Missouri Valley looks to even the ledger against Central Methodist

Missouri Valley holds a 13-6 edge in the 19 meetings between these two since 2007, but Central Methodist took the most recent one, a 34-21 win last November. The rematch counts in the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings this time around.

Central Methodist arrives at 2-5 and trending the wrong way, with Versus noting the Eagles' power rating has slipped in each of the last three weeks and that they allowed a season-high 52 points to Benedictine KS. They've dropped five of their last seven. Missouri Valley, at 3-2, has been sturdier in close games, sitting 3-1 in one-score contests, and both of its losses have come against teams with winning records.

Versus ranks Missouri Valley 50th in NAIA, 20 spots ahead of Central Methodist's 70th ranking, though Central Methodist's C+ grades on both offense and defense are not far off Missouri Valley's own C+ offense and B- defense. Missouri Valley carries the sharper defensive rank at 43rd against Central Methodist's 52nd.

Versus projects Missouri Valley to win 29-22, giving the Vikings a 65 percent chance to take the rematch and reverse last year's result.