Thursday, September 8, 2016

Tough dates await top teams in second week

HOUSTON, Texas -- There’s no sense in fooling with the BCSP Top Ten rankings this early in the season as the best black college teams, particularly those in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), are playing money games against mostly Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. In translation, these are games that the HBCU programs are highly unlikely to win. But they are good measuring sticks as to gauge the talent and competitiveness of their teams. A highly competitive game means the HBCU program is among the better FCS teams. Blowouts mean they are unlikely to match up well with the top FCS teams.

But, at least the money is good! Take for example this week’s game between BCSP No. 1 North Carolina Central (0-1, 0-0), coming off a 49-6 thrashing at the hands of ACC-member Duke, travelling up to Kalamazoo, Michigan to take on Western Michigan in a 7 p.m. start. All Western Michigan did last week was upset Big Ten member Northwestern, 22-21. The Eagles can expect no break facing the Broncos.

Similar HBCU FCS vs. FBS foes Saturday include BCSP No. 2 Prairie View A&M (1-0, 1-0 SWAC), who squeaked out a 29-25 win over SWAC West Division rival Texas Southern Sunday, travelling to College Station, Texas for an 11 a.m. date with SEC power Texas A&M (1-0). Texas A&M knocked off Pac-12 member and 16th-ranked UCLA Saturday, 31-24. BCSP No. 3 Bethune-Cookman, No. 6 Grambling State and No. 7 South Carolina State also face formidable FBS opponents.



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