There is NO WAY that the conferences nor the schedule planners could have predicted that this would happen. Yes, there have been years when a divisional crown in the SWAC or the MEAC championship was on the line during the regular season finale but I can’t remember a time when it has happened in both conferences on the final full weekend of football.
A weekend that is already heightened with excitement because it’s Rivalry Week in FCS Football. Combine an in-state rivalry game and a chance to win a conference title with the opportunity to participate in the Celebration Bowl, the game that will determine the Black College Football Champion, and the stakes rise that much higher.
If you haven’t heard by now, the scenarios that will determine who will win the MEAC title along with who will play in the SWAC Championship game and where the game will be played are vast but only six teams — Alcorn State, Florida A&M, Grambing, Jackson State, North Carolina A&T and Southern — still have an opportunity to play in the Celebration Bowl. Allow me to explain it all for you while making my predictions.
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Florida A&M vs Bethune-Cookman
The Florida Classic
It’s simple for the Rattlers, win and you’re in. A FAMU win, coupled with an NC A&T loss and the Rattlers will clinch the MEAC outright. If both FAMU and NC A&T win this weekend, they will become Co-Champions. Either way, they will become the first team outside of the Tarheel State to represent the conference in the Celebration Bowl. If BCU wins and NC A&T loses to NCCU, the Wildcats will earn a share of the MEAC title with AT LEAST the Rattlers and Aggies. The problem for FAMU is that the Rattlers have lost seven straight to the Wildcats. Doesn’t help that FAMU has not won this game coming off of a two-game losing streak since 1993.
Prediction: Wildcats 24, Rattlers 21
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North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central
The Aggie Eagle Classic
Above all Aggies, just focus on winning. They will need to do that, coupled with a FAMU loss, in order to win the MEAC title outright and earn a third trip to Atlanta. If the Aggies lose, they can still go to Atlanta with a BCU win over FAMU. The Eagles have the recent historical advantage. They are 3-1 in their last 4 games against the Aggies and 3-1 in last 4 match-ups in Durham. Thankfully, for the Aggies, QB Lamar Raynard will be returning from a concussion and he’s 1-0 against Central.
Prediction: Aggies 30, Eagles 21.
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Savannah State at South Carolina State
After starting the season 0-4, head coach Buddy Pough has turned the Bulldogs around winning four of their last five games. Dual threat QB Tyrece Nick has averaged 240 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns during that span. If the Bulldogs can pick up the win this week and defeat NCCU next week, SCSU can earn a share of the MEAC title — Buddy Pough’s seventh overall — with an A&T loss and a BCU win. Who would’ve guessed that!??
Prediction: Bulldogs 21, Tigers 10
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Jackson State at Alcorn State
The winner of the bitter in-state rivalry will be the East Division representative in the SWAC title game. The Braves have statistically been the best team in the conference for the majority of the season. The Tigers, currently on a two-game win streak, have outscored divisional opponents 59-30. Alcorn, 7-3 in their last 10 games against JSU, can host the title game with a win. Jackson State, 7-3 winners over Alcorn last season, will host the title game if they can win with a point differential of at least 18 points more than Grambling if they defeat Southern next week.
Prediction: Braves 31, Tigers 21
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Other HBCU FCS Picks
Norfolk State 24, Morgan State 21
Howard 35, Bryant 30
Delaware State 20, Virginia Lynchburg 7
Alabama A&M 30, Mississippi Valley State 14
Alabama State 21, Prairie View A&M 20
Texas Southern 24, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 22
BYE: Grambling, Southern
