By James D. Horne, CSN Inside the OVC Columnist

All No. 13 Eastern Illinois (8-2, 6-1 OVC) needs to do to wrap up its fifth OVC championship is beat Tennessee State (3-7, 2-4 OVC) at home at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on ESPNU.

It is a simple scenario and something EIU coach Bob Spoo completely understands.

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“We’re just trying to get ready for a great football team,” Spoo said. “We understand what’s at stake and all the implications. We’re in a position now where we’ve got to continue playing extremely well if we want to play another great football game. The only other fact is it’s a quick turn-around. We’ve had to go since Sunday to get ready, so I hope we’re there.”

A victory will earn EIU the automatic berth to the NCAA Playoffs and at least that part would be nice and tidy.

But the OVC is a league that believes it should earn two spots to the postseason, especially when a team gets to the eight-victory plateau.

That didn’t happen last season when neither Jacksonville State nor UT Martin were invited to the dance (JSU went 8-3, 6-2 OVC in 2008 and UTM was 8-4, 6-2).

On Saturday, the Gamecocks (7-3, 5-1 OVC), which hosts Eastern Kentucky (5-5, 5-2 OVC) – the defending conference champions who with a victory would receive serious consideration from the NCAA to earn a second invitation to the playoff for the OVC – find themselves in a situation they knew they could be in as the season comes to a close. JSU has been ineligible for the OVC title and the playoffs due to sanctions stemming from low Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores.

But the Gamecocks - as they should - have played every game like it still had the opportunity to win it all and advance to the playoffs.

JSU coach Jack Crowe is a firm supporter of the OVC and its standing nationally. He has been upset about the OVC not earning two postseason bids last year and the sanctions the NCAA has imposed on his program. He now finds himself in a unique conundrum at kickoff.

“We were the second team last year so I identify with the issues of our own conference’s credibility when it comes to those selection processes,” Crowe said. “We have to take care of ourselves first and to do that is by playing the best football game we can play with no other considerations other than the outcome effects us.

“But aside from that, it probably hurt the conference as bad as it did us being put on this probation, because all we can do is dilute the impact of the conference. In that situation it sucks, for all of us. If we think that anything that affects one team doesn’t affect the other … I hope we have the mentality in this league that you try to make your strongest teams the strongest they can be and that makes everybody else better. When I was in the SEC, if we had a problem with Georgia, those head coaches would protect the league first and that’s the way I am. I’m sorry our situation has done this. But we should have gotten a waiver (from the NCAA), that’s what we should have done and I’m not coming off that. I think it was ill-conceived from the NCAA not to give us a waiver.”

STREAK OVER?: Eastern Kentucky needs a victory at JSU to keep its streak of 31 straight seasons with a winning record and 36 straight non-losing seasons intact.

The Colonels would love nothing more than to beat JSU to improve their chances for the second playoff spot.
They would fall down silly and scream with shear delight if they win and then EIU falls to Tennessee State, because that would give the Colonels the OVC title – their 21st – and the automatic berth that goes with it thanks to the 36-31 victory they earned at EIU on Oct. 3.

While all that would be great, the feeling one gets from EKU coach Dean Hood is the pressure to win so they can keep the streak alive is the most pressing.

“You’d rather have it be for all the marbles, but this is still an important game for Eastern Kentucky,” Hood said. “We’ve had 31 straight winning seasons here at Eastern Kentucky Univesity. We’ve been in this situation before. Our seniors were 5-5 going into a game at UT Martin needing a win. I was a part of coach (Roy) Kidd’s staff here in 1998 and we were 5-5 and playing EIU needing to keep the streak alive. We have two coaches on our staff that at various points needed wins to keep the streak alive. It’s something we take a lot of pride in and something people put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into succeed. So regardless of what happens Thursday night, we’re going to play our very best football game.”

GRIFFIN LET GO: Murray State announced on Monday that fourth-year head coach Matt Griffin would not return to the program next season. Griffin was 11-33 in four years at Murray State and 21-57 in seven years as a head coach (including three years at fellow OVC school UT Martin). Defensive coordinator Mark Lister will coach the team in Murray State’s season finale at Tennessee Tech on Saturday.

“I appreciate what Coach Griffin has done to advance the rebuilding process at Murray State”, MSU Director of Athletics Allen Ward said. “We have a good nucleus of players, and he made some significant progress in a number of areas important to the long-term stability of the program. But as I evaluate the season and what’s in our overall best interests, I have determined a change would be to our advantage at this point in time.”

“Coach Griffin started from scratch and had to endure the APR penalties imposed by the NCAA that were no fault of his own. It wasn’t easy and he worked extremely hard to improve the program’s foundation both athletically and academically. But unfortunately, we took a step back this season and have struggled to maintain any real consistency or identity. I’m optimistic moving in a new direction will allow us to build upon what we have in place and energize a dedicated team and fan base.”

SPECIAL WEEK AT APSU: Austin Peay begins a special week as its 26 seniors play their final game in Govs’ uniforms.
APSU went back to scholarship football in 2006. It didn’t offer scholarships from 1996 to 2005 as an independent and then PFL member before rejoining the OVC as a full member in 2007.

“First of all, I’m proud of them,” Govs’ coach Rick Christophel said in Tuesday’s OVC coaches teleconference. With 26 seniors it means they’re close to graduation and more than a majority will graduate. Second, it means a lot of seniors came in here as starters and lost jobs but drove on, did the good thing and became good, accountable teammates. All of them came from high school as the king of hill and then in college, it doesn’t always happen that way. Not all that come to college start, but they’ve become the role payers you need and are a bunch of professional guys.”

The Govs’ Terrence Holt was named OVC Specialist of the Week for a second straight week after returning a game-winning 71-yard punt for a touchdown in the 24-21 triumph over Tennessee State Saturday.

FORMER OVC PLAYER PILOTS SHUTTLE: When the space shuttle Atlantis blasted off Monday, former OVC football player Barry Wilmore was at the controls. Wilmore played football at Tennessee Tech from 1982-85 and led the OVC in tackles in 1985 (143). He was inducted into the TTU Hall of Fame in 2003. The Atlantis and its crew will deliver two Express Logistics Carriers to the space station. The 46-year old has accumulated more than 5,900 flight hours and 663 carrier landings as a member of the U.S. Navy. Wilmore is a native of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., and now lives in Houston.

OVC STANDINGS

			 OVC Overall
Eastern Illinois         6-1 8-2
Eastern Kentucky         5-2 5-5 
Tennessee Tech           4-3 5-5 
Austin Peay              3-4 4-6 
UT Martin                3-4 4-6 
Tennessee State          2-4 3-7 
Murray State             2-5 3-7 
SE Missouri State        1-7 2-8 
Jacksonville State       5-1 7-3
Ineligible for OVC Championship and playoffs due to NCAA Sanctions

GPI CONFERENCE RANKING DETAIL

Rank, League/School, Total Average
8. Ohio Valley Conference (50.70)
13. Jacksonville St (15.00)
22. E Illinois (20.00)
56. Tennessee Tech (45.88)
57T. E Kentucky (46.63)
72. Austin Peay (55.63)
77. TN Martin (57.25)
98. Murray St (70.38)
100. SE Missouri St (71.88)
103. Tennessee St (73.63)

THIS WEEK IN THE OVC

Thursday’s Game
*Tennessee State at No. 13 Eastern Illinois, 5:30 (ESPNU)
Saturday’s Games
*Eastern Kentucky at No. 15 Jacksonville State, noon (OVCSports.TV)
*Austin Peay at UT Martin, 1 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
No. 1 Southern Illinois at Southeast Missouri, 1 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
*Murray State at Tennessee Tech, 1:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
*Denotes OVC game

Nov. 14 Results
*@Jacksonville State 55, Tennessee Tech 28
Western Carolina 24, @Eastern Kentucky 7
*@Southeast Missouri 49, Murray State 13
*@Eastern Illinois 49, UT Martin 13
*@Austin Peay 24, Tennessee State 21

*Denotes OVC game

Tennessee State Tigers (3-7, 2-4 OVC) at GPI No. 22 Eastern Illinois Panthers (8-2, 6-1 OVC) • O’Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
THE BACKGROUND:
Series Record: …………………………………………… Eastern Illinois leads 7-5
Last Meeting: …………………………. Tennessee State won 45-24 (11/8/08)
James Webster at Tennessee State: …………………………….24-31 (5 yrs.)
James Webster Overall: ………………………………………………………….. same
Bob Spoo at Eastern Illinois: ……………………………….. 140-111-1 (22 yrs.)
Bob Spoo Overall: …………………………………………………………………… same
Tennessee State Last Week: ………………………… L, 24-21 at Austin Peay
Eastern Illinois Last Week: ……………………………..W, 49-13 vs. UT Martin
THE PRIMER: The outright OVC Championship is on the line Thursday when Eastern Illinois hosts Tennessee State. EIU already has at least a share of its fifth overall title, but can be the sole winner (and the OVC’s representative in the FCS Playoffs) with a victory. If Tennessee State wins, Eastern Illinois will need Eastern Kentucky to lose at Jacksonville State on Saturday to give EIU the automatic berth into the playoffs. EIU and TSU have played 12 times with the Panthers coming out on top seven times. TSU, however, won a season ago, 45-24 in Nashville, when it was ranked.
THE PREDICTION: EIU 38, TSU 21

Eastern Kentucky Colonels (5-5, 5-2 OVC) at GPI No. 13 Jacksonville State Gamecocks (7-3, 5-1 OVC) • Paul Snow Memorial Stadium (15,000) • Jacksonville, Ala.
THE BACKGROUND:
Series Record: …………………………………………………………. Series tied 3-3
Last Meeting: ……………………….Eastern Kentucky won 38-35 (10/11/08)
Dean Hood at Eastern Kentucky: …………………………………… 13-9 (2 yrs.)
Dean Hood Overall: …………………………………………………………………. same
Jack Crowe at Jacksonville State: …………………………….. 64-45 (10 yrs.)
Jack Crowe Overall: ………………………………………………… 78-75 (15 yrs.)
Eastern Kentucky Last Week: ……………….. L, 24-7 vs. Western Carolina
Jacksonville State Last Week: ……………… W, 55-28 vs. Tennessee Tech
THE PRIMER: Eastern Kentucky still has a shot to win a share of the OVC championship and the league’s automatic bid into the FCS Playoffs. But it will have its hands full this weekend when it travels to nationally ranked Jacksonville State. The Colonels need Eastern Illinois to lose to Tennessee State on Thursday night and then top the Gamecocks (who are undefeated at home this season) on Saturday to make that happen. EKU has lost its last two games (both nonconference) while JSU has won three in a row. The two teams have played six times since Jax State joined the league and both teams have won three times. EKU has won the last two and three of the last four matchups overall. EKU has won each of the last two games in Jacksonville. Last season, the Colonels won 38- 35 in Richmond, topping the Gamecocks who were ranked 16th at the time.
THE PREDICTION: EKU 28, JSU 24

Austin Peay Governors (4-6, 3-4 OVC) at UT Martin Skyhawks (4-6, 3-4 OVC) • Graham Stadium (7,500) • Martin, Tenn.
THE BACKGROUND:
Series Record: ……………………………………………. UT Martin leads 30-25-2
Last Meeting: ……………………………………. UT Martin won 31-17 (9/20/08)
Rick Christophel at Austin Peay: ………………………………….. 13-19 (3 yrs.)
Rick Christophel Overall: …………………………………………………………. same
Jason Simpson at UT Martin: ………………………………………..25-20 (4 yrs.)
Jason Simpson Overall: …………………………………………………………… same
Austin Peay Last Week: ………………………W, 24-21 vs. Tennessee State
UT Martin Last Week: ………………………….. L, 49-13 at Eastern Illinois
THE PRIMER: Austin Peay and UT Martin will meet this weekend in what will turn out to be a battle for fourth place in the league standings, with the winner potentially having a shot to finish tied for third overall. The two teams have played 57 times with the first meeting taking place in 1930. UT Martin has won five of the last six meetings, including 31-17 a season ago in Clarksville.
THE PREDICTION: APSU 33, UTM 30

GPI No. 2 Southern Illinois Salukis (9-1, 8-0 MVFC) at Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (2-8, 1-7 OVC) • Houck Stadium (10,000) • Cape Girardeau, Mo.
THE BACKGROUND:
Series Record: …………………………….. Southeast Missouri leads 36-30-8
Last Meeting: …………………………… Southern Illinois leads 58-23 (9/1/05)
Dale Lennon at Southern Illinois: ……………………………………. 18-4 (2 yrs.)
Dale Lennon Overall: ……………………………………………… 120-37 (13 yrs.)
Tony Samuel at Southeast Missouri: …………………………….13-31 (4 yrs.)
Tony Samuel Overall: ……………………………………………….. 47-88 (11 yrs.)
Southern Illinois Last Week: ……………………. W, 44-24 vs. Missouri State
Southeast Missouri Last Week: ………………… W, 49-13 vs. Murray State
THE PRIMER: Two regional rivals whose campuses are separated by less than 50 miles are renewing their rivalry (which dates to 1913) after a three-year break. Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois have played 74 times prior, with Southeast holding a slight edge in the series. SIU has won the last three in the series and did so in convincing fashion, winning by a combined margin of 128-33. Before those three victories, Southeast Missouri won three straight from 2000-02. Southern Illinois is the first No. 1 team in the country to visit Houck Stadium since undefeated Tennessee State paid a visit on Nov. 20, 1999 (a game TSU won 35-28).
THE PREDICTION: SIU 45, SEMO 13

Murray State Racers (3-7, 2-5 OVC) at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (5-5, 4-3 OVC) •
Tucker Stadium (16,500) • Cookeville, Tenn.
THE BACKGROUND:
Series Record: …………………………………. Tennessee Tech leads 40-33-1
Last Meeting: ……………………………… Murray State won 51-21 (10/11/08)
Mark Lister at Murray State: ……………………………………………… 0-0 (1 yr.)
Mark Lister Overall: …………………………………………………………………. same
Watson Brown at Tennessee Tech: …………………………….. 12-21 (3 yrs.)
Watson Brown Overall: ……………………………………… 106-172-1 (25 yrs.)
Murray State Last Week: ……………………. L, 49-13 at Southeast Missouri
Tennessee Tech Last Week: …………. L, 55-28 at #15 Jacksonville State
THE PRIMER: Murray State and Tennessee Tech will conclude the season Saturday with a matchup in Cookeville. Tennessee Tech needs a victory to secure its first winning season since 2004 (6-5) and only its second in the last eight years. Murray State will be playing for the first time without fourth-year head coach Matt Griffin who was fired on Monday after compiling an 11-33 record in four years at the school. Griffin is 21-57 in seven years as a head coach (including three years at fellow OVC school UT Martin). Defensive coordinator Mark Lister will coach the team in Saturday’s season finale. The Racers and Golden Eagles have played 74 times previously dating to the 1930 season. Tech holds a 40-33-1 advantage although Murray State won 51-21 at home.
THE PREDICTION: Tech 34, MSU 20

MY PREDICTION RECORD

OVERALL: 43-16
LAST WEEK: 3-2