Week 8 Southland Conference Game Breakdowns
As we wind down the Southland Conference football season, the schedule is a little lighter this week. The usual four games are down to three, none of which are very competitive but one might have a bearing on the league race. Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State are idle this week, enjoying a week off while the other six teams are in action.
Nicholls State at Stephen F. Austin, Saturday, 3:00
It has not been a strong season at all for Nicholls State (1-4, 0-2), which sits at the bottom of the Southland. This is the 29th meeting between the two schools, and Stephen F. Austin (2-4, 1-1) holds a decisive 21-7 edge in the series. Stephen F. Austin won last year’s game handily, 57-21, and this year’s game could be one-sided as well. Nicholls State gave up 451 yards total offense in a 41-0 loss to Sam Houston State last week. Running back Jesse Turner was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal game with 34 rushing yards and 90 receiving yards. The Lumberjacks have won four games in a row this series, with an idle week following a 51-43 loss to Sam Houston State.
Projected score: Stephen F. Austin 40, Nicholls State 7
Lamar at #12 Central Arkansas, Saturday, 6:00
Lamar (3-4, 0-2) is tied for last in the Southland Conference with Nicholls State, but Lamar has the better overall record and isn’t as bad off as the Colonels. This is just the second meeting for the schools, and Central Arkansas (5-2, 3-1) looks like it has the edge in this one. Lamar rolled over McMurry 52-21 last week on the strength of 275 rushing yards, led by DePauldrick Garrett’s 104 yards on 10 carries. Herschel Sims had 99 rushing yards before leaving with an injury, so that will bear watching. Central Arkansas overcame a double-digit deficit to beat McNeese State 27-26 behind Eddie Camara’s game-winning 47-yard field goal. Wynrick Smothers had three touchdown passes in the victory.
Projected score: Central Arkansas 42, Lamar 10
#22 McNeese State at #4 Sam Houston State, Saturday, 7:00
The conference’s featured game is a homecoming contest for the Bearkats, but it is also a solid matchup between a pair of 4-2 schools. McNeese State (4-2, 1-2) is still recovering from that disappointing loss to Central Arkansas. McNeese State’s losses are by a combined two points, so one could say the Cowboys are a shade from being undefeated. Quarterback Cody Stroud completed 18-of-25 passes for 160 yards, and Marcus Wiltz rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Sam Houston State (4-2, 2-1) saw Timothy Flanders become the 10th leading rusher in Southland Conference history with 3,159 yards. Brian Bell now has 38 career touchdown passes, passing Rhett Bomar for second all-time; with one more score he ties Dustin Long (39 TD’s in 2004) for the top spot. He will have little trouble accomplishing this feat.
Projected score: Sam Houston State 37, McNeese State 24
See All FCS Games of the Week Breakdowns
