With over 30 games in DII conferences or non-conference games, we do have a few that carry significant rankings or conference ramifications.
Bloomsburg at Scranton and Georgetown at Towson. All four of these teams are undefeated in MARC conference play, with three of them at 3-0 and Georgetown at 2-0.
Bloomsburg is at #24 in the GRR DII rankings, while Scranton is at #31. Now, despite the seven-place different in rankings, we think this could be a pick 'em game. We say that because Scranton's win over East Stroudsburg was much more emphatic than that of Bloomsburg. However, Bloomsburg is ranked higher because they have played more games and beat a very good Bucknell team.
Georgetown and Towson have not shared opponents as yet, but since both have started strong, we think this might be a close one, too.
There are two Allegheny Conference games of note with IUP at Kent State (#1 vs #22) and Miami at MTSU (#19 at #28). GRR will be at the IUP vs Kent State game, which will actually be played in Kent State's football venue, Dix Stadium.
IUP is favored in their game but this is a much-improved Kent State team and the Crimson Hawks overlook them at their peril. The Miami-vs-MTSU game is certainly a tossup. With the Allegheny having more teams this year the chase for playoff places is also a tougher one.
And finally we have two big games in a very competitive Great Midwest Conference. Our #16-ranked University of Chicago plays a #30 Illinois State team that could easily jump higher in the Top 40 with a good showing—what's keeping them around #30 is a one-point win over Northern Illinois, so they could change that from a close-win to a plain-old win and move up.
Chicago has not played any conference games yet as they have back-filled their schedule. There is much anticipation for this team and they are expected to contend in the GMW South. To do that, they need to show the extra buildup time has paid off.
And then, at the higher end of the rankings, #3 Northern Iowa is at #11 Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Warhawks have their sights set on returning to their stomping grounds (conference finals and going deep into the playoffs) and beating Northern Iowa will help with that.
UWW's Brian Hanrahan said that "overall our forward pack works really well together which leads the rest of the team." Connor Hulne has emerged as a leader of the team while young Eagan Babiash has emerged as a breakout player.
"I think we’ll show that we have improved from last fall," said Hanrahan, carefully.
So those are the six games we're keeping an especially close eye on.
