Duquesne at #5 South Dakota State
I think a few too often we take the heart of the smaller conferences for granted. Despite a subpar game, I apologize for the pun, by quarterback Daniel Parr, the Dukes dominated after spotting Towson a 10-0 lead. Running back A.J. Hines was the best player on the field, running for 175 and a touchdown and catching just one pass - a 71 yard screen pass for a touchdown, also. Duquesne gave up a lot of rushing yardage but held at the goal line on a fourth down to keep the Tigers from going up 17-0.
South Dakota State quarterback Taryn Christion has been one of the FCS’ most dangerous weapons for three years. Despite losing NFL caliber targets, helping develop wideout Cade Johnson, the Jackrabbits offense continues to roll on. SDSU seems less concerned about stopping teams defensively, just because they know they have an offense that has topped 45 points in six of their ten games. Even with most of the focus on the offense, don’t think the defense is a bare cupboard. Linebacker Christian Rozeboom is one of the nation’s best. Corners Jordan Brown and Zac Mosley each have three picks, which contributes to the team’s #5 ranked turnover margin of 1.30.
It has to be worrisome for the Dukes to have surrendered that kind of yardage to Towson. They got away with it and got away with it against a pretty good offensive team. But playing like that next week against an elite-level offense might have a completely nightmarish result. You’d have to think the Jackrabbits will look to put the clamps on Hines and force the passing game to keep up. SDSU has no worries about playing the shootout games. It might end up that way anyhow.
Prediction: South Dakota State 55, Duquesne 28
