Forgive me for taking a moment to boast, but it is necessary that I give myself a pat on the back for going 30-9 in my picks for week 1.
Considering there were a number of FCS teams that took money to get beat down by 40, 50 – and in some cases – even 60 points or more by their FBS foes, I’ll admit many of the my picks were easy to make.
This week shouldn’t be much different with a number of FCS teams playing up against FBS programs – to get paid, of course – but there are some interesting games on the week 2 slate that should be noted.
Tuskegee (1-0) vs. Albany State (0-1)
Saturday’s game between the Golden Tigers and the Golden Rams should indeed be golden. The game will be a rematch of the 2014 SIAC title game, with Tuskegee winning that matchup 47-41. Both teams were selected by the conference to win their divisions again this year, but the two squads – after only one week – are already headed in different directions in the win-loss column. Tuskegee won its season opener over Clark-Atlanta, 26-0, while Albany State suffered a 21-13 loss to Valdosta Sate, the 16th-ranked team in Division II. I predict similar outcomes this week for both teams. My pick: Tuskegee
Hampton (1-0) vs. No. 22 Richmond (0-1)
The Hampton-Richmond matchup looks good on paper for obvious reasons. Both schools are approximately 75-miles apart, complete at the FCS level and have high hopes of competing for titles in their respective conferences. But the intrigue ends there. The Pirates, entering this game as a clear underdog against a Richmond team that is ranked No. 22 in the FCS Coaches’ poll, received some bad news this week when the team learned that starting running back Eric Carter is out for the season with a knee injury. My pick: Richmond
Tennessee State (1-0) vs. Jackson State (0-1)
The Southern Heritage Classic, a game that features the annual matchup between Tennessee State and Jackson State, is one of the great all-time HBCU football classics and a Memphis treasure. If the history of this matchup serves as any kind of indicator to what this year’s outcome will be, with TSU winning 13 of the last 17 contests, then there’s no hope for JSU. My pick: Tennessee State
South Carolina State (1-0) vs. Coastal Carolina (1-0)
South Carolina State head coach Buddy Pough has made it clear on several occasion that games, such as the Bulldogs’ FCS matchup against No.1 Coastal Carolina, are the type of games HBCU teams must win at some point (with regularity) if they are to get any modicum of respect on the national level. Coming off of a convincing 35-7 win over UAPB in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge last Saturday, having an all-conference defensive end in senior Javon Hargrove and having the benefit of playing CCU at home in Orangeburg this week, the Bulldogs have all the elements in place for an upset special. Be that as it may, there is still no reason to think the Bulldogs can pull the upset. I hope to be wrong about this one. My pick: Coastal Carolina
Bethune-Cookman (0-1) vs. Grambling (0-1)
Full Disclosure: Firstly, I am a “G”. Secondly, because I am a “G”, I tend to lean in favor of SWAC schools winning against MEAC schools when the G-Men are not involved. Thirdly, and most importantly, I’m tired of SWAC schools losing the MEAC/SWAC Challenge – no thanks to UAPB who lost last week to South Carolina State and extending the MEAC’s annual winning streak to four. This Saturday’s matchup between the Wildcats and the “G”s will be the (unofficial) MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Part Deux) with Grambling playing host. No further analysis is needed for this one. This is a homer pick. My pick: Grambling
Delaware State (0-1) vs. Kent State (0-1)
There is no reason whatsoever to question the outcome of this game. FBS member Kent State should have no problem taking care of the Hornets. It would even be safe to say that this game could get ugly in a hurry. However, it is the potential of this game getting ugly that makes it one of intrigue. Kent State’s April Goss – believe to be the only woman on a Division I football rooster – is a kicker for the Golden Flashes. Goss, a walk-on in her 4th year, has yet to play in a game. According to Kent State Coach Paul Hayes, though, Goss will see some time before this season is over. If things happen to get “ugly” during the course of this game, might the Hornets be forced to play against a woman? My pick: Kent State
Here are the rest of my picks.
(Picks are in bold print)
Sept. 10
Southern vs. Miss Valley State
Sept. 11
Bacone vs. Texas Southern
Sept. 12
Howard vs. Boston College
Bowie State vs. Brevard
Lincoln (PA) vs. NC Wesleyan
Virginia Union vs. Saint Augustine’s
Virginia State vs. Tusculum
Livingstone vs. Virginia-Lynchburg
Urbana vs. West Virginia State
St. Francis vs. Lincoln (MO)
Cheyney vs. Gannon
Richmond vs. Hampton
Florida A&M vs. Samford
East Texas Baptist vs. Texas College
Central State vs. Clark Atlanta
Johnson C. Smith vs. Kentucky State
Concordia-Selma vs. Stillman
Edward Waters vs. Kennesaw State
Miles vs. West Georgia
Alcorn State vs. Alabama State
Morehouse vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Prairie View A&M vs. Texas State
Elizabeth City State vs. Benedict
Chowan vs. Campbell
NC Central vs. Duke
UNC Pembroke vs. Fayetteville State
Lane vs. Fort Valley State
NC A&T vs. North Carolina
Wingate vs. Shaw
Winston-Salem State vs. Valdosta St.
Morgan State vs. Illinois State
Langston vs. Bethany
Norfolk State vs. Old Dominion
Last week’s record: 30-9, Overall record: 30-9
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