Quick Hits is back for the 2017 season, continuing the format of two six-packs — a half-dozen panelists and a half-dozen questions. (Or, if you’re already in midseason tailgating form, you can think of it as six six-packs.) Predictions, as always, should be taken in the manner in which they are intended: for your entertainment, and to show one possibility of what could happen. Want to play along? Comments welcome at the bottom of the page. Comments that are posted before kickoff are always given more credit than 20-20 hindsight comments.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is longtime CNU follower David DiPersio, whom you can find on our message board as CNU85.

— Pat Coleman
Photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com

Which Week 1 game is the game of the week?

Keith’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. I have to stick with my Kickoff pick.	Ryan’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. It’s not just about the semifinal rematch, but it’s also about clearing the air regarding all the voids left by graduation.	Pat’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. Not even close. Wish it were closer for me to get to, though.
Adam’s take: No. 11 Wesley at No. 20 Delaware Valley. Last year the Aggies pulled off the upset. But the Wolverines rallied to earn a playoff berth while Del Val was left on the bubble.	Frank’s take: No. 11 Wesley at No. 20 Delaware Valley. Based on 2017 expectations, it has to be.	David’s take: No. 11 Wesley at No. 20 Delaware Valley. Two top 25 teams who also have overlapping recruiting areas. This is quickly becoming a rivalry!

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 23 St. John Fisher. In four games, a top-25 loss wouldn’t be an upset. I’ll go SJF, at W&J. Also watch No. 14 Hobart and No. 24 WNE.	Ryan’s take: No. 24 Western New England. I do feel pretty good about what the Golden Bears bring to the field, but Springfield, with 17 starters back, will push the game till the end.	Pat’s take: No. 23 St. John Fisher. I don’t buy the 5-5 finish predicted in Kickoff but still think SJF should be lower than 23.
Adam’s take: No. 19 Thomas More. A young defense going up against a very motivated and experienced offense. Franklin QB Chase Burton should have a big day.	Frank’s take: No. 21 Alfred. They’re playing at Ithaca, which is under a new staff.	David’s take: No. 23 St. John Fisher. W&J will move into the Top 25 after Week 1, where they will remain for the season.

Which matchup seems most unusual?

Keith’s take: Augustana at Cortland. In 1985, Augustana beat Cortland rival Ithaca in the Stagg Bowl.	Ryan’s take: Southwestern at Denison. More than 1,200 miles is a long way to go for two teams that aren’t traditional powerhouses.	Pat’s take: Augustana at Cortland. Who would have seen this one coming? That should be interesting.
Adam’s take: Southwestern at Denison. This Texas-Ohio matchup pits programs located near both of the future Stagg Bowl sites.	Frank’s take: Union at Husson. It’s a 6-1/2 hour road trip to face a team with limited upside and limited alumni exposure.	David’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. This matchup makes the season feel as if it’s November! A 500-plus mile trip between two of the nation’s top teams. This has a playoff feel.

Whose head coaching debut are you most interested in?

Keith’s take: Rick Finotti, John Carroll.	Ryan’s take: Art Link, Christopher Newport. He’s only the second coach the team has ever had, and his predecessor did a mighty fine job. There’s lots to live up to.	Pat’s take: Casey Goff, TCNJ. I’m just quite intrigued by how late he was hired and in what poor shape the program was in.
Adam’s take: Bryan Moore, Wilmington. The Quaker Bowl is back, and Wilmington and Earlham are desperate for a win. Wilmington’s last win came in the 2015 opener; Earlham is winless since 2013.	Frank’s take: Dan Swanstrom, Ithaca. It’ll be interesting to see the change in style from Mike Welch’s long tenure.	David’s take: Art Link, Christopher Newport. Last year’s No. 11 defense has many returning starters as does the offense. Even though Link is a defensive guy, I expect we will see more changes on the other side of the ball.

Which conference will need its Kickoff ranking re-evaluated?

Keith’s take: The PAC.	Ryan’s take: The HCAC. I could see them dropping down a couple spots — even from their No. 22 ranking — after a rough opening day.	Pat’s take: The ASC. This was a tough league to figure out because of the two new teams. Most of the non-conference play will be in after this week.
Adam’s take: The PAC. It’s not just my upset pick. W&J and Westminster (Pa.) both host ranked opponents. Home losses by three of the top teams in the league would be a bad look for the PAC.	Frank’s take: The NWC. With uncertainty at Linfield without Riddle at QB, other NWC teams need to win early out of conference games to justify the conference’s ranking.	David’s take: The LL. So many non-conference games. Depending how the league fares in these games will determine if the No. 9 ranking is a good reflection of on-field performance.

Who is going to have a long trip home?

Keith’s take: Rhodes, returning from Willamette.	Ryan’s take: No. 18 Stevenson. Despite coming into the season feeling high, this opener against cross-state Frostburg will be tough to handle.	Pat’s take: N.C. Wesleyan. Mount Union, at home, taking the field for the first time after losing two of its last five? Yeah.
Adam’s take: Rhodes. Over 2,000 miles for an SAA-NWC showdown at Willamette, the Lynx will have the rare Week 1 flight home if they lose.	Frank’s take: N.C. Wesleyan. No. 2 Mount Union looks to make early 2017 statement, first against Battling Bishops.	David’s take: N.C. Wesleyan. This matchup confuses me. NCW hasn’t won more than five games in a season this decade. The Mount has only lost six total. I’m not sure what this game will reveal to anyone.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.