Week 4 HBCU FCS Predictions

After three weeks, we have reached the quarter mark of the season. However, nothing has stood out to me yet.

The 21 combined HBCU FCS programs have 26 wins with only a third having won two of their three games. Fifteen of those wins were over Division II & NAIA programs while the non-HBCU victories were over The Citadel, Mercyhurst, Sacred Heart, and Texas A&M-Commerce, who have five wins between them.

In Week 4, there are 12 out-of-conference games, which include two heated rivalries, and three league contests. Alabama State and South Carolina State are off this week.

Here are my top five matchups and predictions for this week.

Predictions Record:
2024 record: 46-8
Week 3: 14-2

Week 4 FCS HBCU Top 5 Games

All times are Eastern Standard

5. Clark Atlanta (2-0-1) at Bethune-Cookman (0-3), Saturday, 3:00 PM (ESPN+)

Bethune-Cookman wants to steer clear of a 0-4 record for the second time in four seasons while avoiding a loss to a DII program since 2009. The Wildcats have been inconsistent on both sides of the ball. Look for Clark-Atlanta quarterback David Wright III (937 passing yards, 10 touchdowns) to capitalize on the fifth-worst defense in the nation.

Panthers 27, Wildcats 20

4. North Carolina A&T (1-2) at North Carolina Central (1-2), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Both teams look to rebound after tough road losses as A&T travels to Durham for the first Aggie-Eagle Classic in O’Kelley-Riddick since 2018. NCCU head coach Trei Oliver is searching for his third straight win over the Aggies. However, starting quarterback Walker Harris is questionable for Saturday due to concussion protocol. If the Aggies can stymie running back J’Mari Taylor (228 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns) and confuse freshman quarterback Javion Martin, A&T could head back to Greensboro with a win.

Eagles 20, Aggies 17

3. Howard (2-1) at Hampton (2-1), Saturday, 4:00 PM (Monumental Sports Network)

The Rivalry that is the Battle of the Real HU will get all the storylines leading up to this year’s Truth & Service Classic. However, Howard head coach Larry Scott has never defeated Hampton during his tenure, with the Pirates taking seven straight from the Bison dating back to 2015. If Howard wants to snap that streak and win a third straight game for the first time since 2014, the MEAC’s best offense must find ways to exploit a Pirate defense that limited Norfolk State to just 104 total yards, 9 first downs, and seven points.

Pirates 24, Bison 21

2. Southern (1-2, 0-0) at Prairie View A&M (1-2, 0-1), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Prairie View and Southern are in search of their first conference victory while trying to avoid going 1-3 for the first time since 2016. Both teams have split their last four matchups. If the Panthers want to win back-to-back games against the Jags, Prairie View’s defense will have to slow down the nation’s seventh-best pass offense. Southern comes into this game with five wideouts that have compiled at least 110 yards receiving.

Jaguars 21, Panthers 14

1. Jackson State (2-1, 1-0) at Grambling State (2-1, 0-0), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Grambling won their 27th SWAC Championship the last time they started a season 2-1. If GSU wants to be on the road to their 28th while avoiding a third straight loss to JSU, the Myles Crawley-led offense must find ways to score against the nation’s 15th-ranked defense while improving their rush defense. After allowing 267 yards on the ground to Texas A&M-Commerce, GSU will welcome a Jackson State offense to Robinson Memorial that ran the ball 42 times, gaining 201 yards and scoring 3 touchdowns in their win over Southern last week.

Jackson State 31, Grambling State 24

Big South-OVC

Tennessee State (2-1, 0-0) at Tennessee Tech (0-2, 0-0), Saturday, 2:30 PM (ESPN+)

Eagles 28, Tigers 17

MEAC

Norfolk State (1-3) at VMI (0-3), Saturday, 1:30 PM (ESPN+)

Cadets 31, Spartans 10

Richmond (1-2) at Delaware State (1-2), Saturday, 6:00 PM (ESPN+)

Spiders 38, Hornets 6

Virginia Lynchburg (0-3) at Morgan State (1-2), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Bears 41, Dragons 10

SWAC

Mississippi Valley State (0-3) at Nicholls (0-3), Saturday, 4:00 PM (ESPN+)

Colonels 27, Delta Devils 7

Florida A&M (2-1) at Troy (0-3), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Trojans 24, Rattlers 14

Central Arkansas (2-1) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-2), Saturday, 7:00 PM (SWAC Digital Network)

Bears 31, Golden Lions 14

Alabama A&M (2-1) at Austin Peay (0-3), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Governors 35, Bulldogs 20

Texas Southern (1-1) at Lamar (2-1), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Cardinals 30, Tigers 21

Alcorn State (1-2) at McNeese (2-2), Saturday, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)

Braves 17, Cowboys 14