Ouachita Baptist projected to nip Arkansas Tech in conference test

Versus projects a 27-23 final in this Great American Conference matchup, with Ouachita Baptist favored by 4 points and given a 60 percent chance to win. That's a tight number for two teams trending in opposite directions early this season.

Arkansas Tech enters at 2-0 and has climbed 20 spots in the Versus Division II rankings, from No. 45 to No. 25, the fastest riser of the pair. But its offensive rank of 94 and defensive rank of 77 in D2 sit well behind its overall grade of A-, and its strength of schedule rank of 125 suggests that record hasn't been tested much yet. Ouachita Baptist, at 1-1, has gone the other way, sliding from No. 19 to No. 33 in the same span, even though its offensive and defensive grades of B and B are stronger across the board and its schedule rank of 46 has been tougher.

Both programs carry an A- overall grade, and Ouachita Baptist's power grade of B outpaces Arkansas Tech's C+. This is a conference game, so the Great American standings are directly on the line. Versus gives Ouachita Baptist, ranked No. 33 in Division II, the edge over Arkansas Tech at No. 25, a case of the deeper resume outweighing the hotter start.