GLIAC Predictions & Previews In Week 9, Including GVSU vs. Ferris State
GLIAC Predictions & Previews In Week 9, Including GVSU vs. Ferris State
Here’s a look at the matchups for the GLIAC teams during Week 9 of the 2024 season, along with predictions for each game, including the Anchor-Bone Classic.
Underdog success stories are fun. Those are the ones they make movies about.
If you pick the underdog to win and sound like you know what you’re talking about, you can seem pretty smart when the prediction comes true.
The opposite would be valid, as well.
If you pick the longshot and end up being wrong, people most likely will question your credibility – or sanity. But what fun is always playing it safe?
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Last week in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, taking a risk wasn’t the play, as all four games pretty much turned out how the numbers would’ve dictated, even if two-time defending conference champion Grand Valley State came dangerously close to seeing its chance at a three-peat slip away.
This time, it may not be as easy to pick logically and be correct.
Even if Ferris State should be a clear favorite against GVSU, you can’t overlook the fact that the Lakers won their last two meetings and the last two conference titles. Oh, and they’re the new No. 1 team in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll after previous No. 1 Harding fell to Ouachita Baptist.
And, when it comes to Northern Michigan, the Wildcats can’t lose forever.
Though they’ve dropped 18 straight going back to the start of the 2023 season, the drought for the Wildcats will end, and continuing to pick them eventually will pay off. Is this the week though? Can NMU capitalize on Michigan Tech’s recent two-game skid?
Here’s a look at the matchups for the GLIAC teams during Week 9 of the 2024 season, along with predictions for each game.
Note: All start times for Saturday are Eastern. All four games will be streamed live on FloFootball.
GLIAC Teams In Week 9
Saturday, Oct. 26
All Times Eastern
Northern Michigan At Michigan Tech, Noon
Northern Michigan has lost 18 consecutive games. The Wildcats have gone two games without completing a pass. They’re last in the GLIAC in scoring, total offense, passing, kick returns and more, but there are positives to look at, too.
The Wildcats rank fourth in the conference in rushing with 156.4 yards per game and rushing touchdowns with nine. They also haven’t been shut out this season, though they’re being outscored 39.29-15.57.
Freshman running back Jahi Wood is fifth in the GLIAC with 406 yards on a conference-leading 98 carries. Unfortunately, he’s only found the end zone one time in seven games.
The NMU running game gave the Wildcats a chance to beat GLIAC newcomer Roosevelt last weekend, rolling up 201 yards and a touchdown on 48 carries, but a fumble in overtime saw the win slip right through their hands.
Three plays after getting the ball back, the Lakers used an 11-yard Cyrus Zuell touchdown run to seal the 16-10 victory – their first win at the Division II level and first as a member of the GLIAC.
In theory, NMU’s best two chances to break its losing streak in 2024, at least from a conference perspective, were going to be Roosevelt and Wayne State, which also has been struggling to find the win column in recent seasons.
The near-miss could be motivating for the Wildcats (0-7, 0-3) as they head to Michigan Tech for the 2024 edition of their Miner’s Cup rivalry, but history is on the side of the Huskies.
Michigan Tech has won the game 13 consecutive times, including a 62-0 beating last year. The last time Northern Michigan got the job done was a 48-16 win in 2009. The rivalry dates back to 1920, with Michigan Tech owning a 41-15-2 advantage all-time.
Perhaps the one thing working in Northern Michigan’s favor is that the Huskies (4-3, 1-2) are coming off back-to-back losses, which followed an impressive four-game winning streak.
It would be easy to say Huskies have cooled off as much as the fall weather in Michigan, but their recent losses have come against Davenport (24-20) and Ferris State (51-13) – two games that turned out how most would’ve expected.
PREDICTION: Northern Michigan may be resilient, but Michigan Tech has improved from the 5-5 team it was in 2023. The result here won’t be as lopsided as it was a year ago, but the Huskies will get the job done for the 14th straight time. Michigan Tech 39, Northern Michigan 13
Saginaw Valley At Wayne State, 1 p.m.
Saginaw Valley State had the now-No. 1 team in Division II football on the ropes. The Cardinals shut down a rushing offense that still ranks fourth in the country, even after being held to just 50 yards in a near-loss.
It seems that despite almost losing, everything has worked out for Grand Valley State this week, and that has to be very frustrating for SVSU.
The Cardinals stifled a rushing attack that was averaging more than 300 yards per game. They were leading the contest 9-3 at halftime. They had the home crowd behind them. They recorded five sacks on the day, including one for a safety to open the scoring.
In the end, the Saginaw Valley State offense just couldn’t get it done, and the Cardinals lost the game 16-9.
It was their chance to make a statement, confirm how much they’ve improved and officially put their hats in the ring for a run at the conference title. Now, they’re going to take it all out on the Wayne State Warriors, who are winless in 2024.
Wayne State (0-7, 0-3) is coming off conference losses this month to Michigan Tech, Ferris State and Davenport, with poll-topping GVSU on the slate to kick off November.
Though it’s the Warriors’ homecoming game, don’t expect SVSU (5-2, 2-1) to take it easy, especially after the Cardinals had their own homecoming festivities ruined last weekend by Grand Valley State.
A lot of unexpected things would have to happen, but Saginaw Valley isn’t officially out of the GLIAC title hunt just yet, and it probably won’t be Wayne State that puts an end to that dream.
It’s nothing personal against the Warriors. They’re just not having a good year. However, if they keep their heads up and continue fighting the way they did in their weather-affected meeting with Ferris State, there’s a win on the horizon.
Wayne State gave the Bulldogs the biggest fight they’ve seen during their six-game winning streak, and that had to be huge for the Warriors’ confidence.
The Warriors will close their season with Roosevelt and Northern Michigan. They’ll come away with a win, if not two, to end 2024 on a high note.
PREDICTION: Saginaw Valley State has to be more mad and motivated than defeated after nearly taking down GVSU. They’ll build on what went well last week, and the offense will kick into gear. Saginaw Valley State 42, Wayne State 13
Davenport At Roosevelt, 2 p.m.
Roosevelt just picked up its first Division II and GLIAC win, which is awesome for a program on the rise and challenging itself against a higher level of competition.
There’s no doubt the Lakers will continue to improve and show their worth in one of the best conferences in college football, but they’re not yet up to the level of Davenport, the solid No. 3 team in the GLIAC behind Grand Valley State and Ferris State.
The new kids on the block will hang tough in this one, but Davenport isn’t quite ready to see its own hope for a GLIAC title come to an end.
The Panthers are 5-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play, tied with Saginaw Valley State. Ahead of them are GVSU and Ferris State, which are 3-0 and will be meeting this week in their annual rivalry game, the Anchor-Bone Classic.
That means one of those two powerhouses will end the weekend as a one-loss team, too, and the conference race will remain interesting for another week or two.
Davenport already lost to GVSU this year, but the Panthers will end their season against Ferris State. For that game to mean anything, they’ll first have to handle their own business against Roosevelt and not look too far ahead. Saginaw Valley State will be facing winless Wayne State this week, making the Cardinals favored for another win, too.
Davenport used a second-half rally to get past Wayne State last week (43-26), while Roosevelt’s breakthrough win came in overtime against winless Northern Michigan (16-10), after the Wildcats fumbled away their shot at the overtime victory.
PREDICTION: Davenport picked up votes in the latest AFCA poll and has been waiting patiently in recent seasons for GVSU or Ferris State to falter. In the meantime, all the Panthers can do is continue to earn wins and put themselves in position for a program-defining opportunity. Roosevelt will get there eventually, too, but not yet. Davenport 38, Roosevelt 14
Ferris State At Grand Valley State, 3 p.m.
This is the big one. The one that has determined the GLIAC champion over the last few years, with Grand Valley State getting the job done in 2022 and 2023. It’s the Anchor-Bone Classic!
GVSU and Ferris State have dominated the GLIAC for most of the last 25 years, and they’ve combined for six Division II national championships since 2002.
Coming into this week’s battle, they’re ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, and the winner of this meeting again will have a much clearer path to another conference title.
The two teams first met in 1971, with Ferris State winning the first two times by a combined score of 99-0.
The power has changed over the years like the tides, and GVSU now holds a 32-23-1 advantage in the series, including playoff games, though Ferris State has won seven of the last 10 interactions.
The Anchor-Bone Trophy itself debuted in 2002, with Grand Valley State taking it home nine consecutive times, before Ferris State took control from 2012-2015.
After winning the rivalry game at home last year, 49-28, GVSU welcomed the Bulldogs back to Lubbers Stadium for the first round of the playoffs and handed them another loss – this one ending their season and a chance at a third consecutive national title – 21-14.
When Ferris State (6-1, 3-0) comes back to town this week, sure, redemption will be a logical theme, but the Bulldogs also have momentum.
Despite what the latest poll says, Ferris State is the stronger team this season. The conference stats show it, as do the Bulldogs’ recent box scores.
Since opening the season with a 19-3 loss to Pittsburg State, Ferris State has outscored its opponents 316-53, and the team’s offensive numbers are just ridiculous. The Bulldogs put up 577 yards against Michigan Tech on Saturday.
Grand Valley State (7-0, 3-0) may be undefeated this year, but the Lakers just haven’t been finding the end zone like they have in recent years. That certainly was the case last week, where their previously potent running game was shut down completely by Saginaw Valley State.
Though GVSU escaped with a 16-9 win and ended up moving up a spot in the poll thanks to a Harding loss, that kind off offensive day against FSU will end with the Lakers waving goodbye to the Anchor-Bone Trophy and likely a chance at their third straight conference title.
PREDICTION: Ferris State has put up 40 or more points five times this season, including a program-best 84 against AIC. GVSU’s output has been down, and the Lakers stalled out against a Saginaw Valley State team that is well below Ferris State’s level. The numbers are the numbers. This is where Ferris State gets redemption and more. Ferris State 49, Grand Valley State 24
How Did The GLIAC Football Teams Perform In Week 8?
All eight GLIAC teams saw conference action on Oct. 19.
- Roosevelt def. Northern Michigan, 16-10
- Ferris State def. Michigan Tech, 51-13
- Davenport def. Wayne State 43-26
- Grand Valley State def. Saginaw Valley State, 16-9
Curious About The NCAA Division II Football Scores In Week 8?
Read more: NCAA Division II Football Scores – No. 1 Harding Falls, No. 2 GVSU Wins
AFCA Division II Football Rankings For Week 9
Oct. 21, 2024
- Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (27) - Prev. 2
- Valdosta St. (Ga.) (3) - Prev. 3
- Ferris St. (Mich.) - Prev. 4
- Kutztown (Pa.) - Prev. 5
- Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) - Prev. 9
- Pittsburg St. (Kan.) - Prev. 7
- Harding (Ark.) - Prev. 1
- Western Colorado - Prev. 8
- Central Oklahoma - Prev. 11
- Colorado School of Mines - Prev. 12
- Charleston (W.Va.) - Prev. 13
- Colorado St.-Pueblo - Prev. 14
- Minnesota St. - Prev. 15
- Emporia St. (Kan.) - Prev. 16
- Slippery Rock (Pa.) - Prev. 6
- Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) - Prev. 17
- Carson-Newman (Tenn.) - Prev. 18
- West Alabama - Prev. 10
- Johnson C. Smith (N.C.) - Prev. 20
- Central Washington - Prev. 21
- Indianapolis (Ind.) - Prev. 19
- Southern Arkansas - Prev. 24
- West Florida - Prev. 23
- Delta St. (Miss.) - Prev. NR
- Augustana (S.D.) - Prev. NR
Dropped Out: Frostburg St. (Md.) (22), Henderson St. (Ark.) (25)
Others Receiving Votes: Angelo St. (Tex.), 22; Findlay (Ohio), 22; California (Pa.), 21; Virginia Union, 20; Wayne St. (Neb.), 16; Wingate (N.C.), 10; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 8; Colorado Mesa, 7; Indiana (Pa.), 7; New Haven (Conn.), 7; Davenport (Mich.), 6; Frostburg St. (Md.), 6; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 4; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Emory & Henry (Va.), 1; Western Oregon, 1.
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