Week 3 was an outstanding one for your friendly neighborhood HBCU football prognosticator, but Week 4 ramps up with rivalry games, conference battles and non-conference matchups that will have everyone’s attention.
Let’s look back at Week 3 first before we break down this weekend’s games.
Week 3 record: 26-3
Best pick: Clark Atlanta 26, Fort Valley State 21 (Panthers won 28-23, giving themselves an early edge in what looks to be a wild SIAC race.)
Worst pick: Hampton 23, North Carolina A&T 14 (A&T won 33-30 in double overtime. Huge win for a team starting over.)
Game of the week: Howard (2-1) vs. Hampton (1-2) in the Truth & Services Classic, Audi Field, Washington, D.C., Saturday Sept. 20, 4 p.m., ESPN Plus
The battle of the Real HU promises to be another intense scrap, especially since both teams are coming into D.C. from different directions.
Howard took care of business against Morehouse in the HBCUNY Classic, while Hampton blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead and lost at North Carolina A&T.
The Pirates, however, have won eight straight in this rivalry, a streak that predates the Larry Scott era at Howard.
To win, the Bison will need another solid game from quarterback Tyriq Starks, who passed for 241 yards and two touchdowns against Morehouse.
Hampton looks to have handed their QB job to Lincoln (Pa.) transfer Isaiah Freeman, who passed and ran for over 100 yards each in the loss to the Aggies.
Both defenses are robust, so this looks like another HU battle that goes down to the wire. The winner can be confident about the rest of their season, while the loser will have to do some immediate soul-searching.
Prediction: Howard 24, Hampton 20
North Carolina Central (2-2) at North Carolina A&T (1-2), Saturday Sept. 20, 4 p.m. EST, FloSports
A&T’s emotional win over Hampton gives them a boost in one of the most bitter feuds in HBCU football. Shawn Gibbs already has the Aggies playing better in three weeks than in two years under Vincent Brown, but the Eagles are looking to get on solid ground, even after defeating Fayetteville State by 30.
Can A&T neutralize Walker Harris and Chris Mosley or somehow, down to their deepest reserves at quarterback, put together enough points to win?
One thing is for sure: this game has much more meaning now that the Aggies look like a football team.
Prediction: North Carolina Central 31, North Carolina A&T 23
Johnson C. Smith (3-0, 0-0 CIAA) at Virginia Union (1-1, 0-0 CIAA), Saturday Sept. 20, 6 p.m. EST, CIAA Network
An early CIAA showdown takes center stage Saturday night as JCSU, which had to sweat out a close win at Elizabeth City State, hits the road again to take on defending conference champion Virginia Union, which lost a game of the year situation to Edward Waters.
The Golden Bulls sport Fort Valley State transfer Kelvin Durham at quarterback, and he, along with that Smith offense, has been as good as advertised. To the surprise of no one, the Panthers have continued to punish opponents on the ground with Curtis Allen in the backfield.
This could be a game of who stops who or who has the ball last. The winner has an early advantage in the race to the CIAA title game.
Prediction: Johnson C. Smith 27, Virginia Union 24
Edward Waters (3-0) at Bethune-Cookman (0-3), Saturday Sept. 20, 3 p.m. EST, HBCU Go
Edward Waters is undoubtedly the story of the year in HBCU football.
After losing their head coach weeks before preseason practice began and integrating a new quarterback and coaching staff, the Tigers are 3-0 with an average of 42 points per game scored.
Bethune-Cookman, meanwhile, has struggled mightily, including giving up 55 points to South Carolina State last weekend.
The Wildcats lost to last year’s CIAA Cinderella (Clark Atlanta) at home in 2024; can lightning strike twice again this season?
Prediction: Edward Waters 28, Bethune-Cookman 22
Tuskegee (2-1, 1-0 SIAC) at Benedict (2-0, 1-0 SIAC), Thursday Sept. 18, 7 p.m. EST, ESPN Plus
Benedict has won both games this season by matching 10-0 scores. That will be tested against a Tuskegee team looking to rebound after being shut out by Jackson State last weekend.
Both teams employ physical defense, but considering Tuskegee hung 34 on Central State and scored enough points to beat Winston-Salem State in the Red Tails Classic, the Golden Tigers might be able to crack Benedict’s brick wall enough times to maintain an edge in the SIAC title game race.
Prediction: Tuskegee 21, Benedict 14
Week 4 slate
Saturday, Sept. 20
Delaware State 24, St. Francis (Pa.) 23
Morgan State 35, Central State 13
Norfolk State 21, Sacred Heart 20
South Florida 31, South Carolina State 21
East Texas A&M 23, Grambling State 20
Alabama A&M 34, Lane 14
Prairie View A&M 31, Northwestern State (La.) 28
Kentucky State 25, Morehouse 17
Savannah State 27, Miles 16
Delta State 32, Fort Valley State 24
Clark Atlanta 34, Allen 23
Shaw 16, Lincoln (Pa.) 13
Elizabeth City State 26, Fayetteville State 18
Virginia State 30, Winston-Salem State 27
Bowie State 29, Livingstone 21
Langston 33, Texas College 31
Arkansas Baptist 17, Nelson 14
Lincoln (Mo.) 21, Quincy 18
West Virginia State 31, West Virginia Wesleyan 24
Shorter 31, VUL 14
Myrtle Beach 21, Barber-Scotia 12
