Week 11 in the SIAC

Nov. 2-4, 2006

Skegee/FAMU/FVSU

Week 10 Review and Week 11 Prognostications

Week 10 was a week where not one, but two schools that had control of their own destiny in terms of winning their respective conferences decided that they couldn’t stand prosperity. Instead of cruising towards a conference championship, both Tuskegee and South Carolina St. are here singing the what-if blues, waiting for some miracle that might or might not happen. Now for my week 10 review: TU came out flatter than Nicole Ritchie, and did a better clown act than Bozo in their loss to Clark-Atlanta…AlbSU spoiled DaHouse’s Homecoming and gained new life in the conference race…Ft. Valley finally decided to play some ball this weekend in their defeat of Lane…Stillman squeaked by Benedict…In the MEAC, SCSU lost control of their own destiny with their loss to DSU…FAMU barely escaped MSU…Hampton got back into the win column against WSSU…Howard edged NSU…JCSU beat SSU rather convincingly…Last, but certainly not least, BCC hung 70 on A&T. As for this week, I was 6-4 overall on my picks. I was 1-3 in the SIAC, 4-1 in the MEAC, and 1-0 in predictions involving a school requesting residency in the MEAC, but the MEAC thinks that they may bring their property values down. Seems like I’m getting worse with my SIAC picks. Just like in golf, you have to have a short memory, and move on to the next swing. That’s what we’ll do here. 


The Featured Games of Week Nine:
Fort Valley St. vs Albany St in Columbus, GA (Fountain City Classic):
When I came before you last week, this was just another installment of the long-running rivalry between the FVSU Wildcats and the AlbSU Golden Rams. Well, what a difference a week makes. Thanks to the incompetence of Tuskegee’s coaching staff, and the lack of motivation among the players, this game once again has conference championship ramifications. An AlbSU win just about assures them their fourth consecutive SIAC Championship. A FVSU victory would let TU crawl back into conference contention. AlbSU has been consistent over the season in not giving up a lot of points, but at the same time, not scoring a lot of points. On the other hand, Ft. Valley proved that it could put a sizeable number of points on the board. Being that this is a big rivalry game with South GA bragging rights at stake, the old cliché of throwing out all the record books applies here. Even though FVSU has won two games in a row, AlbSU realizes that they have a new lease on life as far as their SIAC title hopes are concerned. Realizing that, they will come prepared to win. However, the margin of victory for the Golden Rams will be considerably smaller than it has been in recent games. 

Bethune Cookman vs Hampton in Hampton (ESPNU Live, Thursday Night)
Last Thursday night, BCC had little trouble scoring points on A&T. Hopefully, they saved some of those points for this week. I have a feeling that points are going to be harder, a lot harder to come by for BCC this week than they were last week. Hampton is also back in the MEAC lead, and in control of its own destiny after losing both the previous weekend. Even though BCC looked good last week, they are facing a team that suddenly has an easier path to yet another MEAC championship. Hampton realizes that there can be no more slip-ups the rest of the way, and will play accordingly. Hampton also has the home field advantage in this match-up. I’m going with Hampton on their quest for yet another MEAC title.

SIAC GAMES
Langston at Tuskegee in Tuskegee:
Talking about what a difference a week makes. Here is a team in TU that on lat week, was in control of its own destiny, seemingly with another SIAC championship in hand, only to be reduced to the role of cheerleader. In order to win the SIAC, they have to hope for a FVSU victory over AlbSU, plus defeat Lane on the following week. First things first, Langston has lost only two games this season, one of them to NCCU. Neither of their losses were blowouts, plus they are fresh off of a 76-7 drilling of Lincoln, MO. TU has been a very inconsistent team this year. Langston is playing very good ball at the moment. This is a must win for TU, if for no other reason to quiet the alumni. Looks like Coach Slater is going from a honeymoon period to having the alumni less than happy with the turn of events before the season even comes to an end. It’s a tough job, but TU redeems itself for last Saturday’s game. 

Benedict vs Lane in Jackson, TN:
Now that Lane has finally faced some real competition, they have been exposed. Even at that, they are still 7-2, and a better team than Benedict. Lane gets back in the win column.

Morehouse vs Miles in Birmingham:
After a hot start, Miles has gone into its usual late season swoon. In losing, Morehouse had a respectable score against AlbSU on Saturday. With a bye week, Miles has had an extra week to rest and heal some injuries. Miles will end their late season slump with a victory over Da House. 

Kentucky St. vs Stillman in Tuscaloosa, AL: 
Stillman is a team that is just a few plays away from actually having a decent season, but then again, close only counts in horseshoes. Even at that, they have eked out a couple of victories in recent weeks. KySU is the better overall team, and will prevail.

MEAC/SWAC GAMES
Concord, WV vs Delaware St. in Dover:
This is one of those games that really does nothing for the strength of schedule for DSU, or for that matter, the MEAC as a whole. Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, DSU may be the best team in the MEAC for the moment. This should be a relatively comfortable victory for DSU.

Norfolk St. vs Morgan St in Norfolk:
After a good start, NSU has really gone south over the last few weeks. On the other hand, MSU has played some pretty good ball during the same period, even playing FAMU tough down in Tally. MSU’s loss to FAMU came as the result of a controversial call in a game that was a picture perfect example of atrocious officiating. Even though the game is in Norfolk, I feel that MSU is playing overall better ball than NSU, so I give the Bears the nod. 

Howard vs South Carolina St in Orangeburg:
Just like Tuskegee, this is a team that just last week, had punched its own meal ticket to another conference championship, only to find itself standing in the food stamp line this week. It’s going to be interesting to see how the Bulldogs respond. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, the HU coming to town is the one from DC, instead of the HU from the 757. That’s just the prescription that SCSU needs to get back in the win column. A few less brain farts from the sideline wouldn’t hurt, either. 

Florida A&M vs NC A&T in Greensboro:
If A&T were smart, they wouldn’t even show up for this one and just take a forfeit. Just one man’s opinion, but a 2-0 loss looks a lot better in the Sunday morning paper than a 70-7 blowout does. It actually makes folks who don’t know any better really think that you were competitive. If A&T were an investment, an accountant would advise you to write it off as a loss and try again next year. FAMU by at least three touchdowns

St. Augustine’s vs WSSU in Winston-Salem:
WSSU has played all of their MEAC opponents relatively well, save for SCSU. This week, they get one of their former CIAA league members in St. Augustine’s. WSSU should win this one going and coming.

Savannah St. vs Coastal Carolina in Conway, SC:
What do you think will be the final result? Can you dial 1-900-CANTWIN? For those of you who have the 900/976 blocks on your phone, I’ll give you a hint; the fortunetellers evidently aren’t SSU fans. Even Dionne Warwick doesn’t see a win in SSU’s short-term future.

Alabama A&M University vs Jackson St in Jackson:
Here we are in week #11 and JSU is in the running for the SWAC East title. I don’t think that Tigerpride and the other members of the JSU family could have even dreamed this happening at the beginning of the season. Even your humble writer predicted no more than 5-6 wins for JSU this season. Well, here it is, the game of the week in the SWAC. Both teams enter this contest with 4-2 conference records. AAMU has a slightly better overall record. Even though the Comegy machine has had a couple of flat tires, leaked a couple of quarts of oil, and a little coolant over the last couple of weeks, I see three reasons why JSU wins on Saturday:
1. Comegy is a better coach than Jones
2. JSU is at home
3. Comegy has some unfinished business with AAMU from a few years back.

See ya next week so I can say that I told ya so!!!!