U pick the winners - opening nite in the MVC

[tornado]

Here's what's happening in the Valley this weekend...and my picks
Feel free to make your own predictions!


Friday
Evansville at Louisville - not gonna be pretty, kudos to the Aces for scheduling so tough in Game-1
Illinois State at Murray State - tough first game for the Redbirds- I say the arrest chaos hurts team chemisty and they take a loss
Indiana State at NIU - Sycs with a 10-pt road win
UIS at Bradley - we struggle at times but ought to get a double digit win
Wright State at SIU - a battle of two teams that play under potential but Salukis in OT
Alabama A&M at Missouri State - cushy cupcake right off the bat
Alcorn State at Loyola - cushy cupcake right off the bat
South Dakota at Drake - South Dakota is a 5-pount underdog to the MVC's 10th place preseason team, hopefully Drake gets a "W"
South Carolina State at Wichita - no upset here...Shockers score the first 20 pts then cruise

Saturday
Coe at UNI - kinda like an exhibition - these guys are a bad DIII team, laffer for the Panthers

Sunday
Jacksonville State at Missouri State - Missouri State readily starts 2-0
IU-Northwest at Loyola - cushy cupcake again
Delaware at Bradley - should be a W" but remember Bradley is still one of the least experienced teams in DI
Long Beach State at Wichita State - now the Shockers will be challenged and I think they gain a teachable moment in this game - LBSU in OT

[Da Coach]

Murray State is a winnable game for Illinois State. They were 17-14 last year, and 10-6 in a bad Ohio Valley Conference. They lost their top 2 scorers and 3 of their top 6 players to graduation, so I don't think they will be as good as last year. On the other hand, ISU is the consensus #2 pick in the MVC with 2 first team Preseason All-MVC players in their starting lineup, more than any other MVC team.
However, if Deontae Hawkins doesn't play, it will hurt them a lot. Dan Muller has refused to say whether Hawkins will play tonight, however, all indications are that he will, since this game is crucial to any at-large hopes ISU has this season. It will only be known at game time, but I predict he will not only play, but he'll probably start and not miss a single second of playing time despite his arrest for DUI, driving on an suspended license from multiple prior violations, and an open liquor carry violation.

[tornado]

Saturday
Coe at UNI - kinda like an exhibition - these guys are a bad DIII team, laffer for the Panthers...

it is indeed a laffer
45-18 UNI at halftime, Hunter Rhodes has 7 pts
Game is being streamed - LINK
...crowd looks to be about 400!!

MVC went 4-5 on opening nite but will pull even at 5-5, but just 3-5 vs. DI



btw- if anyone wants to watch former Bradley Brave Warren Jones, his Green Bay squad is currently being streamed
Currently Green Bay trails DIII Northland but Jones has yet to enter the game.

http://www.espn.com/watchespn/index/_/id/2919837/northland-college-vs-green-bay

http://www.espn.com/watchespn/player/_/id/2919837/size/condensed/

edit- Warren Jones now has his first court time with Green Bay and has scored 5 1st half points as Green Bay & Northland are tied right before halftime

[Stickboy46]

Here's what's happening in the Valley this weekend.
Long Beach State at Wichita State - now the Shockers will be challenged and I think they gain a teachable moment in this game - LBSU in OT

Just missed that prediction!

To be fair .. If you gave me the choice of WSU by 37 or LBSU in OT before the game, I would have said the latter is more realistic

[tornado]

Shox impressed, no doubt - I did miss on that one but note I hit on almost all the rest!