Week 3 HBCU FCS Predictions

Well, we saw some good and bad things in Week 2 of the HBCU Football season.

Florida A&M had their 13-game win streak snapped by Miami, a couple of MEAC teams struggled against CAA opponents, and it was announced last week that Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body will miss the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury. 

The good — Alabama State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Howard, Jackson State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, Prairie View A&M, and Southern won their first game of the year, Chennis Berry, Mickey Joseph, and Trenton Boykin earned their first victories at their new programs, and Connell Maynor earned his 100th career victory as a head coach.

This week, we have a bevy of out-of-conference contests, four HBCU Classics, and two interleague games in the CAA and SWAC, while Florida A&M and Texas Southern are off this week.

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

Predictions Record:
2024 record: 32-6
Week 1: 18-2

Week 3 FCS HBCU Top 5 Games

All times are Eastern Standard

5. Morehouse (0-2) vs. Howard (1-1), Saturday, 3:00 PM (CNBC)

On paper, the HBCU NYC Football Classic should be a cakewalk for Howard. Morehouse hasn’t beaten anyone not named Clark-Atlanta since October 2021 while the Bison have won four straight against the Maroon Tiger, outscoring them 161-65. Take your pick on which side of the ball will dominate more for Howard.

Bison 49, Maroon Tigers 10

4. Edward Waters (1-1) at Alcorn State (0-2), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Alcorn’s start to 2024 has been a rough one, losing big to FBS opponents UAB and Vanderbilt. The Braves haven’t started a season 0-3 since 2009, and I don’t anticipate it happening this year. DII Edward Waters is coming to Lorman for Alcorn’s first home game of the season, bringing a run defense that allowed 310 yards and four touchdowns last week.

Braves 42, Tigers 7

3. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-1) vs. Tennessee State (1-1), Saturday, 7:00 PM (HBCU Go Sports)

These two teams are entering the 35th Annual Southern Heritage Classic coming off polarized matchups. UAPB easily defeated Arkansas Baptist College 73-0 while Tennessee State struggled against #2 North Dakota State 52-3. Quarterbacks Mekhi Hagens (473 passing yards, 2 touchdowns) and Draylen Ellis (484 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, interception) had 300-plus passing yard games this season. This has the potential to be a quarterback duel.

Tigers 35, Golden Lions 20

2. Hampton (1-1) at Norfolk State (1-2), Saturday, 4:00 PM (ESPN+)

Both teams are coming off wins over DII in-state rivals. Norfolk head coach Dawson Odums expects this edition of the Battle of the Bay to be ‘trench warfare.’ Running backs Elijah Burris (94.0) and Kevon King (103.0) are averaging over 90 rushing yards per contest. However, last week’s MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week quarterback Jalen Daniels (231 total yards, 3 total touchdowns) will have to find some success against the nation’s seventh-best pass defense if the Spartans want to extend their home win streak over Hampton to three.

Spartans 20, Pirates 17

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

Both pass defenses are ranked in the top three nationally in yards allowed, but that stat is somewhat deceiving. Last week, Jackson State and Southern held their DII opponents to 46 yards in the air. There’s a chance that these units could be tested at the Boom Box Classic, with quarterbacks from both programs having highly productive outings in Week 2. JSU’s Jacobian Morgan completed 9 passes in 11 attempts for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns in a limited role. However, SU’s Czavian Teasett (316 passing yards, 3 touchdowns) had to replace starter Noah Bodden after his slow start. Will quarterback play be key for the Jags as they look to stop their four-game losing streak against JSU?

Tigers 27, Jaguars 17

CAA

Delaware (1-0, 0-0) at North Carolina A&T (1-1, 0-0), Saturday, 1:00 PM (FloSports)

Blue Hens 38, Aggies 10 

MEAC

Wagner (1-1) at Delaware State (1-1), Saturday, 3:00 PM (ESPN+)

Seahawks 24, Hornets 21

Morgan State (1-1) at Ohio (1-1), Saturday, 3:30 PM (FloFootball)

Bobcats 21, Bears 17 

North Carolina Central (1-1) at North Carolina (2-0), Saturday, 6:00 PM (ESPN+/ACC Extra)

Tarheels 49, Eagles 7

South Carolina State (1-1) at Georgia Southern (1-1), Saturday, 6:00 PM (ESPN+)

Eagles 31, Bulldogs 17

SWAC

Prairie View A&M (1-1) at Michigan State (2-0), Saturday, 3:30 PM (Big Ten Network)

Spartans 56, Panthers 7

Bethune-Cookman (0-2) at Western Michigan (0-2), Saturday, 6:30 PM (ESPN+)

Broncos 35, Wildcats 3

Georgetown (KY) (1-1) at Alabama A&M (1-1), Saturday, 7:00 PM (SWAC Digital Network)

Bulldogs 42, Tigers 10

Alabama State (1-1) at Samford (0-2), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Bulldogs 24, Hornets 17

Grambling State (1-1) at Texas A&M-Commerce (0-2), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Lions 27, Tigers 17

Mississippi Valley State (0-2) at Murray State (0-2), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Racers 38, Delta Devils 7