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Thursday I-AA Predictions

Since we have a lot of games this Thursday, my regularly-scheduled predictions are going to be here a little early... for the Thursday games only involving members of the Any Given Saturday Consolidated Top 25 rankings. For my Saturday picks, tune in on Saturday morning.

Top 25
Bacone College (NAIA) at #T18 Sam Houston St.
Sammy Bearkat may be suiting up by the time this one is over. And the coaches may be eyeing Samantha Bearkat as well. SHS 70, Bacone 0.

#11 William & Mary at Marshall (I-A). Some think that a Marshall team that is retooling may be tested by the Tribe, but I don't think so - it's not the right time for William & Mary to be breaking in a new QB. Marshall 35, W&M 17.

#7 Southern Illinois at SE Missouri St.
SEMO may not be in the same class as Southern Illinois, but last I checked they're a full-scholarship team, and will keep things relatively close. SIU 31, SEMO 20.

West Virginia Tech (D-II) at #T5 Western Kentucky.
Attention WKU fans: bring your pads to the game tonight. You may need them. WKU 54, WVT 3.

#2 Furman at #21 Jacksonville St.
The most interesting game of the night. The defending OVC champion Gamecocks will see if they can run with the defending SoCon champion Paladins. I think this will be a tight game, but I think that QB Ingle Martin and the Paladins find a way to put the game out of reach in the 4th quarter. Furman 23, Jacksonville St. 14.

#10 Northwestern St. at Louisiana-Monroe (I-A).
A fun northwestern Louisiana rivalry game to distract from the tragedy of the hurricane. Many think the Demons can pull off the "upset". I'm thinking, though, that the ULM Indians are improving quickly and will prevail in a close one. ULM 23, NW St. 17.

Arkansas-Monticello (D-II) at #T22 North Dakota St.
If D-II Henderson St. can handle the Boll Weevils of UAM handily, imagine what a good I-AA program can do to them - at home. NDSU 56, UAM 0.

Drake at #12 Northern Iowa.
A nationally televised game in Iowa, and a battle for I-AA supremacy. Some think Drake have a chance. They don't. UNI 63, Drake 6.

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