A Look At Saturday's SoCon Football

 Saturday, September 16, 2023

VMI at NC State (CW Network)  2 pm

Furman at Kennesaw State (ESPN+)  5 pm

Western Carolina at Eastern Kentucky (ESPN+)  6 pm

Presbyterian at Wofford (ESPN+)  6 pm

The Citadel at Chattanooga  (ESPN+)  6 pm

Samford at Auburn  (ESPN+SECN+)  7 pm

ETSU at Austin Peay (ESPN+)  7 pm

This could potentially be a good week for the SoCon in out-of-conference FCS games, the conference needs wins in this category to improve it's standing among the top FCS conferences. There are two FBS games on this weekend's schedule, while it's doubtful they will result in SoCon victories, competitive games by the SoCon teams involved goes a long way helping the conference improve that standing.

Furman, Western Carolina, Wofford, and ETSU all have realistic opportunities to bring home out-of-conference FCS victories this Saturday. Wofford is a big favorite to pick up a home victory, and get that first win of the young football season. PC comes into that game at 1-1 on the season, but their win was against a non-DI, VU of Lynchburg, while the Terriers, while winless, played much tougher competition against Pitt and nationally ranked William and Mary.  I see a 35-0 win for the Terriers.

Furman travels to Kennesaw State to face the FBS transitioning Owls. KSU is playing as an FCS independent this season, as their scholarship roster now exceeds the 65 allowed in the FCS. KSU is currently 1-1, also with a non-DI win under their belt, but dropping a 20-27 road game against Chattanooga last Saturday. The Paladins also bring in a 1-1 record with a nice home win over Tennessee Tech and a respectable loss against South Carolina in Columbia.  I see a  38-14 win for the Paladins in Kennesaw.

ETSU travels to Clarksville, TN to face Austin Peay Governors. The Bucs bring a 1-1 record to the game, having lost at Jacksonville State of CUSA and won against a non-DI Carson-Newman. The home standing Governors are 0-2 with losses to Tennessee and Southern Illinois. While the Gov's are favored in this game, I can see the Bucs pulling out a 28-24 win.  

The Catamounts travel to Richmond, KY to face the Eastern Kentucky Colonels. EKU is 0-2 having faced two FBS games to open their season.  EKU was blown out to open their season in Cincinnati, but lost to Kentucky by only 11 points. The Colonels are slightly favored at home in the game, but I see another outstanding performance by the Catamount defense, holding the Colonels to 10 points, while the explosive WCU offense puts up 28 points against the Colonels. 

In the SoCon's lone conference game this week, The Citadel Bulldogs travel to Chattanooga to face the resurgent Mocs. The 0-2 Bulldogs unfortunately face a Moc team wanting to make a statement to the rest of the SoCon and return to Charleston with a 35-0 loss to Chattanooga.  

In the two FBS games, there's always the chance of blow-out losses for the FCS team, and the Wolfpack walks away with a 49-0 win over the visiting Keydets. However,  in Auburn, the Bulldogs from Samford play a more competitive game, with a final score of 14-35 in favor of the home standing Tigers.