Friday, October 7, 2016

Today's Full Schedule and Previews of HBCU Football Games

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

SIAC


Central State at Miles - As good as Miles is, they have a few bugaboos - one is rushing defense.  They rank sixth in the SIAC, giving up 117 yards a game.  That's not good news as what Central State does best is run the football, Behind De'Michael Jackson's conference leading 120 yards rushing a game, they are second in the SIAC in rushing offense. While CSU moves the ball well, but they don't score much, averaging nearly 12 points a game.  Miles, on the other hand, averages 24.5 points a game and Central State gives us a little more than that each game.


Morehouse vs. Tuskegee - Tuskegee is coming in on a roll as they are undefeated and Morehouse on the other hand blew a big lead to lose at Clark Atlanta last week an has lost two straight as they head into the toughest part of their schedule.  This week the top Division II HBCU team in the country. Next week, Albany State. Tuskegee has won 11 of the past 12 meetings -- the last five straight - between these two teams.

Benedict at Lane - Benedict is looking to regain some of their mojo after they were blanked by FCS Gardner Webb last week. Before that, they looked good in defeating Fort Valley State and Central State.  Lane lost a tough game at Lincoln (Mo) last week, but they have an even bigger issue - scoring. In three of their losses this year, they've averaged just a little over nine points a game.  That's not good news this week as Benedict has been one the SIAC's better defensive scoring teams this year.

Kentucky State at Fort Valley State - It doesn't sound nice, but Kentucky State is having a rough year. They rank last in defense and offense in the SIAC. This game comes at a good time for Fort Valley State, a team has won only once this season and has sputtered offensively in recent weeks. Quarterback Demontay James has had a decent season so far, as he has thrown seven touchdown passes and averages 156 yards passing a game.

SWAC



Alcorn State at Alabama A&M - Who would have thought this would be a battle of two one-win teams? Alcorn State is the surprise in that equation as their offense has not been the machine that they've been in previous years. They average 391 points a game, but score 23 points a game, down from what they are used to. They also are second to the bottom in total defense in the SWAC.  The worst team in total defense?  Alabama A&M But Alabama A&M rides an offense that is buoyed by quarterback D'Angelo Ballard and running back Jordan Bentley.



Alabama State at Prairie View A&M - Alabama State is visiting a Prairie View A&M team that is smarting from a big SWAC matchup with Grambling last week, a game that they lost. Alabama State won their first game of the season last week over a not-so-great Arkansas-Pine Bluff team.  This week's competition will be much better. PVAM quarterback Trey Green is having a solid season with more than 1,000 yards and seven TDs for an offense that averages 28 points a game. ASU's pass defense ranks near the bottom of the SWAC so far this season. But the Hornets run game is solid with Khalid Thomas averaging 84 yards a game.


Mississippi Valley State at Montana - It could be a tough day for Mississippi Valley State as they visit Montana. The Delta Devils are having a tough season in which they have been the SWAC worst offense.  They will need more than the 13 points a game that they average so far. Montana is 3-1 and has scored at least 40 points in three of their four games this season. Quarterback Brady Guftason has thrown for 1,304 yards and ten touchdowns so far this season.


CIAA


Fayetteville State at Shaw - Both of these teams are looking for their first win of the season. Fayetteville State has had a tough schedule so far as they've played an FCS team and four really strong Division II teams.  Shaw's schedule hasn't been much easier, but they've given up 42 points a game while averaging just 13.  Fayetteville State is a little better when it comes to those stats - they give up 29.8 points a game and average around 13 points a game themselves.

Lincoln (Pa) at Virginia Union - It's been a rough past few weeks for Lincoln (Pa). They've given up 51-plus twice in blowout losses and had a tough 35-31 loss to St. Augustine's.  Still, they are a decent scoring team, with quarterback Jason Epps and Justin White averaging a little over 200 yards passing a game with a total of six passing touchdowns.  Virginia Union gives up that much passing a game, but they feature a potent one-two punch on offense with quarterback Shawheem Dowdy (206.3 yards a game, 10 touchdowns) and running back William Stanback (135 yards per game, eight touchdowns).


Winston-Salem State at Johnson C. Smith - After a slow start, Winston-Salem State has looked strong in their last two games, blowing out Virginia State and Lincoln (Pa). Running back Te'Vaughn Hurse has been unstoppable in both of those games, rushing for 187 yards against VSU and 121 yards against Lincoln (Pa). That's not good news for a Johnson C. Smith team that has not been able to stop the rush.  They give up an average of 269 rushing yards a game.

St. Augustine's at Livingstone (Sunday) - Livingstone is not scoring much.  They have the lowest scoring offense in the CIAA with 11.8 points per game. The most they've scored in a game besides the 28 they put up against NAIA Edward Waters is 13 against Chowan.  St. Augustine's is not much better, but their main issue is defense.  They give up an average of 51 points a game. Granted, they've played the likes of North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central in blowout losses.  But they've also given up 35 to Lincoln (Pa).

MEAC


Monmouth at Howard - Howard is in better spirits after getting their first win of the season last week in beating Norfolk State.After struggling on offense early, the Bison have picked up the pace, averaging 26 points a game in their last two contests. Quarterback Kalen Johnson has been solid in both games. Monmouth is 3-2 and won in overtime last week against Fordham. They feature a balanced offensive attack with sophomore Cody Williams and receiver Reggie White Jr. turning out to be a potent combination.  They also have two running backs, Lavon Chaney and Ed Royds who have combined for 500 yards and six TDs so far this season.

Bethune-Cookman at South Carolina State - RESCHEDULED FOR NOV. 26 DUE TO HURRICANE MATTHEW

Hampton at Delaware State - Delaware State ranks at or near the bottom offense and defense in the MEAC. Their pass defense is second to last, something Hampton will look to exploit.  Hampton's Jaylien Williamson is the MEAC's top passer with 242 yards a game. They also have one of the conference's top rushers in Yahkee Johnson who averages 64 yards a game.

Florida A&M at North Carolina Central - North Carolina Central quarterback Malcolm Bell surely wont take Florida A&M for granted this week, despite the Rattlers only having one win this season (and thats over Savannah State). FAMU has the MEAC's stingiest pass defense as they give up just 162 yards a game through the air.  Still, Bell leads the MEAC's second best pass offense that has accumulated 1,188 yards (most in the MEAC) and nine touchdowns so far this season

Morgan State at Savannah State - RESCHEDULED FOR NOV. 26 DUE TO HURRICANE MATTHEW

OTHERS 

Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois - This is a big Ohio Valley Conference game for these two teams.  Both are ranked among the nation's top 25 FCS teams with Tennessee State (5-0) at No. 25 and Eastern Illinois (3-2) at No. 19.  EIU has beaten TSU eight times in their last 11 meetings including an overtime win last year.  TSU is in their second game with Ronald Butler at quarterback after he replaced O'Shay Ackerman Carter who is out for the season. EIU lost last week, snapping a three-game winning streak as their offense was shut down by Southeast Missouri State.

Lock Haven at Cheyney -

St. Joseph's at Lincoln (Mo) -

Texas College at Lyon -

West Virginia State at Notre Dame College -

Webber International at Edward Waters -


No comments:

Post a Comment