By Reggie Benson, Huntsville Times
Today's games
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Mississippi Valley State; 1 p.m. at Rice-Totten Stadium, Itta Bena, Miss.; CSTV.
UAPB reached the SWAC Championship Game and has been tabbed the favorite to repeat as West Division champion. The Golden Lions boast the most explosive offense in the league behind quarterback Chris Wallace, running backs Martell Malett and Mickey Dean and wide receiver Jason Jones.
MVSU has posted back-to-back winning seasons, but coach Willie Totten has new starters at quarterback and at seven defensive positions.
Prediction: UAPB 28, MVSU 10
Southern vs. Florida A&M; 2 p.m. at Legion Field, Birmingham; ESPN Classic.
This used to be one of the great football series for historically black colleges, but the Jaguars and Rattlers haven't played since 2001. Southern coach Pete Richardson has posted back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in his career and his contract expires at the end of December. The Jaguars have lost a number of key players to academics since last spring.
FAMU has had back-to-back winning seasons under Rubin Carter and appears ready to be a major contender in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Prediction: FAMU 21, Southern 17
Alabama A&M at Tennessee State; 6 p.m. at LP Field, Nashville.
The Bulldogs will try to make it three straight over the Tigers in the John Merritt Classic. A&M has had to revamp its offense after losing six starters and a number of lettermen, but quarterback Kelcy Luke is back after leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back nine-win seasons. Defensively, A&M returns eight starters, including inside linebacker Avery Moland and end Chris Traylor.
TSU finished 6-5 last season and just missed a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title. The Tigers boast one of the OVC's top quarterbacks in Antonio Heffner and have solid running back Javarris Williams. They have added a handful of Division I transfers to their roster, including three who will start on defense.
Prediction: TSU 24, A&M 20
Grambling at Alcorn State; 6 p.m. Jack Spinks Stadium, Alcorn State, Miss.
First-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway will try to work his magic with the Tigers, who finished a disappointing 3-8 last season after winning the SWAC championship in 2005. Broadway won the black college national championship last season at North Carolina Central.
Alcorn State has six straight winning seasons under Johnny Thomas, but the Braves have yet to settle on a quarterback and have six new starters on defense.
Prediction: Grambling 17, Alcorn State 13
Delta State at Jackson State; 6 p.m., Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, Miss.
Division II power Delta State will try to upset Football Championship Subdivision big brother Jackson State in the first meeting between the two teams. The Statesmen fell in the Division II national championship game last season and finished 12-3 and return a number of starters from that team.
The Tigers finished 6-5 in Rick Comegy's first season, but lost four of their last five games. For the second year in a row, Comegy has stockpiled JSU's coffers with Division I transfers.
Prediction: Jackson State 24, Delta State 22
Prairie View at Texas Southern; 7 p.m. Reliant Stadium, Houston; ESPNU.
The Panthers believe they're ready to turn the corner after losing five games by a touchdown or less a year ago. Prairie View coach Henry Frazier believes his team will be better because it has developed a passing game. The Panthers' running game took a hit when senior Arnell Fontenot left the team. Frazier said Fontenot was having personal and medical issues, but the Houston Chronicle reported he was academically ineligible.
TSU, 4-29 during Steve Wilson's tenure, is a scary team despite its record.
Running back Brent Wilson, an All-SWAC pick two years, is back after dealing with injuries last season.
Prediction: Texas Southern 17, Prairie View 14
Today's games
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Mississippi Valley State; 1 p.m. at Rice-Totten Stadium, Itta Bena, Miss.; CSTV.
UAPB reached the SWAC Championship Game and has been tabbed the favorite to repeat as West Division champion. The Golden Lions boast the most explosive offense in the league behind quarterback Chris Wallace, running backs Martell Malett and Mickey Dean and wide receiver Jason Jones.
MVSU has posted back-to-back winning seasons, but coach Willie Totten has new starters at quarterback and at seven defensive positions.
Prediction: UAPB 28, MVSU 10
Southern vs. Florida A&M; 2 p.m. at Legion Field, Birmingham; ESPN Classic.
This used to be one of the great football series for historically black colleges, but the Jaguars and Rattlers haven't played since 2001. Southern coach Pete Richardson has posted back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in his career and his contract expires at the end of December. The Jaguars have lost a number of key players to academics since last spring.
FAMU has had back-to-back winning seasons under Rubin Carter and appears ready to be a major contender in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Prediction: FAMU 21, Southern 17
Alabama A&M at Tennessee State; 6 p.m. at LP Field, Nashville.
The Bulldogs will try to make it three straight over the Tigers in the John Merritt Classic. A&M has had to revamp its offense after losing six starters and a number of lettermen, but quarterback Kelcy Luke is back after leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back nine-win seasons. Defensively, A&M returns eight starters, including inside linebacker Avery Moland and end Chris Traylor.
TSU finished 6-5 last season and just missed a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title. The Tigers boast one of the OVC's top quarterbacks in Antonio Heffner and have solid running back Javarris Williams. They have added a handful of Division I transfers to their roster, including three who will start on defense.
Prediction: TSU 24, A&M 20
Grambling at Alcorn State; 6 p.m. Jack Spinks Stadium, Alcorn State, Miss.
First-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway will try to work his magic with the Tigers, who finished a disappointing 3-8 last season after winning the SWAC championship in 2005. Broadway won the black college national championship last season at North Carolina Central.
Alcorn State has six straight winning seasons under Johnny Thomas, but the Braves have yet to settle on a quarterback and have six new starters on defense.
Prediction: Grambling 17, Alcorn State 13
Delta State at Jackson State; 6 p.m., Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, Miss.
Division II power Delta State will try to upset Football Championship Subdivision big brother Jackson State in the first meeting between the two teams. The Statesmen fell in the Division II national championship game last season and finished 12-3 and return a number of starters from that team.
The Tigers finished 6-5 in Rick Comegy's first season, but lost four of their last five games. For the second year in a row, Comegy has stockpiled JSU's coffers with Division I transfers.
Prediction: Jackson State 24, Delta State 22
Prairie View at Texas Southern; 7 p.m. Reliant Stadium, Houston; ESPNU.
The Panthers believe they're ready to turn the corner after losing five games by a touchdown or less a year ago. Prairie View coach Henry Frazier believes his team will be better because it has developed a passing game. The Panthers' running game took a hit when senior Arnell Fontenot left the team. Frazier said Fontenot was having personal and medical issues, but the Houston Chronicle reported he was academically ineligible.
TSU, 4-29 during Steve Wilson's tenure, is a scary team despite its record.
Running back Brent Wilson, an All-SWAC pick two years, is back after dealing with injuries last season.
Prediction: Texas Southern 17, Prairie View 14
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