Lindsey Wilson's class gap over Cumberlands KY is wide and real

The numbers here are not close. Lindsey Wilson sits 10th in the NAIA rankings with an A overall grade, built on an A+ defense and an A offense, while Cumberlands KY grades out at B+ and ranks 31st. That gap runs through every category, from power rank (7th for Lindsey Wilson against 36th for Cumberlands KY) to defense, where Lindsey Wilson's 4th ranked unit faces a Cumberlands KY defense ranked 45th.

Versus projects Lindsey Wilson to win 43-18, giving the Blue Raiders a 92 percent chance and a 25 point margin. That tracks with their season: the Blue Raiders have won 7 of 10 games by 21 points or more and are riding a streak of 14 straight winning seasons. Cumberlands KY, meanwhile, has gone just 2-3 over its last five games, a stretch that does not favor a trip against the conference's top defense.

This is a Mid-South Conference game and it counts in the standings. The series leans heavily toward Lindsey Wilson too, up 9-3 in 12 meetings since 2012 and winners of 9 of the last 10, with Cumberlands KY unable to crack 21 points against them since October 2016.