Bonus Prediction & Preview: Bayou Classic-Grambling State vs. Southern

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Saturday, November 30

Bayou Classic-Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans

TV: 5 p.m. EST/4 p.m. CST-NBC Sports Network

Grambling State (6-4) vs. Southern (7-4)

Quick Analysis: The 46th edition of the Bayou Classic will have implications on which of these two Louisiana teams advances to the SWAC Championship Game on Saturday, December 7, 2019. With Alcorn State (8-3, 6-1) already having clinched the East Division title, this year's clash between the Jaguars and the Tigers will decide the West Division title. Grambling State comes into this weekend's match-up at 4-2 in SWAC action, while Southern enters this critical contest at 5-1 in conference play. Additionally, both teams are going into this year's Bayou Classic on a roll, with the Tigers having won six straight games after an 0-4 start, while the Jaguars have notched seven wins in their last nine games following an 0-2 start.

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RFC Throwback Thursday: 2005 Turkey Day Classic-Tuskegee (NCAA Division II) vs. Alabama State (NCAA Division I-AA [FCS])

(Video courtesy of ESPNU)

This special Thanksgiving edition of "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to 2005. That was when NCAA Division II Tuskegee took on NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) Alabama State in the 82nd Turkey Day Classic in Montgomery, Alabama. Now sit back and enjoy one of the greatest spectacles in college football outside of the Power 5 Conferences.

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Small College Football Playoff Predictions: Thanksgiving Edition

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

NCAA Division II Playoffs-Second Round

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

Saturday, November 30

Super Region #1

Shepherd (10-2) at Slippery Rock (11-0)

Notre Dame (Ohio)-(11-1) at Kutztown (11-1)

Super Region #2

West Florida (9-2) at Valdosta State (10-0)

Carson-Newman (9-2) at Lenoir-Rhyne (12-0)

Super Region #3

Central Missouri (11-1) at Ferris State (10-0)

Lindenwood (9-3) at Northwest Missouri State (11-1)

Super Region #4

Colorado State-Pueblo (11-1) at Minnesota State (11-0)

Texas A&M-Commerce (10-2) at Colorado School of Mines (12-0)

NCAA Division III Playoffs-First Round

Saturday, November 30

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket 

Upper Right Bracket

Union (N.Y.)-(11-0) at Salisbury (10-0)

Brockport (9-2) at Muhlenberg (11-0)

Lower Right Bracket

North Central (10-1) at Mount Union (11-0)

Delaware Valley (10-1) at Wesley (10-1)

Upper Left Bracket

Huntingdon (8-3) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (11-0)

Wartburg (10-1) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (10-1)

Lower Left Bracket

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

St. John's (Minn.)-(10-1) at Chapman (10-0)

NAIA Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Saturday, November 30

St. Xavier (9-2) at Morningside (11-0)

Cumberlands (Ky.)-(10-1) at Marian (10-0)

Lindsey Wilson (11-0) at Kansas Wesleyan (12-0)

College of Idaho (11-0) at Grand View (12-0)

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RFC Top Games: Week Of November 30, 2019-Thanksgiving Edition

Editor's Note: This is the first of multiple installments of predictions during the Thanksgiving week. First up is the final week of regular-season action for the FBS Group Of Five Conferences, followed by the first round of the FCS playoffs. 

Last Week: 46-26 (.639)

This Year: 621-302 (.673)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Friday, November 29

Cincinnati (10-1) at Memphis (10-1)

(Tigers play host to the newly-crowned American Athletic Conference East Division champion Bearcats in hopes of clinching the West Division championship with a win!!! Airtime is at 3:30 p.m. EST/2:30 p.m. CST on ABC!!!)

Toledo (6-5) at Central Michigan (7-4)

Kent State (5-6) at Eastern Michigan (6-5)

Appalachian State (10-1) at Troy (5-6)

Saturday, November 30

Southern Mississippi (7-4) at Florida Atlantic (8-3)

(Owls play host to the Golden Eagles in a game with Conference USA championship implications!!! Airtime is at 3:30 p.m. EST/2:30 p.m. CST on the NFL Network!!!)

Florida International (6-5) at Marshall (7-4)

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

Georgia State (7-4) at Georgia Southern (6-5)

Wyoming (7-4) at Air Force (9-2)

Louisiana-Monroe (5-6) at Louisiana (9-2)

BYU (7-4) at San Diego State (8-2)

FCS Playoffs-First Round

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

Top Seeds (In Order Of National Seeding)

NOTE: All national seeds have first-round byes.

1. North Dakota State (12-0)
2. James Madison (11-1)
3. Weber State (9-3)
4. Sacramento State (9-3)
5. Montana State (9-3)
6. Montana (9-3)
7. South Dakota State (8-4)
8. Central Arkansas (9-3)

Saturday, November 30 (All games on ESPN3!!!)

North Dakota (7-4) at Nicholls State (8-4)

Illinois State (8-4) at Southeast Missouri State (9-3)

Central Connecticut State (11-1) at Albany (N.Y.)-(8-4)

Furman (8-4) at Austin Peay (9-3)

Kennesaw State (10-2) at Wofford (8-3)

Villanova (9-3) at Southeastern Louisiana (7-4)

San Diego (9-2) at Northern Iowa (8-4)

Holy Cross (7-5) at Monmouth (N.J.)-(10-2)

Quickie Analysis: The biggest question of this year's FCS playoffs is this: "Can North Dakota State three-peat? As in "Can the Bison not only win their third straight FCS national championship but also their eighth crown in the last nine years?" With 33 straight wins dating back to November 2017, as well as being dominant in almost every game during that span, another title is definitely not of the question for NDSU. However, don't be surprised if No. 2 seed James Madison makes a serious run for their second national championship in four years. Remember that JMU upset NDSU in the 2016 national semifinals en route to winning it all on January 7, 2017. So the real question (s) should not be "Can NDSU make it "back-to-back-to-back" national championships"? It's "will the Bison three-peat"? Those questions will soon be answered throughout this postseason. 

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RFC Scoreboard: Week of November 30, 2019

FBS Group Of Five Scores

American Athletic Conference

Conference USA

FBS Independents

Mid-American Conference 

Mountain West Conference

Sun Belt Conference

Non-FBS Scores

FCS

NCAA Division II (courtesy of d2football.com)

NCAA Division III (courtesy of d3football.com)

NAIA (quarterfinal pairings courtesy of naia.org)

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

Quick Bonus Predictions: ECAC Bowl Series Games

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

ECAC Bowl Series Selection Press Release

Clayton Chapman Bowl

Westminster (Pa.)-(7-3) at Morrisville State (6-4)

Asa S. Bushell Bowl

Washington & Jefferson (Pa.)-(7-3) at Ithaca (8-2)

Scotty Whitelaw Bowl

Brevard (7-2) at Carnegie Mellon (8-2)

James Lynah Bowl

RPI (6-4) at Grove City (8-2)

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Small College Football Playoff Predictions & Bracketology: NAIA

Editor's Note: This is the third and final installment of a three-part series leading up to the start of the playoffs at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. This time, we break down the first round of the NAIA playoffs. In each installment, there'll be some predictions of each first-round game, followed by a brief analysis of each bracket. Now, on to that third and final post.

NOTE: For this week's regular "RFC Top Games" column, please click here, or scroll below.

NOTE: For the NCAA Division II first-round preview & predictions column, please click here, or scroll below. For the NCAA Division III preview, please click here, or scroll below.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

(Courtesy of NAIA.org)

2019 NAIA FCS First Round Pairings Announced

NAIA Playoffs-First Round

Saturday, November 24

Dickinson State (8-2) at Morningside (10-0)

Reinhardt (9-2) at Marian (9-0)

Baker (8-2) at Kansas Wesleyan (11-0)

Concordia (Mich.)-(8-2) at Grand View (11-0)

Ottawa (Ariz.)-(9-1) at College of Idaho (10-0)

St. Francis (Ind.)-(7-2) at Lindsey Wilson (10-0)

Cumberlands (Ky.)-(9-1) at Keiser (9-0)

St. Xavier (8-2) at Northwestern (Iowa)-(9-1)

Quickie Analysis: Another solid group of quality teams headlines the 2019 NAIA playoffs, as seven of the 16 teams in this year's field finished the regular season undefeated, while four other squads are either 9-1 or 9-2, as well as several 8-2 teams, and one 7-2 squad in St. Francis (Ind.). While this might be the strongest field of squads in recent years, defending national champion Morningside remains the team to beat.

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RFC Throwback Thursday: 2003 Stagg Bowl-NCAA Division III Football National Championship

(Video courtesy of ESPN2)

With the small college (NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA) football playoffs getting underway with first-round action this Saturday, "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to 2003. That was when St. Johns did battle with Mount Union for the D-III crown. So, sit back and enjoy one of the greatest moments in small-school football history.

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Small College Football Playoff Predictions & Bracketology: NCAA Division III

Editor's Note: This is the second installment of a three-part series leading up to the start of the playoffs at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. Next up is NCAA Division III. In each installment, there'll be some predictions of each first-round game, followed by a brief analysis of each bracket. Now, on to the second post.

NOTE: For this week's regular "RFC Top Games" column, please click here, or scroll below.

NOTE: For the NCAA Division II first-round preview & predictions column, please click here, or scroll below.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

NCAA Division III Playoffs-First Round

Saturday, November 17

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket (Courtesy of d3football.com)

Upper Right Bracket

SUNY-Maritime (5-5) at Salisbury (9-0)

Case Western Reserve (9-1) at Union (N.Y.)-(10-0)

MIT (7-2) at Muhlenberg (10-0)

Brockport (8-2) at Western New England (9-1)

Quickie Analysis: The "East Coast" portion of the D-III bracket features two undefeated teams in Salisbury and Union (N.Y.), two 9-1 teams in Case Western Reserve and Western New England, an eight-win team in Brockport, a seven-win squad in MIT, and even a team that advanced to postseason play despite breaking even at .500 in SUNY-Maritime. In other words, this might be the most diverse bracket among this year's playoff field.

Lower Right Bracket

Hanover (9-1) at Mount Union (10-0)

Wabash (7-3) at North Central (9-1)

Framingham State (8-2) at Wesley (9-1)

Delaware Valley (9-1) at Bridgewater (Va.)-(10-0)

Quickie Analysis: Six of the eight teams in this bracket have either the regular season with only one loss, or undefeated going into this year's first-round action. It's a shame that there will be two contests pitting 9-1 vs. 10-0 teams in Hanover and Mount Union and Delaware Valley and Bridgewater respectively. Don't be surprised if there's a battle between two East Coast teams (Delaware Valley vs. Wesley) as well as a clash between the Great Lakes and Midwest (Mount Union vs. North Central) in the second round on November 30.

Lower Left Bracket

Aurora (9-1) at St. John's (9-1)

Linfield (8-1) at Chapman (9-0)

Wisconsin-Oshkosh (8-2) at Central (9-1)

Martin Luther (9-1) at Wheaton (10-0)

Quickie Analysis: Perennial powerhouse teams such as Central, Linfield, St. John's and Wisconsin-Oshkosh, among others, lead a loaded lower-left bracket at the D-III playoffs, with a Wheaton team that enters this year's dance at 10-0, followed by Chapman team from California that comes in at 9-0. Perhaps the best match-up out of the four first-round games in this bracket might be between Central and Oshkosh in a battle of teams that pulled off upsets over previously undefeated teams in Wartburg and Wisconsin-Oshkosh, respectively, just to advance to the playoffs.

Upper Left Bracket

Wartburg (9-1) at Hope (9-1)

Monmouth (Ill.)-(7-2) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (9-1)

Huntingdon (7-3) at Berry (9-1)

Redlands (9-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (10-0)

Quickie Analysis: Defending national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor looks to add yet another national championship to their trophy case after knocking off Mount Union for the title in 2018. However, there are more than enough challengers looking to take down the Crusaders for that championship, with multiple nine-win squads such as Berry, Mary Hardin-Baylor, Wartburg, and Wisconsin-Whitewater looking to mount a serious challenge. Still, don't be surprised if UMHB and Whitewater find themselves clashing with each other in the quarterfinals. 

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Small College Football Playoff Predictions & Bracketology: NCAA Division II

Editor's Note: This is the first installment of a three-part series leading up to the start of the playoffs at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. First up is NCAA Division II. In each installment, there'll be some predictions of each first-round game, followed by a brief analysis of each bracket. So, with further ado, on to the first post.

NOTE: For this week's regular "RFC Top Games" column, please click here, or scroll below.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

NCAA Division II Playoffs-First Round

Saturday, November 23

Interactive Bracket

Super Region #1

BYE: Slippery Rock (11-0)

Shepherd (9-2) at Indiana (Pa.)-(10-1)

Tiffin (9-1) at Kutztown (10-1)

West Chester (9-2) at Notre Dame (Ohio)-(10-1)

Quickie Analysis: Slippery Rock enters the playoffs as the favorite in Super Region 1 after rallying to down Kutztown to win the PSAC championship last week. However, any of the other six teams in this bracket are more than capable of pulling off an upset or two, with four one-loss teams in IUP, Kutztown, Notre Dame, and Tiffin. Don't be surprised if any of these aforementioned teams make a deep run to at least the national semifinals.

Super Region #2

BYE: Valdosta State (10-0)

West Florida (8-2) at Wingate (10-1)

Miles (9-2) at Lenoir-Rhyne (11-0)

Carson-Newman (8-2) at Bowie State (11-0)

Quickie Analysis: Defending national champion Valdosta State leads a loaded field of contenders in Super Region 2, with three other teams in Lenoir-Rhyne, Bowie State, and Wingate also finishing the regular season with double-digit win totals. But don't count out Carson-Newman, Miles, or West Florida, as any of those three teams could mount a serious challenge during this playoff run. Remember that UWF reached the national championship game two years ago (2017), losing to Texas A&M-Commerce. That was despite being just a second-year program at the time.

Super Region #3

BYE: Ferris State (10-0)

Indianapolis (9-1) at Central Missouri (10-1)

Lindenwood (8-3) at Ouachita Baptist (11-0)

Harding (10-1) at Northwest Missouri State (10-1)

Quickie Analysis: Ferris State looks to make a return trip to the national championship game this year after losing to Valdosta State in the title game last year. But in order to get back to McKinney, Texas for another chance at a national championship, the Bulldogs must get by multiple teams that finished the regular season with one loss or less, led by the only other unbeaten team in Super Region 3 in Ouachita Baptist. Don't overlook Lindenwood as a possible sleeper squad, as the Lions won the Great Lakes Valley Conference crown in their inaugural season in the league, finishing undefeated in GLVC play at 7-0.

Super Region #4

BYE: Minnesota State (11-0)

Augustana (S.D.)-(9-2) at Colorado State-Pueblo (10-1)

Texas A&M-Commerce (9-2) at Tarleton State (11-0)

Sioux Falls (8-3) at Colorado School of Mines (11-0)

Quickie Analysis: This year's "Bracket of Intrigue" in the NCAA Division II playoffs could very well be Super Region 4, as it includes two teams each from Colorado (Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State-Pueblo), South Dakota (Augustana and Sioux Falls), and Texas (Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Commerce), as well as one team from Minnesota in top-seed Minnesota State. Undefeated Tarleton takes on Texas A&M-Commerce in a re-match of a regular-season game played on October 19, with the Texans topping the Lions 35-21, while CSU-Pueblo plays host to Augustana in what could be one of the top games of the first round.  

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RFC Top Games: Week of November 23, 2019-FBS Group Of Five and FCS Regular Season Games

Last Week: 42-19 (.689)
This Year: 575-276 (.676)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Tuesday, November 19

Eastern Michigan (5-5) at Northern Illinois (4-6)

Wednesday, November 20

Toledo (6-4) at Buffalo (5-5)

Friday, November 22

Colorado State (4-6) at Wyoming (6-4)

Saturday, November 23

Temple (7-3) at Cincinnati (9-1)

(The Bearcats play host to the Owls in hopes of clinching the American Athletic Conference East Division championship!!!)

SMU (9-1) at Navy (7-2)

(Meanwhile, the Midshipmen will match-up with the Mustangs, with the winner keeping pace in the AAC West race!!! Airtime is at 3:30 p.m. EST/2:30 p.m. CST on the CBS Sports Network!!!)

Louisiana Tech (8-2) at UAB (7-3)

(The Bulldogs do battle with the Blazers in Birmingham, Ala., with the winner gaining the inside track to win the Conference USA West Division title!!! Airtime is at 3:30 p.m. EST/2:30 p.m. CST on ESPN+!!!)

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

Marshall (7-3) at Charlotte (5-5)

Ball State (4-6) at Kent State (4-6)

Western Kentucky (6-4) at Southern Mississippi (7-3)

Georgia Southern (6-4) at Arkansas State (6-4)

Coastal Carolina (4-6) at Louisiana-Monroe (4-6)

Troy (5-5) at Louisiana (8-2)

Boise State (9-1) at Utah State (6-4)

Nevada (6-4) at Fresno State (4-6)

San Diego State (8-2) at Hawai'i (7-4)

FCS

Thursday, November 21

Nicholls State (7-4) at Southeastern Louisiana (7-3)

(The Lions clash with the Colonels, with the winner capturing at least a share of the Southland Conference championship!!!)

Saturday, November 23

Montana (9-2) at Montana State (8-3)

(The Big Sky Conference crown will be on the line as well when the Grizzlies do battle with the Bobcats!!!)

Georgetown (D.C.)-(5-5) at Holy Cross (6-5)

Central Connecticut State (10-1) at Duquesne (6-4)

Sacred Heart (7-4) at Robert Morris (Pa.)-(6-5)

Harvard (4-5) at Yale (8-1)

Wofford (7-3) at The Citadel (6-5)

Lafayette (3-8) at Lehigh (4-6)

Bucknell (3-7) at Fordham (3-8)

Drake (5-5) at Davidson (8-3)

Maine (6-5) at New Hampshire (5-5)

Delaware (5-6) at Villanova (8-3)

South Carolina State (7-3) at Norfolk State (5-6)

Eastern Kentucky (6-5) at Jacksonville State (6-5)

Florida A&M (9-1) vs. Bethune-Cookman (6-4)

(Florida Classic at Orlando, Fla.)

Campbell (6-4) at Charleston Southern (5-6)

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