Week 9 Ohio Valley Conference Game Breakdowns
Last week was a pretty calm week compared to the usual unpredictable outcomes. Not to mention, two of the highest powered offenses were on break with Eastern Illinois and Murray State. Oh yeah, there was one little shocker, when Jacksonville State ended Tennessee State’s hopes of a perfect season with a 31-28 win in OT. The Tigers still sit in a good position, but now have considerable less wiggle room to slip up with anyone.
Eastern Illinois (4-3) @ #17 Eastern Kentucky (6-2), Saturday, 12:00
EIU took an off week last weekend to prepare for their game against EKU, which could help decide the Ohio Valley title. The Panthers hope QB Jimmy Garappolo can pick up where he’s been most of the season, which is playing at a Walter Payton Award candidate level. And with WR Erik Lora closing in on the conference record in receptions, the duo leads the Panther’s high powered offense. The Colonels needed a fourth quarter to separate themselves from struggling Tennessee Tech last week, a sign that the Golden Eagles are still fighting hard, or the Colonels sleep walked through the game a little too much. Either way it leaves the door open for EIU to feel they can beat EKU, even on the road.
Projected score Eastern Illinois 32, Eastern Kentucky 28
Tennessee Tech (2-5) @ #20 Tennessee State (7-1), Saturday, 2:00
Tech played a close game for the most part with EKU last week, but they’ll have to get up for another challenge this week, which may be even tougher. The Tennessee State Tigers are a good team, and they may be bringing a little anger to the field Saturday having lost their perfect season a week ago to Jacksonville State in overtime. The Tigers still control how well they finish in the conference race, but nearing the end of a long and now physical season, they can’t slip up against anyone.
Projected score: Tennessee State 34, Tennessee Tech 21
Murray State (3-4) @ Jacksonville State (4-3), Saturday, 4:00
Murray State was another of the three OVC teams last week to have a bye and now this week will work a little harder having seen Jacksonville State knock off previously unbeaten Tennessee State. The Gamecocks, as noted, are coming off a big win that really turned their season around and gave it just a little life. This isn’t the week to get complacent though with the Racers led by QB Casey Brockman coming to town. Brockman, who plays a lot like Garappolo, will try to attack the JSU secondary, which stayed strong for the most part against Garappolo until giving up the late winning TD pass.
Projected score: Jacksonville State 35, Murray State 27
Southeast Missouri State (2-5) @ Austin Peay (0-7), Saturday, 5:00
See All FCS Games of the Week Breakdowns
