Friday Forecast: SWAC Weekly Picks – Week 4

Alcorn State vs. Texas Southern

Alcorn State quarterback Brandon “Air Canada” Bridge passed for two touchdowns and ran for a third as his Braves throttled Mississippi Valley State last week.

Texas Southern only had to show up to toppled Texas College last Saturday.

Saturday’s match up won’t be easy for either team.  The last time the Tigers played a SWAC school they gave up 37 points in a loss to Prairie View.  Alcorn State’s offense should be better than the Steers of Texas College with “Air Canada” coming off his best game in three outings.  The Pick: Alcorn 31, Texas Southern 21

Florida A&M vs. Southern

This should be dubbed the “Atlanta Desperation Classic.”  The loser of this contest will start to witness their season begin to crumble.  Southern quarterback Dray Joseph has thrown for 515 yards and six touchdown over two games.

The Rattlers defense has given up 650 yards during their modest two-game losing streak.  The Pick: Southern 27, Florida A&M 20

Clark Atlanta vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

UAPB head coach Monte Coleman told me this week in so many words that the Golden Lions can play with anyone.  Coleman should be confident as running backs Steven Jones and Adrian Moore have run roughshod over the competition of late, piling up nearly 400 yards on the ground in wins against Alcorn State and Prairie View.  The Pick: Arkansas-Pine Bluff 21, Clark Atlanta 13

Alabama State vs. Jackson State

Jackson State has turned the ball over eight times in their last eight quarters.  However, the Tigers are 3-0.  The saving grace for JSU has been the play of quarterback Casey Therriault who threw the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes to beat Southern on the road last Saturday.  The Hornets, however, have taken the ball away 13 times this season. The Pick: Jackson State 28, Alabama State 27

Alabama A&M vs. Grambling State

Grambling played two quarterbacks last week while the defense surrendered 21 points in the fourth quarter in a 31-17 loss to Alabama State.  Something tells me that D.J. Williams might be on a short leash if he gets off to a slow start.  Going 4-for-29 on third down hasn’t helped the offense at all so far this season.  In order for the Tigers to win they will have to rely on their veteran defense. The Pick: Alabama A&M 19, Grambling 17

Mississippi Valley State vs. Prairie View A&M

“It’s the first game since I’ve been here that we’ve been in the game into the third quarter,” Valley head coach Karl Morgan told The Deriso Report about his group only down 10-7 at halftime to Alcorn before being outscored 29-7 in the second half last week.  The Delta Devils have lost 14 straight games by double digits points.  No offense to MVSU, but this program is staring in the face of 15 consecutive double-digit losses. The Pick: Prairie View A&M 34, Mississippi Valley State 10