I’m on a roll. Yours truly was an amazing 33-5 in picking last week’s games. Those picks last week were easy, due in large part to the number of games involving matchups between teams that compete in different divisions.
With a number of teams scheduled to begin conference play this week, my picks may be a little more difficult to make. But I am up to the challenge.
Let’s take a look at some key games that will highlight the weekend.
Hampton (1-1) vs. Howard (0-2)
Not only is this game billed as the AT&T Nation’s Football Classic to be played Friday at RFK Stadium in Washington, it is another installment of the “Battle of the Real HU”. The Bison are looking for their first win of the season after suffering two losses to FBS schools by a combined score of 125-0. The Pirates, still reeling from a controversial 31-28 loss to Richmond last week, may enter this game with quite a chip on their shoulders at kickoff time. My pick: Hampton
No. 24 Tuskegee (2-0) vs. Winston-Salem State (0-2)
The Golden Tigers are on a roll, averaging 26 points per game scoring (after two games) and only allowing their opponents to score an average of seven points. Meanwhile, the Rams have been getting rolled in route to a 0-2 start so far for the season. WSSU has had a difficult time scoring points against formidable opponents in UNC-Pembroke and Valdosta State. The trend will remain the same for both teams this week. My pick: Tuskegee
Southern (1-1) vs. Jackson State (0-2)
Let’s keep this one simple. Southern hates Jackson State. Jackson State hates Southern. This is one of those rare matchups where that “I LOVE MY HBCU” stuff simply doesn’t exist whenever these two schools compete against each other. Even the SWAC office felt it necessary to tweet the following, knowing full well it isn’t true.
They really do love each other: Jackson State at Southern this Saturday live on @espn3 #Rivals #THESWAC pic.twitter.com/3ZaGtrDmxR
— The SWAC (@theswac) September 15, 2015
Jackson State, other than a meaningless win against Alcorn State to end last season, has shown nothing that indicates head coach Harold Jackson is taking this program in the right direction. This one is easy. My pick: Southern
Sept. 17
Florida A&M vs. S. Carolina State
Sept. 18
Hampton vs. Howard
Sept. 19
Tennessee State vs. Jacksonville State
Lincoln (MO) vs. Quincy
Winston-Salem State vs. Tuskegee
Alderson Broaddus vs. Lincoln (PA)
Redemption Christian vs. Livingstone
Elizabeth City State vs. Saint Augustine’s
West Virginia State vs. West Va. Wesleyan
Savannah State vs. Akron
Langston vs. OK Panhandle State
McMurry vs. Texas College
Cheyney vs. Clarion
Fort Valley State vs. Clark Atlanta
Chowan vs. Delaware State
Kentucky State vs. Virginia State
Fayetteville State vs. West Georgia
Norfolk State vs. Marshall
Miss Valley State vs. Alcorn State
West Alabama vs. Miles
Lane vs. Bethune-Cookman
Virginia-Lynchburg vs. Morgan State
Jackson State vs. Southern
Grambling State vs. Alabama State
Texas Southern vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Alabama A&M vs. Prairie View A&M
Central State vs. Benedict
N. Carolina A&T vs. Elon
NC Central vs. Florida International
Virginia Union vs. Gardner-Webb
Stillman vs. Albany State
Bowie State vs. Central Conn State
Johnson C. Smith vs. Morehouse
Concordia-Selma vs. Southeastern Univ.
Shaw vs. UNC Pembroke
Last week’s record: 33-5, Overall record: 63-14
