Some fake plants look better than others.

Sometimes you’ll see a vase of flowers or bowl of fruit and not be entirely sure whether it’s real or not. So you get a closer look, check for little plastic joints or “made in China” inscriptions on the leaves. Maybe you take a sniff to see if there’s an aroma. Sometimes you even have to touch the plant to know for sure. Then someone walks by and wonders why you’re fondling the plastic posies.

This week we get a closer look at some teams to see if they are real contenders for conference titles. We’ll look under the “leaves” of 3-0 Carleton as the Knights travels to MIAC master No. 4 St. John’s. We’ll give Mississippi College the whiff test as the 3-0 Choctaws head to Texas to play No. 5 Hardin-Simmons. We may even conspicuously brush Merchant Marine to see if the 3-1 Mariners can much up the Liberty League race against preseason favorite Union.

By the end of Saturday, we’ll know which of these teams are rooted in their conference races and which are just waxy fruit glossed up with early season wins. Moving away from weak allegories, here are some other thoughts…

Wish you were here: If I could be anywhere in the country on Saturday, it would be in Pella, Iowa for Central versus Wartburg.

The Central Dutch have very quietly moved up the Top 25 rankings. They were 18 in the preseason…then 17…16…14…and now 13. Perhaps just as quietly, the Wartburg Black Knights are undefeated and, as Keith McMillan points out in this week’s Around the Nation, are building confidence that they can win the IIAC again.

Don’t sleep on this one Howard Payne doesn’t play Hardin-Simmons or No. 12 Mary Hardin-Baylor for a couple weeks, but if the Yellow Jackets aren’t careful this week, those games won’t matter as much. I think Sul Ross State will make things interesting when they host HPU in Alpine, Texas. SRSU is 3-0 and coming off an emotional win over ETBU. Fear los Lobos. On the other hand…

Zzz: No. 1 Mount Union has beaten its opponents by a combined score of 197-21. Heidelberg hasn’t beaten anyone in approximately 113 weeks. This week they meet, in Alliance no less.

Most likely Top 25 team to lose: Central, who has the toughest test against Wartburg. Whitworth plays traditionally strong NAIA member Azusa Pacific, but the Cougars have lost two straight to WIAC teams, albeit very good ones in No. 2 Whitewater and No. 8 La Crosse.

Super Ridiculous Pick of the Week: Yes, Kalamazoo has averaged just six points against Adrian the past two years. Yes, Adrian is likely to be pretty feisty after last weekend’s 2OT loss dropped them to 1-2. Yes, the Bulldogs were preseason favorites in the MIAA. But K’zoo has lost both games by the same score (17-14) this year. They can’t lose by the same score three weeks in a row, right?

Kalamazoo 17 Adrian 14

Record thus far for these selections: 0-for-ever

And finally…

Slightly unique, though only slightly: The Blue Tigers of Lincoln (Mo.) travel to Millsaps

I feel so cheated.

I was looking forward to listening to the DePauw/Trinity (Texas) game tonight, which should go a long way toward determining the SCAC title. It would’ve last year, too, had it not been washed out by Hurricane Rita.

At least they’ll get to make this one up tomorrow, unlike last year.

Phew: A couple teams may’ve saved their playoff hopes — at least for now — via special teams today. Thiel avoided a third consecutive loss on Sammy Koyl’s 27-yard field goal in overtime to beat Thomas More in the Tomcats’ PAC opener. And No. 20 Delaware Valley blocked an extra point early that turned out to be the difference in a 17-16 win over Lycoming. The Aggies avoid an 0-2 start in conference that would’ve basically erased much chance at winning the MAC. Keep in mind their win over FDU-Florham doesn’t count in the MAC standings because of a quirk in the 11-team conference schedule.

On the other hand: 2006 playoff teams Augustana and Concordia-Moorehead both lose again. The Vikings could bounce back when CCIW play starts next week, but the Cobbers’ heartbreaking lost to SJU drops them to 0-3.

Rowan Rusty? After two weeks off, the Profs’ potent offense was shut out this week at Division I-AA Robert Morris. Maybe the rare back-to-back byes were a factor. That shouldn’t be a problem next year. From what we’ve heard Rowan will add Wilkes and Wesley to its non-conference schedule starting next year.

Magic carpet ride update: As mentioned last week, Concordia (Wisc.) may be this year’s surprise team to post an undefeated regular season. Perhaps Carnegie Mellon will join them on the magic carpet ride. The Tartans improved to 4-0 with a 34-14 win over Franklin & Marshall behind Travis Sivek’s third 100-yard game of the year. Plus CMU has a freshman named Socrates Zacharias which is always fun. Unfortunately his major is biology, not philosophy.

Neighbors in more ways than one: There are two teams tied for first place in the MAC and they are located on the same street. No. 16 Wilkes isn’t too much of a surprise, but King’s is, particularly after losing star defensive end Tore Alaimo before the season started to injury. The Monarchs average less than 300 yards a game on offense, but are getting them when they count. Quarterback Jeff Searfass just missed a perfect game, so to speak, completing 17 of 18 passes in a 38-14 win over Albright.

Three cheers for: Adam Jordison who had five sacks in No. 15 Coe’s 41-17 win over Buena Vista…Westminster (Pa.) kicker Fred Romeo whose field goal was such sweet sorrow for Adrian, beating the Bulldogs 27-24 in 2 OT…Colorado College sophomore Justin Alexander who had 224 yards on 22 carries in the Tigers’ 46-3 win over Lewis & Clark.

There are lots of good games on the slate tonight.

Texas Lutheran is trying to stay in the race against UMHB.
Wash U will try to avoid another loss to a CCIW opponent versus Wheaton.
DePauw and Trinity will finally meet again.
And UW-Oshkosh will have a chance to show they can contend in the WIAC against UW-Whitewater.

If you want to offer thoughts on these games or any others from today, fire away. And you can listen to a lot of these games off the scoreboard page (click on the plus sign to reveal the radio links).