Wheaton and North Central last squared off in 2019, as neither program fielded a team in the spring of 2021. d3photography.com file photo

There's an entire day's worth of Division III football before the main event in Wheaton, Illinois and our Quick Hits crew is here to help you find the tastiest hors d'oeuvres before that big Chicagoland feast in prime time.  

Our regular crew is Greg Thomas, Pat Coleman, Ryan Tipps, Adam Turer, Frank Rossi, plus a guest. This week we thought it was a good time to get a bonus CCIW voice on the panel. We're thrilled to have 1993 Illinois Wesleyan graduate, Post Patterns Hall of Famer, and general CCIW enthusiast Bob Quillman in the guest spot this week.

— Greg Thomas

We’ll get to the Little Brass Bell in a minute. Which other game is the Game of the Week?

	Greg's take: Control of the conference is up grabs when the last two conference champions meet in a heavyweight matchup featuring the last two conference champions in the opening weekend of conference play. That's right — the stakes are high tomorrow when No. 18 Randolph-Macon travels to Bridgewater to open ODAC play.
	Pat's take: First off, I reject the premise that we just take the best game off the board and pretend any other game can be the Game of the Week. But I'll be intrigued to see how the Hendrix-Howard Payne game goes. Howard Payne has been pretty interesting over its past 10 games (did you know, 7-3 over that span) and Hendrix is generally pretty exciting. That could be a good game.
	Adam's take: Baldwin Wallace at No. 3 Mount Union. I believe the Yellow Jackets are the second best team in the OAC this year. The Purple Raiders can show everyone else how big of a gap exists between Mount Union and everyone else in the conference.
	Ryan's take: No. 11 Linfield at Redlands. I'm hoping this game brings some clarity for high-ranked Linfield, their first 2021 outing against a D-III team (a 2-0 team, at that).
	Frank's take: Westminster (Pa.) at Case Western Reserve. The PAC appears to be a five-way race this season, but this game will set the pace for the entire conference. Case is the defending fall PAC champ; Westminster is the recent spring PAC champ. The loser has a long road in front of them to find the playoffs.
	Bob's take: No. 11 Linfield at Redlands. It will be worth staying up late Saturday night for this NWC/SCIAC matchup. Redlands is 2-0, coming off a 60-10 win vs Puget Sound — the Bulldogs have a balanced offensive attack. Redlands will have to find a way to contain Linfield All-American QB Wyatt Smith, who threw for 307 yards and 4 TDs in the opener. I think Linfield pulls away late in a good game.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to be upset?

	Greg's take: No. 13 Union. The upset pickings are slim this week. Springfield looked great last week at Rowan while Union's last encouter with an option-y offense (vs. Salisbury in the 2019 playoffs) didn't go all that well.
	Pat's take: In a week where there aren't too many good options, I'll try my luck with No. 13 Union. The Dutchmen will surely be more prepared for Springfield than Rowan was last week, though.
	Adam's take: No. 18 Randolph-Macon. Bridgewater, at home, can earn Scott Lemm his first signature victory as Eagles head coach.
	Ryan's take: No. 17 Chapman. The Panthers have given up most of their yardage this year through the air, which is where the mostly one-dimensional George Fox excels.
	Frank's take: No. 11 Linfield (at Redlands). There’s something about this game that sends me a red flag — maybe it’s the fact Redlands is at home and has an extra game under their belt. This could be a very interesting game, and if it stays close for too long, Redlands could definitely win it.
	Bob's take: I’ll go with No. 23 Whitworth at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. I guess I’m all about the NWC at SCIAC matchups this week.  CMS is 2-0 with wins of Pomona-Pitzer and Lewis & Clark.  The Stags have a 3-headed monster running the ball with Joshua Martinez, Justin Edwards, and Jacob Fenton.  Should be a great game.

Pick an 0-2 team that will score more points this week than they have so far this season.

	Greg's take: Keystone hosts William Paterson this weekend and I like the Giants to score over the 14 points they've managed in their first two games.
	Pat's take: I see Greg has asked me yet another question about 0-2 teams, but my answer is going to be the same as it was on the podcast: Aurora. The Spartans scored 40 points over their first two games and I see them going for 41-plus against Concordia-Chicago.
	Adam's take: UW-Platteville, the only winless team in the WIAC (a conference that remains otherwise unbeaten) will put up more than 38 points in a shootout with Franklin. The Pioneers were held to just seven points last week by Bethel.
	Ryan's take: Defiance, against Alfred State. The Yellow Jackets have been crushed in their first two outings, but this week is up against an 0-2 Pioneers squad.
	Frank's take: Montclair State (over 22 points). When the Red Hawks at home take on Salve Regina, we may see a shootout form, as Montclair’s offense finally should hit its stride. Either team could win it, but I just believe the score will escalate early and often.
	Bob's take: I think 0-2 Aurora has a huge day at home vs Concordia-Chicago. Will they score 40? I'll go with yes.

Which game are you following that no one else on the panel is following?

	Greg's take: RPI at WPI.  if you like drama, RPI is your squad. I'm watcing to see if RPI can cruise to a 3-0 record or if QB George Marinopoulos will have to ... engineer yet another last minute touchdown to win.
	Pat's take: Thiel vs. Waynesburg. Waynesburg's last win is against Thiel in 2019 and the Yellow Jackets have lost 12 in a row. Thiel's last win was four years ago yesterday, Sept. 16, 2017 at Bethany. The Tomcats have lost 29 in a row. And as I turn the Wheel of Cliches, what I land on is .... Something's Gotta Give.
	Adam's take: Westminster (Pa.) at Case Western Reserve. I have the Spartans ranked in my Top 25. Back-to-back contests at home under the lights against the TItans (5-0 in 2020) and Washington and Jefferson will determine if CWRU stays on my ballot.
	Ryan's take: UW-Platteville at Franklin. The winless Pioneers are the only WIAC team that's not 2-0. That probably won't change this weekend, but it'll be worth watching whether they can get one in the win column.
	Frank's take: Salve Regina at Montclair St. In addition to the reasons stated in my previous answer, it will be interesting to see if the Seahawks’ RB Joey Mauriello can maintain his 228 rushing yards per game average against the Montclair defense. Both teams need this win to regain or establish momentum before conference play begins.
	Bob's take: Duh — Illinois Wesleyan at Carroll in the CCIW opener. First of all, Waukesha, WI is home of one of the best bands no one has heard of — The BoDeans. And second, well, go Titans!

There are five games in Week 3 between the E8 and the Liberty League. Who wins the weekend series?

	Greg's take: I'll take the E8 in a split decision with Morrisville State, Brockport, and Cortland winning.
	Pat's take: The Liberty League. And nobody asked, but St. Lawrence, Ithaca and Hobart are the winners from the LL; Cortland and Brockport from the E8.
	Adam's take: Liberty League. Hobart, Ithaca, and St. Lawrence give the LL a 3-2 edge.
	Ryan's take: Empire 8. Falling in line with my preseason predictions.
	Frank's take: The Liberty League in a 3-2 score.
	Bob's take: This one is tight, but it will be 3-2 E8.  St. John Fisher and Cortland, in the final two games, will both get it done to secure the league W.

Predict a winner and Most Outstanding Player in the Little Brass Bell game.

	Greg's take: The Cardinals were, um, persuasive last weekend, but I will stay true to my Top 25 ballot and pick Wheaton to keep the Little Brass Bell.  Wheaton playing keep away from that explosive North Central offense will be key, and I like Thunder running back Giovanni Weeks to be the game's MOP.
	Pat's take: Stating for the record that I hate predicting games I'll be at because people seem to get unnaturally offended by picks, I'm nonetheless taking Wheaton, with Dallas McRae. I'm also predicting that if Greg truly wrote his without looking at mine, that we'll have the exact same picks.
	Adam's take: North Central, Andrew Kamienski. The reigning champs will remain number one on my ballot until somebody beats them. The Cardinals had as impressive a debut to the 2021 season and the post-Broc Rutter era as they could have hoped for, creating momentum heading into rivalry week.
	Ryan's take: Ethan Greenfield of North Central. He's perhaps the nation's best rusher for a reason.
	Frank's take: Wheaton wins in a close game, as the taste from the end of their 2019 season is still prevalent — and the Thunder had to watch the team they beat win the championship. MOP: Wheaton QB Luke Anthony.
	Bob's take: I believe Wheaton is the more complete, more balanced team this year. The Thunder have no weaknesses, and will handle a tremendous NCC team by 10 points. Wheaton QB Luke Anthony will have a monster day throwing the ball and be the MOP. After this game, Wheaton will be getting a lot more than four 1st place votes…you heard it from this #d3hoops guy first!

Got picks? Put them in the comments!