RFC Summer Semester--Mid South Conference Preview (NAIA)

What it is: The Mid-South Conference (MSC) is a league that currently competes in the NAIA. It has 14 football playing members competing in seven states (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia).

All but two members of the MSC are private, church-affiliated institutions. Additionally, the conference is split into two divisions for football: East and West. Georgetown College (Ky.) has perhaps the most storied history of all of the current conference members winning three national championships (1991, 2000, 2001) to go with their 14 MSC titles.

The MSC will undergo multiple changes for 2010, as Lambuth (Tenn.) leaves the league to make the transition to the NCAA Division II ranks, while Kentucky's Lindsey Wilson takes to the football field for the first time this fall. Another Kentucky program, the University of the Cumberlands, will make the move to the West Division to make room for Lindsey Wilson. Kentucky Christian makes the move from West to East as well.

Website: http://www.mid-southconference.org/

Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)

East Division

1. Georgetown (Ky.)--(7-4): The Tigers were one of three teams to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the MSC East last season.

2. Campbellsville (7-4): The Tigers will make history to open the 2010 season on August 28. That's when they'll play their first-ever home game at night.

3. UVA-Wise (5-6): 2010 will mark the final season for Bruce Wasem as the Cavaliers head coach. He enters his swansong campaign with a career record of 42-44.

4. Pikeville (3-8): The Bears from Kentucky hope to put a disappointing 2009 season behind them after a 1-5 finish in MSC East action.

5. West Virginia U. Tech (3-8): The Golden Bears from West Virginia are also looking forward to a fresh start after finishing winless in the MSC at 0-6.

6. Kentucky Christian (1-9): The Knights hope the move East will mean a move up in the standings this season.

7. Lindsey Wilson (n/a): The Blue Raiders inaugural season includes a stretch of four road games in six weeks from late September to the next-to-last weekend in October.

West Division

1. Cumberlands (Ky.)--(9-2): The Patriots will go West after losing to former MSC member Lambuth in the first round of last year's NAIA playoffs.

2. Bethel (Tenn.)--(5-6): The Wildcats overcame a sluggish start to finish tied for second place in the MSC West at 4-2 in 2009. In fact, they finished last season on a three-game winning streak after starting 2-6 overall.

3. Belhaven (6-5): The Blazers look to blaze a trail to the next level after going 4-2 in the MSC last season.

4. Shorter (6-5): The Hawks open the 2010 season with three straight road games, including visits to NCAA Division II West Alabama, as well as FCS newcomer Georgia State.

5. Cumberland (Tenn.)--(5-6): The Bulldogs face FCS Austin Peay to kick off the 2010 season on September 2.

6. Union (Ky.)--(4-6): The Bulldogs from Kentucky finished 3-3 in the MSC East last season. They're hoping for better results as a member of the MSC West this season.

7. Faulkner (2-9): The Eagles hope to soar in the standings after going winless in the MSC West at 0-6 in 2009.