Week 4 in the SIAC

Sept. 14-16

Skegee/FAMU/FVSU

Week 3 Review and Week 4 Prognostications

When Alpha 72 approached me about being a weekly prognosticator for MEAC FANS, she approached me primarily for my expertise on the SIAC. After three weeks, it looks like I’m more of an expert on everyone else but the SIAC. I’ve actually done better in predicting the MEAC and the SWAC. After three weeks, it looks as if the SIAC is going to be wide open this season. Not only is the SIAC going to be wide open, also, don’t be surprised to see the winner have 2-3 losses. 

For the record, this week I was 4-2 in SIAC games, a perfect 5-0 in MEAC games, and a perfect 1-0 in my lone SWAC pick. I know that’s a 10-2 record, but my goal is to achieve total perfection. 

Da Review from Week Three:
AlbSU beat up on the Kentucky nags. Last week, Ft. Valley actually proved that they could score a touchdown or two. This week. they showed that they are perfectly capable of doing the total opposite. Benedict completed its sweep of the AUC with its victory over CAU. TU proved that you couldn’t win, even against Miles, when you commit three turnovers, resulting in 21 points. Lane made a damn fool of me once again in dismembering DaHouse. Finally, Stillman defeated Concordia, but by not quite the margin that I anticipated.

I was perfect in my MEAC predictions and my lone SWAC prediction. Props to NSU and DSU in their convincing victories over non-conference PWC’s. Your fans, and the rest of the MEAC thank you. 


The co-featured games of week 4:

Jackson St. vs Tennessee St. in Memphis:
Even though TnSU recovered nicely from last week’s loss with a victory over Murray St., they are going to be facing a totally different Jackson St. team than they have faced over the last couple years. I think JSU will record their first real victory of the Comegy era. Just in case you were wondering, I considered Paul Quinn a preseason game. I really think Comegy does make that big of a difference, so do a lot of other Tuskegee folks, especially after Saturday.

SC State vs Bethune Cookman in Charleston:
Both schools enter into this battle 1-1. Charleston is a prime breeding ground for bulldogs, especially the SCSU breed, so they will be still playing in front of friendly canines. Home kennel advantages aside for SCSU, BCC is going to come in looking for the classic cat and dog fight. I’ve seen very few cases where a cat wins a fight against a dog. I think the dogs prevail in a close, competitive battle. 

Miles vs Fort Valley St. in Birmingham:
Both of the schools are presently undefeated in the SIAC. 21 of the 31 points that Miles scored against TU came off of two interceptions and a blocked field goal, all resulting in touchdowns. I don’t think that FVSU will be as generous with turnovers as TU was on Saturday. The key intangible leading up to this week is that FVSU is going to want to atone for their performance against Valdosta, while Miles is still going to be big headed about their upset victory over TU. FVSU prevails.

SIAC GAMES

Albany St. vs Stillman:
AlbSU got into the win column against KySU on Saturday. They will have a two game winning streak come Saturday night.

Tuskegee vs Benedict in Tuskegee:
Math problem of the week: Your offense scores 21 points, your defense only gives up 10 points, but your offense commits three crucial turnovers resulting in 21 points for the opposing team. That equals up to a 31-21 loss. I’m going to give TU the benefit of the doubt this weekend because the game is in Tuskegee. I have to be honest, last Saturday’s performance is one of the worst performances that I have seen out of TU since prior to the Comegy Era. There are a lot of things that need work, especially the skilled position people on offense, and the secondary. Some of the TU alumni are already howling and we are just two weeks in the season. TU quiets the critics (alumni) for at least this week.

Lane vs Concordia in Jackson, TN:
Ok, after going against Lane the first three weekends, I’m going to finally jump on the Johnnie Cole bandwagon, much to the chagrin of TSU 120. Lane smokes Concordia.

Morehouse vs Kentucky State in Atlanta:
Take KySU in this one. MHC is still in search of their identity. At least JayThomas is taking it all in stride.

Bye Week:
Clark-Atlanta

MEAC/SWAC PICS

Howard vs Florida A&M in Washington DC:
Both teams are coming off of bad losses. At least FAMU’s loss came against a Division 1 BCS team. As far as that matter goes, Howard made Hampton look like a Division 1 BCS team. I don’t think it gets any better for the Bison this week. Bison get slaughtered in their own pasture. 

Hampton vs NCA&T in Hampton:
Looks like Hampton is going to get another practice game. Hopefully, Coach Taylor will show some mercy and take his starters out sometime in the second quarter. This weekend, Hampton is going to be just like in Korea, where dog meat is the main course meal. 

Morgan St. vs Bowie St. in Baltimore:
Morgan St. has had two poor showings in a row. Judging from their performances thus far, not only are the MSU Bears no longer among the living, they have become the stuffed teddy bears that you see in Toys R US. Let me put it this way, I’ll take a live Bulldog over a stuffed bear any day of the week. The Bulldogs over the Bears. 

Delaware St. vs Northwestern State in Natchitoches, LA:
DSU goes up against a program that has been rather mediocre over the last few years, but has been successful against HBCU competition. A footnote to that statement is that they haven’t played the top HBCU’s, plus they played JSU during their down years. Both of NWSt’s losses have both been to Big XII competition. All of that being said, I’m going with DSU one more time. The MEAC can use one more win against a non-conference PWC.

Bye Week: 
Norfolk St.