Weekend Prognosticator: Week 7

All ten Valley teams are in play this weekend, and a few match ups get pretty juicy. Let's dive right in. Rankings are from the TSN Poll because it's the one I have in front of me.

South Dakota (1-4, 0-2 MVFC) @ Missouri State (0-6, 0-3 MVFC)
Both teams are winless in the conference and each see the opponent as their best chance for that first Valley win. Missouri State managed to hold Indiana State to a single-score advantage for much of the game last weekend while the Coyotes put up 31 in a shootout with Illinois State two weeks ago. Who will win the battle for the MVFC's cellar?
Pick: Missouri State

Western Illinois (3-2, 1-1 MVFC) @ #19 South Dakota State (4-1, 2-0 MVFC)
South Dakota State is off to a hot 4-1 start, and the Leathernecks snagged themselves a win at South Dakota last weekend. Do the Jacks try to air it out behind sophomore QB Austin Sumner, who has been less than stellar in his second year behind the helm? Or do they continue to ride sophomore RB Zach Zenner, whose candidacy for the Walter Payton Award has helped propel the Jacks to the top of the Valley standings?
Pick: South Dakota State

#25 Northern Iowa (1-4, 0-2 MVFC) @ Southern Illinois (3-3, 2-1 MVFC)
The Panthers have had a bye week to try and refocus after a disastrous 1-4 start that leaves them virtually eliminated from the playoffs, though it came against a schedule that would devastate most teams in the country. Stud freshman QB Sawyer Kollmorgen faces the tall task of rallying the Panthers to salvage some pride while the Salukis have quietly redeemed themselves after a slow start to the season, going 3-1 in their last four. Though the Panthers are far better than their record indicates, playing in Carbondale gives the Salukis too much steam.
Pick: Southern Illinois

#28 Indiana State (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) @ #1 North Dakota State (5-0, 2-0 MVFC)
Indiana State faces the tall task of playing in Fargo, and after Shakir Bell was held under 100 yards in Terre Haute last year the prognosis doesn't seem much better. The Bison are on a roll right now and with a downgrade at quarterback, the Sycamores will need to come up with some magic to challenge the Bison in this one.
Pick: North Dakota State

#8 Youngstown State (4-1, 1-1 MVFC) @ #16 Illinois State (5-1, 2-1 MVFC)
My game of the week in the Valley pits two one-loss, Top-25 teams against each other in a battle for Who Can Remain the Most Relevant After Week 7. The Penguins will try to save some face after getting embarrassed by NDSU last weekend while the Redbirds will try to reverse a dangerous slump after getting shut out by SIU. Who wants it more? Which defense can do the best to slow the opposing offense?
Pick: Youngstown State