THE LIGHTNNG ROUND WEEK 1 (2012 DEBUT)

Editor's Note: Welcome to the 2012 edition of the "Lightning Round", on RFC.  Each week during the small college football season, the "Lightning Round" will make predictions on small college football games of interest across the United States, as well as one institution in Canada. 

Before proceeding, here are a few ground rules.  The following games are eligible for inclusion in each week's installment of TLR:

*--FCS vs. FCS (formerly NCAA Division I-AA)

(Example: North Dakota State at Northern Iowa)
 
*--FCS vs. NCAA Division II
(Delta State [D-II] vs. Tennessee Tech [FCS])
 
*--NCAA Division II vs. NCAA Division III
 (Birmingham Southern [D-III] vs. West Alabama [D-II])
 
*--NCAA Division II  vs. NAIA
(St. Francis [Ind.]--[NAIA] vs. Indianapolis [D-II]
 
*--Any other game that features teams currently in the four lower or small college divisions of the NCAA, as well as the entire NAIA.

(Wisconsin-Whitewater [D-III] vs. St. Xavier [NAIA])




The following games are ineligible for inclusion on TLR:

*--FCS vs. FBS (formerly NCAA Division I-A)

(Example: Eastern Washington [FCS] at Washington [FBS]) 

*--FBS vs. FBS (Any game involving a FBS program)

(Examples: Auburn vs. Georgia, Florida State vs. Clemson, Michigan vs. Ohio State, San Jose State vs. Washington, Troy vs. Western Kentucky, Western Michigan vs. Michigan State)

Additionally, there's a slight tweak to TLR in 2012, as up to 60 games will be chosen for prognostication.  With that said, let's move on.

Key: Featured games are listed in BOLD type.

Projected winners are marked in RED.

Other games of interest are listed in normal type.


FCS

Schedule of games for week ending September 1, 2012

Thursday, August 30

Hampton at Tennessee Tech

Saturday, September 1

Robert Morris at North Dakota State  

(Bison begin national title defense vs. Colonials)

Furman at Samford   

(Purple Paladins square off against the Bulldogs in Southern Conference opener)

Jacksonville at Georgia Southern 

Florida A&M at Tennessee State 

Central Connecticut State at Stony Brook 

New Hampshire at Holy Cross

Sunday, September 2

Bethune-Cookman vs. Alabama State

(Wildcats match wits against the Hornets [and former Georgia star Isaiah Crowell] in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge at Orlando, Fla.)

NCAA Division II

Schedule of games for week ending September 1, 2012 

Thursday, August 30

Hillsdale at California (Pa.)

(Vulcans play host to the Chargers in a PSAC vs. GLIAC match-up!)

West Texas A&M at Colorado State-Pueblo

(Buffaloes, Thunderwolves square off in Super Region 4 showdown!) 

Friday, August 31

Bloomsburg at Stonehill

Upper Iowa at Bemidji State

Pace at Bentley

Quincy at Northwood

Saturday, September 1

Grand Valley State at Western Oregon  

(Wolves play host to the Lakers in a non-conference showdown in the Pacific Northwest!)

North Greenville at Albany State (Ga.)  

(Golden Rams play host to the Crusaders in a re-match of an NCAA Division II playoff game from 2011!)