Week 6 in the SIAC

Sept. 28-30

Skegee/FAMU/FVSU

Week 5 Review and Week 6 Prognostications

Week 5 was a week where we are beginning to see the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders. Still a lot of football to be played, but some teams that I expected to be strong contenders have turned out to be pretenders. Other teams have exceeded expectations. Overall, I had a good week. I was 11-2 overall, 4-1 in the SIAC, 5-1 in the MEAC, 1-0 in future MEAC teams, 1-0 in wanna be MEAC teams. One game, KySU vs CSU was cancelled because of inclement weather. This game will not be made up; neither will there be any ticket refunds. However, ticket holders for this year’s game will be able to attend next year’s game for free. All in all, not a bad week. I’m not in moral victories, but with the exception of a rough stretch in the third quarter, TnSU actually played a decent game against Vanderbilt. Lets get on with our week five reviews and week six previews!!

Da Review from Week Five:
There may be a “New Day in the Valley”, but Saturday night belonged to Tuskegee. Lane just keeps rolling, however, they still haven’t really been tested. Benedict was blanked by Lenoir-Rhyne. Morehouse struggled to beat Concordia. Miles beat Stillman to remain undefeated in the SIAC. SCSU just really disappointed me. BCC escaped, so did FAMU. Hampton won convincingly. The NCA&T and Howard games sadly turned out as I expected. NCCU did the almost impossible and came out of Baton Rouge with a victory. Now on to the upcoming week. 

The co-featured games of week 5:

FAMU vs Tennessee St in Atlanta (100 Black Men B of A Atlanta Football Classic):
FAMU comes into this game with a two game winning streak. TnSU comes into this game trying to shake off a loss to Vanderbilt. Except for a three-minute stretch in the third quarter in which the wheels just came off for TnSU, resulting in 21 unanswered points, they actually played a decent game against Vanderbilt. FAMU, on the other hand, had a come from behind victory over WSSU. Even though this is a rivalry game in which anything can happen, it looks as if this game is evenly matched, with TnSU having a slight edge.

Delaware St. vs Hampton in Dover, DE:
Hampton is the best team in HBCU football at the moment. Will DSU’s irrigation system end up being the great equalizer again? I don’t think so. Even though DSU has played some pretty good ball so far, I think that DSU is going to need more than a muddy field to stop the Pirates. After all, pirates are used to being around water, so give the edge to Hampton. 

Tuskegee vs Arkansas Pine Bluff in St. Louis (Gateway Classic):
An SIAC-SWAC interconference game that appears to have been extended for a few more years beyond this year’s game. After a little bit of a shaky start, TU seems to have hit its stride. The defense is playing well; the offense is playing with more rhythm. As for APB, their lone win this season was against Alcorn. Looks as if we have two teams going in opposite directions. There’s something about the SWAC that seems to bring out the best in Tuskegee, so much to the point there will be at least a third, maybe a fourth SWAC opponent coming on the Golden Tigers schedule over the next year. That being beside the point for this pick, I’m taking the Golden Tigers over the Golden Lions. 
SIAC GAMES


Fort Valley St. vs Howard in Washington:
This is one of the few interconference games between the SIAC and MEAC in recent years. This is a hard arse game to handicap. Howard is 0 for the season; FVSU is 2-3 and not playing up to their capabilities. Up until this past Saturday, FVSU played decent defense, but just didn’t put any points on the board. HU has pretty much stunk on both offense and defense. From my personal observations on FVSU, their problem at the moment is not playing disciplined football. Too many personal foul; and delay of game penalties. Forget the D1-AA, D-2 differential between the teams. This game is a fairly evenly matched game. I’m giving Howard a very slight edge only, and only because they are the home team. However, if FVSU can get its offense to score some points, and cut out the stupid penalties and turnovers, the boys from Middle Georgia are very capable of making it a long day for the Georgia Avenue steers. HU by a strand of buffalo hair

Albany St vs Benedict in Columbia, SC:
Albany State extends its winning streak to three in this game. The Golden Goats are very quietly getting themselves back into the thick of things.

Kentucky State vs Clark Atlanta in Frankfort, KY:
CAU is a pesky opponent, but not pesky enough to keep the ponies from the finish line. Take the ponies, straight, or in the box!!

Stillman vs Lane in Tuscaloosa, AL: 
Lane is the surprise team of the SIAC of the moment, despite the fact that they haven’t really been tested. Lane is capable of putting points on the board, but the defense is somewhat suspect. Stillman plays decent defense, but has trouble scoring points, especially their red zone offense. Lane is playing with confidence. I say that Lane remains undefeated one more week.

Savannah State vs Miles in Savannah, GA: 
Miles. This game requires no further discussion.

Alcorn vs Morehouse in Los Angeles, CA:
Quite frankly, the good folks in LA deserve a lot better match-up than this. Hopefully this won’t be their lasting impression of HBCU football. Since someone does have to win, and someone has to lose, take Alcorn.



MEAC/SWAC PICS


Bethune Cookman vs Morgan State in Baltimore:
Mrs. Mary’s boys live off of a weekend diet of crab cakes and bear meat. Shine gets a cameo role as the P.E. teacher/football coach/assistant principal at the school on The Wire. All in all, a pretty good weekend trip to Baltimore for the Beachcats.

WSSU vs Coastal Carolina:
Even in losing, WSSU is earning much respect around the MEAC. However, I just don’t think they will beat Coastal Carolina. 

NCA&T vs Norfolk State in Norfolk: 
Norfolk gets back into the win column!

South Carolina State vs Open from American Express:
Not naming any names, but I think a couple of our esteemed SCSU posters are saving their AMEX rewards points to buy Coach Pough a one way plane ticket out of Orangeburg after this season. On a serious note, I sincerely hope that SCSU uses this off week to work out their kinks and salvage what was supposed to be a record setting season.