Western Oregon's offense built to outlast a hot West Texas A&M

A one-game difference in the standings hides a real gap here. West Texas A&M sits at 4-5 and Western Oregon at 5-4, but Versus has the Runnin' Wolves 34 spots higher in Division II, No. 59 to No. 93, with a clear edge in power grade as well. The records say this is close. The ratings say otherwise.

West Texas A&M arrives playing its best football of the season, having gone 3-2 over its last five games while piling up points, and it has scored at least 41 in three straight contests behind a B- offense. But a defense graded C- and ranked 108th in Division II is the issue, and it lines up against a Western Oregon attack graded A- and ranked 31st in Division II, the engine behind the Runnin' Wolves' season.

Western Oregon's own defense is no stronger, also graded C- and ranked 110th, so neither side figures to slow the other down much. This is a Lone Star Conference game and it counts in the standings, with Western Oregon holding the series lead and four wins in the last five meetings. Versus projects a 38-30 outcome in Western Oregon's favor, giving the Runnin' Wolves a 69 percent chance to win at home.