By james art Week 8 of HBCU football turned out to be the first week where we saw some division in the SWAC, SIAC and CIAA, which makes this week’s prediction list more challenging, but I’m built for it…I think.
Either way, this week features the start of MEAC play in full swing, more heavyweight battles in the CIAA and SWAC, and some teams looking to make a move in the SIAC. It all adds up to another fun and unorthodox week of Black College football.
Before we get to the Week 9 picks, here’s a quick look back at how I fared in the Week 8 games.
Record from last week: 17-5
Overall record for 2024: 156-61-1
Best choice: Winston-Salem State 33, Livingston 27 (WSSU won 31-17)
Worst choice: Florida A&M 30, Jackson State 27 (JSU won 35-21)
Game of the Week: Johnson C. Smith (7-0, 4-0 CIAA) at Winston-Salem State (6-2, 4-1 CIAA), Saturday, Oct. 26, 1 p.m., CIAASN
Another week, another test of the best story in Black College Football as CIAA leader Johnson S. Smith heads to Bowman-Gray Stadium to battle Winston-Salem State for what amounts to a game of Bee Gees for Both Sides – Stayin’ Alive in CIAA Title Contest.
Smith has a great defense and a capable offense that has given them the best start in program history. They played in the first HBCU football game 132 years ago, so that’s saying something.
The Rams got off to better starts, which included a D-II national runner-up season in 2012, but under Bobby Massey, this team found the Winston-Salem magic that had been missing in action for several years.
Quarterback play will be key. Darius Ocean runs plays quite well for the Golden Bulls, while Daylin Lee has the big-play ability with his arm and legs for WSSU.
A JCSU win puts them in the CIAA championship game. A Winston-Salem State win means complete and utter chaos at the top of the standings. These two possibilities alone make it a Game of the Year candidate.
Prediction: Johnson C. Smith 20, Winston-Salem State 17
Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M at Legion Field, Birmingham, AL (Magic City Classic), Saturday, October 26, 3:30pm EST, ESPN+
The two Alabama teams have slim hopes of contending for the SWAC East crown, and their bitter rivalry is the best way to determine who can still hope and who will be playing next year.
The Hornets targeted wide receiver Kareem Key at quarterback. In his first start against Mississippi Valley State, he looked like the answer Eddie Robinson Jr. was looking for, completing 75 percent of his passes for over 300 yards and four touchdowns.
This week gets a little more challenging against an AAMU team that nearly beat Jackson State after trailing by 31 points two weeks ago. It’s shut-up or shut-up time for the Bulldogs, who need a win to stay alive in the SWAC East race and possibly for other reasons.
Prediction: Alabama State 24, Alabama A&M 21
Southern (4-3, 3-0 SWAC West) at Florida A&M (3-3, 1-1 SWAC East), Saturday, October 26, 7:00 p.m. EST, ESPN+
The Jaguars have taken a comfortable lead in the SWAC West after heart-stopping wins over Texas Southern and Alcorn State over the past two weeks.
They will enter a den of angry Rattlers at Bragg Memorial Stadium after FAMU saw an eight-point fourth-quarter lead turn into a 14-point loss at Jackson State.
FAMU is near the bottom of the conference in rushing defense, and after a 295-yard performance against Alcorn, Southern is looking forward to putting that front seven to the test. The Jags have concerns at quarterback, as Noah Boden was hurt late last week and redshirt freshman Zay Thieseth did not attempt a pass in relief.
FAMU’s mission is simple: make Southern throw the ball. If they fail, the home team could be in for a long night in Tallahassee.
Prediction: Florida A&M 27, Southern 20
Morgan State (3-4, 0-0 MEAC) at North Carolina Central (5-2, 1-0 MEAC), Saturday, October 26, 3:30pm EST, ESPN+
The Eagles and Bears enter this conference matchup after a bye week, so both teams should be well rested and ready to go.
Central dropped a 16-10 decision in Baltimore last year, and as head coach Trey Oliver said on the MEAC Coaches’ Call this week, styles make fights. Morgan’s quick and athletic defense could cause problems for NCCU’s revamped offense.
Morgan’s Achilles heel is a lack of offensive production, so they will need to find ways to put points on the board to prevent the Eagles from celebrating an early homecoming.
Prediction: NC Central 26, Morgan State 17
Division I
South Carolina State 29, Delaware State 18
Howard 23, Norfolk State 21
Campbell 35, North Carolina A&T 14
Elon 31, Hampton 24
Jackson State 30, Bethune-Cookman 15
Arkansas Pine-Bluff 25, Mississippi Valley State 20
Prairie View A&M 24, Texas A&M-Commerce 18
Grambling State 17, Texas Southern 14
Section II/NAIA
Virginia Union 31, Bowie State 16
Elizabeth City State 27, Lincoln 24
Fayetteville State 22, Shaw 19
Virginia State 33, Bluefield State 13
Tuskegee 27, Central State 17
Kentucky State 29, Allen 24
Fort Valley State 34, Morehouse 17
Miles 32, Benedict 23
Albany State 28, Edward Waters 17
Savannah State 26, Lane 21
West Virginia State 31, UNC-Pembroke 28
34 Florida Memorial, 13 Ave Maria
Langston 35, Arkansas Baptist 19
Texas College 28, Oklahoma Panhandle State 27
VUL 21, SC Central Hristiyan 20