My GLIAC Picks: Sept. 8

The D2football.com Message Board crowd has taken a fancy to picking winners for each game each weekend. It is one thing to do it on a message board, but an entirely different thing to do it in front of the more than 1000 readers who hit this blog weekly. Feel free to use the comment section below to A) tell me I am crazy with my picks and B) leave your own list of winners.

Saturday, September 08, 2007
at GU Field, Erie, Pa.
#25 Saginaw Valley
at Gannon - 1 PM (EDT)
After watching Gannon against Hillsdale, it is obvious that The Golden Knights have a loooooong way to go before they get picked as a favorite. Saginaw seems to be slipping to at least mid pack status in the league after losing a close one at home to Ashland. Mid pack is still way better than Gannon.
Winner: SVSU


at Sherman Field, Houghton, MI
Indianapolis
at Michigan Tech - 1 PM (EDT)
Both teams recorded wins last week. Indy squeaked one out against NMU and Tech beat Wayne St. I am going with Tech at home here for a number of issues. In its overtime loss to Winona St. two weeks ago, MTU generated a ton of points and showed some real fire power. Tech's win last week at Wayne St. was against a better quality opponent than what Indy recorded against NMU. Indianapolis reportedly has some injuries as well.
Take Tech at home, but Indy's Casey Gillin can sling it with the best of them. Should be a good one.


at Donell Stadium, Findlay, OH
#15 Northwood
at Findlay - 7 pm (EDT)
Northwood opened its season against Mercyhurst last week with an 18 point win t yet some fans questioned how good the Timberwolves really are. Geez! 28-10 is still a nice opening game win, especially when you are breaking in a new quarterback. Findlay did the GLIAC proud with a 20-0 non-conference shutout against Charleston. Northwood is still the superior team.
Pick: Riepma and the TWolves

Saturday, September 08, 2007
at Top Taggart Field, Big Rapids, MI
Mercyhurst
at Ferris State - 7 pm (EDT)
As good as Mark Nicolet's numbers were last Saturday, FSU's quarterback CJ Van Wieren put up even bigger ones enroute to winning D2football.com national offensive player of the week honors. Van Wieren was 7-8 passing for 294 yards with two touchdowns while adding 118 yards on 17 rushes with three touchdowns against Kentucky State. Ferris won 42-16. Mercyhurst faces another big trip against a team that is feeling pretty good about itself. We should learn a lot about both clubs in this one.
Pick: Bulldogs

at Community Stadium, Ashland, OH
#1 Grand Valley
at Ashland - 7 pm (EDT)
Grand Valley rolled over St. Joe's in its opener in typical Grand Valley style. Listening to it on the radio was a "new names, same results" type of experience. The Lakers have truly reloaded without rebuilding and even scarier for the rest of the league is the fact that Grand Valley often has some rusty first outings. Not this year! Ashland picked up a win at Saginaw last week, a Saginaw program I think is coming back down to earth after a nice run around the top of the league. We will see how good Ashland really is. I am HOPING for an Eagle win for two reasons. 1) Somebody has to stop GVSU's win streak before it breaks Hillsdale's all-time record of 34 straight wins. Grand Valley has won 29 in a row. 2) AU could bring a nasty emotional hang-over into Hillsdale on the 15th. There is always hope. Then there is logic. Grand Valley has too much to pick against.
Pick: GVSU


at Alumni Stadium, Rensselaer, Ind.
Wayne State
at St. Joseph's (Ind.) - NOON (EST)
Wayne State seemed to be the team that many GLIAC fans picked to move up to the next tier. The Warriors didn't do that last week with a home opener loss to Tech. Joique Bell still ran into the 160's but it wasn't enough to get past MTU. Going to St. Joe's should help coach Paul Winters right the ship.
WSU wins....if they can find the place amongst all of the corn.