The full 2024 FCS regular season is officially complete, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a little HBCU action over the Thanksgiving holiday.
This condensed slate has two in-state rivalry games, a rescheduled SWAC matchup due to Hurricane Helene, and a long overdue postseason appearance for Tennessee State.
Here are my previews and predictions for this week’s matchups.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
Predictions Record:
2024 record: 140-29
Week 13: 10-1
All times are Eastern Standard. Rankings are from the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll
Alabama A&M (6-5, 4-3) at Florida A&M (6-5, 4-3), Friday, 4:00 PM (ESPN+)
These two 6-5 teams are searching for their seventh win for different reasons. Florida A&M would like to avoid finishing a season .500 or worse for the first time since 2017, while Alabama A&M head coach Connell Maynor is looking for his third seven-win season during his tenure at AAMU.
The Bulldogs have won three in a row, averaging 41 points during that stretch. That said, FAMU is 3-0 against Alabama A&M since joining the SWAC, but the mystique behind Bragg Stadium was defeated two weeks ago when then 0-10 Mississippi Valley State snapped the Rattlers’ 23-game home win streak.
Bulldogs 30, Rattlers 27
Turkey Day Classic
Tuskegee (5-5) at Alabama State (6-5), Thursday, 2:00 PM (ESPNU)
The Hornets snapped two losing streaks with their win over Prairie View this past weekend. A two-game skid before Saturday and a nine-game stretch against the Panthers. Thursday’s Turkey Day Classic pits Alabama State against in-state Division II rival Tuskegee. The Golden Tigers currently lead the series 39-33-1. However, ASU has won four in a row against TU, including last year’s 41-3 victory.
Even though the Hornets come into this matchup with the nation’s ninth-ranked scoring defense, Tuskegee’s offensive coordinator Harry Williams Jr. spent his previous two seasons in Montgomery coaching under Eddie Robinson Jr. in the same capacity. That familiarity, along with the play of quarterback Raequan Beal (1,425 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, five interceptions), may place the Hornets in a bit of a predicament on Thanksgiving.
Hornets 20, Golden Tigers 14
51st Annual Bayou Classic
Grambling State (5-6, 2-5) at Southern (7-4, 6-1), Saturday, 2:00 PM (NBC Sports/Peacock)
It’s hard to throw out the clichés in arguably one of the most storied rivalries in college sports. Nonetheless, the SWAC West Division Champs will face Grambling State in the Bayou Classic one week before traveling to Jackson, MS, to play in their ninth conference title game for a chance to make their first-ever Cricket Celebration Bowl appearance.
The Jags have won five of the last six games to end the season. As good as Southern’s ground game has looked in recent weeks, averaging a shade over 200 yards a contest in their last five games, SU’s defense has allowed under 20 points per game against SWAC opponents. Look for the Jaguars to lean on their running back by committee, led by Kobe Dillon (671 rushing yards, touchdown), as the Jags aspire to gain their sixth victory over Grambling in their last seven meetings.
Jaguars 28, Tigers 20
FCS Playoffs – First Round
#19 Tennessee State (9-3) at #13 Montana (8-4), Saturday, 10:15 PM (ESPN2)
TSU is making its first postseason appearance in eleven years. Congratulations. Their reward is a first-round meeting with the most prolific team in FCS Playoffs history. The Grizzlies have dropped two of their last three games but haven’t opened the playoffs with a loss since 2007.
Tiger quarterback Draylen Ellis has been solid during TSU’s current three-game winning streak, compiling 946 passing yards and eight touchdowns against three interceptions. However, Tennessee State will have their hands full with Montana signal-caller Logan Fife (1,894 total yards, 19 touchdowns, two interceptions), running back Eli Gillman (1,132 total yards, 15 touchdowns), while playing a 10:15 p.m. ET start time (8:15 local) in a predicted 26° gametime temperature.
Grizzlies 28, Tigers 17
