NAIA Football: Games to Watch for Week 9

We are getting to a place in the NAIA football season were the playoff picture and conference champion representatives are becoming clearer.

We have said it before and we will say it again: When the weather starts getting cooler, football starts getting hotter. There are two games this week between ranked teams.

Not only are all the teams ranked but both have major conference championship implications. Top-20 teams that win their conferences are automatic qualifiers for the NAIA Playoffs.

(Rankings are reflected from the NAIAFBALL Media Poll)

(5) Lindsey Wilson vs. (6) Bethel (TN) — Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET

This is a winner-take-all battle for the Mid-South Conference. Lindsey Wilson has won the conference in each of the three seasons. Prior to Lindsey Wilson, the last team to do that was Bethel.

Both teams are undefeated; it looks as though the loser will still get an at-large playoff bid.

(22) Rocky Mountain vs. (24) Montana Tech — Saturday at 2 p.m. ET

Most consider the Frontier Conference the best in America, but either way, it has to be the most competitive from top to bottom. It certainly has the most parity.

These two teams find themselves outside of the top 20 and still a game behind College of Idaho in conference. This game is a must-win for both teams to keep their playoff hopes alive.

What are your predictions for these two games? Will we see both Lindsey Wilson and Bethel in the NAIA Playoffs? What other games are you keeping an eye out on this weekend? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo courtesy of Lindsey Wilson Athletics