After taking last week off (for good reason: no App game, and a bunch of bad games!), this week is a veritable smorgasbord of tasty matchups between polling teams. There are 13 games pitting polling teams against each other. Before we get started however, allow me to make an observation: In this week’s TSN poll, did you happen to look towards the “Others Receiving Votes” section? Sacred Heart?
5 MEAC teams?? Who ARE these voters? 
Either they simply are not paying attention or their medications from the 1960’s are re-medicating them. Good lord. Who qualifies these voters? Anyways….enjoy:1. #3 North Dakota St (2-1, 0-0) @ Youngstown State (1-2, 1-0) – This game makes the list for two reasons: I think it will be more competitive than everyone realizes. Today is a big deal for YSU. The Penguins MUST win this game to regain any respectability, re-energize a deflated fan base and hope for any shot at a playoff bid. One fan on a YSU message board predicted 5,000 in attendance, and no one questioned it. That’s not a good sign. Y’town may be imploding--fan base and all. this game could either stem that, or exacerbate it.
2. #19 Villanova (1-1) @ Penn (0-0) – Penn is an improving program, and last year had one of the stingiest defenses in the country. They are also playing their first game of 2008, a season where they are expected to make some Ivy League noise. Villanova has picked up a lot of national steam early on this season, based essentially on their win 19-point win over Lehigh.
3. #25 Tennessee State (3-0) @ #42 Eastern Kentucky (1-2) – While TSU was playing footsie with 3 cupcakes from the SWAC, the Colonels were out playing competitive football against 2 FBS squads and a game Morehead State. That’s all I need to see.
4. #33 Jacksonville St (1-1) @ Chattanooga (1-2) – In my opinion, Chattanooga’s defense was impressive against FBS Florida State. JSU has a potential FCS superstar in LSU transfer Ryan Perrilloux. How large is the disparity in quality between Southern Conference football and Ohio Valley football? Well, here we have a Moc program that has struggled in the SoCon over the years, and an Gamecock team that should make some big noise in the OVC. This game will certainly help gauge the difference. The winner gets it’s first Division I win of the season.
5. #36 Norfolk State (2-1) @ #55 William & Mary (1-1) – Think the MEAC folks have had this one circled on their schedules all week? Can’t help but to think about the contrasts in the stands this week. This game is a BIG deal for the MEAC.
Others to watch:
• #4 Montana (2-0) vs #38 UC-Davis (1-2)
• #22 Eastern Illinois (1-2) @ Illinois State (1-1)
• #39 Sacramento State (2-1) vs #41 Weber State (2-1)
