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Liberty @ Norfolk State
Coastal Carolina @ NC A&T
Charleston Southern vs Newberry
Gardner-Webb @ Wake Forest
Presbyterian vs Bluefield College


After a 8-4 season (4-1 conference) Liberty will probably continue doing well. They put 29 against UNC last weekend in the season opener. Even after losing to Norfolk in 2012, I think they might pull out a win this year. Norfolk fell to Maine on Saturday, 10-4.

Coastal Carolina & Charleston Southern should have no issues with their match ups. I would never worry about Newberry. Coastal beat the Aggies in their last meetings in 2011 and 2012. Different squads, but I think the caliber of player at CCU is better. No Homer.

G-Webb @ Wake? That's no contest.

Bluefield College is a small, christian school in Virginia. I'll give Presby the win only because they are a conference team. Presby is picking up the pathetic mantle that VMI left when it exited the BSC at the end of last season .

I concur.

Ibanez wrote:Liberty @ Norfolk State
Coastal Carolina @ NC A&T
Charleston Southern vs Newberry
Gardner-Webb @ Wake Forest
Presbyterian vs Bluefield College

I'll go with those picks as well.

The Cats wrote:

Ibanez wrote:Liberty @ Norfolk State
Coastal Carolina @ NC A&T
Charleston Southern vs Newberry
Gardner-Webb @ Wake Forest
Presbyterian vs Bluefield College

I'll go with those picks as well.

The only toss up is Liberty and Norfolk. That game could go either way.

I think you're on the mark with this weeks picks.

I'll stand pat with Mark's outstanding picks....

Liberty @ Norfolk State

Liberty is making its third trip into Norfolk in program history (1997 and 2005). They led briefly against the 23rd ranked team in the nation on the road, while Norfolk State tried to ride the defense to a win over Maine. An interesting sidelight to this game is Terrance Ervin, who actually committed to Liberty before reopening his recruitment and ending up in Norfolk. I would not be surprised if he goes in trying to prove to Liberty that they made a "mistake", but I think the Flames win this one solidly before heading back to the friendly confines of Williams Stadium next weekend.

Coastal Carolina @ NC A&T

Coastal got a very good road win at The Citadel last week, dominating much of that matchup. NC A&T had one of the top defenses last year and will no doubt be trying to bring the heat on Alex Ross. Coastal wins this one, but I think they have to put in a lot more work than most would be expecting

Charleston Southern vs. Newberry

Newberry is a very good D2 squad...but still a D2. CSU in a rout

Gardner-Webb @ Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons will want to make a statement after losing in their opener to ULM. Gardner-Webb could not get running last week in a loss to Furman...WF in a rout

Presbyterian vs. Bluefield College

If the Blue Hose lose this one, they may not win a game all year and maybe the Fire Nichols calls will lead to an interim coach down in Clinton...PC in a rout

Guys, let me say BEWARE of assuming CSU will beat Newberry. A tad of history....

Newberry is coached by Todd Knight, who was the CSU defensive coordinator at CSU from 1997-2002. He was fired along with David Dowd in 2002, BUT, he was beloved by the players, and he always had a very stout defense. In fact, their 2000 team went 5-6, but his defense only gave up 250 yard per game, one of the best in the nation that year. The Bucs struggled on offense, but he was an outstanding DC. The players begged for Knight to take over for Dowd, but he was not given the chance. He still have a very strong, loyal following of CSU alumni, particularly former players. So this will be a very emotional game for him, as well as his former players. For several years even before the firing, many were calling for Knight to be named head coach.

In fact, also in 2000, Todd Knight was responsible for CSU's 25-0 win AT Liberty, shutting out the Flames with a brilliant defensive performance. It was the 3rd shutout the team had that year, and with only 34 scholarships, he still held FCS powers like Wofford to 24 points, took Samford to a 10-10 tie (lost in OT).

As Newberry HC, he was won their first SAC title, and made the playoffs. They are top 25, and have sent a handful of players to the NFL.

True, they are D2, and CSU should win it. But this game will be a tense one, and having known Todd Knight and his coaching abilities, he WILL have an outstanding gameplan, and I know his Newberry players LOVE him the way his former CSU ones did. So.....they will be looking at this game as a revenge game to avenge their coach from what CSU did to him in 2002 (When he truly did deserve the HC there).

Anyway, thats my two cents. I love our current HC Jamey Chadwell. BUT, if the spot were to come back open, Todd Knight would still be my #1 pick to lead CSU, and many would agree. This game could be an upset alert. And I, along with many others, will be at the game, and for the first time ever, it will be HARD to root for CSU to win, simply because of how strongly many of us feel about Coach Knight.

Plus, stopping the run was always Coach Knights top priority, and he was very good at it. When his defenses gave up points, it was usually a long 1-on-1 pass that the DB got beat. He was NOT a bend-don't-break guy. And, CSU's strength is running the ball, so Newberry will probably keep this one close. Like his days at CSU, this will hinge on Newberry's ability to score points.

I'd be shocked if Newberry's D gave up more than 24 points honestly.

Furman lost to Newberry in the first or second game of 1985 and then went on to go to the National Championship game. So I never overlook Newberry. But Csouth should win.

OL FU wrote:Furman lost to Newberry in the first or second game of 1985 and then went on to go to the National Championship game. So I never overlook Newberry. But Csouth should win.

Yeah, they should win. Newberry beat Coastal too I think, way back when CCU was a new team I think.

But anyway, Newberry is gonna be a dogfight. Both Newberry and Presbyterian have always played tough against the South Carolina FCS teams when they were both D2 (PC is now FCS).

bucs90 wrote:

OL FU wrote:Furman lost to Newberry in the first or second game of 1985 and then went on to go to the National Championship game. So I never overlook Newberry. But Csouth should win.

Yeah, they should win. Newberry beat Coastal too I think, way back when CCU was a new team I think.

But anyway, Newberry is gonna be a dogfight. Both Newberry and Presbyterian have always played tough against the South Carolina FCS teams when they were both D2 (PC is now FCS).

Our first game ever was against Newberry and we won. We lost the following year (2004). That year, Newberry was our only loss. That was also the last time we played them.

Ibanez wrote:

bucs90 wrote:
Yeah, they should win. Newberry beat Coastal too I think, way back when CCU was a new team I think.

But anyway, Newberry is gonna be a dogfight. Both Newberry and Presbyterian have always played tough against the South Carolina FCS teams when they were both D2 (PC is now FCS).

Our first game ever was against Newberry and we won. We lost the following year (2004). That year, Newberry was our only loss. That was also the last time we played them.

Ah, that's right, I remember now. I don't think Newberry would have a chance to beat CCU now. They'll be underdogs vs CSU, but having known Coach Todd Knight, it would be foolish for anyone at CSU to think he wont have that team ready to play, have a brilliant gameplan, and have them VERY emotionally amped up for this game.

If I had to predict it right now.....I'd say CSU wins it, 23-21 in a nailbiter.

Well, game went exactly how I thought it would. Todd Knights Newberry team was VERY well prepared, played stout defense, was hard hitting, emotionally charged, and played very well. Newberry had the ball down 6 with 4:00 to play and a chance to win it. CSU, however, played well and made just enough big plays to pull out the win.

Now...we have Campbell on Thursday, then The Citadel comes to town.