Ratings say Saginaw Valley State can match unbeaten Davenport

Davenport's 4-0 start is tied for the best record in college football, while Saginaw Valley State sits at 2-2 with both losses coming against teams with winning records. The Versus projection does not treat that gap as decisive, giving Saginaw Valley State a 51 percent win probability in a game projected at 26-25.

The ratings explain why. Davenport is graded A overall with an A+ defense and sits 11th in Division II on that side of the ball, but its offense ranks 26th and its schedule ranks just 138th, the softest number in either team's profile. Saginaw Valley State counters with an A offense and an A- defense, ranking 21st and 33rd respectively, and its strength of schedule checks in at 36th, far tougher than what Davenport has faced. Davenport still holds the higher power rank at 18th to Saginaw Valley State's 21st, and Davenport has improved its power rating in each of the last five weeks after climbing 35 spots in the Division II rankings this season.

This is a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup, and the series sits deadlocked at 4-4 since 2017, with Davenport taking last November's meeting 31-17.