RFC Predictions: Group Of Five Conference Championships, Plus FCS & Small College Playoff Action, & More

Last Week: 32-13 (.711)
This Year: 584-282 (.674)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured game (s) in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Friday, December 2

Ohio (8-4) vs. Western Michigan (12-0)

(Broncos to do battle with the Bobcats for the Mid-American Conference championship!!!)

Saturday, December 3

Temple (9-3) at Navy (9-2)

(Midshipmen match-up against the Owls for the American Athletic Conference crown!!!)

Louisiana Tech (8-4) at Western Kentucky (9-3)

(Hilltoppers to face the Bulldogs for the Conference USA title!!!)

*-San Diego State (9-3) at Wyoming (8-4)

(Aztecs and Cowboys to square off a re-match from just two weeks ago, where Wyoming knocked off SDSU, 35-33!!!)

*-Mountain West Conference Championship Game

Louisiana-Lafayette (5-6) at Louisiana-Monroe (4-7)

FCS Playoffs-Second Round

Saturday, December 3

Interactive Bracket (courtesy of ncaa.com)

San Diego (10-1) at North Dakota State (10-1)

Villanova (9-3) at South Dakota State (8-3)

Chattanooga (9-3) at Sam Houston State (11-0)

New Hampshire (8-4) at James Madison (10-1)

Youngstown State (9-3) at Jacksonville State (10-1)

Wofford (9-3) at The Citadel (10-1)

Richmond (9-3) at North Dakota (9-2)

Central Arkansas (10-2) at Eastern Washington (10-1)

NCAA Division II Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Saturday, December 3

Interactive Bracket (courtesy of ncaa.com)

Shepherd (12-0) at California (Pa.)-(11-0)

North Greenville (9-4) at North Alabama (9-1)

Harding (13-0) at Northwest Missouri State (12-0)

Ferris State (11-2) at Grand Valley State (12-0)

NCAA Division III Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Saturday, December 3

Interactive Bracket (courtesy of ncaa.com)

Wisconsin-Oshkosh (11-1) vs. St. Thomas (12-0)

John Carroll (11-1) vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-0)

Wheaton (11-1) vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-0)

Mount Union (11-1) vs. Alfred (12-0)

NAIA Playoffs-Semifinals

Saturday, December 3

Eastern Oregon (10-2) at Baker (13-0)

St. Francis (Ind.)-(11-1) at Reinhardt (13-0)

Bonus Predictions

Saturday, December 3

Grambling State (10-1) vs. Alcorn State (5-5)

(SWAC Championship Game at Houston)

Washburn (7-4) vs. Bemidji State (8-3)

(Mineral Water Bowl at Excelsior Springs, Mo.)

Fort Hays State (7-4) vs. Eastern New Mexico (7-4)

(Heart Of Texas Bowl at Copperas Cove, Tex.)

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Football | University of Saint Francis | Fort Wayne - Down 20-0, #4 Cougars track down #300 for Donley

Football | University of Saint Francis | Fort Wayne - Down 20-0, #4 Cougars track down #300 for Donley: FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- University of Saint Francis Head Football Coach Kevin Donley will remember career win No. 300 for more reasons than just one.

Football tops Linfield 27-10 to advance to Quarterfinals - UMHB Athletics

Football tops Linfield 27-10 to advance to Quarterfinals - UMHB Athletics: Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team used a smothering defensive effort and big-play passing game to post a 27-10 victory over Linfield College in the Second Round of the NCAA Division III National Championships Saturday in Belton. UMHB improves to 12-0 on the season with its first postseason victory over Linfield in five tries. The loss ends the Wildcats' season at 9-2 with both of those losses coming against the Cru.

Wheaton Press Conference - Second Round NCAA Playoffs

Wheaton Athletics - The Thunder football team advances to the NCAA Playoffs' third round with a 31-14 victory at North Central

Wheaton Athletics - The Thunder football team advances to the NCAA Playoffs' third round with a 31-14 victory at North Central: Naperville, Ill. – The Wheaton football team (11-1) defeated North Central 31-14 on Saturday in the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs. Wheaton advances to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and the third time in program history.

11.26.16 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs 2nd Round Press Conference ...

Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics - Warhawks Advance to Quarterfinals Behind Complete Performance

Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics - Warhawks Advance to Quarterfinals Behind Complete Performance: The No. 1/2 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team extended its school-record home winning streak to 32 games and advanced to the national quarterfinals Saturday with a 37-9 victory over No. 17/20 Wittenberg (Ohio) in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs at Perkins Stadium.

John Carroll Athletics - Football Moves On To Quarterfinals With Thrilling 2 OT Win

John Carroll Athletics - Football Moves On To Quarterfinals With Thrilling 2 OT Win: The Blue Streaks advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament thanks to a 20-17 double overtime win over the Wesley Wolverines in front of a home crowd in University Heights, OH.

Alfred University Saxons Alfred University holds on to beat WNE in NCAA second-round thriller

Alfred University Saxons Alfred University holds on to beat WNE in NCAA second-round thriller: The Alfred University football team, clinging to a six-point lead with under a minute left in the Saxons' second-round NCAA matchup against Western New England, withstood a late drive by the visiting Golden Bears, forcing a turnover deep in AU territory and walking away with a hard-fought 30-24 win Saturday afternoon at Yunevich Stadium.

Northwest Missouri State University - Bearcats roll to playoff victory over Hornets

Northwest Missouri State University - Bearcats roll to playoff victory over Hornets: Northwest Missouri State University columnist David Boyce recaps Saturday's NCAA Football second round playoff game against Emporia State.

University of North Alabama - LIONS ADVANCE WITH 41-17 PLAYOFF WIN OVER UNCP

University of North Alabama - LIONS ADVANCE WITH 41-17 PLAYOFF WIN OVER UNCP: FLORENCE, Ala. --  Seventh ranked North Alabama overcame four turnovers and dominated play in the second half as the Lions advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Playoffs with a 41-17 win over 12th ranked North Carolina-Pembroke.

Shepherd University - Shepherd Football Advances with Win over LIU Post

Shepherd University - Shepherd Football Advances with Win over LIU Post: BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Senior quarterback Jeff Ziemba (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) completed 25-of-35 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns, while freshman running back Brandon Hlavach (Baltimore, Md./Eastern Tech) rushed 21 times for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead Shepherd University (12-0) to a 40-21 win over LIU Post (12-1) in second round action of the NCAA II Football Championship at LIU Post on Saturday.

2016 NCAA Playoff Football vs. Texas A&M-Commerce Game Highlights

RFC Thanksgiving Predictions (Feast Week): Part 2 (D2/D3 Playoffs Second Round, Plus The NAIA Quarterfinals, & 3 Bonus Predictions)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

NCAA Division II Playoffs-Second Round

Saturday, November 26

Interactive Bracket (courtesy of ncaa.com) 

Indiana (Pa.)-(10-1) at California (Pa.)-(10-0)

Shepherd (11-0) at LIU Post (12-0)

UNC Pembroke (10-1) at North Alabama (8-1)

Tuskegee (9-2) at North Greenville (8-4)

Emporia State (11-1) at Northwest Missouri State (11-0)

Harding (12-0) at Sioux Falls (12-0)

Texas A&M-Commerce (10-1) at Grand Valley State (11-0)

Colorado Mines (10-2) at Ferris State (10-2)

NCAA Division III Playoffs-Second Round

Saturday, November 26

Interactive Bracket (courtesy of ncaa.com)

Coe (11-0) at St. Thomas (11-0)

St. John's (10-1) at Wisconsin-Oshkosh (10-1)

Wesley (9-2) at John Carroll (10-1)

Wittenberg (10-1) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (11-0)

Linfield (9-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (11-0)

Wheaton (10-1) at North Central (11-0)

Western New England (11-0) at Alfred (11-0)

Mount Union (10-1) at Johns Hopkins (11-0)

NAIA Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Press Release (courtesy of naia.org)

Eastern Oregon (9-2) at Marian (11-0)

Lindsey Wilson (11-1) at Baker (12-0)

Montana Tech (10-1) at Reinhardt (12-0)

Morningside (10-1) at St. Francis (Ind.)-(10-1)

Bonus Predictions

Thursday, November 24 (THANKSGIVING DAY)

Miles (D-II)-(5-4) at Alabama State (3-7)

(Turkey Day Classic at Montgomery, Ala.)

Saturday, November 26

Grambling State (9-1) vs. Southern (8-2)

(Bayou Classic at New Orleans-winner faces Alcorn State in the SWAC Championship on Saturday, December 3, 2016)

Hampton (5-5) at Coastal Carolina (9-2)

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RFC Thanksgiving Predictions (Feast Week): Part 1 (FBS Group Of Five Regular Season/FCS Playoffs)

Last Week: 38-11 (.776)
This Year: 552-269 (.672)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured game (s) in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five-Regular Season

Tuesday, November 22

Akron (5-6) at Ohio (7-4)

Ball State (4-7) at Miami (Ohio)-(5-6)

Central Michigan (6-5) at Eastern Michigan (6-5)

Friday, November 25

Houston (9-2) at Memphis (7-4)

(Cougars clash with the Tigers in a contest with championship implications in the American Athletic Conference!!!)

Toledo (9-2) at Western Michigan (11-0)

(Broncos play host to the Rockets to decide the Mid-American Conference West Division title!!!)

Boise State (10-1) at Air Force (8-3)

(Broncos can clinch the Mountain West Conference Mountain Division title with a win, and a Wyoming loss to New Mexico!!!)

Louisiana Tech (8-3) at Southern Mississippi (5-6)

Saturday, November 26

UCF (6-5) at South Florida (9-2)

Navy (9-2) at SMU (5-6)

Arkansas State (6-4) at Louisiana-Lafayette (4-6)

South Alabama (5-5) at Idaho (6-4)

Charlotte (4-7) at Texas-San Antonio (5-6)

Colorado State (6-5) at San Diego State (9-2)

Wyoming (8-3) at New Mexico (7-4)

FCS Playoffs-First Round

NOTE: Teams with first-round byes are listed in order of seeding.

First Round Byes: North Dakota State, Eastern Washington, Jacksonville State, James Madison, Sam Houston State, The Citadel, North Dakota, and South Dakota State.

Interactive Bracket (courtesy of ncaa.com)

Saturday, November 26

San Diego (9-1) at Cal Poly (7-4)

St. Francis (Pa.)-(7-4) at Villanova (8-3)

Weber State (7-4) at Chattanooga (8-3)

Lehigh (9-2) at New Hampshire (7-4)

Samford (7-4) at Youngstown State (8-3)

Charleston Southern (7-3) at Wofford (8-3)

North Carolina A&T (9-2) at Richmond (8-3)

Illinois State (6-5) at Central Arkansas (9-2)

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Lindsey Wilson College football

Lindsey Wilson Athletics - No. 8 Football defeats No. 10 Grand View 34-27 in OT, advances to NAIA FCS Quarterfinals

Lindsey Wilson Athletics - No. 8 Football defeats No. 10 Grand View 34-27 in OT, advances to NAIA FCS Quarterfinals

Montana Tech - Orediggers Best Blue Hawks 28-21 in NAIA FCS First Round

Montana Tech - Orediggers Best Blue Hawks 28-21 in NAIA FCS First Round: BUTTE—The Montana Tech Orediggers defeated Dickinson State 28-21 in the NAIA Football Championship Series First Round Saturday.

Football | University of Saint Francis | Fort Wayne - #4 Cougars score NAIA record 79 in FCS 1st-round win

Football | University of Saint Francis | Fort Wayne - #4 Cougars score NAIA record 79 in FCS 1st-round win: FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Trailing 20-14 with 5:39 left to play in the first quarter and playing in a near white-out of snow, a 79-20 University of Saint Francis seemed as farfetched as the 72 degrees on Friday, yet the fourth-ranked Cougars did just that scoring 65 consecutive points to end the 2016 season for 11th-ranked Missouri Valley College on wintery Saturday afternoon.

Reinhardt University Athletics - Reinhardt Ices Fire to Advance in NAIA FCS

Reinhardt University Athletics - Reinhardt Ices Fire to Advance in NAIA FCS: WALESKA, Ga. - Offensive Player of the Game Ryan Thompson threw for 211 lards and ran for 80 more as No. 3 Reinhardt defeated No. 20 Southeastern, 52-22, in an NAIA Football Championship Series first round game at Ken White Field Saturday afternoon.

2016 Harding Football Highlights vs Central Missouri - NCAA Division II...

NCAA Football Postgame Interviews - WNE vs. Husson (11-19)

Wheaton Postgame Press Conference

Football holds off Redlands 50-28 in NCAA opener - UMHB Athletics

Football holds off Redlands 50-28 in NCAA opener - UMHB Athletics: Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team stormed back from a halftime deficit and controlled the second half as the Cru held on for a 50-28 victory over Redlands (CA) in the First Round of the 2016 NCAA Division III National Championships. UMHB (11-0) advances to the Second Round of the postseason for the 13th straight season. The loss ends the Bulldogs season at 8-2 overall.

Tech vs Dickinson post game interview 11/19/2016

POSTGAME PRESSER: #4 USF FB HC Jed Stugart, Max Mickey and Luke Papilion

Shepherd University - Shepherd Football Knocks Off Assumption

RFC Top Games: Week Of November 19, 2016-Non Power 5 Conference Regular Season Games (FBS Group Of Five/FCS)

Last Week: 32-12 (.727)
This Year: 514-258 (.665)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Editor's Note: For the small college playoff predictions, please click here.

Featured game (s) in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Thursday, November 17

Arkansas State (5-4) at Troy (8-1)

(Trojans play host to the Red Wolves in a late Thursday night showdown for at least a share of the Sun Belt Conference championship!!!)

Saturday, November 19

San Diego State (9-1) at Wyoming (7-3)

(Aztecs hit the road to face the Cowboys in a game with championship implications in the Mountain West Conference!!!)

Tulsa (7-3) at UCF (6-4)

(Golden Hurricane to square off against the Golden Knights in a critical American Athletic Conference contest!!!)

South Florida (8-2) at SMU (5-5)

Southern Mississippi (5-5) at North Texas (4-6)

Middle Tennessee State (6-4) at Charlotte (4-6)

FCS

Thursday, November 17

Liberty (6-4) at Coastal Carolina (8-2)

Saturday, November 19

Kennesaw State (8-2) at Charleston Southern (6-3)

(Buccaneers play host to the Owls in a battle for at least a share of the Big South Conference championship!!!)

North Carolina A&T (9-1) at North Carolina Central (8-2)

(The MEAC title is on the line when the Aggies take on the Eagles in the annual Aggie-Eagle Classic!!!)

Central Arkansas (9-1) at Sam Houston State (10-0)

(The Bears do battle with the Bearkats with the Southland Conference championship at stake!!!)

Tennessee-Martin (7-4) at Jacksonville State (9-1)

(Skyhawks fly south to face the Gamecocks for the Ohio Valley Conference crown!!!)

New Hampshire (6-4) at Maine (6-4)

Northern Colorado (6-4) at Cal Poly (6-4)

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

RFC Postseason Predictions-First Round of the Small College Playoffs (D2/D3/NAIA)

Editor's Note: This is the first what (hopefully) will be multiple posts on postseason play in FBS Group Of Five, FCS and Small College Football. We'll start with the small colleges, as the field (s) for the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA playoffs were released on Sunday (November 13, 2016). So, sit back, and enjoy!!! 

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Saturday, November 19

NCAA Division II

Interactive Bracket (courtesy of ncaa.com)

California (Pa.)-(10-0)-(BYE)

Indiana (Pa.)-(9-1) at Fairmont State (10-1)

Winston-Salem State (9-2) at LIU Post (11-0)

Assumption (9-2) at Shepherd (10-0)

North Alabama (8-1)-(BYE)

UNC Pembroke (9-1) at Valdosta State (8-2)

Tuskegee (8-2) at Newberry (10-1)

North Greenville (7-4) at Florida Tech (8-2)

Northwest Missouri State (11-0)-(BYE)

Minnesota-Duluth (10-1) at Emporia State (10-1)

Azusa Pacific (9-2) at Sioux Falls (11-0)

Central Missouri (9-2) at Harding (11-0)

Grand Valley State (11-0)-(BYE)

Colorado Mesa (9-2) at Texas A&M-Commerce (9-1)

Midwestern State (8-2) at Ferris State (9-2)

Colorado Mines (9-2) at Southwest Baptist (10-1)

NCAA Division III

Interactive Bracket (courtesy of ncaa.com)

Northwestern (Minn.)-(9-1) at St. Thomas (10-0)

Monmouth (Ill.)-(10-0) at Coe (10-0)

Wisconsin-Platteville (8-2) at St. John's (9-1)

Washington (Mo.)-(8-2) at Wisconsin-Oshkosh (9-1)

Olivet (9-1) at John Carroll (9-1)

Stevenson (9-1) at Wesley (8-2)

Wittenberg (9-1) at Thomas More (9-1)

Lakeland (7-3) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (10-0)

Redlands (8-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (10-0)

Linfield (8-1) at Hardin-Simmons (9-1)

Huntingdon (9-1) at Wheaton (9-1)

Rose-Hulman (8-2) at North Central (10-0)

Bridgewater State (8-2) at Alfred (10-0)

Husson (8-1) at Western New England (10-0)

Mount Union (9-1) at Hobart (9-1)

Randolph-Macon (9-1) at Johns Hopkins (10-0)

NAIA

Press Release (courtesy of naia.org)

Robert Morris (Ill.)-(7-3) at Marian (10-0)

Sterling (8-2) at Baker (11-0)

Southeastern (6-2) at Reinhardt (11-0)

Missouri Valley (9-2) at St. Francis (Ind.)-(9-1)

Tabor (8-2) at Morningside (9-1)

Dickinson State (9-2) at Montana Tech (9-1)

Eastern Oregon (8-2) at Doane (9-1)

Grand View (9-2) at Lindsey Wilson (10-1)

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University of North Alabama - LIONS CLOSE REGULAR-SEASON WITH 42-7 ROUT OF MC

University of North Alabama - LIONS CLOSE REGULAR-SEASON WITH 42-7 ROUT OF MC

GVSU Football at Wayne State Highlights

RFC Top Games: Week Of November 12, 2016

Last Week: 49-12 (.803)
This Year: 482-246 (.663)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured game (s) in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Tuesday, November 8

Eastern Michigan (5-4) at Ball State (4-5)

Thursday, November 10

Louisiana-Lafayette (3-5) at Georgia Southern (4-5)

Saturday, November 12

Tulsa (7-2) at Navy (6-2)

(Golden Hurricane head east to face the Midshipmen with first place at stake in the American Athletic Conference West Division!!!)

South Florida (7-2) at Memphis (6-3)

(Tigers play host to the Bulls in another key American Athletic Conference contest with postseason implications!!!)

Southern Mississippi (5-4) at Old Dominion (6-3)

(Monarchs match-up with the Golden Eagles in a critical Conference USA clash!!!)

Appalachian State (7-2) at Troy (7-1)

(Mountaineers travel south into Alabama to face the Trojans in a game that could decide at least share of the Sun Belt Conference championship!!!)

Texas-San Antonio (5-4) at Louisiana Tech (7-3)

North Texas (4-5) at Western Kentucky (7-3)

Colorado State (5-4) at Air Force (6-3)

FCS

Friday November 11 (VETERAN'S DAY)

Harvard (7-1) at Penn (5-3)

Saturday, November 12

James Madison (8-1) at Villanova (7-2)

(Wildcats play host to the Dukes with first place on the line in the Colonial Athletic Association!!!)

Wofford (6-3) at Chattanooga (8-1)

(Mocs take to the Terriers in a game with playoff implications in the Southern Conference!!!)

Sacred Heart (6-3) at Duquesne (6-3)

Northern Arizona (5-4) at North Dakota (7-2)

Montana (6-3) at Northern Colorado (5-4)

Cal Poly (6-3) at Weber State (5-4)

Charleston Southern (5-3) at Liberty (6-3)

Southern (6-2) at Prairie View A&M (6-3)

Mercer (5-4) at Samford (6-3)

NCAA Division II

Saturday, November 12

Assumption (9-1) at LIU Post (10-0)

(Pioneers play host to the Greyhounds for the Northeast 10 Conference championship!!!)

Wingate (8-2) at Newberry (9-1)

(Bulldogs to do battle with the Wolves from South Carolina for the South Atlantic Conference crown!!!)

Virginia State (8-2) at Tuskegee (8-1)*

Ashland (8-2) at Ohio Dominican (7-3)

Grand Valley State (10-0) at Wayne State (Mich.)-(7-3)

Kutztown (7-3) at California (Pa.)-(9-0)

(PSAC Championship Game)

Bowie State (7-3) vs. Winston-Salem (8-2)

(CIAA Championship Game at Salem, Va.)

Truman State (8-2) at McKendree (7-3)

Emporia State (9-1) at Washburn (7-3)

Azusa Pacific (9-1) at Colorado Mesa (8-2)

Colorado Mines (8-2) at Black Hills State (7-3)

*-late addition to the blog post as of 1:02 p.m. EST on November 11, 2016

NCAA Division III

Saturday, November 12

St. John Fisher (8-1) at Alfred (9-0)

(Saxons play host to the Cardinals for the Empire 8 Conference title!!!)

John Carroll (8-1) at Mount Union (9-0)

(Defending national champion Purple Raiders play host to the Blue Streaks for the Ohio Athletic Conference championship!!!)

Berry (8-1) at Centre (8-1)

(Colonels to clash with the Vikings in a showdown for the Southern Athletic Association crown!!!)

Trinity (Conn.)-(7-0) at Wesleyan (6-1)

Tufts (6-1) at Middlebury (6-1)

Salisbury (7-2) at Frostburg State (8-1)

DePauw (7-2) at Wabash (8-1)

(123rd Monon Bell Classic)

Carnegie Mellon (6-3) at Case Western Reserve (9-0)

Shenandoah (6-3) at Washington and Lee (5-4)

St. John's (8-1) at Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.)-(7-2)

Macalester (7-2) at St. Norbert (6-3)

NAIA

Saturday, November 12

Grand View (8-2) at William Penn (7-3)

(Vikings to pay a visit to the Statesmen in showdown for the Heart Of America Athletic Conference North Division championship!!!)

Reinhardt (10-0) at Bethel (Tenn.)-(7-3)

Dakota Wesleyan (7-3) at Midland (6-4)

BONUS PREDICTION

Saturday, November 12

Southern Utah (FCS)-(5-4) at BYU (Group Of Five)-(5-4)

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