Bob Belvin has broadcast games across the OVC for over a decade, and served as host of league Media Day events. Each week this season he will share his thoughts and opinions on matchups and happenings around the OVC and FCS.
Conference play is still a week away for most Ohio Valley Conference programs, but Saturday's slate provides several intriguing opportunities for OVC teams to build momentum before the race for the league championship begins in October. Six OVC member schools are in action in faraway places , ranging from Florence Alabama to Ypsilanti Michigan.
Tune Up Saturday is on tap for OVC members this week. Programs such as Southeast Missouri and Western Illinois, and Gardner-Webb will be looking to build momentum, while Eastern Illinois and Lindenwood seek confidence-building performances against challenging opponents. Tennessee State and Charleston Southern enjoy a bye this week.
DON'T GET THE YIPS IN YPSILANTI
Lindenwood at Eastern Michigan
12:00PM CT, ESPN+ | Ypsilanti, Mich.
After a bye week Lindenwood travels north looking to knock off Eastern Michigan. The Lions have shown flashes of offensive potential through the season's opening weeks with three different receivers already with 100+ in reception yards. QB Pops Battle has already thrown for 456 yards and rushed for 176 so far this season. HC Jed Stugart’s noted during the off week his team focused almost entirely on “ourselves and our assignments” as they head to Ypsilanti. Injured WR Steve Hall could return to the Lions offense soon, with Stugart adding his status is a “game time decision.”
Key Matchup: Lindenwood's offensive front versus Eastern Michigan's defensive front.
Player to Watch: Lindenwood QB Pops Battle must provide above average totals to get the upset
Prediction: The Eagles at home
OLD FOES MEET AGAIN
UT Martin at Austin Peay
1:00PM CT, ESPN+ | Clarksville, Tenn.
One of the region's most interesting matchups features UT Martin Skyhawks visiting longtime rival Austin Peay, now a member of the United Athletic Conference. This is a solid tuneup for UT Martin UT Martin enters the game looking to sharpen its offense before conference play. The Skyhawks traditionally rely on a balanced attack and disciplined defense, while Austin Peay has become one of the stronger FCS programs in the Southeast. Austin Peay comes into the weekend riding a two-game winning streak and fresh off an impressive 38-16 road victory over West Florida. The Governors have won three of their first four games, with their only loss coming against SEC opponent Vanderbilt. UT Martin, meanwhile, sits at 1-3 but has been tested by a demanding schedule that included road trips to West Virginia and Memphis. The Skyhawks showed offensive flashes in last week's game against Memphis and will look to carry that momentum into their final non-conference game.
Key Matchup: UT Martin's run game versus Austin Peay's defensive front seven. The Skyhawks lost their top rusher, Tommy Ansley, last week at Memphis.
Prediction: UT Martin wins on a late field goal
WE ARE (AT) MARSHALL
Gardner-Webb at Marshall
2:30PM CT, ESPN+ | Huntington, W.Va.
Following their first win of the season Gardner-Webb heads north to Marshall, an FBS program known for its physical style. Gardner-Webb enters the contest coming off a convincing victory over North Carolina Central and will attempt to carry that momentum into one of its toughest nonconference games of the season. GWU overcame two red zone turnovers early in the first half and then ran away with the game outscoring N.C. Central 20-3 in the second half. GWU LB Tre Yanez is the reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 12 tackles (5 solo). This is the last nonconference game for GWU who will travel again next week to Charleston Southern to open league play.
Key Matchup: Gardner-Webb's rushing attack versus Marshall's defensive front.
What to Watch: GWU QB Cole Pennington’s return to Marshall, where his father starred and was a Heisman Trophy candidate. His mother is a MU graduate as well.
Prediction: Marshall's size and depth will be the difference.
GLAD WE'RE NOT DRIVING THERE
Western Illinois at North Alabama
3:00PM CT, ESPN+ | Florence, Ala.
The Western Illinois Leathernecks travel south seeking a quality road win against an improving North Alabama program hailing from the United Athletic Conference and playing only their second ever game in the Bank Independent Stadium after winning last week over Alcorn State. Western Illinois has shown signs of growth and will need even greater consistency on both sides of the ball to claim a road win. HC Joe Davis is looking for what he termed as “four quarters of clean performance”. The Leathernecks go through their typical game week Friday prep and then fly charter to Alabama in advance of the 3:00 PM Saturday kickoff. Both Davis and North Alabama HC Brent Dearmon were players for several arena league teams prior to entering the coaching ranks.
Key Matchup: The Leatherneck offense versus the run stuffing UNA trio of Tae Martin, Avery Howard, and Kanijal Thomas.
Prediction: North Alabama
THE CHALLENGES ARE PILING UP
Eastern Illinois at South Dakota State
6:00PM CT, ESPN+ | Brookings, S.D.
Eastern Illinois has battled through a difficult nonconference schedule and now meets one of the premier programs in FCS. This week EIU Head Coach Chris Wilkerson described SDSU’s defense as “physical, stout, and big that not just holds gaps but will strike you and knock you back”. He said something similar about SDSU’s offense too just in case you were wondering.
Key Matchup: EIU defense versus the explosive SDSU offense, with exceptional players galore at all positions
What to Watch: If Eastern Illinois can avoid giving up explosive plays and create a takeaway or two, the Panthers could keep the game respectable and gain confidence entering league play.
Prediction: The home team.
FROM WEST FLORIDA TO THE CAPE
West Florida at Southeast Missouri
6:00 PM CT, ESPN+ | Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Two programs looking to build momentum collide Saturday evening when the West Florida Argonauts (2-1) travel to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to face the SEMO Redhawks (2-2) at Houck Field. SEMO enters the matchup fresh off a convincing 27-9 victory over Central Arkansas, snapping a two-game skid and gaining confidence heading into conference play. The Redhawks have been battle-tested early, facing Indiana State, Iowa State, Southern Illinois, and Central Arkansas through their first four contests. West Florida, meanwhile, is making its first trip to Cape Girardeau after opening the season with impressive wins over Southern Illinois and Central Arkansas before falling 38-16 to Austin Peay last week. The Argonauts have already demonstrated they can compete with strong FCS opposition and will look to rebound quickly.
Key Matchup: SEMO QB Braylen Ragland vs. West Florida Defense Braylen Ragland has thrown for 902 yards through four games and remains the focal point of the Redhawk offense. His top target, John Anthony Jr., leads SEMO in receiving yards and provides a big-play threat on the perimeter. Khyair Spain has rushed for just over 200 yards and caught six balls early on for SEMO. West Florida counters with one of the more balanced offenses SEMO has faced. Quarterback Ty'ray Davis has accounted for 454 passing yards and six touchdown passes while also contributing on the ground.
Prediction: SEMO in a close one late.