Mary Hardin-Baylor goes for a 21st straight win over Howard Payne

Mary Hardin-Baylor has never lost to Howard Payne, leading the series 20-0 since 2007 and riding a 20-game winning streak in the matchup. That history frames a game between two programs playing well right now, even though Howard Payne arrives with the shinier record. The Yellow Jackets sit at 4-0, which Versus notes is the best record in college football right now, and they have been blowing out their recent opponents along the way.

The numbers behind that record complicate things. Howard Payne carries an A- grade on both sides of the ball and ranks 41st in offense and 60th in defense within Division III, but its strength of schedule rank of 185 is the softest figure in its profile. Mary Hardin-Baylor, by contrast, is graded A across the board and has climbed 16 spots in the Division III rankings this season, from 35th to 19th, while racking up wins of its own despite one loss.

This is a conference game in the American Southwest Conference and it counts in the standings. Versus projects Mary Hardin-Baylor to win 36-21, giving the Crusaders an 82 percent chance to extend the streak against a Howard Payne team still searching for its first win in the series since 2007.