Stagg Bowl XXXII predictions
Alright, so we just ask for a mulligan for 2003. Now we know never to predict St. John's being blown out in Salem. Fool us twice, well, shame on us.

Pat Coleman, D3football.com Publisher

How'd we do? Check previous years' picks: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003

The last time the Northwest Conference reached the Stagg Bowl, a majority of our so-called East Coast-biased experts picked Pacific Lutheran to defeat Rowan. People who say Northwest Conference football doesn't get national respect are not seeing the forest for the pine trees. But that's for the fans to debate, we're here to talk about the game. Any team that can take down Mount Union in Alliance deserves automatic respect, and even though Mary Hardin-Baylor is not on the same page offensively as Linfield, their ball control will give them an opportunity to win the game by shortening the amount of time Linfield has the ball on offense. However, Linfield has shown it can take care of business in a big way with the big play, which is why I give the Wildcats the edge.
Linfield 51, Mary Hardin-Baylor 38

Mike Allegre, Willamette Play-by-Play Broadcaster
Only team to play both Linfield and UMHB
My prediction for this Stagg Bowl runs counter to the D-III's east coast and midwest pollsters who give most NWC teams little chance to compete against overrated teams. One advantage is that I've seen both teams play a common opponent. Willamette's Bearcats visited both campuses in
2004 and lost--to UMHB in 2-OT's and to Linfield by way too much. While both defenses budge little and are capable of stopping the run, the key is Linfield's offense and the passing of perhaps the best overall quarterback in D-3 football this season. Record setting Brett Elliott will calmly and methodically find his receivers open more often and for big yardage than anything the Cru's run dominated offense can muster. One reason – the Wildcats" O-Line. UMHB's passing game is good, but Linfield has more weapons on both sides of the ball. The Cats are able to score more often, cause and convert turnovers, and keep opposing teams out the end zone.

At times, like Willamette's vaunted "Fly Offense," UMHB is predictable. And without starting quarterback Andy Padron running their offense, the Cru will mount few effective attacks on every drive, a fate WU suffered in the 1997 NAIA title game losing to Findlay, 14-7. While UMHB is a very talented, well coached, and legitimate Top 10 team (who was snubbed in 2003) that I respect highly, I don"t see them getting the job done on Saturday.
Linfield 31, Mary Hardin-Baylor 17

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Ron Boerger, South Region Columnist
Everyone says Linfield in a walk. On paper, that seems true. And yet:
People said UMHB couldn't get a Pool C after a big loss to Hardin-Simmons. They did. People said UMHB had never won a playoff game and couldn't win at Trinity. They did. Next, people said there was no way UMHB could travel to W&J and win a game in the cold up there. They did. People said UMHB had no chance to win the rematch at homestanding Hardin-Simmons. They did. People said there was no way such a young program could win at tradition rich, perennial champion Mount Union, especially in the snow. After MUC returned a blocked punt for TD, they were down by 14 in the fourth quarter. Come back and win under those circumstances? They did.

The conventional wisdom, once again, is that Mary Hardin-Baylor cannot win this game. The opposing quarterback is too good, the receivers have too much speed, the defense has rounded into shape, and the offensive line allows virtually no pressure. The Crusaders take great joy in defying the conventional wisdom – just ask Trinity, Washington & Jefferson, Hardin-Simmons, and Mount Union. Four home favorites – four teams sitting at home this week. Defeat Linfield? They can.
Mary Hardin-Baylor 38, Linfield 35

Ric Brienza, Mount Union Play-by-Play Broadcaster
I have to go with the Crusaders because I saw first hand how good they are. I'm pretty sure Linfield is good also, but I haven't seen them. I'll be surprised if either defense stops the other much.
Mary Hardin-Baylor 48, Linfield 45

Pat Cummings, Mid-Atlantic Region Columnist
With two offenses such as these, it is easy to project a huge score. I doubt that will happen. Mount Union had an incredible offensive showing in the playoffs last season and only managed to score six points against the Johnnies, who themselves scored only 24 points. Salem sits in a valley surrounded by lush mountains and the wind often whips through Salem Stadium this time of year. UMHB"s ground game might be the ticket to keeping the Wildcats offense off the field. Pete Fredenberg"s troops did it last week: keep the potent ground attack on the field as long as possible. Even if that led to a few turnovers, the Crusaders kept the Purple Raiders defense working all day, tiring them out by the late stages. The UMHB defense was able to hold the top team in the nation close enough to win, and they did.

Elliott will get his. But so did Mount Union. The ‘Saders manage to do it again, the old-fashioned way.
Mary Hardin-Baylor 31, Linfield 28

Adam Johnson, West Region Columnist
Last year, I picked the underdog, St. John's, to win because I saw them with my own eyes and just had a feeling they could do it. This year, for the same reasons, I will go with the favorite, Linfield. In the much anticipated battle of planes (Linfield -- 4,603 yards in the air) versus trains (UMHB -- 4,976 yards on the ground), I say the aerial attack wins out. UMHB has a solid running game led by two 1,000 yard rushers in Justin Bryson and Freddie Rollins. Linfield has a potent passing game in 1,000 yard receivers Casey Allen and George Carter and the rifle arm of Brett Elliott.

With similar defenses and special teams, it all comes down to stopping the UMHB running game or grounding the Linfield passing game. The Crusaders have had a very nice run on the road in the playoffs but the Mount Union team they beat isn't as good as Mount teams of the past and I think the Linfield team they face on Saturday is better. At 13-0, the Wildcats will copy the Johnnies from a season ago with an undefeated championship season and keep the Stagg Bowl in the west!
Linfield 45, Mary Hardin-Baylor 28

Gordon Mann, D3football.com broadcaster
Elliott had an 'off week' (by his standards) against Rowan and the Wildcats still scored 52 points. Linfield can be balanced offensively when they need to be and they showed a lot of different ways to get the ball in the hands of their playmaking receivers. UMHB has a great ground game and I think they'll put some points on the board, but I like Linfield's ability to get the quick strike.
Linfield 35, Mary Hardin-Baylor 27

Keith McMillan, D3football.com National Columnist
Pat Coleman and I started prognosticating in the Mount Union press box after the game. I called dibs on the score Linfield 52, UMHB 42. Without really sitting down to look at the matchup, and not being able to talk to their common opponent until after I made this pick, I just feel these are two prolific offenses that should make this a fun Stagg Bowl to watch, if not provide an exciting finish. UMHB had the beef up front to push Mount Union around, and made up for some sloppiness with a late rally. If Linfield gets sloppy, or the weather does, I could see the result going the other way, but off the top of my head:
Linfield 52, Mary Hardin-Baylor 42

John Regenfuss, Midwest Region Columnist
No matter what the ultimate outcome is for each team, this contest looks to be destined for a shootout. And not just any shootout, but perhaps one for the ages. After all, it is a truly special event when the No. 1 and the No. 2 teams in the nation in total offense meet with the national title on the line.

Has any one player ever affected a program more than Brett Elliott of Linfield has this season? Since his transfer from Utah, he has transformed a great team into an exceptional team and has proven to be a virtually unstoppable offensive force week-in, week-out. After struggling early in
the season, Linfield"s defense seems to have caught up with its offense, evidenced by its impressive shutout of Rowan last weekend. Linfield is balanced in the truest and most powerful sense of the word. Mary Hardin-Baylor enters the game on an amazing hot streak. The Crusaders ground game is punishing and its defense and special teams are solid. Plus, any team that beats Mount Union at home in the playoffs in come-from-behind fashion has to be considered championship caliber. They are undoubtedly legitimate and can, in no way, be deemed an underdog. But, in the end, I think too much Brett Elliott will be the difference and Linfield will win
the 2004 Division III National Championship.
Linfield 48, Mary Hardin-Baylor 31

Tom Wilson, East Region Columnist
Speed kills and from the looks of things Linfield has plenty of it. Take away something from the Cats' and they'll beat you with something else. Cover the deep routes and Linfield short passes and runs. Bump and run and the big wideout will burn you deep. Elliott can hit receivers at any point in the pattern.

Kudos to Mary Hardin-Baylor for knocking off Mount Union in Alliance, but I think Linfield will go up by a few scores and take UMHB out of its game. The Cats proved to be excellent blitzers against the Profs. I think Linfield will run blitz to slow down the Crusader running game.
Linfield 45, Mary Hardin-Baylor 17

Mark Simon, Features Columnist
Linfield gets a point for each of its 49 straight winning seasons to win its first Stagg Bowl. Then, in a remarkable stroke of innovation, the NCAA allows quarterback Brett Elliott to transfer back to Utah in time to come off the bench and replace Heisman nominee Alex Smith, helping the Utes beat Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.
Linfield 49, Mary Hardin Baylor 33