Down to the final 16 teams, the second round is when the FCS Playoffs start to get very serious. The eight seeded teams got a well-deserved week off and get to stay at home and host the first round winners.
For the most part the seeded home teams are heavily favored. Few expect Montana State to have much of a chance at North Dakota State. South Dakota State is a huge home favorite as well and Nicholls State will have trouble taking the long trip to Eastern Washington, based on legal USA betting sites opinion.
However, there are some potential upsets out there. If you like defense, James Madison and Colgate is the one to watch. Colgate boasts an amazing defense and through a seven game stretch in the middle of the season, they gave up just six points. That is six points in seven games! James Madison has a superb defense too so this should be an extremely low scoring game. The question is whether or not Colgate has been tested enough in the Patriot League to completely slow down James Madison.
The Kennesaw State and Wofford game should be very interesting. Kennesaw State went 10-1 on the season. After losing to FBS member Georgia State 24-20 in the season opener, the Owls reeled off ten wins in a row. They did not face much competition in the Big South though, but they did beat quality teams like Samford and Jacksonville State. Still, many are questioning if Kennesaw State can consistently beat good teams and Wofford is a very good team.
But according to the betting lines, Jacksonville State and Maine will provide the closest contest of the second round. The Gamecocks slipped past East Tennessee State 34-27 at home and now face off against a Black Bears team that has reeled off four wins in a row. Jacksonville State quarterback Zerrick Cooper threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns against the Buccaneers, while running back Jaelen Greene added 121 yards on the ground. And it is Greene who could be the most important player for Jacksonville State against Maine. The Black Bears have one of the best rush defenses in the nation and Greene must find a way to establish the run or Maine could quickly turn JSU into a one-dimensional offense.
