HBCU Football 2024 has proven to be a rollercoaster of emotions for teams, coaches, fans…and prognosticators such as myself.
Week 4 was the worst week I’ve had since starting these picks for HBCU Sports last season, but the beauty of all the upsets and surprises is that they give us all something to talk about…and think about as I share Week 5’s predictions.
Before we can do that, let’s take a quick look back at the week that wasn’t.
Last Week’s Record: 19-12
2024 Overall Record: 76-37-1
Best Pick: North Carolina Central 21, North Carolina A&T 17 (Central won 66-24)
Worst Pick: Take your pick! We’ll go VMI 27, Norfolk State 13 (Norfolk State won 32-10)
Game Of the Week: Grambling State (3-1, 0-0 SWAC West) vs. Prairie View A&M (1-3, 0-2 SWAC West, State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m. EST, ESPN+
Grambling’s best start in seven seasons has come in a non-conference setting (last week’s win against Jackson State didn’t count towards the standings), so they’ll make their SWAC West debut this season against the defending division champion Panthers, who are desperate to avoid a knockout blow.
The Tigers’ defense, which has forced 15 turnovers in the season’s first four games, will look to stifle PVAMU’s offense while Myles Crawley looks to guide the GSU offense to enough points for the victory. Prairie View needs to start fast, or else they’ll be on the outside looking in at this year’s Wild Wild West race.
Prediction: Grambling State 27, Prairie View A&M 17
North Carolina Central (2-2, 0-0 MEAC) vs. Norfolk State (2-3, 0-0 MEAC) at the Circle City Classic, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana, Saturday, Sept. 28, 3 p.m. EST, ESPN+
The MEAC conference schedule starts at a neutral site, with NCCU and Norfolk State coming off huge wins against in-state opponents. Trei Oliver’s walking wounded are healing up at just the right time, as their 66-24 punishment of rival North Carolina A&T suggests, while Norfolk State is looking to throw a wrench into the Eagles’ Celebration Bowl plans.
This will come down to a battle of two new starting quarterbacks—Central’s Walker Harris and the Spartans’ Jalen Daniels. Harris has had some ups and downs in taking over for Davius Richard, while Daniels is a sophomore seeing his first Division I college action. Last week against VMI (20-29, 277 yards and three touchdowns) was a glimpse into a bright future for him.
Whichever quarterback can get their team up and down the field and consistently scores points will win the game, which, of course, is the name of the game.
Prediction: North Carolina Central 34, Norfolk State 31
Clark Atlanta (3-0-1, 2-0 SIAC) at Lane (1-2, 1-1 SIAC), Saturday, Sept. 28, 3 p.m. EST, ESPN+
The Panthers’ stunning comeback win over Division I Bethune-Cookman last week gave the program their best start since 1974, and they’ll look to continue that momentum against a vastly improved Lane team. The Dragons have looked competitive outside of the Jackson State game and will look to not only end Clark Atlanta’s unbeaten dreams but announce themselves as a SIAC contender as well.
Prediction: Clark Atlanta 38, Lane 36
Fayetteville State (2-1, 1-0 CIAA) at Virginia State (1-2, 0-0 CIAA), Saturday, Sept. 28, 2 p.m. EST, CIAASN
A humbling loss at home to Winston-Salem State has the Trojans searching for answers, and those answers may not come as a determined Fayetteville State team looks to start their drive to another CIAA championship game appearance. This looks to be another defensive struggle, with neither team’s offense setting the world on fire. VSU needs a strong offensive performance, or the Broncos could walk away with a key win and put the Trojans behind the 8-ball.
Prediction: Virginia State 20, Fayetteville State 17
Division I
Campbell 28, Delaware State 20
Princeton 25, Howard 19
Stony Brook 21, Morgan State 14
South Carolina State 30, North Carolina A&T 21
Tennessee State 22, Charleston Southern 17
William & Mary 35, Hampton 24
Alabama State 18, Bethune-Cookman 13
Jackson State 28, Texas Southern 17
Alcorn State 13, Mississippi Valley State 12
Division II/NAIA
Virginia Union 33, Shaw 29
Livingstone 26, Lincoln (Pa.) 14
Bowie State 20, Winston-Salem State 18
Johnson C. Smith 31, Bluefield State 13
Miles 28, Allen 22
Benedict 27, Morehouse 24
Albany State 32, Kentucky State 19
Fort Valley State 30, Savannah State 20
West Virginia State 34, West Virginia Wesleyan 14
Southwest Baptist 23, Lincoln (Mo.) 13
Butler 37, VUL 10
Texas College 27, Langston 21
