Great American Conference Week 3 Preview and Prediction

Written by Gerren Gentry

Twitter: @TruthGentry

The Great American Conference is one of the most competitive conferences in all of Division II football. This week the GAC has another slate of interesting games lined up.

Southeastern Oklahoma State (1-1, 1-1) at Oklahoma Baptist University (1-1, 1-1)

Both teams are coming off of home wins from the previous week. SOSU has better playmakers on offense and defense. Their star wide receiver, Kaymon Farmer, had eight catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns last week against Ouachita. Through two games, Oklahoma Baptist has yet to score in the second half of their games.

Prediction: SOSU goes on the road to stun Oklahoma Baptist 24-20.

 

Northwestern Oklahoma State (1-1, 1-1) at No. 8 Henderson State (2-0, 2-0)

Henderson State is fresh off a huge road win over East Central (34-&) and isn’t going to disappoint at home this week in Arkadelphia (AR). NWOSU’s defense has been horrific, giving up 89 points in the last two games. All-GAC running back Jaquan Cole and the HSU offense will take advantage early and often. The Reddies are no slouch on defense either, opponents have only scored a combined number of 18 points in the past two weeks.

Prediction: Henderson State wins big at home 28-6.

 

East Central (0-2, 0-2) at Southern Nazarene (0-2, 0-2)

SNU will host their second home game in a row and will be looking to run the ball at least 30 or more times against East Central. East Central had a rough game last week against Henderson State turning the ball over five times in the first half. ECU also has one of their best receivers in the conference, Randall Case, who is out with an ankle injury.

Prediction: Southern Nazarene bullies their way to a win in Bethany (OK) 16-10.

 

Arkansas-Monticello (1-1, 1-1) at Arkansas Tech (1-1, 1-1)

Look for Monticello to come out aggressively in the passing game against Tech. Monticello quarterback Cole Sears has quickly passed for 693 yards and eight touchdowns this season giving him a passer rating of 158.06. Tech’s secondary hasn’t been tested all season and that will give the Bollweevils the slight advantage.

Prediction: Arkansas-Monticello goes into Russellville (AR) and wins a shootout 38-28.

 

Southwestern Oklahoma (0-2, 0-2) at Ouachita Baptist (1-1, 1-1)

Ouachita lost a tough road game last week but will look to be more buttoned up Saturday against the Bulldogs. Southwestern Oklahoma will be outmatched against the electrifying skill players, like OBU’s leading touchdown rusher Kris Oliver and big play wide receiver Ke’Vontae Pope.

Prediction: OBU has lost three fumbles in the past two weeks but if they can hold on to the ball, they should be able to grab a home win in Arkadelphia (AR) 38-27.

 

Southern Arkansas (2-0, 2-0) at Harding (2-0, 2-0)

Southern Arkansas will only hope to contain the No. 2 rushing team in all of Division II football. Harding’s option-based offense is averaging 433.5 rushing yards a game and have already scored 12 touchdowns on the ground this season. Southern Arkansas is currently giving up only 122.5 rushing yards a game which ranks third in the GAC.

Prediction: Last year Harding embarrassed SAU 70-42 but the Mulerider defense will rise to the challenge and defeat the Bison in Searcy (AR) 26-20.

Photo credit: arkansasonline.com; No. 23 Jaquan Cole.