Bethany WV's edge over Thiel is thinner than the records suggest

Bethany WV enters 1-1 and Thiel sits 0-2, but Versus has the Bison only 13 spots ahead of the Tomcats in the Division III ranking, 189th to 202nd. That gap says this Presidents' Athletic Conference matchup, a conference game for both sides, is closer than the win column implies.

Thiel's numbers explain the two straight losses, with a D offensive grade, a D- defensive grade and ranks of 213th and 223rd in those categories. The one place the Tomcats show up well is strength of schedule, 92nd, noticeably tougher than Bethany WV's 127th, which means Thiel has been tested more than its record credits.

Bethany WV carries a D+ offensive grade and a D- defensive grade of its own, and the Bison were coming off a loss to an unranked opponent, their first defeat like that this season. Versus still favors Bethany WV at home, projecting 36 points to Thiel's 28 and giving the Bison a 66 percent chance to win by a projected margin of 8. Nothing in either profile points to a comfortable outcome for the favorite.