Week 8 of the HBCU FCS season puts us six weeks away from the end of the season and one weekend out from the MEAC moving into league play.
We’re facing a condensed slate with only seven games being played this Saturday. However, five of those matchups are Homecomings while the top two teams in the SWAC’s East and West divisions will face one another. Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Delaware State, Morgan State, Norfolk State, North Carolina Central, Prairie View A&M, and Texas Southern will be on a bye this week.
Since we have a shortened schedule on Saturday, I’ll rank, preview, and predict every matchup for this week.
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Predictions Record:
2024 record: 89-16
Week 7: 9-2
All times are Eastern Standard
7. Bethune-Cookman (0-6, 0-2) at Mississippi Valley State (0-6, 0-2), Saturday, 3:00 PM (ESPNU)
It looks like MVSU’s Homecoming is going to be a pillow fight! Both teams have had their share of struggles, averaging less than 18 points per game while allowing more than 43. Amidst their woes, BCU quarterback Cam Ransom is putting up 5.0 points per contest. Somebody’s gotta win and the Wildcats have won four of their last five meetings.
Wildcats 17, Delta Devils 14
6. Hampton (3-2, 0-1) at North Carolina A&T (1-4. 0-1), Saturday, 2:00 PM (FloSports)
It’s Homecoming for the Aggies. Unfortunately, they haven’t had much to celebrate recently. With an overall record of 2-15 since joining the CAA, A&T is 1-2 in their homecoming contests since leaving the MEAC. It won’t be any easier this Saturday as Hampton and newly tabbed head coach Trent Boykin travel to Greensboro to face an A&T offense that will be without their leading rushers Kenji Christian (256 yards, 1 TD) and Wesley Graves (225 yards, 1 TD) who have been sidelined due to injuries.
Pirates 24, Aggies 14
5. Fort Valley State (4-2) at South Carolina State (3-2), Saturday, 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
Don’t underestimate Fort Valley State because they’re a DII program. The 4-2 Wildcats, led by quarterback Kelvin Durham (1,358 passing yards, 17 total touchdowns, four interceptions) and running back Brandon Marshall (877 total yards, 13 total touchdowns), are averaging 39 points a game. Bulldogs quarterback Eric Phoenix may need to repeat last week’s 400-plus passing yard, three-touchdown performance if South Carolina State wants to start their season 4-2 for the first time since 2019.
Bulldogs 31, Wildcats 24
4. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-4, 1-1) at Grambling State (3-3, 0-2), Saturday, 3:00 PM (HBCU Go Sports)
Grambling’s Homecoming will feature the SWAC’s best passing signal-callers, Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Mekhi Hagens (1,712 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, three interceptions) and Grambling’s Myles Crawley (1,197 passing yards, 9 touchdowns, 6 interceptions). The Tigers are looking to snap their current two-game losing streak against a team they own a two-game win streak over. A third conference loss makes it harder for Grambling to win a division title. However, it’s not impossible. Southern won the West with a 5-3 league record two years ago.
Tigers 27, Golden Lions 24
3. Tennessee State (5-2) at Howard (3-3), Saturday, 3:30 PM (ESPN+)
Howard’s Homecoming will be the stage where the Bison will look to avenge their 45-0 loss to Tennessee State in the schools’ first-ever meeting back in 2001. Slowing down Tigers quarterback Draylen Ellis (1,483 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, four interceptions) will be key for the Bison. Last week, Ellis connected with four different receivers for touchdowns without turning the ball over. Howard’s defense hasn’t forced an interception all season. However, the nation’s seventh-ranked defense in team sacks (19) held Sacred Heart to 10 yards passing in the second half of their 21-14 win over the Pioneers.
Tigers 28, Bison 27
2. Alcorn State (4-3, 3-0) at Southern (3-3, 2-0), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
The best two teams in the SWAC’s West Division will face off in Baton Rogue for Southern’s Homecoming. Both teams are coming off close conference wins last weekend. The Braves have revenge on their minds after last season’s 44-21 loss to Southern in Lorman. It should be fun to see if the league’s second-best defense can slow down dual-threat quarterback Xzavier Vaughn (1,856 total yards, 15 total touchdowns, three interceptions).
Braves 24, Jaguars 21
1. Florida A&M (3-2, 1-0) at Jackson State (4-2, 2-0), Saturday, 3:30 PM (ESPNU)
With Alabama State currently dealing with their quarterback woes and falling to FAMU just a few weeks ago, this matchup could (once again) serve as the de facto SWAC’s East Division Championship game. The Rattlers enter this week with the SWAC’s longest winning streak with 17 straight wins versus a SWAC opponent. That loss was 59-3 shellacking by Jackson State in September of 2022. This will be Florida A&M’s first trip to Jackson since joining the SWAC. The Rattlers will look to keep quarterback Daniel Richardson upright against the defensive end Joshua Nobles (5.5 total sacks).
Tigers 30, Rattlers 28