October 5th, 2024 5:00am
Week Five in the PSAC is coming up and we are heading into the second week of Divisional Games. Three of the 15 teams in the PSAC remain undefeated (overall Record) and all three teams are in this week’s D2 Top 25 Poll this week. #8 Kutztown (4-0, 1-0 PSAC East) beat previously unbeaten East Stroudsburg last week and #10 Slippery Rock (4-0, 1-0 PSAC West) beat Edinboro to remain undefeated. The rank for both of these D2 Top 25 teams did not change from last week. #24 IUP also won and is last of the PSAC teams to remain undefeated overall and the Crimson Hawks join the D2 Top 25 list this week for the first time this season. This group will shrink by at least one after the Week Five games are over. In my Week Five PSAC Game of the Week, #10 Slippery Rock will be heading to #24 IUP in will no doubt be an epic battle of these two PSCAC West rivals. At the other end of the spectrum, three PSAC teams are still looking for their first win of the season. Millersville (0-4, 0-1 PSAC East), West Chester (0-4, 0-1 PSAC East), and Gannon (0-4, 0-1 PSAC West) are all still looking to chalk one up in the win column. I predicted all seven of the winners correctly in the seven Divisional Games played last week in Week Four. Keep reading below for my updated PSAC Power Ranking and my prediction of who will win each game in Week Five.
PSAC Power Ranking heading into Week Five:
Some backstory on numbers four, five, and six in my PSAC Power Ranking for this week: Number four East Stroudsburg’s only loss, last week by a score of 27-21, is to undefeated #8 Kutztown. Number five Shepherd’s only loss, in Week Two by a score of 20-10, is to undefeated #10 Slippery Rock. Number six California (PA)’s only loss, by a score 29-23 in their first game, is to undefeated #18 Charleston (MEC). Also worth noting, number seven Lock Haven’s two losses were one score game losses to traditional PSAC West powers #24 IUP, 20-17 in Week Two, and California (PA) 27-20 in Week Three. Bloomsburg heads into this week with an impressive 3-1 overall record as well. These eight teams, the top tier of the PSAC, have a combined record of 26-6 heading into Week Five.
PSAC Week Five - Saturday, October 5, 2024 – Divisional Games
PSAC EAST
Bloomsburg (3-1, 1-0 PSAC East) at #8 Kutztown (4-0, 1-0 PSAC East) – 12 Noon
Bloomsburg won last week beating West Chester 23-21. #8 Kutztown won last week beating East Stroudsburg 27-21.
My Prediction: #8 Kutztown – The Golden Bears go to 5-0 on the season.
Shippensburg (1-3, 0-1 PSAC East) at West Chester (0-4, 0-1 PSAC East) – 12 Noon
Shippensburg lost 38-0 last week to Shepherd. West Chester lost 23-21 last week to Bloomsburg.
My Prediction: West Chester – The Golden Rams get their first win of the season.
Lock Haven (2-2, 1-0 PSAC East) at Shepherd (3-1, 1-0 PSAC East) – 12 Noon
Lock Haven won last week beating Millersville 24-23. Shepherd won last week beating Shippensburg 38-0.
My Prediction: Shepherd – The Rams win at home.
East Stroudsburg (3-1, 0-1 PSAC East) at Millersville (0-4, 0-1 PSAC East) – 12 Noon
East Stroudsburg lost 27-21 to #8 Kutztown last week. Millersville lost 24-23 last week to Lock Haven.
My Prediction: East Stroudsburg – The Warriors bounce back this week with a win.
PSAC WEST
Seton Hill (2-2, 0-0 PSAC West) at Gannon (0-4, 0-1 PSAC West) – 1 PM
Seton Hill was idle last week. Gannon lost 49-7 last week to California (PA).
My Prediction: Seton Hill – The Griffins win after the bye week.
GAME OF THE WEEK
#10 Slippery Rock (4-0, 1-0 PSAC West) at #24 IUP (4-0, 1-0 PSAC West) – 2 PM
#10 Slippery Rock won last week beating Edinboro 28-23. #24 IUP won last week beating Clarion 31-0.
My Prediction: #10 Slippery Rock – The Rock spoils homecoming for the Crimson Hawks.
California (PA) (3-1, 1-0 PSAC West) at Clarion (2-3, 0-1 PSAC West) – 2 PM
California (PA) won last week beating Gannon 49-7. Clarion lost 31-0 last week to #24 IUP.
My Prediction: California (PA) – The Vulcans win this one on the road.
Edinboro (1-4, 0-1 PSAC West) is idle this week. The Fighting Scots lost 28-23 to #10 Slippery Rock last week.
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