Even though I started the season 2-3 in my Top Five Matchup picks, I would finish the week 14-3 overall, including getting the combined score of the South Carolina State/Central Florida game (66) correct.
The Week 2 HBCU FCS football schedule isn’t as compelling – and may not be as competitive – as the Labor Day Weekend games. Of the 19 scheduled matchups, four are against DII or lesser opponents, two will face Top 10 FCS programs, while seven are off to earn a little money from FBS schools. But that won’t stop me from making my picks!
Here are my top five matchups and predictions for this week.
Top 5 Games
#13 Jackson State (1-0) vs. Tennessee State (0-1), Saturday, 7:00 PM
JSU is looking to do something that they haven’t done since 1997, win a third straight contest against TSU. Actually, that streak lasted over a seven-year span.
Things might get rough for coach Eddie George & Co. at the Southern Heritage Classic if JSU can come close to replicating what they did to FAMU in Miami — amassing 471 offensive yards and scoring 24 points off four forced turnovers en route to a 56-point beat-down. But TSU QB Draylen Ellis (339 Combined Yards, 3 TDs vs. EWU) and RB Devon Starling (207 Rush Yards, TD) won’t make it easy for them.
Jackson State 38, Tennessee State 30
South Carolina State (0-1) at Bethune-Cookman (0-1), Saturday, 4:00 PM (ESPN+)
These former conference foes dominated the MEAC over the past decade, winning at least a share of the league title four times apiece. Since losing to the Bulldogs in 2019, BCU has gone a combined 3-12.
Both teams are looking to rebound after tough losses to FBS programs from the state of Florida. Look for this to be a good quarterback dual between SCSU’s Corey Fields, Jr and BCU’s Jalon Jones.
Wildcats 31, Bulldogs 28
Grambling State (0-1) at Northwestern State (0-1), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
The SWAC has had its fair share of struggles against FCS out-of-conference opponents since 2015, going a combined 15-56 during that stretch. Conversely, the Tigers are currently 3-3 against FCS OOCs, including a win over NW State in 2017.
But the last time these two teams face each other in 2018, NW State won 34-7. If Coach Hue Jackson wants to show the SWAC that they should be looked at as serious contenders this season, a win this weekend would help.
Tigers 28, Demons 20
Albany State (1-0) at Florida A&M (0-2), Saturday, 6:00 PM (HBCU GO)
After suffering the worse loss to an HBCU in 16 years, Coach Willie Simmons will be happy to welcome an opponent that FAMU is 11-3 all-time against to Bragg Stadium.
Yes, the Golden Rams are a Division II program, and, yes, Simmons has never lost to a DII opponent, but FAMU fell to a SIAC team in 2016. And the last time these two schools played; ASU won. Ok, that was 1993. I tried.
Rattlers 38, Golden Rams 14
Winston-Salem State (0-1) at North Carolina Central (1-0), Saturday, 6:00 PM (ESPN+)
Last year, NCCU needed to overcome a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat DII in-state rival WSSU. One year later, Coach Trei Oliver’s boys — led by QB Davius Richard — are more experienced and, more importantly, healthier coming off their big win over North Carolina A&T.
Eagles 27, Rams 10
CAA
Tuskegee (0-1) at Hampton (1-0), Saturday, 6:00 PM (FloSports)
Pirates 30, Golden Tigers 21
Big South
North Carolina A&T (0-1) at #1 North Dakota State (1-0), Saturday, 3:30 PM (ESPN+)
Bison 45, Aggies 21
MEAC
Norfolk State (0-1) at James Madison (1-0), Saturday, 4:00 PM (ESPN3)
Dukes 49, Spartans 7
Delaware State (0-1) at #10 Delaware (1-0), Saturday, 6:00 PM (FloSports)
Blue Hens 28, Hornets 14
Howard (0-2) at South Florida (0-1), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Bulls 37, Bison 17
Morgan State (0-1) at Towson (1-0), Saturday, 7:00 PM (Maryland Public Television/MPT)
Tigers 35, Bears 10
SWAC
Mississippi Valley State (0-1) at Austin Peay (1-1), Saturday, 4:00 PM (ESPN+)
Governors 38, Delta Devils 20
Alabama State (2-0) at UCLA (1-0), Saturday, 5:00 PM (Pac-12 Network)
Bruins 52, Hornets 10
Alcorn State (0-1) at Tulane (1-0), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Green Wave 42, Braves 24
Alabama A&M (0-1) at Troy (0-1), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN3)
Trojans 49, Bulldogs 10
North American at UAPB (1-0), Saturday, 7:00 PM (UAPB Sports Network)
Golden Lions 56, Stallions 7
Southern (1-0) at LSU (0-1), Saturday, 7:30 PM (SEC Network)
Tigers 59, Jaguars 14
Texas Southern (0-1) at North Texas (1-1), Saturday, 7:30 PM (ESPN3)
Mean Green 34, Tigers 12
Prairie View A&M (1-0) at Abilene Christian (1-0), Saturday, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
Panthers 27, Wildcats 24
