And now, without taking up too much more of this space with my babble, here are the games to watch. There is a very strange feel to today's list of games. Mostly they are all involving teams near the bottom of the MRI and for good reason. I have to hope to make good on my prediction that all teams will win a Division 1 game before all teams have lost a game. And if my luck is with me, tonight should be good for a few of those.

Current MRI statistics for the year: 698-194, 78.25%
MRI Performance last two weeks: 385-99, 79.55%
MRI Performance all time: 3510-1257, 73.63%

Monday Night:
Utah Valley State at High Point - As I pointed out late last week, Utah Valley State has the most wins of any new Division 1 team and this was totally the opposite of what I expected at the beginning of this season. Tonight they go for their 5th Division 1 win of the year when they face a High Point team which is on a little roll of their own. The Panthers have won two of their last three by double digits and the loss sandwiched in the middle was by one. High Point has climbed 50 spots in the MRI since two weeks ago thanks to that performance. Might be a tough test for the Wolverines of Utah Valley State. MRI Predicts: High Point Confidence factor: 56.73% MRI Result: WIN

Bethune-Cookman at Savannah State - Savannah State is at the bottom the MRI rankings and has been since the season began. If there is one team that could derail my predictions, it is them. The Tigers are on their way to not only breaking the record for worst MRI score for a season, but smashing it in the same way that Arkansas-Pine Bluff smashed the old Savannah State record last year. Bethune-Cookman is on Savannah State's schedule twice this season, once tonight in Savannah and then on February 11th at B-C. As the Wildcats are the lowest ranked MRI team left on the Tiger schedule, this may be Savannah State's best chance to win a game all season. Keep your fingers crossed for them. Their "best" loss of the season so far was by only 6 to Jacksonville, who is ranked 300 out of 330 in the MRI, lower than Bethune-Cookman. MRI Predicts: Bethune-Cookman (but hopes to be wrong) Confidence factor: 73.47% MRI Result: Unfortunately, WIN

Illinois-Chicago at Youngstown State - Illinois-Chicago looked like they could duplicate the nice season they had last year under Jimmy Collins. Unfortunately, as we saw in their loss to Duke, and then later to UW-Parkside, they have a long way to go to be a copy of last year's version who went 24-8. Tonight, they take on Youngstown State, who has struggled itself this season, tallying only a single win at the Division 1 level and that came against one of the few teams in the conference worse than both the Penguins and Flames, Loyola-Chicago. A win tonight could cure a lot of ills for UIC. They have begun the conference season 0-2 with losses against Detroit and UW-Milwaukee. Beating a team like Youngstown State could right the ship and get them running again. The penguins give up an average of 76 points a game against their Division 1 foes. If the shots fall for the Flames, look for them to take this one. MRI Predicts: Illinois-Chicago Confidence factor: 66.48% MRI Result: WIN

Prairie View at Alcorn State - Something has to give in this match-up of winless teams. Unless the lights go out in the arena tonight and they have to cancel the game, one of these teams will pick up their first Division 1 win of the year. The two teams have had their offensive struggles. Between the two teams, there is only one player who is averaging over 10 points a game, Alcorn State's Delvin Thompson. Alcorn State averages 56, Prairie View, 51.3. Neither team is going to be set to light up the scoreboard tonight as they both shoot under 37% from the floor, but you never know. Maybe they are both so bad, that the score will end up 112-110. Or, maybe not. Give the edge to Alcorn State at home in this match-up at the bottom of the pitiful Southwestern Athletic Conference. MRI Predicts: Alcorn State Confidence factor: 78.65% MRI Result: LOSS

Oklahoma State at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - Ah, the one bright spot in my day of cellar dwellers. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi takes on their second ranked team of the season when they face Oklahoma State at home tonight. The Cowboys are coming off a loss against Gonzaga which knocked them from the ranks of the unbeatens. But, they have to travel to face the Islanders who have only suffered one loss at home all season. An upset is always a possibility and Texas AMCC proved they can play with the big boys by staying with Alabama for all of 30 minutes before the game got away from them. The Islanders should give a good fight. Look for them to hang with Oklahoma State for a while, especially being at home. Then watch John Lucas and the Graham twins pull this one out. The Chaminade-type game won't come this year for Texas AMCC. MRI Predicts: Oklahoma State Confidence factor: 66.48% MRI Result: WIN