Week 8 “Other” Conferences Breakdowns
A Southland shootout highlights this week’s slate of games. Fordham and Charleston Southern have hopes of improving to 8-0, but one team sure has a lot better chance than the other. Also, battles in the Big South and Ohio Valley could set the table for who is in reach of a conference title later on in the season. Last week the predictions only went 3-2 bringing the season total to 26-11, but that average will falter again as we have five good matchups again this week.
#9 Fordham (7-0) vs Yale (3-1), Saturday, 12:00 ET
The Bulldogs may be the last real challenge standing in the way of the undefeated Rams out of the Patriot League from running the table. Fordham has a bye week next week and then faces their final four opponents, none of whom appear to be a large threat. Yale gets the home advantage and just two weeks ago knocked off Cal Poly, who was ranked at the time. We’re calling for the upset!
Projected Score: Yale 35 , Fordham 24
Charleston Southern (7-0) vs Colorado (2-3), Saturday, 2:00 ET
A month ago the Buccaneers didn’t even know this game was on the schedule… so much for getting hyped about facing an FBS opponent. However, the NCAA allowed CSU to add the game, the 13th on their schedule, to help Colorado make up a game that was put off due to flooding earlier in the year. Charleston Southern has been on a pretty high ride so far, but the reality of a tough schedule is probably about to catch them. This week CSU misses a chance to get a rest and will have to travel across the country and battle an FBS school (which they could beat), but then the Bucs close the season with three straight games against the other three best Big South teams.
Projected Score: Colorado 38, Charleston Southern 20
#23 Tennessee State (6-1) vs Tennessee-Martin (4-2), Saturday, 2:00 ET
Tennessee State is coming off a win over Jacksonville State, which sets them on top of the OVC standings. UT-Martin has some ground to make up after an early loss, but with TSU, EKU, and EIU still on the schedule, it’s still pretty much in the Skyhawks’ control. The Tigers are in the midst of a tough part of the OVC schedule and will next face ever threatening Eastern Illinois. Wins over these next few weeks will all but lock TSU into the playoffs; losses could pull TSU back down to the rest of the conference.
Projected Score: Tennessee State 28, UT-Martin 14
#8 Coastal Carolina (6-0) vs Liberty (3-3), Saturday, 3:30 ET
The Chanticleer have run over almost every opponent this season and are likely the second best undefeated team remaining behind the top ranked Bison. However, Liberty isn’t too shabby. The three wins are less than impressive considering who they came against, but the three losses were to FBS Kent State and to pretty decent Richmond and Old Dominion squads, all by single digits. The Flames could turn up the heat (I had to) on Coastal and pressure their perfect season. If the Chanticleer come out on top their only major challenges remaining are Charleston Southern, which could decide a conference title, and South Carolina, which as the last game, likely won’t change Coastal’s playoff picture.
Projected Score: Coastal Carolina 31, Liberty 24
#3 Sam Houston State vs #16 McNeese State (5-1), Saturday, 8:00 ET
This is one of the best matchups of the entire FCS weekend. Two top schools will battle with strong offenses, and a conference title could be on the line. McNeese State is finishing a tough stretch in their schedule against Northern Iowa, Central Arkansas, and now Sam Houston State. After a tough outing against UNI, the Cowboys responded with an impressive 59-28 win over UCA to become the first team to beat the Bears at home since the purple field was installed. Sam Houston struggled against Lamar last week and will have to play better against a much better Cowboys team, but a win put SHSU in a good spot to take the Southland title, especially with UCA not looking as strong at the end of the season after losing star quarterback Wynrick Smothers.
Projected Score: McNeese State 48, Sam Houston State 34
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