Two weeks into the season and, as expected, it’s way too early to evaluate how good (or bad) most of the HBCU FCS programs are.
It’s easy to label Jackson State and North Carolina Central as favorites because they – and quietly Arkansas-Pine Bluff — are the lone undefeateds, but of the 41 contests played involving members of the MEAC, SWAC, Hampton, North Carolina A&T, and Tennessee State, 21 have been against FBS or Division II programs. That stat has made it easy to predict games so far this season.
Here are my top five matchups and predictions for this week.
Predictions Record:
2022 record: 31-5
Week 2: 17-2
Top 5 Games
Grambling State (1-1, 0-0 SWAC) at No. 11 Jackson State (2-0, 1-0 SWAC), Saturday, 2:00 PM (ESPN3/ESPNU, 10:30 PM)
Welcome to the SWAC, Hue Jackson. You’re going to travel to Mississippi to face the nation’s best defense.
Last weekend, SWAC Offensive Player of the Week QB Quaterius Hawkins and RB Maurice Washington helped Grambling generate 435 yards of offense and 47 points. Saturday, they’ll have to slow down LB Nyles Gaddy and a JSU defense that allows 147.5 yards of offense and three points per game.
On the bright side, Grambling has won five of its last six meetings against JSU and hasn’t lost to the Tigers in Jackson since 1999. That changes Saturday.
Jackson State 38, Grambling State 12
Hampton (2-0) at Norfolk State (0-2), Saturday, 2:00 PM (ESPN3)
It’s been a tale of two teams up to this point of the season, as these in-state rivals that are separated by the Chesapeake Bay prepare to face off for the 57th time.
The Spartans have struggled against FBS opponents while the Pirates were able to hold off Howard and bludgeon Division II Tuskegee.
But if the stats hold true, the worst-ranked rushing offense in the nation will need to find its footing (pun intended) against the seventh-ranked rushing defense. And slowing down Hampton WR Jadakis Bonds (9 Rec, 213 Yds, 3 TDs) won be an easy task for Norfolk State either.
Pirates 24, Spartans 17
Texas Southern (0-2, 0-1 SWAC) at Southern (1-1, 0-0 SWAC), Saturday, 5:00 PM (HBCUGo)
Last year, dual-threat QB Andrew Body compiled a combined 423 yards of offense as TSU knocked off Southern for the first time since 2011 at the Arlington Showdown. This weekend, Body will have to contend with a Jags front seven led by DLs Tajh Brown and Jordan Lewis, who have two sacks apiece.
Oh yeah, TSU, the SWAC’s second-worst scoring defense, will have to find a way to slow down the conference’s second-best scoring offense.
Jaguars 30, Tigers 21
Alcorn State (0-2) at McNeese (0-2), Saturday, 8:00 PM (ESPN 3)
Somebody’s “0” has to go, and this would be a wonderful opportunity for the SWAC to earn an out-of-conference victory over an FCS opponent.
Statistically, McNeese is pretty bad.
After losses to Montana State and Rice, the Cowboys have allowed over 500 yards of total offense, 275.5 rushing, and 46 points per game. If Alcorn is planning to take advantage of this porous Cowboy defense, expect to see a lot of RB Jarveon Howard.
Braves 20, Cowboys 17
Morehouse (0-2) vs. Howard (0-3), Saturday, 3:00 PM (CNBC)
This OOC HBCU rivalry was originally revived in 2011 and named the Nation’s Football Classic. “Shifting priorities” by the game’s organizers forced the game – which featured Howard versus Morehouse (2011-2014) and Hampton (2015-16) — to be discontinued in DC five years ago.
Now, with a new name and in a different stadium, the Bison will face the Marron Tigers for the first time in eight years at the HBCU NYC Football Classic.
Even though the Bison are currently winless, the play of Howard QB Quinton Williams (730 Passing Yards, 5th in the nation) has improved each week.
Bison 37, Maroon Tigers 17
Intraconference HBCU Games
Virginia Lynchburg (0-2) at Delaware State (1-1), Saturday, 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
Hornets 48, Dragons 12
Big South
North Carolina A&T (0-2) at Duke (2-0), Saturday, 6:00 PM (ESPN+)
Blue Devils 42, Aggies 10
MEAC
Sacred Heart (1-1) at Morgan State (0-2), Saturday, Noon (ESPN+)
Pioneers 30, Bears 24
North Carolina Central (2-0) at No. 25 New Hampshire (2-0), Saturday, 6:00 PM (FloSports)
Wildcats 38, Eagles 20
OVC
Tennessee State (0-2) at Middle Tennessee State (1-1), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Blue Raiders 38, Tigers 17
SWAC
Austin Peay (2-1) at Alabama A&M (0-2), Saturday, 3:00 PM (Bulldog Sports Network)
Governors 31, Bulldogs 17
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-0) at No. 8 Oklahoma State (2-0), Saturday, 7:00 PM (Big 12 Network/ESPN+)
Cowboys 63, Golden Lions 7
Incarnate Word (2-0) at Prairie View A&M (1-1), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Cardinals 35, Panthers 20
Delta State (2-0) at Mississippi Valley State (0-2), Saturday, 7:00 PM (Valley Sports Network)
Delta Devils 28, Governors 27
