Weekly Preview: 57-game Slate Includes 114th Meeting of North Dakota and NDSU

September 30, 2021 by Staff

A rivalry that began in 1894 will be played for the second time in a little over 5 months when North Dakota State visits North Dakota as an 8.39-point computer pick. The Bison won 34-13 on March 20 in the Fargo Dome to trim the Fighting Hawks lead in the series to 62-48-3. NDSU is No. 2 in the Congrove Computer Rankings at CollegeFootballPoll.com, sandwiched between James Madison and Sam Houston State, the defending national champs.

The Military Classic of the South will also be played for the second time this year when VMI visits The Citadel in the77th edition of the rivalry. The Keydets won for the second straight time on April 17th after having lost 12 straight to the Bulldogs. The Citadel (1-2) leads the series 42-32-2, but VMI (3-1) is the computer pick this week by 6.16 points.

SHSU is favored 20.99 over Stephen F. Austin in a game that will be played in Houston at NRG Stadium. The Battle of Piney Woods has been dominated by the Bearcats in recent history as they've taken each of the last 9 meetings. Sam Houston has an over-all lead in the series of 57-35-2, including 17-3 since 2000.

Meanwhile, James Madison is a solid 22.55-point favorite at New Hampshire, No. 4 Montana is 5.93-point pick at No. 8 Eastern Washington, and 5th-ranked South Dakota State hosts Dixie State as a 23.91-point computer choice.

15th-ranked Villanova is the only team among the computer's top Top 25 to take a break this week.

The FCS schedule starts Thursday with Prairie View A&M hosting Arkansas-Pine Bluff as a mere 1.86-point computer favorite.

Friday delivers an Ivy League showdown of 12th-ranked Dartmouth (2-0) hosting Penn (1-1).

SEE: Weekly Picks

FCS vs. FBS

2 teams will play 2 FCS teams this fall (UConn and UMass), and 115 teams will play 1 FCS school for a total of 117 such matchups.

With the 9 games played last week, 105 of those 117 games have already been played. The FBS was 9-0 in those games last week and is 95-10 this season. Since we began tracking this in 2003, the FBS teams are now 1,564-138 (.919).

No FCS vs. FBS games are scheduled this week, but Texas Southern faces NAIA member North American.

Last year, 30 FBS teams played a total of just 34 games against FCS schools and the FCS won just 1 game (1-33). That honor also went to Jacksonville State with its 19-10 victory over FIU.

Here are the FCS wins in 2021:
September 2: UC Davis 19, Tulsa 17
September 2: Eastern Washington 35, UNLV 33 (2 OT)
September 3: South Dakota State 42, Colorado State 23
September 4: Holy Cross 38, UConn 28
September 4: Montana 13, Washington 7
September 4: ETSU 23, Vanderbilt 3
September 11: Duquesne 28, Ohio 26
September 11: Jacksonville State 20, Florida State 17.
September 18: Incarnate Word 42, Texas State 34.
September 18: Northern Arizona 21, Arizona 19

This was the only FCS win vs. the FBS in 2020:
October 23: Jacksonville State 19, FIU 10

In 2019, FBS teams were 111-3 (.974) in such games. These were the only FCS wins that season:
August 29: Central Arkansas 35, Western Kentucky 28
September 7: Southern Illinois 45, Massachusetts 20
September 14: The Citadel 27, Georgia Tech 24 (OT)

Streaks

SAM HOUSTON STATE - Won 14 straight games overall (FCS longest).
Last: won 45-35 at Central Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Next: vs. Stephen F. Austin in Houston on Saturday, Oct. 2.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN - The conference winning streak ended at 16 games with a 38-24 loss at Alabama State. The current longest conference winning streak gets handed off to James Madison with 15.
Last: Lost 38-24 at Alabama State on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Next: Visits South Carolina State on Saturday, Oct. 2.

JAMES MADISON - Won 19 straight home games for FCS longest, 15 straight conference games (FCS longest).
Last: Won 37-24 at Weber State on Saturday, Sept. 18. Was idle this past weekend.
Next: Visits New Hampshire on Saturday, Oct. 2.

PRINCETON - Won 8 straight road games (FCS longest).
Last: Won 63-0 at home vs. Stetson on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Next: Hosts Columbia on Saturday, Oct. 2.

TEXAS SOUTHERN - Lost 19 straight overall (FCS longest), and 13 straight conference games (FCS longest).
Last: Lost 48-34 at Rice on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Next: Hosts North American (NAIA) on Saturday, Oct. 2.

MVSU - Lost 18 straight road games (FCS longest).
Last: Hosts Southern on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Next: Hosts North Carolina Central on Saturday, Oct. 2.