The skinny on NSU's 2012 football schedule

Beat Writer Chris Carlson's 2012 Norfolk State football prediction: 8-3

NORFOLK, Virginia  -  The Spartans face three road games against teams that received votes in The Sports Network Top 25 poll: Liberty, Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State. They face FBS opponent Ohio on the road. And they face MEAC rivals Hampton and North Carolina A&T on the road. Winning half of those should qualify as a success, especially without an experienced quarterback under center.   

September 1
Virginia State, 6 p.m.
The skinny The question no longer is who will win the Labor Day Classic but how big the Spartans’ victory will be. Since Virginia State’s most recent win in 2005, the Spartans have won six by an average margin of 26 points.

September 8
at Liberty, 7 p.m.
The skinny Credit NSU athletic director Marty Miller and head coach Pete Adrian for scheduling this one. It’s the type of game the MEAC needs to play to earn respect. Liberty was picked to finish second in the Big South, is led by former Kansas coach Turner Gill and, like NSU, is replacing one of the most prolific quarterbacks in FCS.

September 15
Howard, 4 p.m.
The skinny The Bison are led by linebacker Keith Pough, the MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and quarterback Greg McGhee, last year’s MEAC Freshman of the Year and, possibly, the best quarterback the conference has this season.

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