Looking Ahead to Week #1

Week 1 is 14 days away. Here's what's on the conference slate for week 1:

Projected wins:
Butler @ Western Illinois
Dayton @ Illinois State
Robert Morris @ NDSU

Close games:
Southern Illinois @ Eastern Illinois
Indiana State @ Indiana

Unlikely Upsets:
South Dakota @ Montana
South Dakota State @ Kansas
Youngstown State @ Pittsburgh

No-Chance-In-Hell
Northern Iowa @ Wisconsin
Missouri State @ Kansas State

I'm obviously getting very anxious about football season, its still 14 days away and I'm holding myself back from writing game previews for these games. Anyway, by the end of week 1, the Missouri Valley Football Conference may have only three wins under its' belt. The projected wins are no-brainers; WIU, ISU(red), and NDSU all face bottom-tier conference teams and should have no problem with their respective opponents. This first week should be a good start for Western Illinois; they need some confidence, and the Butler game might just be what the doctor ordered. I pity-da-fool who thinks Dayton or Robert Morris have any chance at W's in week one.

Indiana State RB, Shakir Bell

The close games come between Southern Illinois/Eastern Illinois, and Indiana State/Indiana. Last year Southern Illinois blasted Eastern 45-28, in Carbondale. This year the game will be in Charleston where Eastern Illinois topped Illinois State last year 33-26. Eastern Illinois went 2-9 last year; Southern Illinois went 4-7. Two presumed sub-par teams facing off for a fresh start in a new season, should be a barnburner. The other close game, well, the Hoosiers suck. I don't care whether they are a Big Ten team or not, they haven't been decent since Antwaan Randle El. I expect Shakir Bell to have a field day and keep it close, and maybe even pull of the victory.

South Dakota, South Dakota State, and Youngstown State all face games that are games that might produce upsets, but are fairly unlikely. They face Montana, Kansas, and Pittsburgh, respectively. Montana is coming off a playoff run from last year and will reload in 2012. Montana is facing some challenges already in 2012 with their starting QB, Jordan Johnson being charged for rape earlier this summer. However, I just don't see enough firepower from the Coyotes to pull off an upset in Missoula. South Dakota State gets another chance to knock off an FBS opponent, this time it will be Kansas of the Big 12. I just don't see the Jackrabbits having the maturity to handle a higher level opponent this year, SDSU is still very young. The same goes for Youngstown State, they face Pittsburgh and they will have to play a near flawless game to pull off the upset.

UNI RB, Carlos Anderson

Northern Iowa and Missouri State face ranked FBS teams, Wisconsin and Kansas State. Northern Iowa is a good team, but beating Wisconsin is a tall-tall task. Playing Wisconsin will not be like playing their in-state rivals Iowa State, and Iowa every other year. Badger RB, Monte Ball will prove to be alot for Northern Iowa to manage. Missouri State vs. Kansas State just isn't fair. The Bears will get their pay-day but that, I'm afraid, is all they'll get. Kansas State likely will not match their 10-win season from last year, but they will still be dangerous and are projected to finish somewhere in the middle of the new-look Big 12. No doubt Missouri State is a struggling team, and to pull off an upset against Kansas State this year would be one-in-a-million.