Week 7 Ohio Valley Conference Game Breakdowns
Tennessee Tech is taking the week off after losing to Jacksonville State for their fourth consecutive loss of the season. Meanwhile the teams at the top of the standing got a lot tighter with Eastern Kentucky letting one slip away late against Tennessee State. The Tigers are now on top, but from here on out they will be getting everyone’s best shot.
#22 Jacksonville State (3-2) at Eastern Illinois (3-3), Saturday, 2:30
Last week JSU spent the remainder of the first half against Tennessee Tech digging themselves out of an early 14-0 hole. Once they caught up around halftime they took control of the game and took the lead in the second half on an 86 yard touchdown pass. The Panthers had their positive season slowed down a week ago when Tennessee-Martin found a slight fix to slowing down Garappolo. The Panthers’ offense wasn’t at its best and the Skyhawks took a 51-37 win. Now, Eastern Illinois regroups and faces a Gamecock squad that is going for a third straight OVC win.
Projection score: Jacksonville State 38, Eastern Illinois 34
Austin Peay (0-6) at #24 Eastern Kentucky (4-2), Saturday, 3:00
Austin Peay has yet to find the win column and the road doesn’t get easier with a group of upset Colonels waiting for the Govs on their home field. Eastern Kentucky let one slip away last week against Tennessee State and it cost the Colonels both in the standings and rankings. It should be a bounce back week for EKU against the winless Govs.
Projection score: Austin Peay 21, EKU 39
Tennessee-Martin (4-2) at Murray State (3-3), Saturday, 4:00
The Skyhawks are slowing turning into the dark-horse for the OVC championship. UT- Martin held Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garappolo to just 2 TD passes and snagged two interceptions in their 51-37 victory. Murray State is coming off a bye, actually they played Austin Peay, and will try to slow down the Skyhawk momentum that looks like when it’s at its best it could take down anyone.
Projection score: Tennessee-Martin 45, Murray State 35
#19 Tennessee State (6-0) at Southeast Missouri State (2-3), Saturday, 7:00
The Tigers continue to roll on their best start in years. Last week they proved they could play with the favorites of the OVC by hanging on and upsetting the Eastern Kentucky Colonels late in the fourth quarter. SEMO had a bye week to try to turn the ship around and while early on it looked like the Tennessee State game may be a good one to do that on, now, it looks like another tough battle that is sure to go the finish.
Projection score: Tennessee State 31, Southeast Missouri State 35
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