OTHER CONFERENCES WEEK 8 GAME BREAKDOWNS
St. Francis (Pa.) at Wagner, Saturday, 12:00
This game doesn’t have direct title implications in the Northeast Conference, because Albany has a 4-0 league record and is off this week. However, St. Francis (3-4, 2-2) could knock Wagner (3-3, 3-1) down a notch in league play and move into a tie with its Pennsylvania rival. St. Francis lost 36-13 to Albany last week as Albany held quarterback John Kelly to 115 yards passing. Wagner was off last week and carries a three-game winning streak into this contest. Wagner beat Sacred Heart, 12-3, on Oct. 6. This sounds like a low-scoring game.
Projected score: Wagner 13, St. Francis 10
Bucknell at #10 Lehigh, Saturday, 12:30
This game is being included primarily for those that want to see how Lehigh (7-0, 1-0) will fare against a Bucknell squad that is 0-2 in the league and 1-5 overall. It shouldn’t be a contest, but the fact is Lehigh is one of four unbeaten teams left in the FCS so that stands for something. The Mountain Hawks carry a 16-game regular-season winning streak into this contest and have 14 wins in a row against Bucknell. Bucknell hopes to avoid 0-3 for the first time since 2007, but it won’t be easy. If Bucknell wins, this will be a monumental loss for Lehigh.
Projected score: Lehigh 40, Bucknell 7
#19 Harvard at Princeton, Saturday, 1:00
Three teams are tied atop the Ivy League for the conference lead, but three will at least become two when these teams square off. Harvard (5-0, 2-0) comes in third among all Football Subdivision teams with an average of 41 points per game. Princeton, on the other hand, averages just 11.6 points per contest, meaning this either will be a close call or nowhere near a thrilling game. Princeton holds a 53-44-7 edge in the series and a 26-22-3 lead in games played at Princeton. However, Harvard has won the last five contests, including a 56-39 slugfest last year.
Projected score: Harvard 39, Princeton 27
Morgan State at Howard, Saturday, 1:00
The Mideastern Athletic Conference’s elite matchup pits Morgan State (3-3, 2-1) against its Washington, D.C.-based opponent in a game without title implications on the line. Morgan State saw its two-game winning streak come to an end in a heartbreaking 24-20 loss to North Carolina Central, a game lost on a touchdown pass with 25.6 seconds remaining. Travis Davidson ran 18 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Howard (4-2, 3-1) had a much rougher game against another North Carolina opponent, as it fell 38-10 to A&T to end its three-game winning streak. Howard quarterback Greg McGhee survived three interceptions to pass for 234 yards.
Projected score: Howard 17, Morgan State 13
San Diego at Jacksonville, Saturday, 2:00
No, this isn’t the Chargers tackling the Jaguars in a Sunday NFL contest. These are the respective universities with city names in a game that could improve Jacksonville’s standing as one of the unbeaten teams in Pioneer League play. San Diego (3-3, 2-1) scored a 44-0 shutout over Campbell in last week’s action, while Jacksonville endured a much tougher test against winless Davidson before it prevailed 34-24. This has all the makings of a trap game for Jacksonville. San Diego leads the overall series 4-3, including a 23-14 win last season, and I just can’t see Jacksonville staying unbeaten if it can’t put away Davidson by more than 10 points.
Projected score: San Diego 30, Jacksonville 20
Concord at Liberty, Saturday, 3:30
The most exciting game in the Big South Conference is actually a non-league game. While everyone waits for Stony Brook and Liberty to break the Big South tie, Liberty (2-4, 2-0) goes outside the league this week to play Concord for the fifth time. Liberty has won all four games, and the Flames are on a definite roll with an 88-14 advantage over the past six quarters. Concord (4-3, 3-2 WVIAC) is a Division II program in Athens, West Virginia, playing its final season in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (it joins the Mountain East in 2013). Liberty should have little problem with this game.
Projected score: Liberty 42, Concord 10
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Southern, Saturday, 6:00
Control of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s West Division is at stake in this contest. Southern has an overall 12-6 lead in the series but Arkansas-Pine Bluff won last year’s game, 22-21. Dennis Jenkins leads a superior Pine Bluff running game with 338 yards on 76 carries, while Southern’s leading rusher, Darrius Coleman, only has 158 yards on 54 carries. The equalizer is Southern quarterback Dray Joseph, who has thrown for 1,158 yards and nine touchdowns while Pine Bluff signal caller Benjamin Anderson has 935 yards passing and eight scores. Southern (3-3, 2-2) can move into a tie with Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-2, 3-1) with the victory, and it could happen.
Projected score: Southern 28, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 26
See All FCS Games of the Week Breakdowns
