Duane Nash is the creator of The Yard HBCU and co-host of the @SLZEsports podcast. Follow Duane on Twitter @TheYardHBCU.
I hate to brag…ok, that’s not true but if you get a chance, look at my picks from last week. Yeah, just call me “Curt Hennig” but enough about me.
This week, Florida A&M returns to action and homecoming season is still in effect. Three MEAC teams are on a bye (North Carolina A&T, Norfolk State and Savannah State), Howard and North Carolina Central look to stay a game out of first place while Alcorn State and Southern are currently the lead dogs in their respective SWAC divisions.
Here are my picks for this week’s games!
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MEAC Game of the Week:
Morgan State at Florida A&M
Fresh of a bye, and their big win over North Carolina A&T two weeks ago, the Rattlers are looking to stay atop the MEAC and win their fifth straight game. Morgan State RB Jordan Chase will look to become the first Bear to rush for 100 yards in consecutive games this season. That will be a tough task, as both teams are ranked in the top 4 in the MEAC in total defense, points allowed and rushing yards allowed.
PREDICTION: Rattlers 27, Bears 17
Notes: The Rattlers and the Bears have split their last ten match-ups with FAMU winning the last two by a combined four points.
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South Carolina State at Howard
It’s going to be a rainy Homecoming in DC this weekend. Seeing as though both defenses give up an average of 430 yards per game, the question is will the weather slow down Howard’s high-paced offense because we know that the Bulldog defense can’t. Expect to see a lot of Howard RB Dedrick Parsons, after he put up 148 yards and scored two touchdowns in their win last week.
PREDICTION: Bison 30, Bulldogs 12
Notes: Even though the Bison defeated SCSU last year in Orangeburg, I was their first win over the Bulldogs since 2002. The last time Howard beat SCSU in DC was in 1999.
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North Carolina Central at Delaware State
The Hornets put up over 400 yards of offense on South Carolina State last week, but they can’t afford to give up two turnovers and allow a blocked punt this week to an opportunistic defense like North Carolina Central’s who amassed five takeaways (3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries) and six sacks in their 30-point win over Norfolk State.
PREDICTION: Eagles 30, Hornets 7
Notes: Eagles have won five straight. Hornets last win was in Dover, a 14-7 victory in 2010.
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Bethune Cookman at Nebraska
After being held to less than 200 yards of total offense, the Wildcats are looking to rebound after last week’s loss to North Carolina A&T. Unfortunately for Coach Sims, they will be traveling to Lincoln to face Nebraska. Even though both teams allow over 30 points per game, that is the only thing that they have in common. Expect for the Cornhuskers to get their second win of the season in their first ever match-up against an HBCU.
PREDICTION: Cornhuskers 56, Wildcats 17
Notes: The Cornhuskers are ranked 116th out of 130 teams in points allowed (36.9) on the FBS level.
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SWAC Game of the Week:
Alcorn at Prairie View
The two best offenses in the conference are facing off in what could be a preview of the SWAC Championship game…if PVAMU can get a little help. The Panthers are coming off a bye and are looking to regroup and stay in the SWAC West Division chase after their loss two weeks ago. The Braves are riding high, after late game heroics helped them to defeat Grambling last week.
PREDICTION: Panthers 27, Braves 24
Notes: Even with their 34-21 victory over PVAM last season, the Braves are 3-7 against the Panthers in their last ten match-ups.
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Jackson State at Southern
The Jaguars are another step closer to making it to Birmingham. It was a small step but a step in the right direction. It took two Southern quarterbacks to pass for a combined 101 yards in their 21-7 win over Texas Southern last week. But they won, unlike Jackson State who fell to North Alabama 24-7.
PREDICTION: Jaguars 22, Tigers 14
Notes: Coach Odums is 6-1 all-time against Jackson State, outscoring the Tigers 231-167.
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Alabama State at Alabama A&M
Neither team is thinking about a SWAC title or a Celebration Bowl berth in this one. It’s the Magic City Classic, the biggest game on the schedule for both teams and their fanbases. First year coaches Connell Maynor (Alabama A&M) and Donald Hill-Eley (Alabama State) will be introduced to this storied rivalry this Saturday.
PREDICTION: Bulldogs 28, Hornets 24
Notes: The All-Time Record between these two teams is 40-40-3, with both teams splitting the last four games.
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Grambling at UAPB
Coach Broderick Fobbs and the Tigers need a little cheering up after their last-second loss last weekend. Insert UAPB. Tigers QB Geremy Hickbottom, who compiled 333 yards of total offense last week, will look to have a field day against a Golden Lions defense that allows 45 points and 579 yards of offense per game. MY LAWD!
PREDICTION: Tigers 42, Golden Lions 20
Notes: The last time UAPB beat Grambling in Pine Bluff was during the Tigers’ boycott season of 2013.
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MVSU at Texas Southern
The Tigers are still searching for their first win this season. The Delta Devils are looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since 2012. Led by QB Dejerric Bryant (291 total yds, 3TDs), MVSU put up a combined 380 yards rushing and 7TDs. Can the Delta Devils duplicate last week’s offensive rushing output against a team that allows 214 yards per game on the ground?
PREDICTION: Delta Devils 24, Tigers 21
Notes: To add to the list of “first time since” for MVSU, the Delta Devils are looking to beat the Tigers for the first time since 2013
