Looking back: Albany State (Ga.) breezed through the regular season undefeated, going 10-0 overall, and 9-0 in SIAC play in winning the league title last year. In the NCAA Division II playoffs, the Golden Rams struggled past Wingate before being upset by eventual national runner-up Delta State.
Looking ahead: The SIAC will split into two divisions for 2011: East and West. The East Division will consist of Albany State, Benedict, Clark-Atlanta, Fort Valley State, and Morehouse, while Kentucky State, Lane, Miles, Stillman, and Tuskegee will make up the West Division. The two division winners will play against each other in the first-ever SIAC championship game on November 12.
Website: http://www.thesiac.com/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
East Division
1. Albany State (Ga.)--(11-1): The Golden Rams will have a tough row to hoe in not only defending their SIAC title, but also in making a return trip to the D-II playoffs, as they jump head first into strong non-conference schedule that includes a playoff re-match against Wingate, as well as the first meeting against Valdosta State since 2007.
2. Fort Valley State (8-3): The Wildcats look to make a return trip to postseason play after losing to St. Augustine's, 20-9, in Pioneer Bowl XII.
3. Clark-Atlanta (4-6): The Panthers were held to 19 points or less in all six of their losses last season.
4. Morehouse (8-3): The Maroon Tigers might be hard-pressed to match the mark of a year ago, which ended in the program's first-ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance, a 63-41 setback to Wingate.
5. Benedict (5-6): A flourishing finish that followed a sluggish start could carry the momentum into 2011 for the Tigers, who ended 2010 on a three-game winning streak.
West Division
1. Tuskegee (9-2): Despite yet another season of at least nine wins, the Golden Tigers were snubbed for a Pioneer Bowl berth. They'll look to at least advance to their first-ever SIAC title game in 2011. Heading into this season, Tuskegee has an all-time record of 630-340-21.
2. Stillman (3-8): Back-to-back wins to close out 2010 were the lone bright spots in an otherwise miserable season for the Tigers from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
3. Kentucky State (3-8): The Thorobreds will play six of their 10 games in their home state of Kentucky this year. They hope to put a four-game losing streak that ended last year behind them.
4. Miles (3-8): The Golden Bears also struggled down the stretch, ending last season with three straight losses. Their last conference championship came in 1985.
5. Lane (0-10): In going winless in 2010, the Dragons played their best game of the season on October 23, a 26-25 setback to Stillman.
4 years ago
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