Another week of HBCU Football is in the books and, unless you’re a fan of a program that faced either a bad FCS team or an opponent from the DII ranks, it was a rough one for most. Especially if your team played against an FBS school.
FCS HBCUs were outscored 585-94 by their FBS-leveled opposition last weekend.
On a positive note, I went 6-2 with my picks. It’s the small victories, right?
This week, Grambling State and Florida A&M will face tough out-of-conference games against FBS opponents while Alabama State, North Carolina A&T, and Texas Southern are on byes this weekend.
Thirteen games are the most I’ve attempted to predict in a week so far this season. Let’s see how I do.
FCS vs. FCS Non-Conference
Hampton vs. Howard
Saturday, September 18, Noon (NBC SportsNet)
The Truth & Service Classic. The Battle of the Real HU. Doesn’t matter what you call it or where the game is played, this rivalry will keep its same level of intensity. These two teams have split their last ten matchups, but the Pirates are currently on a four-game win streak. If Larry Scott wants to get his first-ever victory as Howard’s head coach, the young Bison are going to have to slow down RB Elijah Burris (27 Car, 181 Yds, 3 TDs) and all-conference WR Jadakis Bonds (12 Rec, 130 Yds, 2 TDs).
Pirates 37, Bison 21
MEAC
Morgan State at Sacred Heart
Saturday, September 18, 1 PM
The Bears will be looking for a lot of “firsts” when they travel to face Sacred Heart. Morgan State is in search of their first win of 2021, their first non-conference win since Nov. 16, 2019, and the team’s first road non-conference win since Sept. 19, 2009. If Tyrone Wheatley wants to earn his fourth win as MSU’s head coach, the ninth-worst offense in the nation (185.0 YPG) will have to find a way to put up points on the sixth-best scoring defense in the nation (8.5 PPG).
Pioneers 28, Bears 17
Elizabeth City State at Norfolk State
Saturday, September 18, 6 PM (ESPN+)
These former CIAA rivals that haven’t faced off against one another in five years are looking for their first win of the season. After taking their lumps against Toledo (49-10) and Wake Forest (41-16), Coach Dawson Odums should find things to be a little easier Saturday against a Division II program that is coming off a loss against a team that hasn’t won a game in 14,938 days. Note: That team, Bluefield State, returned to the gridiron for the first time in 41 years on Sept. 4.
Spartans 38, Vikings 14
Winston-Salem State at North Carolina Central
Saturday, September 18, 6 PM (ESPN+)
Two more former CIAA rivals that haven’t played each other in eleven years, a game that ended in a 34-27 loss for the Eagles at home. With both teams coming off big losses, Trei Oliver will be tasked to stop the Rams, who played two dual-threat QBs last weekend. The Eagles shouldn’t have problems with this Division II program that had seven of their nine drives in their first game of the season conclude with a punt (6) or turnover.
Eagles 30, Rams 17
Delaware State at #16 East Tennessee State
Saturday, September 18, 7:30 PM (ESPN+)
The Hornets are coming off a tough 20-14 overtime loss to Georgetown. Now, DSU will have the tough task of traveling 8-plus hours down the road to Johnson City, TN, and face nationally-ranked ETSU. Yes, THAT ETSU. The team that beat down Vanderbilt IN Nashville. If Coach Mildstead expects to beat the Bucs, DSU will need more than RB Sy’Veon Wilkerson (190 Yds, 4 TDs) to perform well. The Hornets have had a difficult time finishing games this season, scoring a grand total of six points in the second half so far this year.
Buccaneers 35, Hornets 14
South Carolina State at New Mexico State
Saturday, September 18, 8:00 PM
Sam Herder referred to New Mexico State as a “struggling program” when he predicted that the Bulldogs would more than likely pull off an upset against the Aggies this week. Sam would continue to point out that NMSU struggled against two FCS teams that transitioned from D2 (Dixie State, Tarleton State) this spring, finishing the condensed season with a record of 1-1 while getting outscored 72-53.
Things haven’t gotten any better for the Aggies this fall. So far, NMSU is ranked 102 or worse (out of 130 teams) in twelve statistical categories, including Scoring Offense (123), Scoring Defense (102), and Time of Possession (112). Take advantage, Coach Pough. Take advantage.
Bulldogs 31, Aggies 28
OVC
Kentucky State at Tennessee State
Saturday, September 18, 3:00PM (ESPN+)
Head Coach Eddie George is still in search of their first victory of the season. This Saturday, TSU will face Division II Kentucky State in the John A Merritt Classic. The Tigers are 28-1 all-time against the Thoroughbreds, but don’t sleep on KSU. Led by all-conference RB Brett Sylve (29 Car, 111 Yds, TD), the Thoroughbreds defeated two FCS opponents (Robert Morris, Jackson State) when they went 7-3 in 2019. Look for TSU WR Dayron Johnson (148.5 all-purpose YPG) to have another impressive game.
Tigers 24, Thoroughbreds 21
SWAC
Alabama A&M at Bethune-Cookman
Thursday, September 16, 7:30 PM (ESPNU)
Welcome to the SWAC, Bethune-Cookman. Your first opponent — the best offense in the conference. Aqeel Glass (426.0) and RB Gary Quarles (129.0) are in the Top 5 in the nation in passing and rushing yards per game respectively, three Bulldog receivers are ranked in the Top 6 average receiving yards per game in the SWAC, while the Wildcats are currently allowing over 571 yards and 50 points per game.
The good news for Bethune-Cookman, Coach Terry Sims’ squad has faced FBS opponents (UTEP, UCF) in their first two games this season, BCU is 7-2 against conference opponents at home, and that AAMU defense allowed 41 points in their season opener.
Bulldogs 35, Wildcats 24
Houston Baptist at Prairie View A&M
Saturday, September 18, 7:00 PM
The 0-2 Huskies, who are 1-6 in their last seven games, will be looking to go 4-0 all-time against SWAC opponents when they travel less than an hour west (traffic permitting) to Prairie View to face the Panthers. Look for PVAMU’s run-by-committee trio of RB Lyndemian Brooks, RB Jaden Stewart, and QB Jawon Pass to take advantage of that HBU defense, which has been outgained on the ground so far this season 155.5 YPG-25.0 YPG.
Panthers 30, Huskies 14
Mississippi Valley State at Stephen F. Austin
Saturday, September 18, 7:00PM (ESPN+)
The Delta Devils, who are on a seven-game losing streak (no, I’m not counting Alcorn State’s spring forfeit), will look to avoid going 0-2 for the seventh straight season. It’s hard to judge MVSU, who is two weeks removed from their 35-0 season-opening loss to Murray State. And I didn’t even use any bad “Stone Cold” or “Six-Million Dollar Man” jokes.
Lumberjacks 30, Delta Devils 7
UAPB at #25 Central Arkansas
Saturday, September 18, 7:00PM (ESPN+)
The highly underrated SWAC West Division Champs, who were picked to finish fifth in their division this fall, will look to get an impressive win when they travel to Conway, AR to face the 25th-ranked team in the country. In their attempt to start a season 2-0 for only the third time in 22 seasons, the Golden Lions will have to slow down the ninth-ranked passing offense, led by QB Breylin Smith (48/80, 628 Yds, 5 TDs, 4 Ints) and WRs Lujuan Winningham (16 Rec, 228 Yds, 2 TDs) and Tyler Hudson (10 Rec, 222 Yds, TD).
Bears 30, Golden Lions 21
McNeese State at Southern
Saturday, September 18, 7: 00PM (ESPN+)
This is an opportunity for the 1-1 Jags to take advantage of the 89th-ranked pass defense in the nation. Problem is that stability issues at QB have been a problem for Southern dating back to the spring. If consistency continues to be an issue for the Jaguar signal-callers, look for RBs Craig Nelson and Devon Benn to attempt to lead Southern to their first-ever victory over McNeese.
Jaguars 28, Cowboys 24
Jackson State at Louisiana-Monroe
Saturday, September 18, 8:00 PM
Some media outlets are looking to anoint Jackson State after Coach Prime’s second consecutive 2-0 start in 2021, but this start seems a little different. This Tiger defense, which is giving up 11 PPG, is currently ranked Top 20 in the nation in Total Defense, Rushing Defense, and Scoring Defense.
If Freshman QB Shedeur Sanders, who had his coming out party in JSU’s 38-16 win over Tennessee State last weekend (30/40, 362 Yds, 3 TDs), can continue to play well with this stout defense, the Tigers can do what no other SWAC team has been able to do since 1985. Get a win over an FBS opponent.
Tigers 28, Warhawks 24
