BIG WEEKEND FOR THE FCS

September 5, 2013

There were 29 games last weekend that pitted an FBS team against an FCS Team. Here are the results with FCS wins in bold. (Samford also defeated Georgia State. GSU is a team transitioning to FBS, so I did not include it.)

Kent State - 17   Liberty - 10

Wake Forest - 31   Presbyterian - 7

Indiana - 73   Indiana State - 35

Ball State - 51   Illinois State - 28

Southern Utah - 22   South Alabama - 21

Towson - 33   UConn - 18

Middle Tennessee - 45   Western Carolina - 24

Tulane - 34   Jackson State - 7

San Jose State - 24   Sacramento State - 0

Army - 28   Morgan State - 12

Houston - 62   Southern - 13

North Dakota State - 24   Kansas State - 21

Arizona - 35   Northern Arizona - 0

Georgia Tech -70   Elon - 0

Boston College - 24   Villanova - 14

West Virginia - 24   William & Mary - 17

Illinois - 42   Southern Illinois - 34

Air Force - 38   Colgate - 13

Oregon - 66   Nicholls State - 3

Duke - 45    NC-Central - 0

Eastern Washington - 49   Oregon State - 46

Eastern Michigan - 34   Howard - 24

Tennessee - 45   Austin Peay - 0

McNeese State - 53   South Florida - 21

Missouri - 58   Murray State - 14

Arkansas State - 62   Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 11

Baylor - 69   Wofford - 3

Eastern Illinois - 40   San Diego State - 19

Northern Iowa - 28   Iowa State - 20

FCS - 17.86   FBS - 39.41

I understand if certain major programs don’t want to schedule FCS teams. I completely disagree that these kind of match-ups should never be played. 

The upper echelon of FCS teams are much closer to the non-BCS conference teams than those same teams are to the BCS conference programs, and the gap is closing for the former and growing for the latter.

The FCS schools get a much needed payday. The FBS schools get the revenue of a home game which is not to be overlooked. 

I get annoyed that so many people in the sports world complain about games they don’t watch or attend. If it isn’t a game you are interested in seeing, don’t watch it. 

If you are a season ticket holder, I understand those who say, “for how much you charge me for tickets, I want good match-ups.” However, getting a certain number of home games (seven for the biggest programs) funds the athletic department, and any season ticket holder for any team in any sport is going to have some games they are less interested in on the home schedule.

Do I want to see these games every week? No. Does it bother me that they are played? Not at all. As the Patriot League reaches its required amount of athletic aid thru athletic scholarships, they too will begin playing FBS teams, and I cannot wait. Lafayette @ Army is on the schedule in the coming years, and Lehigh sounds close to finalizing a few deals. 

If Iowa State or Iowa wants to play Northern Iowa in a given year, they should be allowed to do so. Playing that game will not keep Oklahoma or Ohio State out of the four team playoff. Losing it will, but if you can’t win that game, that is on you.

Games of the Week:

Florida @ Miami - Florida State has great rivalry games with both of these teams, but the Gatos and Canes do not have the same history with one another. Besides their home-and-home series with FSU, this is the first non-league road game Florida has played since they faced Miami at the Orange Bowl ten years ago. Al Golden’s team returns 18 starters, but I do not think they have the strength up front to go toe to toe with Florida. I think the Gators win 30-17.

South Carolina @ Georgia - I wasn’t overly impressed with Aaron Murray last week. He threw too many balls that forced his receivers to go to the ground to make the catch. He certainly wasn’t as accurate as Tajh Boyd. If Jadeveon Clowney is over his stomach bug, I expect him to play like a man possessed and harass Murray all night. The Bulldogs defense is very young and athletic, but they aren’t very good yet. I see a Gamecock win 26-20.

Notre Dame @ Michigan - Tommy Rees got the Irish off to a nice start last week throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns. The problem is the ND defense allowed 134 rushing yards and 362 total yards to Temple. This one is under the lights, and the crowd will be rabid. With this being the last Irish visit to Ann Arbor for the foreseeable future, I think Michigan rolls in this game. If the Irish can limit their turnovers, they will be in it to the end. I think one or two Rees mistakes will keep that from happening. I say Michigan wins 31-19.