The final NAIA Coaches' Poll has been released and we can now get a pretty good idea as to who will make it into the NAIA Championship Series. There are some shoe-ins, a few bubble teams and a couple teams that need more help than I did in my Advanced Human Physiology class back in college. So let's take a look at the latest Coaches' Rating.

RANK	SCHOOL (1st PLACE VOTES)	2009 RECORD*	TOTAL POINTS
1	University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) (18)	10-0	444
2	Carroll College (Mont.) (1)	11-0	426
3	Lindenwood University (Mo.)	9-0	411
4	Morningside College (Iowa)	9-0	392
5	Saint Xavier University (Ill.)	11-0	371
6	Ottawa University (Kan.)	9-0	353
7	Lambuth University (Tenn.)	9-1	340
8	MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.)	9-1	326
9	McKendree University (Ill.)	8-1	301
10	University of the Cumberlands (Ky.)	9-1	284
11	University of Saint Francis (Ind.)	7-2	258
12	Missouri Valley College	7-2	246
13	Friends University (Kan.)	8-1	240
14	Langston University (Okla.)	6-2	238
15	McPherson College (Kan.)	8-1	228
16	Hastings College (Neb.)	8-2	181
17	Grand View University (Iowa)	8-2	156
18	Minot State University (N.D.)	8-2	140
19	Ohio Dominican University	7-2	139
20	Dickinson State University (N.D.)	7-3	127
21	Walsh University (Ohio)	7-3	118
22	Eastern Oregon University	7-4	82
23	Northwestern College (Iowa)	7-3	68
24	Baker University (Kan.)	6-3	51
25	Taylor University (Ind.)	6-3	19

Here is the entire breakdown of the postseason possibilities. This is what each team needs to do in order to make it to the NAIA Championship Series.

#1. Sioux Falls: Even with a loss to Morningside this week, the Cougars will make the NAIA Championship Series.

#2. Carroll College: Resting up with a bye week before the postseason. Saints are seeing who they need to roll out the welcome mat for.

#3. Lindenwood: Even though a loss to Jewell will spoil their shot at hosting in the postseason, the Lions are in regardless this week.

#4. Morningside: Close loss to USF might keep them hosting a first round game. Big loss will have them on the road this postseason. A win and people can start thinking about the Mustangs shot at a national title.

#5. Saint Xavier: Cougars lick any wounds and heal up before entering the NAIA Championship Series on the 21^st. Home game is likely in the first round at "X"

#6. Ottawa: A win gives the Braves a KCAC title and keeps them hosting in the first round. A loss keeps them in the postseason but likely has them travelling.

#7. Lambuth: The only team to win and lose in the same week after beating Georgetown and having to forfeit a game to Bethel (TN). Lambuth is in and hosting in the first round with a win against Cumberland (Tenn.) but a loss will have them on the road again this postseason.

#8. MidAmerica Nazarene: Idle the final week of the season and awaiting assignment for round one. Given the current ratings the Pioneers will be hosting in round one.

#9. McKendree: A win makes them league champions but likely on the road in the first round. A loss will likely give them an at-large berth and the conference title to Grand View.

#10. University of the Cumberlands: Idle this week and in as the Mid South Conference East Champions. They will be travelling, possibly to Lambuth.

#11. St. Francis (Ind.): Now things start getting interesting. USF needs to beat Taylor to secure an at-large berth into the postseason.

#12. Missouri Valley: Vikings need a win to be in for sure. Avila is scrappy but MoVal should advance to the NAIA Championship Series with a win.

#13. Friends: The Falcons have to beat Ottawa by more than 19 points to claim a KCAC title on Saturday. If they lose, they are out of the picture. If they win, they likely get an at-large berth.

#14. Langston: CSFL Champions but they need a win over Azusa Pacific to stay in the Top 20 to gain the "automatic berth." A loss to the 2-8 Cougars would likely drop Langston out of the Top 20 and out of the postseason.

#15. McPherson: The Bulldogs are likely in the postseason as long as they win against Bethany (Kan.) on Saturday. If Ottawa beats Friends the Bulldogs would get an at-large berth. If Friends beats Ottawa by less than 19 points, McPherson would be the KCAC champions (by KCAC rule). The one thing that may keep McPherson out of the postseason would be a Friends victory by more than 19 points (making the Falcons the KCAC champs) and a win by Langston, Ohio Dominican and Grand View.

#16. Hastings: The Broncos need to take care of business against Midland Lutheran before they should worry about anything else. If they win, they need a combination of two losses by any of these teams: Ohio Dominican, Friends, McPherson, St. Francis (Ind.), Langston (but must drop from Top 20). However, if Grand View beats McKendree, then the Broncos need three losses to make the postseason. Two is likely, three is pushing it.

#17. Grand View: Must beat McKendree to get in. It's as easy as that. A win and the Vikings are in. A loss and it is the end of a nice season.

#18. Minot State: The Beavers need a bounce upward in the polls and rightfully so. MSU needs losses by Hastings, Langston (out of Top 20), Friends and Grand View to get the bump they need to make the NAIA postseason. Additionally a loss by Ohio Dominican would also help. It is not a forgone conclusion yet, but the Beavers need the football stars to align just right this weekend.

#19. Ohio Dominican: ODU plays DIII #3 Wesley College this weekend. If they win they would be the highest rated Independent and would make the NAIA postseason. A loss and it will be off to DII for the Panthers.

#20. Dickinson State: Bluehawks just have to hope the raters don't have a change of heart and drop them in the rankings. As of right now, DSU is in the postseason as the DAC Champ and being rated in the Top 20.

#21-25. Nice season fellas, but this one is over.

So here is my prediction on how the first round will shake out:

#15 Minot State @ #1 Sioux Falls

#20 Dickinson State @ #2 Carroll

#11 Saint Francis (Ind.) @ #3 Lindenwood

#9 McKendree @ #4 Saint Xavier

#12 Mo. Valley @ #5 Ottawa

#13 Langston @ #6 Morningside

#10 U-Cumberlands @ #7 Lambuth

#14 McPherson @ #8 MidAmerica Nazarene

Even though I am not the biggest fan of it, I see MSFA and Mid South Champions facing off in the first round of the postseason. Due to the travel and other circumstances that dictate postseason travel, it makes the most sense.

I see Minot State making it in too . . . . mostly because they are deserving given their two losses in the regular season which you can read more about here in a bit.

Overall I see a very solid group of football teams making it into the postseason. Sure there will be some blowouts in the first round but that happens every year. At the end of it all . . . we are just about to fire up the most exciting week of the NAIA season!

Give ‘Em Some Love

It seems like every year I need to make a case for a team to make the NAIA Championship Series. This year that team is the Minot State Beavers. MSU has lost two games this season; One to the DAC Champion on the road and the other to DII Bemidji State whose game with MSU is being nullified.

BSU played an ineligible player in their game against Minot State to start the season. BSU does not have to forfeit the game but they are being stripped of all of the DII championship points which will basically make it impossible for BSU to make the postseason or go to the Mineral Water Bowl (which was likely prior to the findings of the ineligible player).

The NAIA has just punished their own through the years when an ineligible player has been used in NAIA contests. Just this week Lambuth dropped two spots after having to forfeit a game to Bethel (Tenn.) for using an ineligible player in their game a few weeks ago.

So why can't the Beavers get the boost in the ratings they deserve after Minot participated in a game that if it were an NAIA contest would have resulted in a MSU win?

In the Sept 14^th Coaches' rating Minot State was 30^th with a 1-1 record. However if they were 2-0 the NAIA coaches would have likely had them higher, maybe even in the Top 25. Here are Minot's rankings this season:

9/14: 30^th

9/21: Tied 24^th

9/28: 25^th

10/5: 21^st

10/12: 17^th

10/19: 16^th

10/26: 17^th

11/2: 21^st

11/9 18^th

My theory would be that Minot should have been rated higher if their loss to Bemidji State had been nullified earlier.

"But Jason, they still lost that game."

Well, I am glad you said that! BSU is 8-3 this season with losses to 10-1 MN-Duluth, MN-Mankato and a 7-4 St. Cloud State. So Minot State lost a football game that they were supposed to lose to a team with more scholarships and a large football budget.

Minot State lost to a good DII football team and the champion of their conference on the road. Meanwhile several teams in front of them with two losses cannot tout the quality losses that Minot State has. Grand View lost to an average NAIA team in William Penn while Langston is yet to beat a team that has a winning record.

I have no allegiance to Minot State and many fans of the DAC would even argue that more often than not I pick against the DAC in situations like these. However in this situation I would ask that the raters in the NAIA give Minot State another look.

On a lighter note, If you don't move Minot State up I will be forced to sing the Beaver fight song from my high school on all of the rater's voicemails. . . ask the folks around the College Fanz office, it ain't pretty!

Players to Watch

Keep an eye on Lorenzo Brown of Sioux Falls this week. He will be tested against Morningside but I think his performance could determine if he is the NAIA Player of the Year. In my opinion Brown is the hands down favorite to win the award as he brings a true "X" factor, check that, "Zo Factor" to the game every week. Brown has thrown 29 TD passes this season and just one interception. On top of that he has 11 rushing touchdowns and three 100 yard rushing performances this season.

Matt Davis of Azusa Pacific has an opportunity for a big game this weekend against Langston. The Lions have keep suspect against the pass and Davis is APU's #1 target. Davis should have 100 plus yards receiving.

Nate Guillory of NW Oklahoma State has quietly had one of the best seasons an NAIA runningback has had in recent years. This week he will go up against Oklahoma Panhandle State in an attempt to rush over 100 yards in every game this season. He is averaging 162.9 yards per game on the ground and has 15 touchdowns to his credit.

Chip's Picks and Featured Games

1:00PM McKendree University @ Grand View University: People knew that Grand View would become a pretty good team but I do not think anyone thought it would happen this quickly. McKendree is the more experienced squad and the more physical of the two. I see the Bearcats winning this one in a close one.

McKendree 24 Grand View 17

2:00PM University of Sioux Falls @ Morningside College: The last time these two teams faced off in a situation like this in Sioux City the Mustangs came away with the win. This is easily the biggest game in the NAIA this year. I see the Cougars defense as the difference in this one.

Sioux Falls 31 Morningside 21

2:00PM Midland Lutheran College @ Hastings College: Hastings needs to win if they want to sneak into the postseason. Midland has had two "close but no calls" this year against rated teams. I see the Warriors giving the Broncos all they can handle and more this week. Hastings will win this week but not by much.
Hastings 17 Midland Lutheran 16

2:30PM Ottawa University @ Friends University: Friends has had a nice season but an early loss to McPherson and a high powered offense from Ottawa this weekend will be the end of Friends for 2009. I think Ottawa just has too much offense for the Falcons and OU will bring home the KCAC crown on Saturday.

Ottawa 38 Friends 24

9:00PM Langston University @ Azusa Pacific University: This is a dangerous game for Langston. The Lions have a good record but upon further examination one will find they have not beaten a team with a winning record this season. Azusa on the other hand only has two wins but both are against teams with winning records. I think a trip to Cali spells doom for the Lions.
Azusa Pacific 20 Langston 13

MidSouth

12:00PM Cumberland University @ Lambuth University

1:30PM Bethel College @ Shorter College

1:30PM Campbellsville University @ Pikeville College

1:30PM Union College @ Belhaven College

1:30PM Georgetown College @ West Virginia Tech

2:30PM University of Virginia's College at Wise @ Faulkner University

MSFA

12:00PM Marian College @ Walsh University

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

1:00PM McKendree University @ Grand View University

1:00PM Iowa Wesleyan College @ Saint Ambrose University

2:00PM William Penn University @ University of Saint Francis (IL)

2:30PM Malone University @ Olivet Nazarene University

3:00PM Quincy University @ Waldorf College

INDY

1:00PM Ohio Dominican University @ Wesley College

1:00PM Southern Virginia University @ Newport News

3:00PM Peru State College @ Haskell Indian Nations University

3:00PM Southwestern Assemblies of God Univ @ Bacone College

4:00PM Louisiana College @ Edward Waters College

7:00PM Webber International University @ Savannah State College

9:00PM Langston University @ Azusa Pacific University

GPAC

1:00PM Briar Cliff University @ Nebraska Wesleyan University

1:00PM Dakota Wesleyan University @ Dordt College

2:00PM University of Sioux Falls @ Morningside College

2:00PM Midland Lutheran College @ Hastings College

2:00PM Doane College @ Dana College

DAC

1:00PM Trinity Bible College @ South Dakota School of Mines

HAAC

2:00PM Evangel University @ Culver-Stockton College

2:00PM Graceland University @ Benedictine College

2:00PM Central Methodist University @ Baker University

2:00PM Missouri Valley College @ Avila University

2:30PM William Jewell College @ Lindenwood University

CSFL

2:00PM NW Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma Panhandle State

3:00PM Southern Nazarene University @ Texas College

3:00PM Southwestern Assemblies of God Univ @ Bacone College

9:00PM Langston University @ Azusa Pacific University

KCAC

2:30PM Bethany College @ McPherson College

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

2:30PM Tabor College @ University of Saint Mary

2:30PM Ottawa University @ Friends University

2:30PM Southwestern College @ Kansas Wesleyan University

Selection Show:

Tune in this Sunday at 1:30 CT as the College Fanz Sports Network will broadcast the NAIA Championship Series Selection Show live from Azusa Pacific University. We will preview all of the teams and announce the pairings as soon as they are given to us first by the NAIA National Office.