Campbell at WCU, Elon at NC Central, WSSU at NC A&T coming Saturday
We here at NC Football News headquarters circled Saturday, Sept. 7 on our calendars way back in the winter and spring when schedules started landing in our inbox.
This could be the juiciest collection of match-ups of the whole season, at least from the viewpoint of the entire Old North State. Consider:
* Eight games featuring two North Carolina teams playing each other.
* The renewal of a passionate Interstate 40 rivalry that hasn’t been played since 2010
* A Top-25 ACC vs. SEC showdown in Charlotte (with Mayo!)
* The ingredients in place for another App State road upset against a power program
* The christening of a new stadium.
* A D3 “bowl game”
Here are our breakdowns of the most notable games on the docket:
FCS Power Play
We ranked North Carolina Central, Western Carolina, Elon and Campbell as the top four FCS programs, in that order, in our latest All-North Carolina power rankings.
Those four will pair off in a sizzling day-night doubleheader this weekend.
Campbell will visit Western Carolina at 1 p.m. in a “Whiteout Whitmire” game in the Catamounts’ home stadium. The nightcap will feature North Carolina Central — fresh off an HBCU classic win in Miami — taking on Elon.
The results of these two marquee matchups could scramble — or solidify — our latest FCS power rankings.
Our predictions: A lot of points on the scoreboard in both contests and two great games. We see high-flying WCU outscoring the Camels and a veteran Elon team avenging its only home loss from 2023.
I-40 Classic Is Back!
Though North Carolina A&T (FCS) and Winston-Salem State (D2) now play in different divisions, there is no less sizzle to the renewal of this rivalry. The Aggies and Rams will clash for the first time since WSSU knocked off A&T 21-14 during the 2010 season.
The contest has generated buzz since it was announced. This week it reached fever pitch. It’ll likely be standing-room only in East Greensboro.
“Anytime you get North Carolina A&T and Winston-Salem State playing in a football game you can’t lose because now you’ve got the whole Triad up in a roar,” WSSU coach Robert Massey told NC Football News back in the spring. “You throw out the words Division I and Division II. It’s all about competition. They are going to give us their best. We’re going to give them our best.”
There is strong belief among Winston-Salem State faithful that their beloved team can not only hang with A&T but beat them on their home field.
The Rams seem to have their best team in place since the dominant run of CIAA success between 2011-16. NC A&T, meanwhile, is on the upswing after a one-win season a year ago.
Prediction: The Rams put up a valiant effort, but the Aggies wear ’em down with a power run game to regain rivalry bragging rights.
Pack-Vols Collide For Mayo Bragging Rights
The trash talking reached fever pitch this week: NC State fans accusing Tennessee of using Hellmann’s. This year’s Duke’s Mayo Kickoff game at the home of the Carolina Panthers pits two teams who probably should play football against each other more often.
NC State has a real chance to make a statement against a conference that appears to want to rule the world. The Wolfpack came into the season with high expectations, then those expectations took a big hit last week as the Pack struggled against Western Carolina. But this is where NCSU coach Dave Doeren shines the brightest, when folks are ready to write his group off.
A win by State would be huge for the program — and for the ACC, which has struggled in the perception department for many years. But do they have enough juice to fend off the high-octane Vols?
Prediction: We started the season all-in on NC State (No. 1 in our Fab 15 and FBS power rankings). We’re not stopping now! NCSU 28, Vols 27. High expectations return to Raleigh.
Can App State Do It Again?
It’s been 17 years since the boys from Boone knocked off Michigan in the Big House. App State has played giant killer a few more times since then, knocking off Texas A&M in College Station, South Carolina in Columbia and North Carolina in Chapel Hill. It’s not a matter of can they do it, but will they?
Prediction: With Clemson wobbling out of the gates this season, the Tigers do look ripe to join the Mountaineers’ growing visit of powerhouse victims. But one of the biggest overreactions to week one results is that the sky is falling at Clemson. No, Georgia is just that good. They are going to dominate a lot of teams this season.
We think App State will hang tough and we’re certainly rooting for the upset. But the Tigers prevail in Death Valley by 10, and Dabo haters go back into hiding for another week. (The Liberty game is much more important to App’s quest to make the playoff anyways).
Game One, Year One For Davidson
After playing in Richardson Stadium for 100 years, the Davidson College football program will christen a new 5,000-seat home field on Saturday night. It’s a nice facility! Catawba will be the first guest.
It’s another intriguing D2 vs. FCS match-up for our state. Catawba might be the best “small college” team no one is talking about. The Indians showed marked improvement a year ago in Tyler Haines’ first season as head coach.
Last year, D2 Barton College stunned Davidson. Can Barton’s conference partner do the same Saturday night and spoil the debut of the new Davidson College Stadium?
Prediction: Not quite. The Wildcats will get their patented shotgun triple-option game in gear and plow their way to a pleasing victory worthy of their new digs. (But keep an eye on Catawba this season in the SAC).
First “Bowl Game” of 2024
The Guilford-vs.-Greensboro clash has been affectionately known as the Soup Bowl for several years. The game between D3 rivals serves as a fundraiser for Greensboro charities. Bring canned goods if you plan on attending!
Guilford has the historical edge, winning 14 of 22 meetings since 1998. The Quakers are currently riding a seven-game win streak, including rallying in the second half for a 36-21 triumph last season. Greensboro won the first-ever meeting and five of the first seven. Can they finally end the drought against their city rivals?
Prediction: Yes! Streaks are made to be broken, especially in rivalries. Greensboro takes this one at home, with the real winners being the charities this game will help support.
Rest Of The Best In-State Games
Charlotte at North Carolina: The 49ers want to erase the sour taste of its opening night loss to James Madison. The Tar Heels open their home schedule with Connor Harrell at the helm following the injury to starting quarterback Max Johnson against Minnesota. Prediction: A new run-first, defense-heavy UNC roster, reminiscent of Dick Crum teams from the late 1970s and early ’80s, prevails by two touchdowns.
UNC Pembroke at Fayetteville State: The Two-Rivers Classic came down to fourth-quarter field goals a year ago. Fayetteville State had one blocked. UNCP’s Ty Woods hit one in the final minute for a 19-17 triumph. Prediction: Fayetteville State has won just once over 10 meetings. This one will be low-scoring and field goals may again come into play, but we like the Braves to survive the slugfest by a nose.
Chowan at Elizabeth City State: Former CIAA rivals will battle for northeastern North Carolina supremacy. ECSU got a jump on the season last week against Shaw. This will be Chowan’s opener. Prediction: Chowan is a bit of a mystery team, playing in obscurity in the Gulf South for two seasons after departing the CIAA. We’ll give the edge to the homestanding Vikings. ECSU showed promise in the second half against Shaw and will carry that momentum over into its home debut.
The Rest of the Schedule
West Virginia State at Barton (Thursday): We wrote about this one earlier this week. A new era for the Bulldogs kicks off, as many of the “Founding Fathers” of the revived program have departed. Our pick: Barton.
Duke at Northwestern (Friday): The Blue Devils will play a second-straight Friday game, this time on a makeshift practice field against a Big Ten foe. Our pick: Triangle ACC teams improve to 2-0 against the Big Ten.
Bowie State at Lenoir-Rhyne: The defending South Atlantic champs, fresh off a D2 semifinals run followed by a coaching change, make their 2024 debut against a feisty CIAA opponent. Our pick: Lenoir-Rhyne.
Johnson C. Smith at Morehouse: The Golden Bulls grabbed national attention last week in beating Tuskegee and have another chance to shine against an SIAC opponent. Last week’s foe, Tuskegee was picked fourth in the league. This week’s is picked last. Our pick: Johnson C. Smith.
Shenandoah at Methodist: Monarchs starting a new era after 10,000-yard passer Brandon Bullins has departed. Our pick: Shenandoah.
Louisburg at Lackawanna: This JUCO match-up will be played at Potomac High School in Virginia, shortening what would have been a long bus ride to PA. Louisburg looked solid in its opener, a 30-0 win over the Georgia Warhawks. Our pick: Louisburg.
Shaw at Albany State: Wins can cure a lot of ills. The Bears are feeling pretty good after bagging a “W” in last week’s opener. Albany State will be a tough week two foe, though. Golden Rams were picked to win the SIAC. Our pick: Albany State.
St. Andrews at Anderson: Davidson will christen a new stadium Saturday night. Anderson will christen a brand new football program, with the Knights serving as their first-ever opponent. Our pick: Anderson.
North Carolina Wesleyan at Averett: The Battling Bishops enjoyed a four-game win streak in conference a year ago and are looking to make a push in the USA South again this season. Our pick: Battling Bishops.
Gardner-Webb at James Madison: The first of two games against FBS opponents for the new-look Runnin’ Bulldogs, who let a close one slip away against Wofford last week. Our pick: James Madison.
Virginia University of Lynchburg at Livingstone: The Blue Bears took it on the chin last week against a Top-25 opponent (Charleston). This week’s opponent went 2-9 last season so a chance for a get-right game. Our pick: Blue Bears.
East Carolina at Old Dominion: Pirates quarterback Jake Garcia threw four touchdown passes in the opener against Norfolk State. This week’s Norfolk foe will present a tougher challenge. Our pick: Pirates, arrgg.
Virginia at Wake Forest: The Deacs jump into ACC play quickly. The Wahoos struggled to stop the run a year ago. The Deacs have a solid running back in Demond Claiborne (135 yards, 1 TD vs. A&T). That could be the difference. Our pick: Demond & the Deacs.
