Basebone1898
Well-Known Member
Here we go again. My top 5 SWAC/MEAC upset alert list.
1. Bethune-Cookman vs North Texas
North Texas looked like a weak Southland conference team last season and could very well look the same again this season. The don't have many weapons on both sides of the ball, and they have a bunch of new faces/unknowns in the trenches. They bring in a new transfer QB from Bama, but I can't see that being enough to worry the Wildcats. Although BC losses their QB, the second string is very much a solid QB who can get their explosive offense moving. BC has a very good thing going on in their program that many HBCU's lack in this era. Confidence and a "F you " mentality when it comes to taking on FBS schools. Especially weaker ones. North Texas is running a 3-3-5 defense that BC loves to face and doesn't return any stars from last season. I could go on and on, but I think any HBCU FCS program with would love to be in this match up.
My Prediction: (Upset) Bethune-Cookman 28 North Texas 24
2. North Carolina A&T vs Kent State
Tarik Cohen is the real deal for A&T. He returns for the Aggies with a deep depth chart on the other side of the ball. Kent State was terrible on offense last season, but they do return some lineman that might help them change things around. How terrible? They scored 15 TD's and gave up 32 sacks. Cohen could be the best player on the field in this game, but the Golden Flashes defense isn't a push over. A&T has a good shot at pulling this one out. This game will be all on the Kent State offense which nobody knows if they will be better but them. They didn't have a great recruiting class and they will depend on a former QB to lead the WR corps.
My prediction: Kent State 23 NCA&T 21
Upset Score: NCA&T 21 Kent State 17
3. Southern at ULM
ULM brings back experience on the offense, and plenty of wheels to get them downfield. However, these same wheels were their last year, and struggled to score points last season. Under Viato, I expect to see more points as he loves to run the ball and use his TE's. SU's has the speed to keep up with ULM on both sides of the ball, and they have a running back in Tillery who ran over better defensive linemen and LB's than what ULM will but on the field. I am not sure what Odums gameplan is, but SU has the weapons to fight ULM and hold on to the ball. Their DB's will be experienced and solid, but ULM lost 4 of their top 5 lineman from last season and don't have any highly rated signee to do something about that. If SU comes to Monroe feeling good and ready to fight, we could have a good game.
My prediction: ULM 38 Southern 20
Upset Score: Southern 21 ULM 20
4. Jackson State at UNLV
The Tigers have plenty of returning starters on both sides of the ball. Just as so many FCS vs FBS match ups, the defense will make or break the game for the Tigers. Jones and Henderson could very well fight tough against UNLV's offensive line. They gave up 33 sacks last season. If Ivy and Williams can get a rhythm going early, JSU can move the ball and keep it out of UNLV's hands. JSU's offensive line has the talent and size to make UNLV work for everything they get. Cooks and Carter are FBS material and will give UNLV's 4-3 a challenge because they aren't really loaded with size and experience in the trenches. The Rebels are led by two D lineman who led a group that gave up 5.7 yards per carry last season and 800 yards after contact. The great thing for JSU is that Hughes is going to coach to win instead of just trying to survive against a FBS program. Hughes is going to have the Tiger's imposing their will to win this game. The only reason why this match up isn't higher my list is because UNLV brought in their best recruiting class in the history. There starting QB is a JUCO star who transferred from Nebraska. They brought in about 7 JUCO stars in this last class. They have 10 (3) star signees along with about 15 (2) star kids. They have the second best class in the MWC, and got a crap load of PAC 12 leftovers. That a is very impressive class for a non P5 program and shows that their 2nd year coach is planning a breakout season sooner than later. I expect JSU to face a very good crowd as Las Vegas will be excited about the Boom and their new players.
My prediction: UNLV 42 Jackson State 21
Upset Score: Jackson State 27 UNLV 24
5. Southern at Tulane
5'7 LB Nico Marley (grandson of Bob) is the only player for the Green Wave who is the undisputed best on the both rosters at a position. They also have a group of DB's who are pretty solid and can make plays. Other than that, Southern is dominating as far as position battles/playmakers and experience. Tulane lost their starting QB of the past two seasons to Nebraska, the 2nd string (who I felt was better than 1st string) to Nicholls State, and their 3rd string, (who played better than the other two in his 2 starts last year to graduation).They have capable running backs, but their QB's have never played a down of college football. Tulane is very slim at WR as they begged a track star who quit the team to return, and will rely on walk-ons to step up Their OL's only return two from a unit that has sucked since 2012. SU will have the best QB, RB and WR on the field vs Tulane. The big question for SU and the key to an upset victory over Tulane is if the Jags' defense can come to Yulman and play well. Fritz is a good coach, but he hasn't named a starter at QB yet, and he doesn't know if he is going to be a triple option program like he was at GSU, or a spread offense like he was at SHSU. He brings a new staff to a program that lacked solid coaching since 2002. If Southern would have had spring practices, I think Tulane would be in trouble. Hopefully the Jags will push for their fans who will be alive and well.
My Prediction: Tulane 35 Southern 14
Upset Score: Southern 28 Tulane 23
Are there any SWAC/MEAC vs FCS games that you find interesting?
My 2015 Results:
Final Score: UNC 53-14
My Prediction: UNC 28 NCAT 14
Final Score: Miami 45 BC 0
My Prediction: Miami 38 BC 14
Final Score MTSU 70 JSU 14
My Prediction: MTSU 35 JSU 17
Final Score Apps St 49 Howard 0
My Prediction: Apps St 49 Howard 24
Final Score: Cal 73 GSU 14
My Prediction: Cal 55 GSU 28
1. Bethune-Cookman vs North Texas
North Texas looked like a weak Southland conference team last season and could very well look the same again this season. The don't have many weapons on both sides of the ball, and they have a bunch of new faces/unknowns in the trenches. They bring in a new transfer QB from Bama, but I can't see that being enough to worry the Wildcats. Although BC losses their QB, the second string is very much a solid QB who can get their explosive offense moving. BC has a very good thing going on in their program that many HBCU's lack in this era. Confidence and a "F you " mentality when it comes to taking on FBS schools. Especially weaker ones. North Texas is running a 3-3-5 defense that BC loves to face and doesn't return any stars from last season. I could go on and on, but I think any HBCU FCS program with would love to be in this match up.
My Prediction: (Upset) Bethune-Cookman 28 North Texas 24
2. North Carolina A&T vs Kent State
Tarik Cohen is the real deal for A&T. He returns for the Aggies with a deep depth chart on the other side of the ball. Kent State was terrible on offense last season, but they do return some lineman that might help them change things around. How terrible? They scored 15 TD's and gave up 32 sacks. Cohen could be the best player on the field in this game, but the Golden Flashes defense isn't a push over. A&T has a good shot at pulling this one out. This game will be all on the Kent State offense which nobody knows if they will be better but them. They didn't have a great recruiting class and they will depend on a former QB to lead the WR corps.
My prediction: Kent State 23 NCA&T 21
Upset Score: NCA&T 21 Kent State 17
3. Southern at ULM
ULM brings back experience on the offense, and plenty of wheels to get them downfield. However, these same wheels were their last year, and struggled to score points last season. Under Viato, I expect to see more points as he loves to run the ball and use his TE's. SU's has the speed to keep up with ULM on both sides of the ball, and they have a running back in Tillery who ran over better defensive linemen and LB's than what ULM will but on the field. I am not sure what Odums gameplan is, but SU has the weapons to fight ULM and hold on to the ball. Their DB's will be experienced and solid, but ULM lost 4 of their top 5 lineman from last season and don't have any highly rated signee to do something about that. If SU comes to Monroe feeling good and ready to fight, we could have a good game.
My prediction: ULM 38 Southern 20
Upset Score: Southern 21 ULM 20
4. Jackson State at UNLV
The Tigers have plenty of returning starters on both sides of the ball. Just as so many FCS vs FBS match ups, the defense will make or break the game for the Tigers. Jones and Henderson could very well fight tough against UNLV's offensive line. They gave up 33 sacks last season. If Ivy and Williams can get a rhythm going early, JSU can move the ball and keep it out of UNLV's hands. JSU's offensive line has the talent and size to make UNLV work for everything they get. Cooks and Carter are FBS material and will give UNLV's 4-3 a challenge because they aren't really loaded with size and experience in the trenches. The Rebels are led by two D lineman who led a group that gave up 5.7 yards per carry last season and 800 yards after contact. The great thing for JSU is that Hughes is going to coach to win instead of just trying to survive against a FBS program. Hughes is going to have the Tiger's imposing their will to win this game. The only reason why this match up isn't higher my list is because UNLV brought in their best recruiting class in the history. There starting QB is a JUCO star who transferred from Nebraska. They brought in about 7 JUCO stars in this last class. They have 10 (3) star signees along with about 15 (2) star kids. They have the second best class in the MWC, and got a crap load of PAC 12 leftovers. That a is very impressive class for a non P5 program and shows that their 2nd year coach is planning a breakout season sooner than later. I expect JSU to face a very good crowd as Las Vegas will be excited about the Boom and their new players.
My prediction: UNLV 42 Jackson State 21
Upset Score: Jackson State 27 UNLV 24
5. Southern at Tulane
5'7 LB Nico Marley (grandson of Bob) is the only player for the Green Wave who is the undisputed best on the both rosters at a position. They also have a group of DB's who are pretty solid and can make plays. Other than that, Southern is dominating as far as position battles/playmakers and experience. Tulane lost their starting QB of the past two seasons to Nebraska, the 2nd string (who I felt was better than 1st string) to Nicholls State, and their 3rd string, (who played better than the other two in his 2 starts last year to graduation).They have capable running backs, but their QB's have never played a down of college football. Tulane is very slim at WR as they begged a track star who quit the team to return, and will rely on walk-ons to step up Their OL's only return two from a unit that has sucked since 2012. SU will have the best QB, RB and WR on the field vs Tulane. The big question for SU and the key to an upset victory over Tulane is if the Jags' defense can come to Yulman and play well. Fritz is a good coach, but he hasn't named a starter at QB yet, and he doesn't know if he is going to be a triple option program like he was at GSU, or a spread offense like he was at SHSU. He brings a new staff to a program that lacked solid coaching since 2002. If Southern would have had spring practices, I think Tulane would be in trouble. Hopefully the Jags will push for their fans who will be alive and well.
My Prediction: Tulane 35 Southern 14
Upset Score: Southern 28 Tulane 23
Are there any SWAC/MEAC vs FCS games that you find interesting?
My 2015 Results:
Final Score: UNC 53-14
My Prediction: UNC 28 NCAT 14
Final Score: Miami 45 BC 0
My Prediction: Miami 38 BC 14
Final Score MTSU 70 JSU 14
My Prediction: MTSU 35 JSU 17
Final Score Apps St 49 Howard 0
My Prediction: Apps St 49 Howard 24
Final Score: Cal 73 GSU 14
My Prediction: Cal 55 GSU 28
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