A late breaking edition to this weeks picks is the annual battle for the Watchorn-McLaughlin Trophy. You may not know about the bitter rivalry that exists between the two Nebraska NAIA schools, Midland Lutheran and Hastings College. It is even more likely that you didn't know there was a traveling trophy awarded to the winner each year, I didn't and I'm an alum of HC. This is shocking news to me, all this time there was a bitter rivalry brewing right beneath my nose and I totally ignored it.
Granted, it's not the Keg of Nails, or the Brass Spittoon, or even Paul Bunyan's axe. In fact, the Watchorn-McLaughlin Trophy is probably the only rivalry trophy in the country that sounds more like a law firm than an actual prize, but at least something is on the line when these two middle of the GPAC packers meet.
It looks to be a shootout in Fremont on Saturday as Midland and Hastings rank 3rd and 4th respectively in scoring offense in the conference, while they rank 10th and 11th, also respectively, in total defense. Hastings is near the top of the GPAC in rushing yards per game, but that appears to be about the only meaningful stat we have. Midland, is average at everything. They are the "middle sized" guy on Nintendo Ice Hockey, not a lot of speed, not a lot of size, just solid.
Stats aside, Hastings and Midland share one common victory, the desultory 0-6 Dakota Wesleyan. However, Hastings lost to Concordia, something that hasn't happened in ages I'm told, while Midland Lee took care of the Bulldogs. Additionally, Midland played USF, current holders of a 40-game conference winning streak, to within 10 points, while Sioux Falls hung 42 on the Broncos and trumped them by three touchdowns.
The Yun' Ball Coach quoted the latest line out of Hastings at -9.5 for the Broncos. I'm all over that line, taking the Midland Lutherans over the Hastings Presbyters and getting 9.5 points. But stange things happen when hardware is on the line, expect to see the power of the Watchorn-McLaughlin Trophy force a key turnover or grievous coaching error that swings this game one way or another.
2 comments:
I am going to have to disagree with your pick although the Broncs have not been playing up to par this season they are still a perennial power in GPAC. In most situations dealing with a "Rivalry" game I would choose the dawg and take the points but in fear of losing my job and life here on this hard knock life campus I am taking the Broncos to blow out the Warriors in Fremont.
Never bet agains the middle sized guy from Nintendo Ice Hockey! Went 7-5 on Saturday, not great, but we'll take it. Michigan won, but not by 4, but that is still a solid piece of handicapping. And so I was totally wrong on the CO-TX game, oh well, baby steps.
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