Bob Belvin has broadcast games across the Association for well over a decade, and served as host of league Media Day events. Each week this season he will share his thoughts matchups and happenings around the Association and FCS.
With three exceptions for the remainder of the season, it will be all conference games, all the time in the OVC-Big South Association for the remainder of the season. SEMO has a much-needed bye this Saturday.
Western Illinois at Tennessee Tech (12pm CT, ESPN+
Tech dominated Tennessee State last week and returns home for the fourth time. Western Illinois is struggling and playing in Cookeville is probably not going to offer any solace. Tech is averaging 54 points a game while giving up less than 10. Defensively the Leathernecks as a team average giving up 235 yards rushing and 206 passing. Two-straight road games await Tech, and while the statistics clearly point to a Tech victory, third down could be an untold key. Tech converts on half of all third downs, while WIU is only at 30%. Tech has not trailed all season long, so it would be wise to WIU to hang in early.
UT Martin at Lindenwood (1pm CT, ESPN+)
Can UT Martin keep its momentum this Saturday when it travels to Lindenwood? The Skyhawks dominated SEMO last Saturday at home, it really wasn’t even as close as the final score indicates. Lindenwood is still an unknown. Expect more clarity of who Lindenwood is, or is not, by dark on Saturday. Skyhawk QB1 Jase Bauer had a coming out party last week throwing for 225 yards and rushing for 107. The last time these two met Lindenwood QB1 Nate Glantz threw for 349 passing yards and ran for a TD. Scoring defense is solid for both these teams, despite many FBS opponents, at 29.6 per game for Lindenwood and 31.6 for UT Martin. This will be the first time UTM has ever played in St. Charles, Missouri. Look for some impressive offensive stats when this game is complete.
Charleston Southern at Gardner-Webb (1:30pm ET, ESPN+)
Wonder no more fans, the North-South BBQ Bowl will finally take place Saturday in Boiling Springs. After ending a 14-game losing streak, Charleston Southern will head to North Carolina to take on the Runnin' Bulldogs. CSU has used three QB’s this season. Perhaps Zolten Osborne is the answer as QB1 for CSU after passing for 655 yards and 2 TD’s season-to-date. With two FBS teams accounting for their two losses, Gardner Webb is still a mystery. Their numbers, with the FBS games included, show them averaging 4.5 yards per rush and better than eight yards per completion, which appears adequate. Their two wins were key FCS opponents Western Carolina and The Citadel two weeks ago.
Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois (2pm CT, ESPN+)
Tennessee State limps to the prairie to take on an Eastern Illinois team that may be rounding into form. When comparing these two teams at mid-season, the Panthers appear to be ahead of schedule. EIU RB Jaccare Fleming (FCS National Freshman of the Week) ran for 111 yards last week at Western Illinois, the third different rusher to have a 100+ plus yard game this season. The Panthers run the football as well, averaging 176 yards per game, and ran for 239 last week alone. That element of the Panthers will serve them well as the season unfolds. TSU running back Kendric Rhymes, on the other hand, leads the Tigers in both rushing and receiving this year. Kaiki Baker will lead a defense that will try and slow down the multi-faceted EIU running game.