MEAC Game of The Week
North Carolina A&T over South Carolina State
The Aggies have won four of their first five games, with the team’s lone loss coming to a powerhouse Coastal Carolina squad by one point in Week Two. Last week, A&T won its MEAC opener with a 38-22 win over the Howard in which its top two offensive players, quarterback Kwashaun Quick and running back Tarik Cohen, played one half combined.
The Bulldogs are 3-2, coming off-back-to-back wins against Furman and Hampton after a 1-2 start. They also have the misfortune of having to play both A&T and nationally-ranked Bethune-Cookman, as A&T and BCU are not scheduled to play this season.
In addition to the game, the Battle of the Bands should be pumping as well. We got a first hand look at A&T’s Blue and Gold Marching Machine last weekend in DC, and they appear to be ready to defend their Honda Battle of the Bands crown.
Prediction: A&T over South Carolina State
Howard over North Carolina Central
Norfolk State over Savannah State
Bethune-Cookman over Delaware State
Morgan State over FAMU
CIAA Game of the Week
Livingstone at Elizabeth City State
For anyone who follows CIAA football, the fact that Livingstone has the leagues’ best record is a shock to say the least. The Blue Bears have been the bottom of the barrel for the CIAA’s Southern Division for the better part of a decade. Meanwhile, Elizabeth City has consistently been at or near the top of the Northern Division, yet the Vikings return home with a 1-4 record.
A deeper look into these teams’ schedules show two Livingstone is undefeated against teams that are winless, while Elizabeth City State has played a more challenging schedule, including D1 North Carolina Central and CIAA power Winston-Salem State. That experience, plus some home cooking, means Livingstone will have to play its best game yet to stay undefeated.
Prediction: ECSU over Livingstone
Shaw over Virginia Union
Fayetteville State over Lincoln
Virginia State over St. Aug
JCSU over Bowie State
Winston-Salem State over Chowan