WIAC PROJECTIONS

UW-Eau Claire at St. John’s

Failing to finish Eau Claire last year spun the Johnnie’s season in the wrong direction. The Bluegolds hoping to avoid an 0-2 start, but Collegeville won’t be an easy place to get the win.

St. John’s 27  UW-Eau Claire 21

UW-LaCrosse at UMHB

The Indians, oh, Eagles, made the long bus trip to Belton, TX in the middle of the night, Thursday night. Probably the bigger challenge to overcome will be the Mary Hardin-Baylor defense. The team speed of the Eagles’ defense should help them stay with the Crusaders (or Tigers) for awhile, but this figures to be a huge challenge.

UMHB 35  UW-LaCrosse 10

UW-Oshkosh at Mount Union

The Titans impressed in their win against Central last week and did well in putting up 28 points in last year’s contest. Mount Union’s defense is notorious for being much better at the end of the season than the beginning of the season. If Oshkosh’s defense can hold up, this one will be interesting. It’s those darn if’s that get you every time…

Mount Union 35

UW-Oshkosh 17

UW-Platteville at UW-Stevens Point

When the dust settles on the 2011 season, there is going to be more than one team who rue’s the day the WIAC mandated intra-conference non-conference games. The Pointers and Pioneers could be two of them.

Coming off an impressive win on a long road trip, Point could be primed for an upset. Platteville has a veteran defense and a talented QB. The question is whether their offensive line can generate anything against a strong UW-SP front.

UW Stevens Point 24

UW Platteville 10

St. Thomas at River Falls

If the Tommies don’t play better than they did last week, they will go the way of North Central.  However, the Falcons aren’t yet ready to pull off an upset of this stature.

St. Thomas 31

UW-River Falls 14

UW-Stout at Jamestown

The Blue Devils have won each of the last 3 seasons, but the margin has gotten smaller and smaller. Last year, it took a last second field goal. Is this the year Jamestown overtakes them? Nahhhh

UW-Stout 27

Jamestown 17

UW-Whitewater at Frankin

The Warhawks will look to control the ball to keep it out of the hands of the pass happy Grizzlies. The UW-W formula of 4 quarters of pounding could take a toll. Sophomore QB Jonny West, making his second start, will find the UW-W’s defense a much stiffer challenge than Valpo. After last year’s playoff loss, the Griz don’t particularly need a measuring stick.  They get one anyway.

UW-Whitewater 38

Franklin 17