SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Grambling at Prairie View A&M - Grambling (4-1, 1-0) is not going to let you run the ball on them. They have the SWAC's top run defense, giving up just 72 yards a game. But that will be tested as Prairie View A&M (2-2, 2-0) sports the SWAC's top rushing offense, averaging 218 yards a game. Da'Wonya Tucker and Sta'fon McCray are both top ten SWAC rushers. The Grambling offense has scored at least 31 points in their last three games, all wins.
Alabama A&M at Southern - Things started pretty badly for Alabama A&M (2-3, 2-0) as they were dominated by three Division I-FBS teams. But coming back to FCS/SWAC football has been good for them as they've defeated Texas Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff giving up just 31 points total in both games. Southern (2-3, 0-1) broke a three-game slide by defeating Division II Fort Valley State last week. But this is a team that defeated a good South Carolina State team in their opener. Herbert Edwards had a huge game last week, rushing for 141 yards last week.
Mississippi Valley State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff - What can you say about Mississippi Valley State (0-4, 0-1)? They've played some of the better teams in the nation and they've gotten creamed. They average five points a game and have given up nearly 56 points a game. They have rushed for a TOTAL of minus-143 yards all season. Still, they've done well in the passing game - Christopher Fowler averages 188 yards a game and threw for 341 yards against Grambling. But the Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-3, 1-1) is last in total offense in the MEAC.
Texas Southern at Kennesaw State - Texas Southern (0-4, 0-1) heads to Georgia for non-conference play against Kennesaw State (3-1), a team that won its third-straight game last week. The have the nation's sixth-best defense, giving up only 69 yards rushing per game. Texas Southern isn't much of a running team, but they lean on talented quarterback Jay Christophe who has accounted for 184 yards of total offense a game. Still, they only average 13 points a game. Another issue for Texas Southern could be defense. They give up nearly 200 yards a game rushing and 262 a game passing.
CENTRAL INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Virginia State at Elizabeth City State - One of the first things that Elizabeth City State (3-2, 1-1) may set out to do is stop Virginia State (4-0, 2-0) running back Robert Chesson. He leads the CIAA in rushing with 132 yards a game for the CIAA's second-best offense. But the ECSU defense has given up 34 points and 170 yards rushing a game. In their two losses, they have given up 132 yards rushing to Shaw and 253 to UNC Pembroke.
Livingstone at St. Augustine’s - If you take out St. Augustine's (1-4, 1-1) 81-9 shellacking of Lincoln (Pa), this is a team that struggles on offense. They've scored 41 points in their four other games. But quarterback Darryl Johnson did throw five TDs in that Lincoln (Pa) rout, so the potential is there. Livingstone (0-5, 0-2) has also had offensive troubles, averaging just 86 yards rushing and 11 points scoring a game.
Shaw at Fayetteville State - These are two teams that are ranked eighth and ninth in total offense in the CIAA, but they do it differently. Shaw (2-3, 1-1) Daron Downing and Vidal Woodruff at quarterback is more likely to throw it while Fayetteville State (1-4, 0-2) is better at running it as Stevie Green averages 118 yards rushing and has run for six touchdowns. The problem for both is defense - FSU gives up nearly 42 points a game while Shaw gives up 38.4, though both have been torched badly by Bowie State so that throws things off a bit. Well, a little.
Johnson C. Smith at Winston-Salem State - Winston-Salem State (3-2, 1-1) is looking for defensive consistency. They have won every other game this season, but have given up 33 points and 31`points in their two losses. But on offense, Kerrion Moore is again having a great season, averaging 113 yards rushing a game and leading an offense that averages more than six yards a rush. Johnson C. Smith (0-5, 0-2) has the CIAA's worst scoring offense, picking up just nine points a game, though they did score 17 in a three-point loss to Elizabeth City State two weeks ago. JCSU also played better defense the past two weeks, evidenced by only giving up 10 points in a 10-7 loss to Chowan last week.
Chowan at Bowie State - It's now Chowan's time to try to slow down one of the nation's top offenses in Bowie State (5-0, 2-0). Amir Hall is averaging 327 yards passing, has thrown for 21 touchdowns and run for five more while Robert Chesson has averaged nearly 120 yards rushing a game. All for a team averaging an astounding 57 points a game. On top of that, their defense is only giving up 15 points a game. Chowan (2-3, 2-0) has won their last two games and has gotten steady play from quarterback Bryce Witt who has thrown for nearly 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns, but has seven interceptions. Michael Offut and Tyrell Freeman both average more than 61 yards rushing for a good running team.
Virginia Union at Lincoln (Pa) - Virginia Union (3-2, 2-0) has won their last two games and are looking good with Darius Taylor at quarterback. He has thrown for 893 yards and eight touchdowns this season, with five of those touchdowns coming against Fayetteville State two weeks ago. Things have been tough for Lincoln (Pa) (0-5, 0-2) though. They give up 56 points a game on defense and have averaged just 13 points on offense. Vincent Espinoza has played well at quarterback (though they haven't scored a passing touchdown since Sept. 16) and linebacker Deion Miller is second best among all CIAA tacklers with 46 this season.
MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Morgan State at South Carolina State - Its never a good thing when the team with the worst scoring offense is visiting the team's with the second-best scoring defense. But that's whats happening here. Morgan State (0-4, 0-1) averages four points a game. Four. They scored their first points last week in a 49-17 loss to North Carolina A&T. But MSU actually has a good passing game with Elijah Staley at quarterback. They just can't get it into the end zone. South Carolina State (1-3, 0-2) has played a tough schedule, losing to SWAC Southern and to MEAC powers North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central. Dewann Ford leads SCSU on offense, throwing for 772 yards this season and rushing for 163. SCSU's All American Darius Leonard leads the MEAC in tackles with 43.
North Carolina Central at Howard - Howard (2-2, 1-0) got its first FCS win in its first FCS game of the season last week against Bethune-Cookman. They have the MEACs second-best offense, mainly through a strong ground game. It's led by freshman Caylin Newton who is the MEAC's second-leading rusher and the conference's fourth best passer. North Carolina Central (3-1, 2-0) has only lost to FBS/ACC Duke and has since won three straight. They also have the MEAC's third-best rush defense, giving up just 107 yards a game - roughly half of what Howard averages. Big problem for Howard - they are ranked last in the MEAC on defense. But this could be a really good game.
Delaware State at North Carolina A&T - This one could be ugly. Delaware State (0-4, 0-2) hasn't won a game since 2015 and North Carolina A&T (5-0, 2-0) is undefeated and is the best FCS HBCU team in the country. DSU did give Norfolk State all they could handle in a 17-7 loss last week as they held NSU to 53 yards rushing. But the Aggies average 41 points a game and give up just 11. They have the conference's top passer in Lamar Raynard and leading rusher in Marquell Cartwright.
Hampton at Savannah State - Hampton (2-2, 1-0) returns to MEAC play for the first time since defeating Delaware State in Week 2. Statistically, they are one of the better teams in the conference. They are tops in pass defense, second in passing, second in total defense and fourth in total offense. Savannah State (0-4, 0-2) has the MEAC's worst offense with just three offensive touchdowns this season. On defense, they've given up 20 touchdowns already this season while opposing offenses average 477 yards a game.
Florida A&M at Norfolk State - Take out a guarantee game against FBS/SEC Arkansas and Florida A&M (2-3, 1-1) has played decent defense against some good competition this season. It's the offense that's not helped them. They average just 16 points a game and rush for just 100 yards a game. But the passing game is ranked fourth in the MEAC. Norfolk State (1-3, 1-0) picked up their first win of the season last week over Delaware State. But this team has played one of the best Division II teams in the country, an FBS team, and the top-ranked FCS team in America. So this may be their most even match-up all season. This could be a really entertaining football game.
SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Miles at Central State - Miles (2-3, 0-1) needs a win to keep pace with Tuskegee in the SIAC West race. Their offense was shut down for the second time this season when Albany State beat them last week. But they've averaged 28 points in the games they've played against two other SIAC teams, one of them Morehouse who leads the conference in total defense. Central State (0-5, 0-2) is looking for some homecoming magic, and a little help on defense as they've given up a league worst 35.8 points a game this season.
Tuskegee vs. Morehouse - This could be a pretty good test for both teams. Tuskegee (3-2, 2-0) got a 61-0 drubbing by Findlay two weeks ago out of their system by beating Lane last week to remain undefeated in SIAC play. Morehouse (3-2, 1-0) got a bitter loss to Miles out of their system by beating Kentucky State last week. Morehouse sports the SIAC's top-ranked defense and has gotten solid quarterback play from Kivon Taylor. Tuskegee interestingly is ranked last in the SIAC in total offense, but this is a team that has played a tough schedule already this season. This game, the oldest HBCU rivalry, will be a good one Saturday.
Fort Valley State at Clark Atlanta - These are two teams tied for second behind Albany State (with Morehouse) in a close SIAC East race. Clark Atlanta (3-2, 1-0) played FCS Grambling strong last week, holding them to just 74 yards rushing. CAU's Johnathon McCrary leads the SIAC in passing and total offense. Fort Valley State (1-3, 1-0) has struggled on offense in losses to West Georgia, Miles and FCS Southern, but looked good in a double-overtime win over Benedict two weeks ago. Last year, FVSU beat CAU in three overtimes.
Langston at Lane - NAIA Langston (5-0) is undefeated and sports and offense that has averaged 35 points a game behind quarterbacks Jaylen Lowe and Milton Harper, and running backs Tyree Harrison and Charles Marshall. Most importantly, Langston leads the NAIA in defense. Lane (1-4, 0-2) has the second-ranked defense in the SIAC, allowing 301 yards per game. Thurston Rubin has taken over the passing duties at quarterback for Lane and is coming off a game in which he threw for 199 and two touchdowns and ran for another in leading to a win last week.
OTHERS
West Virginia State at Kentucky State - West Virginia State (2-3) broke a three-game losing streak last week on the strength of Matt Kinnick's three touchdown passes. He has thrown for nearly 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns already this season. Where they have problems is on defense - they give up 38 points a game. Kentucky State (2-3) has won two of their last three, but lost to the best team they've face the past three weeks, Morehouse. But they scored 21 on a good Morehouse defense. Their problem has also been defense as they've given up 33 points a game. But Paul Campbell has been steady at quarterback and Brett Sylve has been solid at running back.
Lincoln (Mo) at Albany State - Lincoln (Mo) (1-3) will be playing Albany State (3-2) for the first time. They face a good Albany State team that has really seen McKinley Habersham play some good football. Habersham leads the SIAC in rushing and ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns last week against Miles. Lincoln (Mo) hasn't won a road game since 2015. Lincoln (Mo) will counter with a dual quarterback system that features Henry Ogala (354 yards passing) and Eugene Sainterling (404 yards).
Tennessee State at Eastern Kentucky - After a great start, Tennessee State (3-2, 0-2 Ohio Valley Conference) has lost their first two conference games, last week in double overtime. Things don't get any easier this week as they visit perennial stalwart Eastern Kentucky. The TSU defense has solid, giving up just 17 points a game this season. The offense has had period where they've sputtered. The passing game has only accounted for 237 yards in the past two games. EKU has the OVC's second-worst pass offense and gives up 27 points and nearly 400 yards a game to opposing offenses.
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