Week 10 in the SIAC

Oct. 26-28, 2006

Skegee/FAMU/FVSU

Week 9 Review and Week 10 Prognostications

On this past weekend, the SIAC race became a little clearer as the MEAC race became even more muddied. Tuskegee took the lead in the SIAC, and now controls its own destiny in terms of another conference championship with its victory over Albany St…Kentucky St. spoiled Miles Homecoming on the last play of the game…Ft. Valley survived two OT’s to send Benedict packing and salvage a homecoming victory…Stillman won with relative ease over Lincoln, MO...Clark Atlanta defeated Morehouse in yet another nail biter…Over in the MEAC, them SC St. Bulldogs played themselves back in contention for the MEAC crown and a playoff berth with their victory over Hampton…It took overtime, but FAMU prevailed over Norfolk St…Delaware St took care of Morgan…Howard blanked NCA&T at their homecoming…Winston-Salem brought Savannah St. back to reality. Finally, Grambling had a convincing victory over Jackson St. Overall, I was 7-4. That translates to 3-2 in the SIAC, 4-1 in the MEAC, and 0-1 on my one stray SWAC pick. Still gotta improve my SIAC prognosticating.


The Featured Game of Week Nine:
South Carolina St vs Delaware State in Dover:
Three weeks ago, this was just another MEAC game on the schedule. Now all of a sudden, this is an in vogue match-up. Except for their games against WSSU and BCC, SCSU has done the complete, exact opposite of what I have predicted. When I have predicted them to win, they lost. Whenever I’ve predicted them to lose, they win, as they have the last three outings. There’s a direct correlation between my picks and their successes and failures so far this season. After the turn of events in Orangeburg this past weekend, not only are the dogs back in the thick of things, they are actually in control their own destiny for a MEAC title, and the automatic playoff berth that comes with it. SCSU is finally beginning playing at the level that we expected at the beginning of the year. As for DSU, they are also playing at a high level, having only two losses on the season. This game is really a toss-up. However, on this week, the SkegeeFAMU pendulum (and gut feeling) favors the Orangeburg Bulldogs. 

SIAC GAMES

Morehouse at Albany St. in Atlanta:
In this the first game of an AUC doubleheader, both teams are coming off of losses. Morehouse lost to CAU in a game that went down to the wire. AlbSU lost to Tuskegee in a hard-fought battle between two championship caliber programs. This week, the Golden Rams get out of the bush to beat up on the hapless Maroon Tigers and redeem themselves for last week’s performance. 

Ft. Valley St. vs Lane in Jackson, TN:
It took two overtimes, but FVSU finally disposed of Benedict last Saturday. Lane is a better team than Benedict, considerably more explosive on offense, and they are at home. Lane out duels FVSU!!

Tuskegee vs Clark Atlanta in Atlanta:
In this the second game of an AUC football doubleheader, TU has to guard against a letdown. Being that Saturday’s victory was a hard fought victory against a quality opponent in AlbSU, there’s always the possibility that TU could come out a little flat. I feel that TU is smart enough to guard against a letdown. Neither will they come out flat. TU continues its march to another SIAC Championship.

Stillman vs Benedict in Columbia, SC: 
Two teams in the lower echelon of the SIAC. A game that pits two evenly matched teams against one another. Since Benedict is the home team, I’m going with them.

Bye Week: Kentucky State

MEAC GAMES

NC A&T vs Bethune Cookman in Daytona Beach (Thursday night ESPNU):
“Aggie Born, Aggie Bred, Aggie Dead, now the Aggie Burial”. Even though BCC has been slipping the last couple of weeks, they are still exponentially better than A&T. Then again, who hasn’t been? To console my Aggie friends, things will get better. You have no other way to go but up. BCC by at least two touchdowns. 

Norfolk St. vs Howard in Washington:
A few weeks ago, NSU would have been a favorite in this one, but NSU has reverted back to, well, being NSU. Howard’s victories came against a rebuilding FVSU team, and a hapless A&T team. However, I do feel that Howard has slightly more momentum going into this game than NSU does. Being from GA, I like the boys on GA Avenue. 

Winston-Salem St. vs Hampton in Hampton:
After Saturday’s performance against SCSU, the Pirates are going to be looking to right the ship. IMHO, this may be the wake-up call that Hampton needs to regain its focus. WSSU has been a pesky opponent for the MEAC this season, but they are catching HIU at the wrong time. HIU gets back into the win column. 

Morgan State vs Florida A&M in Tallahassee:
This game is yet another example of the parity that exists in the MEAC. Both teams have similar records. Being that this is the case, with the game being played at Bragg, the advantage goes to FAMU.

Savannah St vs Johnson C. Smith in Charlotte:
It’s late and I’m getting tired. I’m getting straight to the point with this one. The JCSU Bulls will be golden in this one.