Are we there yet?

The first Missouri Valley Football Conference actual conference game is on Saturday, and it also happens to be one of the Top 5 "must see" matchups most FCS experts pegged before the season started. So, after a month of non-conference bludgeonings for No. 1 North Dakota State (by a combined 138-17) and slipping, sliding, and recovering by No. 17 South Dakota, the two meet in the Fargodome on Saturday. The Bison are an approximate 18-point favorite, but that doesn't mean there is a lack of anticipation nor storylines. This clash is the focal point of the weekly "Thirsty Thursday Football Forecast" with Happy Hour host John Gaskins and SIoux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer from the Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls. They pick it apart thoroughly, from NDSU's motivation to atone from prior losses to USD to statistical warfare. Then, a glimpse into No. 2 South Dakota State's non-conference finale against Mercyhurst, which has an interesting track record against common SDSU opponents. Will Augustana and USF be coming into next week's Key to the City game off victories? And what will be the follow-up acts for Lincoln and Jefferson after their wild fireworks display last week?