I looked at the calendar and got sad for a little bit on Sunday. It is November 1^st. While that typically means time for the NAIA postseason and the hay day of the college football season I was taken back by it a bit. You seen, there are only so many weeks of the college football season left and for many teams their season will end in two weeks.

I saw a documentary on the USFL the other night on ESPN. Donald Trump was quoted as saying that football should always be played in the fall. While I agree to some extent, what the heck would be wrong with three or four games in the spring!

Think about it NAIA. The NAIA is always looking for ways to make themselves different than the other logo. Why not allow for 2-3 exhibition spring games? No one else does it and it wouldn't hurt academics. Just make a stipulation that there can be no overnight travel and all games must be on Saturday. It would set the NAIA apart and allow for borderline athletes to choose the NAIA because they could get more exposure and play more games.

Crazy? Yes . . . but like a fox.

The NAIA Championship Series

This officially begins the time of year that we all can start predicting the NAIA post season, who will play who and who will be travelling where. As always there is some needed information for the newbies that have never followed NAIA football in the post season. The first thing you need to understand is the title of the post season. It is not the "NAIA Playoffs". It is called the "NAIA Championship Series". It is okay to make the mistake but the reason I point it out is so that we all can understand the difference in the two. Playoffs imply bracketing, knowing who you will play the minute you win and moving along in a tournament type format.

That is not the case in the NAIA postseason. The NAIA postseason is truly a "Series" where the 16 teams are matched up based upon geographic locations and home bids.

For instance in the first round of the NAIA Championship Series the top eight teams in the NAIA coaches poll can secure a home game by guaranteeing to pay the NAIA's home bid amount. For the first round that costs $22,500 per home team to guarantee them a home game. A team can bid less than the guarantee amount but all this means is they could get shipped out to a lower ranked team that put up more money for the game. The classic example of this is the University of Sioux Falls in 2004. The Cougars were the higher ranked team but did not pay the minimum required bid to get a home game in the quarterfinal round. Azusa Pacific was a lower ranked team that did agree to pay the guarantee and USF got on a plane to Azusa Pacific for what turned out to be the final game in Bob Young's coaching career at USF.

In short if you want your team to host a first round game be willing to pay the money and be ranked in the top eight. If you want to host a quarterfinal game, be willing to pay the money and be ranked in the top four. If you want to host a semi . . . top two . . . get out the checkbook.

Ohio Dominican is on the verge of making the NAIA Championship Series as an Independent team. I have heard a lot of traditionalists say they do not deserve to make the NAIA postseason because they have hardly played anyone in the NAIA this year. Given the fact they have trips to New Haven (Conn.) and Wesley (Del.) the Panthers will be more than deserving of a postseason trip if they win their next two games. New Haven is 5-4 while Wesley is undefeated and ranked #3 in DIII. If they make it to the NAIA Championship Series they will be the first NAIA Independent to do so since Azusa Pacific in 2005. APU went on to lose to Montana Tech in the first round 24-17.

The wacky DAC has done it again. Here we are in the final week of the season questioning if a school from the NAIA's great North will make it into the postseason. Every year the DAC has survived and gotten a team into the postseason but they recently have never had a runaway winner in the conference. It seems like the winner always gets hurt in non-conference play which is the case this year and last with Dickinson State and Black Hills State in 2006. Dickinson and Valley were 0-3 and 0-2 in 2005 in non-conference games.

The DAC football games this weekend are scary as Dickinson State has a very tough matchup against Black Hills State. If Dickinson State wins they will make it to the postseason but will face the task of being the first DAC team to win a playoff game since 2004 when the Bluehawks beat Montana Tech. This year Dickinson State will likely be sent to Helena, Mont. for their first round matchup.

This week's most interesting scenario is the College Fanz NAIA Game of the Week with #10 MidAmerica Nazarene traveling to #9 Missouri Valley. The winner is in the driver's seat for the NAIA postseason while the loser becomes a bubble team, technically. It is my opinion that the HAAC will get both MoVal and MNU into the postseason regardless of the winner in this game. However the winner of this game could potentially host a first round game given the fact that #8 Saint Francis (Ind.) and #6 Saint Xavier (Ill.) play this weekend in Fort Wayne, Ind. and that Ottawa and Friends will play in the final week of the season.

So with two week's left in the season here is my stab at the NAIA Championship Series for the first round. Remember, these are my prediction and do not reflect the thoughts of the NAIA or how these teams will be paired on Selection Sunday.

 

McPherson (Kan.) @ Sioux Falls (S.D.)

Dickinson State @ Carroll College (Mont.)

Saint Xavier (Ill.) @ Lindenwood (Mo.)

MidAmerica Nazarene @ Morningside (Iowa)

Cumberlands (Ky.) @ Lambuth (Tenn.)

Hastings (Neb.) @ Ottawa (Kan.)

McKendree (Ill.) @ St. Francis (Ind)

Langston (Okla.) @ Missouri Valley

My biggest question marks are Saint Xavier (Ill) and MoValley. If SXU loses to USF this week, do they fall to #9 or #8? I am predicting MoValley to win over MNU so that would move the Vikings to #8 and hosting. However, if MoValley loses, then MNU or SXU might stay in the top 8 and host. OR if SXU wins then USF (Ill.) will be on the road and MoVal or MNU will host based upon the winner in their game this week. You see . . . clear as mud. Next week's prediction will be a lot easier but this week there just seems to be too many variables. Especially since I haven't even mentioned the potential upset of Lambuth by Georgetown this week! Needless to say it will be a fun one!

Come On Man Moment of the Week

Dakota State gets a vote to be in the Top 25? Come on man.

I do not know which NAIA rater did it but whoever did should not be allowed to vote for in the NAIA Coaches Poll ever again. It may seem like a small deal but Dakota State's one vote takes away from a team that might have an outside shot at making it to the NAIA postseason, like Black Hills State. If BHSU upsets Dickinson State, they might vault to #20, MIGHT. But without being in the conversation this week it takes away from voters even hearing their names a week earlier when it would be needed.

A few years ago there were some coaches that said I should have my Top 25 rating included as another vote in the poll. While I was flattered I've always said "The coaches do a great job and they get it right. My poll is always pretty close to what the coaches are thinking."

After seeing Dakota State get a vote this week my opinion might have changed . . . COME ON MAN!

Yikes . . . Trying to Show Some Pride
No one wants to finish the season winless in the NAIA and this week there is for sure going to be one less winless team as Culver-Stockton and Williams Jewell face off. Both squads are 0-8. Additionally my alma mater, Dana College, is also winless this season as they face off with rival Midland Lutheran. In total there are seven teams in the NAIA that have not won a game this season and chances are pretty slim that a few of those seven with get a win this season.

Players to Watch

Levi Sutton, a wide receiver for Rocky Mountain College, leads the NAIA in receptions with 98, 20 more than the next closest receiver in the NAIA. Sutton is also one of two receivers in the NAIA with over 1000 yards receiving this season.

Clarence Anderson, a wide receiver for Ottawa, is just nine yards from being the NAIA's 3^rd 1000 yard receiver. He also is second in the NAIA in all purpose yards averaging 189.3 yards per game. He and teammate Corey Schultz will both be over 1000 yards after this weekend. Researchers . . . find out for me the last time the NAIA had two 1000 yard receivers on the same team during the regular season.

Max Virus of Peru State is the NAIA's Mr. Interception this season. Virus has seven picks this season with two of them going for touchdowns. Three of his interceptions came against Dana College. Virus has a shot to get 10 interceptions this season as he has two games left. The first will be a tougher task with Benedictine and the second will be a better chance as the Bobcats will play Haskell.

Chip's Picks and the NAIA Games of the Week

Saint Xavier University@ University of Saint Francis (IN): This is a game much of the NAIA has been looking forward to all season long. SXU has shown they can beat up on just about anyone in the NAIA. USF suffered a regular season loss a few weeks ago on the road and have spent the last few weeks recovering. This week both teams will lay it on the line to be name the MSFA Midwest league champion and possibly host a first round game. SXU offense is scary and their defense is stout. USF's team is balanced across the board. This is one of those regular season games that fans of both teams will be talking about for years to come. Home field advantage wins this one.
USF (Ind) 24 SXU 20

Saint Ambrose University@ Grand View University: This is a statement game for the Grand View program. In only their second year this team has found their way into the NAIA ratings and are surprising nearly everyone they play. SAU needs a win to even be a thought for the postseason and those thoughts are fleeting. GVU can make some noise this week if they beat SAU, which would set up for a MSFA MW league championship game next week.

Grand View 21 SAU 20

Lambuth University@ Georgetown College: Scary game for Lambuth. The Eagles have gotten banged up this season and Georgetown has played the roll of spoiler once this season against Cumberlands. I think LU is the better team but the road trip and pride at GT will play a major part in this trip. LU wins but in a close one.
Lambuth 42 GT 34

Black Hills State vs. Dickinson State: DSU needs the win to secure a spot in the postseason. A loss and their fate is in the hands of the raters. I think DSU is a postseason worthy team but I also think BHSU is a tough matchup for the ‘Hawks.

DSU 17 BHSU 13

Carroll College@ Eastern Oregon University: Eastern Oregon can prove they are still worthy of making it to the NAIA Championship Series with a win this week at home against Carroll College. I never count Carroll out of any game especially since they handled EOU earlier this season. But the Saints need to play better than they have in recent weeks if they are going to get out of LaGrande alive.
Carroll 28 EOU 17

MidAmerica Nazarene University @ Missouri Valley College: The NAIA Game of the Week is in Marshall, Mo. this week as the Pioneers and Viking battle for a potential home game in the NAIA postseason. Both of these teams are playing good right now and will be tough tasks in the postseason. With this game at home, late in the season, I have no choice but to go with the Vikings. MoVal keeps everyone guessing all season long and by the end of the season they are a locomotive coming down the tracks with a full head of steam. Vikings pilage Pioneers.
MoVal 31 MNU 28

The Rest of the NAIA

INDY

12:00PM Ohio Dominican University @ New Haven

2:00PM Edward Waters College @ Valdosta State University

2:00PM Southern Oregon University @ University of North Dakota

3:00PM Peru State College @ Benedictine College

3:00PM Southwestern Assemblies of God Univ @ Haskell Indian Nations

3:00PM Southern Virginia University @ Webber International University

 

DAC

9:00AM Mayville State vs. Dakota State

12:30PM Valley City State vs. South Dakota Mines

4:00PM Jamestown vs. Minot State

7:30PM Black Hills State vs. Dickinson State

MSFA

12:00PM Saint Xavier University @ University of Saint Francis (IN)

1:00PM Malone University @ Marian College

1:00PM University of Saint Francis (IL) @ Quincy University

1:00PM Saint Ambrose University @ Grand View University

2:00PM Waldorf College @ William Penn University

2:00PM Walsh University @ Trinity International University

2:30PM Taylor University @ Olivet Nazarene University

Mid South

1:00PM Cumberland University @ Kentucky Christian University

1:30PM University of the Cumberlands @ University of Virginia's College at Wise

1:30PM Lambuth University @ Georgetown College

1:30PM Union College @ Campbellsville University

1:30PM West Virginia Tech @ Pikeville College

2:30PM Shorter College @ Belhaven College

7:00PM Faulkner University @ Bethel College

GPAC

1:00PM Nebraska Wesleyan University @ Doane College

1:00PM Northwestern College (IA) @ Dakota Wesleyan University

2:00PM Morningside College @ Briar Cliff University

2:00PM Dana College @ Midland Lutheran College

2:00PM Hastings College @ Concordia Univ

2:00PM Dordt College @ University of Sioux Falls

HAAC

2:00PM Culver-Stockton College @ William Jewell College

2:00PM Avila University @ Central Methodist University

2:30PM MidAmerica Nazarene University @ Missouri Valley College

2:30PM Baker University @ Evangel University

2:30PM Lindenwood University @ Graceland University

3:00PM Peru State College @ Benedictine College

Frontier Conference

2:00PM Montana State Univ-Northern @ Montana Tech

2:00PM University of Montana Western @ Rocky Mountain College

3:00PM Carroll College @ Eastern Oregon University

CSFL

2:00PM Oklahoma Panhandle State @ Southern Nazarene University

3:00PM Texas College @ Northwestern Oklahoma State

3:00PM Southwestern Assemblies of God @ Haskell Indian Nations

KCAC

2:30PM Bethany College @ Ottawa University

2:30PM University of Saint Mary @ Sterling College

2:30PM Tabor College @ Southwestern College

2:30PM McPherson College @ Bethel College (KS)

2:30PM Friends University @ Kansas Wesleyan University