Inside the HBCU Huddle: No. 1 on the Line and a SWAC Champ Game Rematch

The No. 1 ranked Tennessee State Tigers will host No. 3 Arkansas at Pine Bluff as their homecoming opponent to celebrate 100 years.

By Dr. J. Kenyatta Cavil and Brandon Bolden
Inside the HBCU Huddle Columnists
College Sporting News

This game will feature a non-conference OVC versus SWAC match-up. The Tigers are 2-0 against MEAC competition and will seek to make 2-0 against SWAC competition. The The HBCU Major Division Classic Game of the Week features a heated non-conference rivalry, with the Southern Jaguars of the SWAC taking on the No. 6 Florida A&M Rattlers of the MEAC in the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic. The game will be featured live on the NBC Sports Network. In the MEAC, the first conference game for both opponents takes place with the Morgan State Bears travelling to the No. 5 North Carolina A&T State Aggies. The game will be featured live on ESPNU on Thursday. The SWAC match-up features a winless Grambling State Tigers teaming traveling to face the undefeated No. 2 Alabama A&M Bulldogs for a rematch of last season’s SWAC Championship Game, which the Tigers won, 16-15.

HBCU FOOTBALL MAJOR DIVISION POLL

Week 4 – Released 09/22/12
1. Tennessee State--(4-0)
2. Alabama A & M--(4-0)
3. Arkansas Pine Bluff--(3-1)
4. Howard--(2-1)
5. North Carolina A&T--(2-1)
6. Florida A&M--(2-2)
7. Bethune-Cookman--(2-2)
8. Norfolk State--(2-2)
9. @ Alabama State--(2-2)
10. North Carolina Central--(2-2)
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@ = TSPN & 3C 2011 HBCU Football Major Division National Champion

HBCU MAJOR DIVISION CLASSIC GAME OF WEEK

Southern (1-2, 1-1) vs #6 Florida A&M (2-2, 2-0)
Atlanta, GA, Georgia Dome – NBC Sports
SWAC/MEAC– Atlanta Football Classic, 2:30CT

Riding high after collecting their first win of the season, the Jaguars of Southern University will push to string consecutive wins together as they travel to Atlanta to take on the Rattlers of Florida A&M University in the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic. The Rattlers, currently ranked No. 6 in Dr. Cavils’ HBCU Major Division Poll, squeaked by Delaware State, 24-22, last week to improve to 2-2 on the season and 2-0 in MEAC action. Rattler QB, Damien Fleming passed for 399 yards and three touchdowns leading Florida A&M’s offensive assault. After the Southern University’s reassignment of former head coach Stump Mitchell, the Jaguars defeated Jackson State University 28-21 in Mississippi last week. Jaguars QB, Dray Joseph passed for 249 yards and three touchdowns while completing 18 of 25 passes to lead Southern to their first victory this season. Southern not only looks to get their second victory of the season this upcoming Saturday but also seeks to avenge the loss they suffered to the Rattlers in last years’ edition of the Atlanta Football Classic. Florida A&M edged by Southern 38-33 in their previous matchup.

*** Game Outcome: Florida A&M (35-10)

HBCU MAJOR DIVISION GAME OF WEEK

#3 Arkansas at P. B. (3-1, 2-1) at #1 Tennessee State (4-0, 1-0)
Nashville, TN, LP Field
SWAC/OVC– Homecoming, 5:00pmCT

No. 3 Arkansas Pine-Bluff looks to be the one to put an end to No. 1 Tennessee State’s quest for a perfect season as the travel to Nashville to tangle with the Tigers in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) versus Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) mid-season matchup. Tennessee State held off another tough team last weekend as they defeated the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman, 21-14. Tigers RB, Trabis Ward carried the team to another victory rushing for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 27 touches. The Golden Lions of Pine-Bluff won a close one in their last contest as they topped Alabama State, 24-21. Golden Lions RB, Justin Billings proved to be the highlight of Pine-Bluffs’ offense for the night as he rushed for 127 and two scores on just 12 carries. The Golden Lions QB, Ben Anderson had a stellar performance as well, completing 17 of his 30 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown. This will definitely be a very good game, not just because these teams sit atop of their divisions in their respective conferences, but both teams have outstanding defenses and prolific ground games. Arkansas Pine-Bluff leads the SWAC in scoring and pass defense as well as rushing offense averaging 186.2 yards on the round per game. Tennessee State leads the OVC in scoring and total defense and ranks third in the rushing category.

*** Game Outcome: Tennessee State (21-20)

MEAC GAME OF WEEK

Morgan State (1-2, 0-0) at #5 North Carolina A&T State (2-1, 0-0)
Greensboro, NC, Aggie Stadium – ESPNU Live
–MEAC– Thursday, 6:30CT

No. 5 North Carolina A&T State opens up conference action as they play host to MEAC foe, Morgan State University this Thursday. Morgan State hopes that they will fare better in conference play than their results in non-conference play this season. The Bears were obliterated in their last game as they were beaten by Akron, 66-6. Morgan State was treated like a door mat, allowing Akron to collect 753 yards of total offense (446 passing) and 43 first downs. The Aggies are coming off a dominating performance over Lynchburg University as they defeated the Hornets 40-7. Aggies QB, Lewis Kindle completed 16 of 27 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Judging off their last game this matchup may not bode well for the Bears as they face another dynamic offense in North Carolina A&T State who currently leads the MEAC in scoring offense, averaging 43.3 point per game. The Aggies had their way with the Bears in their last meeting, defeating Morgan State, 24-3. This game will be televised on ESPNU at 6:30CT.

*** Game Outcome: North Carolina A&T State (56-21)

MEAC Games to Watch

Savannah State (0-3, 0-1) at #3 Howard (2-1, 1-0)
*** Game Outcome: (Score??-??)

#7 Bethune-Cookman (2-2, 1-0) at Hampton (0-3, 0-1)
*** Game Outcome: (Score ??-??)

#8 Norfolk State (2-2, 0-1) at South Carolina State (1-3, 0-1)
*** Game Outcome: (Score ??-??)

North Carolina Central (2-2, 1-0) – Open
Delaware State (1-3, 0-0) Open

SWAC GAME OF WEEK

Grambling State (0-3, 0-2) at #2 Alabama A&M (4-0, 3-0)
Huntsville, AL, Lewis Crews Stadium – SWAC TV
–SWAC– 3rd Lewis Crews Classic, 6:00CT

It is a matchup of a team that is doing everything right vs. a team that cannot get right, as the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M look to keep their perfect record alive when they play host to the winless Tigers of Grambling State University. Alabama A&M continued their dominance against SWAC opponents as they annihilated Texas Southern University, 42-13 on the road. Alabama A&M QB, Deaunte Mason proved to be all the offense the Bulldogs needed as he torched the Tigers defense for 231 yards and two touchdowns through the air as well as rushing for three more. Grambling State is improving on their quest to become the team with the worst record in the SWAC this year as they dropped a tough one to Alabama State, 19-18. The Tigers were leading early in the foruth quarter 18-13 until Bulldogs QB, Greg Jenkins scrambled 29 yards for the go-ahead score. This matchup does not favor Grambling State at all as they prepare to do battle with a squad with one of the most potent and polished rushing offenses in the SWAC. Alabama A&M is second in rushing offense in the conference while Grambling is ranked seventh against the run. Grambling defeated Alabama A&M by one, 16-15, in their last face-off in the SWAC Championship Game.

*** Game Outcome: Alabama A&M (35-17)

SWAC Games to Watch

#9 Alabama State (2-2, 2-1) at Alcorn State (1-3, 1-1)
*** Game Outcome: (Score ??-??)

Sam Houston State (1-2, 0-1) at Texas Southern (1-3, 1-2)
*** Game Outcome: (Score ??-??)

Prairie View A & M (0-4, 0-2) at Jackson State (1-3, 1-1)
*** Game Outcome: (Score ??-??)

Mississippi Valley State (1-3, 1-1) – Open