GLIAC Football Previews & Predictions For Week 12 Of The 2024 Season
GLIAC Football Previews & Predictions For Week 12 Of The 2024 Season
Here’s a look at the matchups for the GLIAC teams during Week 12 of the 2024 season, along with predictions for each game.
It’s here – the final week of the regular season for the teams of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
So far, the biggest thing that has been decided is that Ferris State will enjoy at least a share of the conference title, marking a return to glory for the first time since a three-peat from 2018-2021.
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Ferris State, 9-1 overall and riding a nine-game winning streak, sits at the top of the GLIAC standings at 6-0.
Grand Valley State, the conference champion in 2022 and 2023, is 5-1. A Lakers win and a Davenport upset of Ferris State would get GVSU a share of the title.
Beyond the title chase, Saginaw Valley State is looking to remain in consideration for a playoff spot. The Cardinals are 10th in the 10-team Super Region Three rankings and really need a win over Michigan Tech this week.
Question: If Davenport somehow upends Ferris State, do the Panthers catapult into playoff consideration in the final rankings? SVSU and Davenport both enter the final week at 7-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
The final game of note is the Wayne State-Northern Michigan matchup. A Wayne State win would mean a 22-game losing streak for NMU and a second consecutive winless season.
Here’s a look at the matchups for the GLIAC teams during Week 12 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 12
Saturday, Nov. 16
All Times Eastern
Michigan Tech At Saginaw Valley State, 1 p.m.
Saginaw Valley State (7-3, 4-2) is clinging to a chance at the Division II Playoffs, and the Cardinals absolutely must win this game against Michigan Tech (6-4, 3-3).
SVSU came frustratingly close to the upset of the year in the GLIAC on Saturday, but ultimately fell to the No. 2 team in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll, Ferris State, 27-24.
A missed field goal by SVSU with less than five minutes to play in the game, and a pass interference call on Ferris State’s next drive, allowed the Bulldogs to maintain their advantage as the clock wound down.
The Cardinals also came within a score of taking down Grand Valley State this year, pushing the Lakers to a 16-9 outcome in October.
While SVSU can’t benefit from the what-ifs, the Cardinals can finish strong, make the postseason and prove their progress when it matters most – in the playoff bracket.
Michigan Tech has had surges of greatness this year, but a 5-1 start to the season has turned into a 6-4 record heading into the season finale. The Huskies are 3-3 in conference play and stuck in the middle of the pack.
The Huskies should be proud of their first winning season since 2021 and definitely have the ability to play spoiler on the road Saturday at SVSU.
Going back to the 1980 season, Saginaw Valley State holds the advantage in this series, 16-8, including their last three meetings. The Cardinals won the 2023 contest 38-21.
PREDICTION: In the last three meetings between these two teams, SVSU scored 38, 35 and 35 points, respectively, to collect three wins. Therefore, Michigan Tech should plan on at least 40 points before thinking about a victory. The Huskies have scored more than 40 points twice this year, winning both games. SVSU has only hit the 40 mark once. Saginaw Valley State 39, Michigan Tech 17
Davenport At Ferris State, 1 p.m.
While it would be fun for the ratings – and for Grand Valley State – this isn’t the year Davenport (7-3, 4-2) gets one over on the Bulldogs.
Ferris State (9-1, 6-0) has been dominant since a season-opening loss to Pittsburg State, and last week’s stumble against Saginaw Valley State probably came at the perfect time.
Since losing in Week 1, Ferris State has outscored its opponents 432-93, and that includes the 27-24 ordeal at home last week against the Cardinals.
Was it because the Bulldogs were facing a much-improved SVSU team? Sure. Is it possible there was some complacency after routing winless Northern Michigan the week prior (55-9) after the emotional high of the Anchor-Bone Classic with GVSU the week before? Maybe.
Regardless, just as they did after being stunned by Pittsburg State, expect the Bulldogs to have their business in order and their undivided focus on winning the GLIAC title outright, while locking up a bye and home-field advantage for the upcoming playoffs.
PREDICTION: There’s simply too much on the line here for Ferris State to falter again. Along with being statistically superior in this matchup, the Bulldogs have the motivational advantage, too – even if Davenport is trying to avoid an 0-9 career record against Ferris State. Ferris State 45, Davenport 14
Northern Michigan At Wayne State, 1 p.m.
Can we make it a third consecutive preview capsule without really looking at any stats? Nah.
As much as it would be great to see the emotional release that would come with saying goodbye to a 21-game losing streak, Wayne State (1-9, 1-5) really has proven to be better than its record.
That means Northern Michigan (0-10, 0-6) will see a second straight season come to an end without a win, and the Warriors will climb one spot further from the bottom of the standings (assuming Grand Valley State handles Roosevelt, as most would expect).
Wayne State played four solid quarters against Roosevelt last week and got another top-notch performance from the kicking crew.
In the win, senior kicker Griffin Milovanski broke two WSU records – his fifth extra point of the game gave him a record 66 in a row, and his 48-yard field goal shortly after gave him the program record for a career with 40. The performance earned him GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Offensively, Wayne State put up 350 total yards, nearly doubling Roosevelt’s output.
The effort was led by sophomore quarterback Champion Edwards, who completed 8 of 17 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown, while three Warriors rushed for more than 50 yards. Redshirt senior running back Jeremiah Sterling Jr. set the pace with 79 yards and three scores on 11 carries.
The Wayne State defense held Roosevelt to 189 total yards, including just 33 on the ground.
Fact: NMU scored more than 30 points for the first time this season last week against Davenport, but the Wildcats also gave up 434 yards and 52 points to fall to 0-10 on the season.
PREDICTION: If heart and fanbase support could win games, Northern Michigan could take this one. But the game is at Wayne State, and the hard-working Warriors have to be on another level after their big win. They’ve put in the work, and they’ve taken their knocks, but it’s paying off. Wayne State 33, Northern Michigan 13
Grand Valley State At Roosevelt, 2 p.m.
By the time Grand Valley State (9-1, 5-1) and Roosevelt (1-8, 1-5) kick things off Saturday, GVSU might have a pretty good idea how important this game against Roosevelt will be in its bid for a third consecutive conference championship.
If Davenport somehow can get past Ferris State (their game begins at 1 p.m. Eastern), a win over Roosevelt would leave GVSU and Ferris State tied in the GLIAC standings at 6-1. That means they’d share the title, even though Ferris State beat the Lakers in their head-to-head meeting.
GVSU will be able to peek at the other score before hitting the field, or at halftime, but that shouldn’t make them play any harder.
While winning a third consecutive conference title would be cool, the bigger picture is the playoffs and a run at a national championship. Finishing strong against a struggling Roosevelt will be important for momentum and consideration in the regional rankings, which ultimately will determine seeding.
Grand Valley State is the more experienced and more accomplished squad in this matchup with first-year GLIAC team Roosevelt, so it should be relatively smooth sailing for the Lakers of GVSU.
PREDICTION: GVSU has every advantage in this one, except for the location. However, Roosevelt just isn’t ready for the powerhouse teams of the GLIAC. The hosts got their first Division II and conference win this year, and they’re a work-in-progress. They’ll learn here, too, but it will be more like a scrimmage for GVSU. Grand Valley State 48, Roosevelt 7
How Did The GLIAC Football Teams Perform In Week 11?
All eight GLIAC teams saw conference action on Nov. 9.
- Davenport def. Northern Michigan, 52-31
- Grand Valley State def. Michigan Tech, 20-0
- Wayne State def. Roosevelt, 38-14
- Ferris State def. Saginaw Valley State, 27-24
AFCA Division II Football Rankings For Week 12
- Valdosta St. (Ga.) (25) 9-0
- Ferris St. (Mich.) (5) 9-1
- Kutztown (Pa.) 10-0
- Harding (Ark.) 9-1
- Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 9-1
- Charleston (W.Va.) 10-0
- Colorado St.-Pueblo 9-1
- Central Oklahoma 9-1
- Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 9-1
- Western Colorado 9-1
- Slippery Rock (Pa.) 8-1
- West Alabama 8-1
- Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 7-2
- Indianapolis (Ind.) 9-1
- Augustana (S.D.) 8-2
- West Florida 7-2
- California (Pa.) 8-1
- Minnesota St. 8-2
- Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 9-1
- Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 8-2
- Angelo St. (Tex.) 8-2
- Findlay (Ohio) 9-1
- Wingate (N.C.) 8-1
- Colorado School of Mines 7-3
- Central Washington 7-3
Dropped Out: Emporia St. (Kan.) (20)
Others Receiving Votes: Central Missouri, 25; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 18; Southern Arkansas, 14; Emporia St. (Kan.), 9; New Haven (Conn.), 9; Miles (Ala.), 4; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 4; Virginia Union, 2; Davenport (Mich.), 1; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 1; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 1; Virginia St., 1.
To see the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, click here.
When Do The NCAA Division II Football Playoffs Start?
The playoffs begin on Nov. 23 and end on Dec. 21 at District Stadium in McKinney, Texas.
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