FOOTBALL: It's Week Six In The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

BAY CITY - It's week six in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football season and, traditionally, this is about the time we start to see a little bit of separation begin to take place in the standings.

Grand Valley remains the clear-cut top team in the conference and should have little trouble in its home contest against last-place Tiffin. After the Lakers, however, the standings get a little bit interesting as a number of team are confident they still have a shot at finishing in the two spots below the Lakers (and thus in contention for a possible NCAA playoff berth) in the battle for GLIAC supremacy. Ashland, Findlay, Hillsdale, Northern Saginaw Valley, and Wayne all probably see themselves as having legitimate shots at finishing among the league's top three (in those two spots below the Lakers).

But, if you take a look at this week's schedule, it is clear that the playoff chase for some of these teams will be bruised this week.

To the games we go for week six:

Northern Michigan at Saginaw Valley State
12 p.m., Wickes Stadium, University Center

COMMENTS: This will be a big test for Northern Michigan to see how it performs on the road against one of the better teams in the conference and certainly one of the more proven defenses it will have faced so far this season. NMU is a beast when it is playing in the Superior Dome, but the Wildcats will be outdoors and the weather might not be so nice in University Center. It's hard not to like the toughness of the Northern team and its ability to run the football with Mark Bossuah. Will the Cats be able to run the football as effectively against Saginaw Valley. That will be a key to success. In this one, however, it's difficult not to side with the home team.

Ashland at Wayne State
12 p.m., Adams Field at WSU Stadium, Detroit

COMMENTS: This will be a big test for Wayne to see if it can remain strong in the upper half of the GLIAC standings as it prepares to host one of the top teams in the GLIAC and one of the better teams in the nation. Ashland has stumbled a little bit after a clear-cut loss to an upstart Hillsdale program that is now nationally ranked and finally beginning to open some eyes. The Warriors will try to run the ball with Joique Bell, but you have to think Ashland will do everything it can to make the Warriors throw the football more than the Wayne coaching staff might like. Wayne should hang tough, but I like Ashland to prevail on the road.

Indianapolis at Northwood
12 p.m., Hantz Stadium, Midland

COMMENTS: Northwood has been one of the surprising teams in the league this season. But, these are the kinds of games that test how far a program has come. This is a sort of 50/50 game and it will be interesting to see how the Timberwolves respond at home in a game the Greyhounds surely feel they can steal. Northwood has the home field edge in what could be miserable (rainy) weather conditions in the central Michigan region. I like the T-Wolves.

Hillsdale at Findlay
4 p.m. Donnell Stadium, Findlay, Ohio

COMMENTS: Hillsdale is surely enjoying its status as a nationally-ranked team, but this is no time to break out the cocktails. Findlay is a dangerous and balanced team (a team that looks kind of similar to the Chargers). This is one of the games I would really be interested in watching this weekend. I expect Findlay to come out and play well at home in this one. The Chargers are sniffing the playoffs after flying into this season under the radar of a lot of the "experts" who did not believe head coach Keith Otterbein's squad was quite ready to contend for a playoff spot. HC goes on the road and steals a close one.

Tiffin at Grand Valley State
7 p.m., Lubbers Stadium, Allendale

COMMENTS: Oh man. This game does not look pretty for the Dragons who have struggled all season long and now must face the top-ranked team in the nation. Grand Valley jumps all over the Dragons early, subs in and cruises to an easy win. The only real question is how many of the Laker fans will show up at the stadium to watch this contest when the Lakers are such a heavy favorite. GVSU has some game promotions going on to try and bring fans into the stadium. We'll see what happens with that because this game will be tough on Tiffin.