week just threw in a tackle amount to save the Storm from embarrassment. Who really believes Crown got Northwestern players down more than 15 times the entire game? For the Storm, it’s not about winning this game but getting better and building for next year. St. Scholastica 42 Crown 16

Martin Luther @ Northwestern­- QB Luke Rothe reminds me of poor man’s version mix of two Division 1 players: Northwestern’s All-purpose WR/RB/QB Kain Colter and Kansas State’s QB Collin Klein. Rothe has been spectacular doing pretty much anything you can imagine; stopping just short of throwing the ball to himself (he did have one catch for 4 yards last Saturday).  It’s like in high school, when a team just lets their best player run around with the ball until he scores. Not always the best route to go in college football, but hats off to the Martin Luther coaching staff that figured out a way to get some offensive production by switching around some positions. Northwestern figures to score a lot of points, but that Knights defense is underrated and finally has an offense that can score some points. I really like the Knights in this game especially because the non-traditional offense neutralizes Northwestern’s potent pass rush. I think the Eagles better buckle up for a wild game where Rothe and the Knights come up just short in an overtime loss in St. Paul, MN.  Northwestern 35 Martin Luther 28 OT

GAME OF THE WEEK

Eureka @ Greenville- This game is going to be a shootout. Last year Greenville won 36 to 33, and its going to be a higher scoring game than that one. The offense will come completely through the air for Eureka riding the arm of QB Sam Durley and Greenville will run the ball all day with QB Brendan Chambers and RB Manny Gamble. If I had to nail down the preseason goals for Greenville’s defense there would only be one—allow one less point than the offense scores. Most of the time it works because they have the conference’s best offense statistically (overall, not just in conference play). The real question surrounding Eureka all year is whether or not their offensive line will be able to keep Durley upright. Durley has been sacked 27 times which is more than double the number any other QB has been sacked. If they can give Durley time, he should find open WR’s all day.  On paper this should be a close game.

Greenville 42 Eureka 38