John Carroll's defense gives it the edge over DePauw in NCAC test

The clearest separation between these two 6-1 teams is on defense, where John Carroll sits 6th in D3 against DePauw's 16th. Both programs grade out in the A range across the board, and both carry an offensive rank inside the top ten, but that ten-spot gap on defense is the single biggest mismatch in the profile and it shapes how Versus sees this one.

John Carroll's own numbers back up the standing. The Blue Streaks have a winning record in 15 straight seasons and haven't lost at home in 15 games running, a streak that stretches back to September 2024. DePauw counters with its own identity, five wins this season by 21 points or more, and just five losses in its last 42 games overall, which is why the Tigers still carry an A+ power grade of their own.

Versus projects a tight finish, John Carroll favored 30-28 with a 55 percent chance to win. This one counts in the NCAC standings, and with John Carroll ranked 17th in D3 and DePauw 13th, the result could matter well beyond this week.