We media members like drama. Photo finishes. Log jams at the top of the standings. Season finales with conference titles on the line. These are a few of our favorite things.

For several Division III teams, this weekend is about avoiding drama. “Leave no doubt,” as the Linfield fans used to say.

This is your chance, Ithaca. Beat Alfred and you’re in.

Mount St. Joseph, you got a second chance after slipping against Hanover. Take care of Anderson and take your place in the postseason.

UW-Whitewater, being “wacky in the WIAC” is overrated. Stuff Stout and stay out of trouble.

Del Val and Occidental can avoid some Week 11 drama by winning their game, their conference and their AQ this Saturday. Hobart can relegate the Union-RPI “Dutch Shoes” rivalry to the Pool C closet with a win tomorrow. As we wait to see who punches their playoff ticket, here are my two-cents worth (plink, plink)…

Wish you were here: If I had my way, I’d be listening to Rock Lobster, eating rock candy and heading to Rock Island, Illinois where Augustana and North Central will meet for the CCIW title. It’s tough to beat No. 17 versus No. 11 with playoff implications. Though I will say, I’m intrigued by Monmouth-Knox. Any game that involves a trophy like this has to be fun.

Don’t sleep on this one: Teams like Washington & Jefferson and Salisbury have more than a passing interest in the battle between Willamette and Whitworth. The Bearcats and Pirates will fight for their playoff lives as the former still has to play Linfield and the later already lost to the defending champs.

Most Likely Top 25 Team to Lose: No. 22 Central who travels to defending IIAC champ and current contender Wartburg.

Super Ridiculous Pick of the Day: All good things come to an end. Amherst 20 Trinity (Conn.) 17. I’m picking against the Clamorin’ Clucks, my alma mater, here. Especially if that means they are less likely to send me pledge drive solicitations.

Saturday night’s alright: …For doing something else. The only night broadcast is Chapman against non-D3 San Diego (Go Toreros) on www.usdtoreros.com. And that’s only interesting if SD’s coach Jim Harbaugh decides to suit up.

Well, this is a change of pace.

Normally I arrive fashionably late to the weekend Daily Dose parties, but this time I’m the first one here. So I’ll just throw in my two-cents (plink, plink), munch on some hors d’oeuvres and wait for someone else to arrive.

Wish you were here: In my opinion there are two Top 20 teams with must win games this weekend, No. 9 Mary Hardin-Baylor and No. 20 Ohio Northern. The next loss will be the second for either team and will put them firmly on the playoff bubble. In a perfect world I’d watch the Crusaders fight for their playoff life against Hardin-Simmons in Abilene.

UMHB can’t win the ASC because of its rain out versus Louisiana College, so Pool C is its only door to the postseason. Would a 7-2 national runner-up make the playoffs as a Pool C team? Maybe, but it certainly isn’t a slam dunk. And Cru fans know the pain associated with relying on an at-large bid.

This is as close as we’re getting to a playoff game in Week 8. Let’s get it on.

Game that will disappoint: Usually this is Pat’s department, but I’ll “borrow” it since it connects with my last point. It seems every year we go into the off season saying, “You know, if [insert OAC runner-up here] brings everyone back, in the right situation they can beat Mount Union next year…”

Nope. Doesn’t happen. Just ask Baldwin-Wallace, Capital and John Carroll. And I can’t see it happening for ONU either, especially in Alliance.

Don’t sleep on this one: Trinity (Texas) hasn’t blown out anyone this season and I don’t see why that would change with 6-1 Centre in town. In the USAC Methodist gave Ferrum a fight last Friday night. I’d be surprised if they don’t do the same when CNU comes to their place tomorrow.

Most Likely Top 25 Team to Lose: There isn’t much to pick from other than the games involving two Top 25 squads. Maybe Brockport upends a travel-weary Wesley in New York.

Gordon’s Super Ridiculous Pick of the Night: Four words for you — Kenyon Lords, Conference Champs. If they beat OWU tomorrow, it becomes more than a mathematical possibility. PS — I still haven’t nailed one of these. I’m due.

Saturday Night’s Alright: After a quiet Week 7, west coast visitors and night owls get a treat when the other undefeated pacific coast team with an exciting QB plays Redlands. Occidental is the favorite and would be a very compelling Pool C candidate should the Tiger stumble. And it’s always fun when both broadcast teams do such a good job that you don’t know whom to listen to. We’ve got links to both broadcasts on the scoreboard.

Tom Arcidiacono at Union has picked up 199 yards per game on the ground for the undefeated Dutchmen, which is second best in Division III behind Don Thibodeau at Maine Maritime (233 ypg). To show his appreciation for the teammates who help make that happen, Arcidiacono is also picking up the dinner check. Read more in Mark Singelais’ Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union story.