Week 2 Missouri Valley Game Breakdowns
Allow this writer to puff out his chest for a minute. Sure, I missed the Youngstown State-Dayton game, but to correctly predict North Dakota State knocking off Kansas State and Northern Iowa beating Iowa State? Yes, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, but two nuts in one column? Okay, time to get serious here. Predicting these games is a 50-50 proposition. You either get it right or get it wrong. However, you always feel good when you have a game predicted as a win, it happens and people look at you like “How the heck did you…” Will there be any games like that this week?
Indiana State at Purdue, Saturday, 11:00 am
This early game pits the Sycamores against another in-state rival, one week after an Indiana squad racked up 73 points on Indiana State. This is the fifth time an FCS school has faced Purdue, and all four previous games ended in losses. Still, RB Shakir Bell managed 113 yards against Indiana and Indiana State managed two defensive touchdowns. Smart money rests on Purdue winning this game, but Indiana State should show off some of its offensive and defensive tools.
Projected Score: Purdue 52, Indiana State 17
Missouri State at Iowa, Saturday, 12:00 pm
Iowa is licking its wounds following a loss last week against a Northern Illinois squad that picked up right where it left off a year ago. This is Missouri State’s 29th game against an FBS opponent, but the odds are steep. Ever since joining the FCS/Division 1-AA ranks in 1982, Missouri State is 1-28 against FBS foes, with a lone win over UNLV in 1990. Missouri State lost 23-17 to Northwestern State last week, and the Hawkeyes should drop this team to 0-2. Win or lose, watch defensive standout Andrew Beisel, who had 10 tackles, an interception and two pass breakups against Northwestern State.
Projected Score: Iowa 28, Missouri State 10
Quincy at Western Illinois, Saturday, 2:00 pm
It has been a while since Western Illinois began a season with a 2-0 record. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 2003 for the last time Western Illinois did that. The odds of Western Illinois starting 2-0 are pretty good, especially when you consider the team has won 10 of its 12 games against Quincy. Look out for running back Dallas Nichols, who rushed for 108 yards against Hampton last week as the Leatherneck defense swarmed Hampton for nine turnovers.
Projected Score: Western Illinois 38, Quincy 13
Morehead State at #21 Youngstown State, Saturday, 3:00 pm
Youngstown State is coming off a victory over Dayton, and this game could help the team get off to a 2-0 start. The two teams have not met since the 1987 season, when Youngstown State scored a 38-14 victory. Tailback Adaris Bellamy ran for 128 yards all of last season, but in his team’s win over Dayton Bellamy roared out to 203 yards and a touchdown, the most yards by a Division I running back all of last week. The odds of another celebration in Youngstown are pretty good.
Projected Score: Youngstown State 40, Morehead State 10
Drake at #9 Northern Iowa, Saturday, 5:00 pm
They may still be celebrating in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area following last week’s win over Iowa State. This week, it’s time for Northern Iowa to make Drake’s fans disappointed. Drake holds a 25-20-1 edge in the all-time series, but Northern Iowa has won the last three meetings. Running back David Johnson will be key to this game, as evidenced by his four touchdowns and 199 yards against Iowa State. Johnson now has 638 all-purpose yards against FBS opponents. This should be another win for Northern Iowa.
Projected Score: Northern Iowa 32, Drake 13
Ferris State at #1 North Dakota State, Saturday, 5:00 pm
Just like Northern Iowa, North Dakota State fans are still celebrating following the biggest win in the program’s history. North Dakota State should have little problem going 2-0 against this program, a Division II school located in Big Rapids, Michigan. North Dakota State beat Ferris once before in 1999, and that marked the start of a 14-game home-opener winning streak. Quarterback Brock Jensen was the big hero against Kansas State as he scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard run with seven seconds to go.
Projected Score: North Dakota State 40, Ferris State 7
South Dakota at Kansas, Saturday, 7:00 pm
These schools meet for the first time, but the Jayhawks have experience against MVFC programs. In fact, they have a lot of experience. Conference schools have lost nine of 10 meetings against Kansas. The one school to defy the odds was North Dakota State, which beat Kansas 6-3 in 2010. Linebacker Keyen Lage and cornerback Dyllon Knox limited UC Davis to one scoring drive and 267 yards total offense, but this time will be somewhat different.
Projected Score: Kansas 27, South Dakota 10
#4 South Dakota State at North Dakota, Saturday, 7:00 pm
The battle of the Dakotas commences once again as these schools meet for the 85th time. When these schools were in Division II they met all the time, but since they became Division I programs the teams have met just once. Kicker Justin Syrovatka’s deadly-accurate foot will be key to this game. He made both field goals and all seven extra points in a 55-14 win over Butler, and he now holds the record for consecutive field goals made.
Projected Score: South Dakota State 37, North Dakota 24
#17 Eastern Illinois at Southern Illinois, Saturday, 7:00 pm
Charleston meets Carbondale in a meeting of in-state Division I schools. Southern Illinois holds a 40-26-1 edge in the series, which began all the way back in 1913. The teams have met five times since 2005, including three wins by Southern Illinois in postseason play. This time could be different, because Eastern Illinois has a fairly good football team and a high national ranking. If Southern Illinois can sack the quarterback five times, like it has done in the last three games, this could be interesting.
Projected Score: Eastern Illinois 31, Southern Illinois 17
See All FCS Games of the Week Breakdowns
