Minot State University (N.D.) @ University of Sioux Falls (S.D.), 1 p.m.

The Beavers are a good matchup for Sioux Falls in round one. A lot of people are expecting USF to roll through every round of the NAIA Championship Series and meet up with Carroll in Rome but I say hold on just a second. Minot State is a solid football team that can compete with USF if they do not turn the ball over. Sioux Falls is as good as it gets but a few mistakes and turnovers can be the great equalizer.

USF 35 Minot 10

Dickinson State University (N.D.) @ Carroll College (Mont.), 12:07 p.m.

DSU and Carroll in the postseason again? No way. These two teams don't need to schedule one another in the offseason and at this point DSU might as well be an alliance member of the Frontier Conference. DSU will do what DSU does and Carroll will take advantage of every bad snap, turnover or misplaced punt. Hawks have had a nice season but it ends this week.
Carroll 28 Dickinson State 7

Langston University (Okla.) @ Lindenwood University (Mo.), 1:30 p.m.

Lindenwood is just too much for Langston. After an uninspired game last week against Azusa, Langston has a lot to show me this week if I'll ever become a believer. Lindenwood's offense is going to put up points and Langston had better be ready to answer or it will get ugly.

Lindenwood 49 Langston 17

McKendree University (Ill.) @ St. Xavier University (Ill.), 1 p.m.

This is one of the premier matchups in the NAIA Championship Series First Round. These teams are former classmates in the MSFA Midwest league so this game should have a little more heat than the usual first round game. McKendree has a fantastic defense and an offense that will keep the SXU offense off the field. SXU might not need much time on the field as potent as their offense has been this year. SXU will get the Bearcats in the end.

SXU 42 McKendree 28

Hastings College (Neb.) @ Ottawa University (Kan.),4 p.m.

Hastings will need to prove they can stop a high powered offense this week. The Ottawa Braves remind me a lot of Morningside in pervious years and the Broncos have had some major issues with the Mustangs. Ottawa will be able to move the ball against Hastings. The question will be if the Broncos can keep up or force Ottawa into making mistakes. Braves get their first postseason win in program history this week.

Ottawa 41 Hastings 24

University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) @ Lambuth University (Tenn.), 12 p.m.

Another matchup of teams that used to see one another every season. Lambuth has a bit of an advantage this week as they play at home and have proven to be a force in the NAIA. UC is the underdog and many people do not expect them to keep up with the Eagles. A lot of people I have talked to have mentioned they feel that UC has been unimpressive this season and won a lot of games in a week conference. With that said, I'm calling for the upset . . . .

UC 21 Lambuth 17

Missouri Valley College @ Morningside College (Iowa), 1 p.m.

Best game of the first round. Morningside and MoValley are two of the more impressive teams that I have seen this season. The MoValley defense will be reminiscent of the USF "D" that Morningside struggled against last week. MoVal doesn't have the offense to match the Mustangs so they had better hope the "D" comes to play. I'm leaning towards an upset in this one but I can't help but think the Mustangs will pull this one out.

Morningside 27 MoValley 24

McPherson College (Kan.) @ MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.), 1 p.m.

I hope MNU fans aren't looking at this game as "oh it's a KCAC team, we'll kill them". This is a dangerous game for MNU. McPherson has a lot of offensive weapons and will be able to score on MNU. The biggest question mark in this game will be the McPherson defense. If they can limit the MNU "O" then they can win this game. I think MNU's "D" can slow down the Bulldogs enough to put more points on the board in this shootout.

MNU 48 McPherson 38