Northwood's 8-0 start still hasn't cracked Ashland's 13-game hold on the series

Ashland has not lost to Northwood since September 2007, a streak that now runs 13 straight meetings in a series the Eagles lead 13-0. That history sits awkwardly against this season's form, where Northwood carries the best record in college football at 8-0 and climbed as high as No. 4 in Division II in October, the highest Versus has ever placed the program.

The Timberwolves bring an A+ overall grade and rank 7th in the GMAC's Division II mix, built on an A- offense and an A- defense, with a perfect 4-0 mark in one-score games showing they finish close contests. The concern is schedule strength, where Northwood ranks just 90th in Division II, leaving some question about how the gaudy record would hold against tougher competition.

Ashland has fallen hard this year, sliding 85 spots to 97th in Division II after opening at No. 12, and its offense ranks only 77th. But the Eagles still carry an A defense, 15th in the division, and no team has beaten them by more than 10 points all season, which keeps them competitive even at 3-5.

Versus projects Northwood to win 24-21, a 3-point margin that gives the Timberwolves a 58 percent chance to finally end the drought, with Ashland given a 42 percent chance to keep the streak alive.