THE LIGHTNING ROUND--WEEK 3

Last week--16-10 (.615)
Year-To-Date--33-17 (.660)

Last week brought a so-so performance in the predictions department, with a disappointing 2-4 mark in the NCAA Division III category bringing down the final tally. Obviously, many teams played a whole lot better than expected, like the Grizzlies of Franklin College (Ind.), who upset perennial Hoosier State power Wabash last weekend, while Georgia Southern finds itself reeling after a heartbreaking loss to Central Connecticut State at the NCAA Division I-AA level.

Elsewhere in small college football action last weekend, D-III Linfield suffered its firstt regular season loss in five years, as D-II Western Oregon handed the Wildcats a 28-14 loss. And defending NCAA Division II national champion Grand Valley State held off a strong challenge from Ashland to win 30-24. Well, enough talking! Let's move on to this week's predictions!

Projected winners are highlighted in RED

Key games are highlighted in BOLD type.

DIVISION I-AA

Eastern Illinois (1-1) at Illinois State (1-1)

(Battle for bragging rights in Prairie State)

Coastal Carolina (1-1) at Georgia Southern (0-1)

(Can the Eagles bounce back this weekend?)

UC Davis (1-1) at Montana State (1-1)

Pennsylvania (0-0) at Lafayette (2-0)

Chattanooga (1-1) at Western Kentucky (0-2)

Wagner (2-0) at Marist (1-1)

San Diego (2-0) at Yale (0-0)

DIVISION II

Grand Valley State (2-0) at St. Joseph's (2-0)

Saginaw Valley State (2-0) at Ferris State (2-0)

Missouri Western State (2-0) vs. Pittsburg State (2-0)

(Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener for both teams)

Minnesota-Duluth (2-0) at South Dakota (2-0)

(It's the Coyotes playing host to the Bulldogs in the North Central Conference opener for both squads)

C.W. Post (2-0) at Shepherd (2-0)

(The Rams take on the Pioneeers in a critical Northeast Region match-up)

Bloomsburg (1-1) at Edinboro (2-0)

(The Fighting Scots may have too many weapons for these Huskies to handle)

Washburn (1-1) at Central Missouri State (2-0)

(The Mules host the Ichabods in another MIAA opener)

DIVISION III

Delaware Valley (1-0) vs. Wilkes (2-0)

(Titanic early-season tilt in Middle Atlantic Conference)

Linfield (0-1) at Hardin-Simmons (1-0)

(Can the Wildcats avoid an 0-2 start?)

Brockport State (1-0) at Cortland State (1-0)

(A potential barn-burner could be brewing in Upstate New York)

Montclair State (1-0) at Springfield (1-0)

NAIA

Pikeville (0-1) at St. Francis (Ind.)--(1-0)

Malone (1-1) at St. Xavier (2-0)

Trinity International (1-1) at McKendree (0-1)

Midland Lutheran (1-1) at Nebraska Wesleyan (2-0)

Eastern Oregon (1-1) at Montana Tech (1-1)

Kansas Wesleyan (1-0) vs. Friends (1-0)

INTERDIVISIONAL GAMES

Azusa Pacific (NAIA)--(1-1) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (D-III)--(1-1)

(The Cougars venture into Wisconsin to battle a pack of purple people eaters from the WIAC)

Central Washington (D-II)--(1-1) at Eastern Washington (I-AA)--(0-2)

(The Wildcats hit the road to face the Eagles in this Pacific Northwest battle)

Presbyterian (D-II)--(2-1) at Elon (I-AA)--(1-1)

(The Blue Hose face their second NCAA Division I-AA foe in four games)

Wingate (D-II)--(3-0) at Charleston Southern (I-AA)--(2-0)