Week 6 in HBCU football was a week where we started to see some separation in the Division II ranks, while the MEAC began to wrap up non-conference play and the SWAC divisional wars began in D-I.
Overall, on the prediction front, it was another solid week for your intrepid HBCU Sports picker, but with Week 7 coming up…I’m not so sure about any of these games because several of them could go either way.
That said, let’s take a look back at last week’s good vibes.
Last Week’s Record: 26-5
2024 Overall Record: 124-45-1
Best Pick: Johnson C. Smith 24, Virginia State 21 (JCSU won 21-17)
Worst Pick: Clark Atlanta 30, Savannah State 13 (SSU won 35-28)
Game Of the Week: Alcorn State (3-3, 1-0 SWAC West) at Grambling State (3-2, 0-1 SWAC West), Saturday Oct. 12, 3 p.m. EST, ESPN+
The Braves have played better football since head coach Cedric Thomas said they needed maturity in a conference call a few weeks ago, and now they have a chance to show how much they’ve grown against a Grambling team coming off of a bye and some tweaks to their inconsistent offense.
Tigers head coach Mickey Joseph said adjustments, such as adding two more blockers for quarterback Myles Crawley, would be necessary to stay in the SWAC West hunt.
The Grambling defense will have to contend with grad transfer Xzavier Vaughn, a rangy dual-threat QB who has run for nearly 500 yards and passed for over 800 yards in Alcorn’s first six contests. If Vaughn can get loose, it will be a long day for Grambling. Contain him, and the offense can spend another week fine-tuning for bigger games.
Prediction: Grambling State 23, Alcorn State 17
Albany State (3-2, 3-0 SIAC) at Miles (3-2, 3-0 SIAC), Saturday Oct. 12, 3 p.m. EST, ESPN+
The last two unbeaten in the SIAC will battle it out for an undisputed first place in Fairfield, Alabama, on Saturday. The Golden Rams’ top three offense vs. the Golden Bears’ top three defense will be a fun battle to watch.
The winner of this game will have an easier road to the conference title game, but the loser won’t be out of it as the SIAC has provided some very interesting and unexpected results this season.
Prediction: Albany State 20, Miles 16
Shaw (4-2, 2-1 CIAA) at Winston-Salem State (4-2, 2-1), Saturday, Oct. 12, 1 p.m. EST, CIAASN
Two teams that have been M.I.A. in the CIAA race are back in business this season, as both the Bears and Rams are off to their best starts in several years. The winner of this one keeps their CIAA title game hopes alive, while the other has to hope for utter madness at the top – and in between – to still be in the conversation.
Prediction: Winston-Salem State 30, Shaw 25
Fayetteville State (3-2, 2-1 CIAA) at Livingstone (4-2, 2-1 CIAA), Saturday Oct. 12, 2 p.m.
Two more members of the current CIAA logjam square off as Livingstone looks to finally break through for that elusive fifth win against a Fayetteville State team intent on staying in the championship chase.
Neither the Broncos nor the Blue Bears have an easy schedule the rest of the way, so the winner will need to enjoy this one quickly, then prepare for CIAA leader Johnson C. Smith, as well as the aforementioned Shaw and Winston-Salem State squads.
Prediction: Fayetteville State 19, Livingstone 13
Division I
Delaware State 23, Robert Morris 20
North Carolina Central 35, VUL 11
Howard 27, Sacred Heart 22
Morgan State 21, Merrimack 17
Norfolk State 17, Towson 16
Tennessee State 28, Eastern Illinois 17
Prairie View A&M 31, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 28
Alabama A&M 34, Bethune-Cookman 24
Alabama State 26, Mississippi Valley State 15
Texas Southern 24, Southern 23
Division II/NAIA
Lincoln (Pa.) 33, Bluefield State 27
Virginia Union 32, Elizabeth City State 18
Virginia State 29, Bowie State 17
Clark Atlanta 35, Central State 27
Benedict 21, Kentucky State 13
Fort Valley State 28, Allen 14
Tuskegee 23, Lane 13
Savannah State 31, Lincoln (Ca.) 10
West Virginia State 30, Concord (W. Va.) 14
Lincoln (Mo.) 20, Northeastern State (Okla.) 17
Oklahoma Panhandle State 34, Langston 30
Texas College 27, Arkansas Baptist 13
