Week 13 HBCU FCS Predictions

Champions have already been crowned as we approach the end of another FCS HBCU Football season.

South Carolina State, the Mid-Eastern Conference champion for the 19th time, will face the winner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game between Jackson State and Southern this December in the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

Tennessee State’s postseason aspirations don’t end there. The Tigers have a chance to make their first playoff appearance since 2013.

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

Predictions Record:
2024 record: 130-28
Week 12: 10-2

Week 13 FCS HBCU Top 5 Games

All times are Eastern Standard. Rankings are from the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll

5. Hampton (5-6, 2-5) at UAlbany (3-8, 1-6), Saturday, 1:00 PM (FloSports)

Even though the Pirates are currently on a three-game losing streak, they are a victory away from earning their first six-win season in six years. UAlbany, who dropped their only meeting against Hampton in 2022, has been outscored 133-65 over their last five losses. The Great Danes have held teams to 304 rushing yards during November; expect the CAA’s second-best rushing offense to have success on the ground and defensive lineman Akie Nance to get his first sack in three weeks against a UAlbany offensive line that has yielded 33 sacks this season.

Pirates 28, Great Danes 24

4. Howard (4-7, 1-3) at Morgan State (5-6, 2-2), Saturday, 1:00 PM (ESPN+)

Both teams are coming off blowout losses last Saturday. However, with a win this weekend, Howard will have its highest win total over three seasons (16) in a decade, or Morgan State can finish the season with six wins for the first time since 2014 (7-6). The Bears have dropped their last six matchups to the Bison, and their defense has given up 119 points over their previous three games, but Howard has been held to 17 points in their prior two games after averaging 22 points per game against their first nine opponents.

Bears 21, Bison 17

3. Norfolk State (4-7, 2-2) at #21 South Carolina State (8-2, 4-0), Saturday, 1:30 PM (ESPN+)

The Bulldogs have already punched their ticket to Atlanta this December. Nonetheless, they still have something to play for. Not only would a win Saturday make the Bulldogs the seventh MEAC team to go undefeated in conference play in the past 20 years, but South Carolina State will also have their first nine-win season in 11 years. Can the Spartans slow down the Bulldogs, who are averaging 46.3 points per game in league play?

Bulldogs 35, Spartans 20 

2. #17 Jackson State (9-2, 7-0) at Alcorn State (6-5, 5-2), Saturday, 1:30 PM (ESPN+)

The Tigers secured a berth to the SWAC title game when they extended their winning streak to seven games last weekend. A victory Saturday against an in-state rival will give JSU their third 10-win season in four years, a feat the program has never accomplished. Last season, Alcorn State snapped a three-game losing streak to the Tigers. Whichever team can withstand the other rushing offense will come out on top, as both teams are averaging more than 235 yards per game on the ground.

Tigers 31, Braves 28

1. #11 Southeast Missouri State (9-2, 6-1) at #25 Tennessee State (8-3, 5-2), Saturday, 4:30 PM (ESPN+)

A victory Saturday will not only give TSU their first nine-win season since 2013, but they will also win their first conference championship in 25 years. Ironically, the Tigers defeated SEMO 35-28 to win the OVC championship in 1999. TSU is allowing a league-best 19.7 points per game. Regardless, they’ll have to stop SEMO quarterback Paxton DeLaurent fresh off his five-touchdown performance over Western Illinois.

Tigers 27, RedHawks 24

CAA

Elon (5-6, 4-3) at North Carolina A&T (1-10, 0-7), Saturday, 1:00 PM (FloSports)

Phoenix 30, Aggies 14

MEAC

North Carolina Central (7-3, 3-1) at Delaware State (1-10, 0-4), Saturday, 1:00 PM (ESPN+)

Eagles 38, Hornets 17

SWAC

Prairie View A&M (5-6, 3-4) at Alabama State (5-5, 4-3), Saturday, 1:30 PM (ESPN+)

Hornets 24, Panthers 21

Texas Southern (4-6, 3-4) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-8, 2-5), Saturday, 1:30 PM (ESPN+)

Tigers 20, Golden Lions 17

Alabama A&M (5-5, 3-3) at Mississippi Valley State (1-10, 1-6), Saturday, 1:30 PM (ESPN+)

Bulldogs 30, Delta Devils 14

Florida A&M (5-5, 3-3) at Bethune-Cookman (2-9, 2-5), Saturday, 1:30 PM (ESPN+)

Rattlers 24, Wildcats 14