2010 Record: 5-1 Overall, 5-0 GLIAC
2009 Record: 1-10, 0-10 GLIAC
Last game: W 23-10 vs Findlay
Players to watch: Grand Valley: senior Matt Ryan LB, junior Tom Schneider QB, junior Shawn Snoor K/P, sophomore Antwian Windmon DB NMU: freshman Jacob Hicks QB, junior Phillipe Smith RB, senior Andy Vasquez C, freshman Zach Anderson DT
Key matchup: NMU wide receivers vs FSU’s linebackers. Matt Ryan, Tayo Moss and Mike Elias are all in the top 50 for tackles in the conference, but slants, screens and out routes by the wide receivers can counteract most of the defense’s strategy. If the ’Cats can get the ’Dogs to bite on the routes, it will open up the running lanes better for NMU.
Key stat: The GLIAC opponent’s of FSU (Saginaw Valley, Ohio Dominican, Tiffin, Lake Erie and Findlay) have a combined win loss record of 4-25. To makes things worse, one of those wins came against an NAIA opponent (Tiffin def. Malone 31-21) and two of the wins came as the opponents played each other (SVSU def. LEC 49-17 and UF def. Tiffin 10-7). This is the lowest strength of schedule in the GLIAC and is 132nd of 136 nationally.
Prediction: The Bulldogs have looked like the “diet” version of the Wildcats offense, as the two have similar spread offenses, but the lack of yards and points against the lowest of the low in the GLIAC has left a bad aftertaste in the mouth of Ferris State. Unfortunately for them, their defense gives up the big play to stack the box. Expect NMU’s defense to really step up in this game. NMU 17-9.
