This HBCU football season has been a feast for quite a few schools, so it’s fitting on Thanksgiving weekend that we have three HBCU squads playing postseason football. We also have a couple of classics and a make-up game, so that’s reason enough to take a break from holiday prep and look into the Chris-tal ball to see what the future holds.
Before our bonus week predictions take shape, let’s look back at Week 13, the final full week of HBCU football for 2024.
Last Week’s Record: 12-1
2024 Overall Record: 240-90-1
Best Pick: Miles 21, Carson-Newman 19 (Miles won 14-13)
Worst Pick: Wingate 24, Virginia Union 17 (Union won 34-28 in overtime)
Game Of the Week: Virginia Union (9-3) at Lenoir-Rhyne (10-2), NCAA Division II playoffs second round, Sat. Nov. 30, 1 p.m. EST, ESPN+
Virginia Union made history last week in taking down South Atlantic champion Wingate for the program’s first NCAA tournament W, and their reward is a second trip to SAC country, where they’ll face the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne, a solid defensive team that gives up less than 19 points per contest.
The Panthers showed offensive depth against the Bulldogs last week, and they’ll have to do the same against LRU. Union getting that Wingate monkey off their backs should be a huge confidence booster heading into a winnable game this weekend.
Prediction: Virginia Union 24, Lenoir-Rhyne 20
Miles College (10-2) at Valdosta State (10-0), NCAA Division II playoffs second round, Sat. Nov. 30, 12 p.m. EST, ESPN+
The SIAC champion Golden Bears made history as well last weekend, holding off Carson-Newman in an intense first-round game to earn the program’s first win in the NCAA tournament.
The thanks they get is Super Region 2 top seed Valdosta State, a program that is always in the hunt for the Division II championship.
The Blazers live up to their name, outscoring opponents 43 to 9 during a perfect regular season and earning the No. 1 seed. Miles’ defense will certainly be put to the test, and they’ll need a little more offensive firepower if they’re going to steal this one from VSU.
Prediction: Valdosta State 31, Miles 20
Tennessee State (9-3, 6-2, Big South-OVC) at Montana, NCAA FCS playoffs first round Saturday, Nov. 30, 10:15 p.m. EST, ESPN2
The Tigers’ first playoff appearance since 2013 will take them to the hinterlands of Montana, where the Grizzlies wait to return to the FCS title game.
Tennessee State’s defense will have to neutralize a healthy Griz running game, which averages 201 yards per game on the season. The leader of that attack is redshirt soph Eli Gillman, who is 44 yards away from 1,000 on the season.
The Tigers will have to make their own breaks like they did against Southeast Missouri last week to get in the playoffs. If they do that, it could be a cold day in Missoula for the home team.
Prediction: Tennessee State 27, Montana 26
Southern (7-4, 4-0 SWAC West) vs. Grambling (5-6, 1-3 SWAC West), Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, 51st annual Bayou Classic, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2 p.m. EST, NBC
The Jaguars have already assured themselves a spot in the SWAC championship game, but they still want to pick up another win over Grambling in the annual celebration-slash-war that is the Bayou Classic.
Grambling has had one of the more up-and-down years in the program’s storied history, so beating their most bitter rival in the biggest game of the year would be a good way to end 2024. A loss would be devastating.
Prediction: Southern 21, Grambling 20
Other games
Alabama State 33, Tuskegee 21 (Turkey Day Classic)
Florida A&M 34, Alabama A&M 31