2012 NWC Pick 'Em Contest: Week 5

Mean Machine

So close to having a perfect week 4 but again I missed on the national game of the week. Last season it was Whitworth that killed me and this year I've been great on the NWC picks but just average with the West Region/National game of the week. I'm still within reach of getting back into contention on the NWC pick page but currently I'm solidly in the middle of the pack. My total on the year is 23 out of 29 (79.3%) which is just ok. Nothing to brag about at all.

Besides the huge Linfield vs PLU game we're still about a week away from finding out who are actual pretenders and contenders in the NWC. There is a ton of excitement out of all corners of the Northwest Conference (except for one team) as NWC heats up this weekend. D3football.com just laid out their DIII conference rankings and slotted the NWC as the 5th best conference in DIII. When you consider there are 26 conferences in the country that's damn good and I think it's about right. I still contend the OAC is over-ranked but that's just my opinion.

Northwest Conference Games:

Willamette (3-0) over Sewanee (2-2) (at Sewanee, Tn.): The Bearcats are flying a LONG way for an easy D3 win this weekend. This was supposed to be the weekend of the Speckman Bowl when Menlo and Mark Speckman went to Salem to face-off against his former team, but due to a “scheduling conflict” one of the two sides backed out. IMO, Speckman’s departure turned bitter fast and “scheduling conflict” is code for we’ll see you later. Works out well for Willamette as they get to thump a long time South Region sad sack and get another D3 win on the books.

Whitworth (4-0) over Pacific (1-2) (at Pacific): I have to say that the Rats 4-0 start is about as impressive as Lewis & Clark’s 3-0 start. That means it hasn’t been. Look, I still think Whitworth is going to be in the title race with Linfield, PLU, and Willamette but they’ve had a terribly soft non-conference and I still don’t know what to make of them at almost the ½ way point of the season. Pacific might offer up a good challenge to the Rats this weekend and I’m expecting another win for the Rats but not a “stand up and take notice” victory.

Lewis & Clark (3-0) over Puget Sound (0-3) (at UPS): This is when the gravy train of tomato cans come to an end for the Pios. Puget Sound’s defense is incredible bad (giving up 46 ppg) and the Pios should take care of business before getting to run into PLU, Willamette, and Linfield in consecutive weeks. Enjoy that.

West Region Games of the week:

Wartburg (2-1) over Simpson (2-1) (at Simpson): Wartburg isn’t the Wartburg of the early 2000’s but Simpson College football hasn’t changed. They still stink. I’ll take the Knights to go on the road and “Be Orange” all over the Storm. BTW, the “Storm” is your college mascot? Really? That’s half of your problem right there.

Bethel (3-0) over Augsburg (3-0) (at Bethel): The Auggies have a super frosh QB named Ayrton Scott who’s been making waves early in the season as Augsburg is a surprising 3-0 to start the season but have played nobody of note. Bethel on the other hand is really freaking good and is going to roll up Augsburg like a grilled chicken caesar wrap.

National Game of the week:

#16 UW-Platteville (3-0) over #4 UW-Whitewater (2-1): Yes, this is my stupid pick of the week. Whitewater hasn’t lost a WIAC in years but I’ve been high on Platteville all season.  I think this is their best shot at taking down UWW. Will it happen? Probably not, but I’m going to roll the dice here and say UW-Platte’s explosive offense will have enough juice to get over the hump.