A team, and a defense especially, which needs no introduction. Mount Union faces a ranked team for the first time this season. Photo by Tom Nettleton, d3photography.com

The penultimate week of the regular season is here. Senior Days, conference championships won, conference championships lost- it's all happening at this time of the year. This week Mount Union moves to the main stage, the last big piece to the WIAC championship puzzle falls into place, and the Empire 8's last national semifinalist tries to take back their crown. Also, rivals in Maine will play for a lobster trap. Our experts comb through all of the big action in Week 10 as the season rapidly barrels toward Selection Sunday in just nine short days. 

Our regular crew is Greg Thomas, Pat Coleman, Ryan Tipps, Frank Rossi, Logan Hansen, and Riley Zayas.

— Greg Thomas

Which game is the Game of the Week?

	Greg's take: No. 2 Mount Union at No. 13 John Carroll. The warmups are officially over for Mount Union. The Purple Raiders take center stage this week opposite John Carroll in a game that will determine the champion of the OAC. For Mount Union, this week signals the formal start of their mission to close the deal in Salem in December. For John Carroll, a win would lock up a conference championship in Jeff Behrman’s first season under the headset at his alma mater- and perhaps a lot more in the coming weeks.
	Pat's take: No. 2 Mount Union at No. 13 John Carroll. There's also a big game in River Falls, Wisconsin, but this is the biggest challenge for Mount Union this regular season. I have no idea how big this challenge actually is, but we'll find out on Saturday.
	Ryan's take: No. 4 UW-La Crosse at No. 7 UW-River Falls. You better believe it's going to be interesting to find out if we get a clear champ in the WIAC or end up with a mess of a three-way tie at the top.
	Frank's take: Brockport at No. 16 Cortland. You want a game that could absolutely mess up a Region 2 that is already underwater thanks to just seven ranked teams (instead of the nine the region deserves)? Then this is one such game. Cortland’s win vs. DelVal puts them in prime position to be a 2-loss team meriting consideration for a Pool C bid, should Brockport edge them out Saturday. The Golden Eagles have come a long way to get back to the de facto Empire 8 Championship Game, but can they throw Region 2 in chaos?
	Logan's take: No. 2 Mount Union at No. 13 John Carroll. It would be valid to also say UWL/UWRF here, but I'm picking the game in Ohio for two reasons: I think John Carroll has a shot in this game, and I don't think Mount Union gets into the playoffs if they don't win. Mount Union has the most statistically dominant defense in the country right now, and whether John Carroll can move the ball will be the deciding factor. The Blue Streaks had several explosive plays against UWW in Week 1, and they'll need those again this week.
	Riley's take: No. 4 UW-La Crosse at No. 7 UW-River Falls. I don't know about you but this quarterback matchup fascinates me. In my opinion, the best two dual-threat quarterbacks in the country are found in the WIAC, with UWRF's Kaleb Blaha and UWL's Keyser Helterbrand. Both throw the ball well but perhaps run it even better, and that playmaking ability from both makes this a must-see matchup. I anticipate a high-scoring affair between these exceptional scoring offenses, and not to mention, this game will have serious implications on the WIAC title race and ultimately, UWRF's playoff hopes.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to be upset?

	Greg's take: No. 16 Cortland. I’ve had Brockport on my Top 25 ballot for a few weeks now. The Golden Eagles have been destroying E8 competition with the same verve as Cortland. The offensive machine that Cortland deploys against the top tier Brockport defense is the main attraction in this matchup, Brockport has a 40 points per game offense that has shown plenty of punch in every game after the 6-5 pitcher’s duel against Susquehanna. And yes, the winner of this one clinches a spot in the tournament.
	Pat's take: No. 16 Cortland. Listen, I don't know if Brockport has what it takes to knock off Cortland, but if it can keep the score low, it makes it easier for the unlikely to happen.
	Ryan's take: No. 22 Muhlenberg. It's probably not actually going to happen, but this is a good fit for "most likely" considering how close Franklin and Marshall's two losses have been -- and the Diplomats have done a good job of "playing up" when the situation calls for it. And a lot of eyes will be on the Mules after the wild way they narrowly lost to JHU last week.
	Frank's take: No. 19 St. John’s (at St. Olaf). The Oles had Gustavus on the ropes last Saturday — they were within one yard of winning in OT. SJU has been up and down at odd times all season. The stars might align correctly here for an upset win by homesteading St. Olaf.
	Logan's take: No. 16 Cortland. The Red Dragons have scored at least 35 points in every game. They've scored 50+ in five of their eight games. They host Brockport this week. Brockport's defense has allowed 43 points total this season, only giving up double digit points once. Something has to give.
	Riley's take: No. 16 Cortland. It seems that the Red Dragon offense is near impossible to stop, or even slow down, but if there's a team to do it, it's Brockport. Opposing offenses average just 99.1 passing yards per game against the Golden Eagles, and the same goes for the run game, where opponents average 1.9 yards per carry. Cortland has a big challenge on its hands, even playing at home, with the talent and skill set of this Brockport defense. If the Golden Eagles keep Cortland out of the end zone, even if that means limiting the Red Dragons to field goals, I expect an opportunity for a Brockport upset will present itself.

What team not listed in this week’s alphabetical regional rankings will win their way in to next week’s ordered rankings?

	Greg's take: I could go completely all in with Brockport, but I’ll go to Region 1 where we can be pretty sure that the King’s vs. Stevenson loser will be out of the rankings, making way for somebody. That somebody could be a MASCAC leader, but the SOS’s there are very, very poor. I’m going to take a flyer on Western New England. A win against Nichols will ding their great SOS a bit, but it also gets the Golden Bears to 6-3 with three very respectable results against ranked teams.
	Pat's take: RPI, I guess? Not really sure who will leave the rankings in order to make room for them, though. If the 2 had a reasonable number of ranking spots, they might be ranked already.
	Ryan's take: Someone's gotta fall out before another can jump in, and a pair of two-loss teams are facing each other: Bridgewater and Washington and Lee. So there'll be an opening in the Region 3 rankings. It's hard to see a USAC team jumping in there, but maybe Howard Payne could get ranked with a win against Sul Ross State on Saturday and a 7-2 record.
	Frank's take: East Texas Baptist (at UMHB). After a tough loss vs. their main rival last week, the Cru are in an awkward spot — their playoff hopes are dead at this point. However, ETBU controls their own destiny in the ASC — yes, ETBU and HSU both have that control heading into this week. ETBU has a chance to shock UMHB on the road and carry momentum into the HSU game the next week.
	Logan's take: Monmouth (against Lake Forest). I think Central was probably the last team "in" for Region 5 this week. Going into this week, Central's SOS is barely ahead of Monmouth's, but they play Buena Vista, so their SOS will go down, while Monmouth's will go up. Both teams will have the same WP and the same result against Wartburg, but the SOS should flip.
	Riley's take: Region 2 is very interesting to me, and my thought is that it could be presumed that Cortland drops out of the regional rankings with a loss to Brockport. That creates a situation in which either Brockport or RPI could slide into the bottom of Region 2, and both have opportunities for key wins on Saturday. I talked extensively about Brockport's matchup against Cortland, but RPI also plays Hobart in what will be a competitive Liberty League duel. With a win there, RPI could be in the mix to be ranked next week.

Which under the radar game are you following?

	Greg's take: Husson at University of New England. Say it with me. Lobster. Trap. The budding rivalry between Husson and University of New England introduced the Lobster Trap Trophy in 2021. Husson has claimed The Trap in each of the first two Trap games. The Nor’Easters are playing for more than just the Trap though- with a win, UNE keeps alive their shot at a share of the CCC championship with a Week 11 game against Endicott looming.
	Pat's take: Huntingdon at Brevard. This game was always going to be important this season, but now with Maryville having knocked off Belhaven last week, this game between conference unbeaten Brevard and Huntingdon (4-1 USAC) is an even bigger key to puzzling out how the conference will shake out.
	Ryan's take: Lake Forest at Monmouth. Three teams are tied atop the MWC, but Lake Forest (despite a peculiar loss to Ripon) is currently in the driver's seat thanks to a win over fellow one-loss team Illinois College. But that could implode this weekend against Monmouth. An LFC win gives them the inside track to a playoff berth, but a Monmouth win puts IC in that key spot and knocks LFC out of contention -- assuming teams win the other games they're "supposed" to. Yep, a lot of interesting moving parts going on here.
	Frank's take: Trine at Hope. Hope’s surprisingly meteoric SOS numbers are springing them into a ranked position, but this game for essentially second place in the MIAA will go a long way in determining if that SOS is real or an anomaly for a team that has had a good season but isn’t really a team to consider for rankings purposes.
	Logan's take: Carnegie Mellon vs. Westminster. The top half of the PAC is always solid, and while GCC went through the meat grinder at the start of the season, CMU is in the thick of it right now, with CWRU coming up next week. Westminster is always dangerous, but I want to see where a 1-loss PAC team finishes in the Regional Rankings.
	Riley's take: Concordia-Moorhead at Bethel. Though Bethel is the favorite, Concordia's hopes for a MIAC Championship game bid are still alive. Both of these teams are 3-0 in the Skyline Division, and the defenses have been consistently strong over the course of this season. I won't be surprised if this is a defensive battle that goes down to the wire, with a spot in the league title game on the line, considering this is the last week of the MIAC regular season.

Endicott, Hardin-Simmons, and Susquehanna- who clinches a playoff bid on Saturday?

	Greg's take: Only Hardin-Simmons. Each of these teams needs help this week to clinch. Susquehanna is idle and if Lycoming beat Moravian, Susquehanna will have to play one more time for the Landmark bid. Similarly, Endicott needs UNE to get trapped by the Trap game. Hardin-Simmons needs a win and a UMHB win over ETBU to clinch- and I think that scenario will play out.
	Pat's take: Hardin-Simmons. Don't see Susquehanna getting the help it needs to clinch the Landmark on its bye week.
	Ryan's take: Endicott and Hardin-Simmons. I'm more confident about teams getting in with a win rather than relying on an opponent to stumble, which would have to happen for Susquehanna to clinch.
	Frank's take: None. All of these rely on other teams losing Saturday. I believe UNE wins, so it won’t be Endicott. I am picking ETBU to win, so it won’t be Hardin-Simmons. Lycoming is on a roll right now, so I don’t think they get Susquehanna in.
	Logan's take: I think all three do. Of the three, Hardin-Simmons is the most likely to clinch at around 90% (they need to win & ETBU lose to UMHB). Endicott is the next most likely at around 60% (a win and a UNE loss to Husson). Susquehanna is on a bye, but if Moravian beats Lyco (55%), they clinch, too.
	Riley's take: All three. Hardin-Simmons takes down Austin College easily and gets some help from UMHB, who eliminates ETBU from ASC title contention. Endicott clinches the AQ out of the CCC with a dominant win over Curry and Husson narrowly beating UNE. And Susquehanna, despite watching from the sidelines on its bye week, takes the Landmark AQ with some help from Moravian, who will eliminate Lycoming's outside chance at taking the conference title.

Who will be in first place in the ECFC going in to Week 11?

	Greg's take: Anna Maria and Dean, both at 2-1. If this happens, Gallaudet will be in the clubhouse at 2-2. If Castleton defeats Alfred State, both of those teams will enter Week 11 at 1-2. If Castleton and Aflred State beat Anna Maria and Dean, respectively, in Week 11, everybody in the ECFC finishes at 2-2 in conference play and I really don’t know how any neutral party can root against that. What a way for the ECFC to go out.
	Pat's take: Gallaudet, with Anna Maria and Alfred State also with one loss.
	Ryan's take: Gallaudet. Anna Maria (2-1) has a bye on Saturday, and Alfred State should beat Castleton to get to 2-1 in conference play, but that means Gallaudet is in the most advantageous spot to rise to 3-1 and officially take the top spot with a win over Dean ahead of the final week of the regular season.
	Frank's take: Gallaudet with their win vs. Dean (this will complete Gallaudet’s conference season, putting them in the clubhouse at 3-1, awaiting potential tiebreaker scenarios if they don’t win outright).
	Logan's take: Gallaudet. Anna Maria and Gallaudet are currently tied at 2-1, with Alfred State and Dean both a half game back at 1-1. AMC has a bye, and I think Gallaudet will handle Dean relatively easily, putting them in sole possession of first place.
	Riley's take: Though Gallaudet lost to Anna Maria last week, tying the two atop the league standings at 2-1, I expect the Bison will take first place for a week before Anna Maria, who is on bye, reclaims first place after Week 11. Gallaudet closes its regular season against Dean this week, and I expect the Bison will win by a significant margin, moving to 3-1 in league play.

Got picks? Put them in the comments!