Mount Union's A+ offense is the mismatch Ohio Northern must solve

The clearest gap in this Ohio Athletic Conference matchup sits on the line between Mount Union's offense and Ohio Northern's defense. The Purple Raiders carry an A+ offensive grade and rank 14th in D3 on that side of the ball, while the Polar Bears' defense, graded A- but ranked 41st, will be tested at a level it has not faced much this season.

Mount Union comes in at 5-2 with an overall A grade and a power rank of 22, while Ohio Northern sits 4-3 with an overall A- and a power rank of 46. Versus projects Mount Union to win 32-23, giving the Purple Raiders a 71 percent chance to take the game and extend a run in which they have lost just 5 of their last 46 contests over four seasons.

Ohio Northern's case for staying close is built at home, where the Polar Bears have won eight straight games and have been a markedly better team than they are on the road this season. That home form has not mattered in this series, though. Mount Union has won 18 straight meetings and has never lost to Ohio Northern in 18 tries dating back to 2007, a streak this game counts toward extending in the OAC standings.