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Week 6 has started with a bang, courtesy of South Dakota State. The 9th-ranked Jackrabbits entered today's game with 13th-ranked Southern Illinois (rankings based on Congrove Computer Rankings) as a 2.5 point favorite by the oddsmakers, and just a little under that at 2.17 points by the computer. But the battle between 3-1 SDSU and 4-1 SIU turned into a 44-3 massacre.
The Salukis actually took a 3-0 lead at the 1:52 mark of the first quarter and held that advantage until the final 4:04 of the first half. First, the Jackrabbits had an 18-play drive that lasted 9 minutes and 28 seconds, culminating in QB Mark Gronowski's 4-yard TD run. Then, Southern Illinois fumbled the ensuing kickoff at its own 17-yard line and South Dakota State needed only 3 plays to go up 14-3 on a 3-yard run by Isaiah Davis. The Salukis drove into South Dakota State territory after a touchback on the kickoff, but an interception with 39 seconds left led to a Jackrabbit field goal to make it 17-3 at the half.
It quickly got worse after the break.
Kare Lyles first pass after intermission was picked-off and returned to the SIU 24. Three plays, Gronowski scored from 12 yards out.
Southern Illinois failed to convert a 4th-and-2 from its own 33 on its next possession which led to a 30-yard field goal and a 27-3 lead for the Jackrabbits. Just two plays later, South Dakota State was back in business at the Salukis' 4 after an interception and a targeting penalty. Davis scored from a yard out on 2nd down and it was 34-3.
The end to the flurry of points (41 points in 16 minutes and 15 seconds) came after a 3-and-out from SIU preceded a 5-play drive by the 'Rabbits that ended with a 44-yard burst by Davis to make it 41-3.
In another key MVFC game, North Dakota State (5-1) flexed its muscle and ran for 316 yards in a 34-13 win over North Dakota (4-1) in the Fargo Dome. The Bison were only a 3.-5-point favorite by the oddsmakers, but a 32.39-point pick by the computer.
Also in the MVFC, Missouri State ended a 14-game losing streak in its series with Northern Iowa, upsetting the homestanding Panthers 13-6. The Bears entered the game as a 15.5-point underdog and an even larger 33.05-point dog by the computer. Northern Iowa fell to a disappointing 2-3 with the loss while Missouri State improved to 3-1 this Spring after going 0-3 in the Fall against Oklahoma and two games versus Central Arkansas.
Deion Sanders tasted defeat for the first time as head coach of Jackson State as his Tigers fell 35-28 at Alabama State. JSU tied the game with 1:42 remaining on a 2-yard run by QB Jalon Jones, but the Hornets answered just one play later on Ezra Gray's 50-yard touchdown sprint with 1:29 on the clock. It looked like Jackson State would then go 4-and-out, but a late flag for pass interference on Jeffrey Scott gave the Tigers new life. However, Scott intercepted Jones 4 plays later to secure the win for Alabama State which improved to 1-1 while Jackson State fell to 3-1. The Tigers were listed as 6.5-point favorites by the oddsmakers but 9.97-point underdogs by the computer.
UC Davis scored touchdowns on its first 7 possessions to take a 49-10 halftime lead and went on to roll to a 73-24 victory over Cal Poly in a Big Sky Conference game. After the Mustangs went up 10-7 halfway through the first quarter on a 55-yard interception return, the Aggies reeled off 52 unanswered points.
Elsewhere, VMI is 40-0 for the first time since 1981 after a 38-37 overtime win at Samford. The Bulldogs scored first in the extra period, but the Keydets answered and converted the two-point conversion to score the mild upset. Samford was a 4.5-point favorite and a 4.49-point computer pick. VMI forced overtime by rallying from a 30-17 deficit in the final 5:25 of regulation.
Albany fell to 1-2 and Rhode Island improved to 2-0 as the Rams scored the 17-10 road win in overtime. Kasim Hill ran for a 25-yard score on the first play of overtime and the defense prevented the Great Dane's from answering. Rhode Island was 2.5-point favorite but a whopping 19.07-point computer underdog.
Skyler Wilson's 42-yard field goal halfway through the 4th quarter held up as the game-winning points for Chattanooga as the Mocs went on the road to upset Furman 20-18. The Paladins were a 6.5-point favorite and a 7,57-point computer pick. Chattanooga improved to 3-1 for the 2020-2021 season (3-0 in Spring games) while Furman faltered to 3-2.
In another SoCon game, East Tennessee State moved to 2-1 with a 28-21 victory at The Citadel. The Bulldogs, who were expected to challenge for the conference title, are 0-4 this spring after going 0-4 in the Fall against a slate of 3 FBS teams and Eastern Kentucky.
Youngstown State (1-4) gave Doug Phillips his first win as the head coaching successor to Bo Pelini after Pelini left to take the defensive coordinator job at LSU. That move occurred in early February of 2020. The Penguins were 1.5-point underdogs to South Dakota, but a 2.42-point favorite by the computer. Youngstown won 28-10.
The computer had 8 opposite picks this week. Six of those games took place on Saturday with the computer going 4-2 straight up and 5-1 against the spread.
The computer's opposite plays on Saturday:
ALABAMA STATE over Jackson State - Alabama State won 35-28
ALBANY over Rhode Island - Rhode Island won 17-10
THE CITADEL over East Tennessee State - ETSU won 28-21
INCARNATE WORD over Southeast Louisiana - Incarnate Word won 56-45
McNeese State over NORTHWESTERN STATE (LA.) - MCNeese State won 21-7
YOUNGSTOWN STATE over South Dakota - Youngstown State won 28-10
The computer picked up another SU and ATS win with Bryant over Wagner on Sunday, but lost on the pick of SEMO over Jacksonville State to go 1-1 SU and ATS while finishing the weekend 5-3 SU and 6-2 ATS.
(SUNDAY) BRYANT over Wagner - Bryant won 27-7
(SUNDAY) Southeast Missouri State over JACKSONVILLE STATE - Jacksonville State won 21-3
Other upsets on Sunday saw Tennessee Tech bowl 28-20 at Eastern Illinois as a 5.5-point favorite, and Tennessee-Martin rally for a 37-34 win at Austin Peay.
James Madison's home game with Richmond was among eight that were erased from this weekend schedule due to Covid situations. All three games involving Patriot League teams were scrapped.
1. North Dakota State - Won 34-13 vs. No. 7 North Dakota
2. James Madison - vs. Richmond postponed
3. Monmouth - at Gardner-Webb postponed
4. Kennesaw State - Won 37-27 vs. Dixie State
5. Montana - idle
6. Weber State - Idle
7. North Dakota - Lost 33-14 at No. 1 North Dakota State
8. Portland State - Idle
9. South Dakota State - won 44-3 at No. 13 Southern Illinois
10. Sam Houston State - won 62-7 at Lamar
11. Richmond - at James Madison postponed
12. San Diego - Won 27-13 vs. Butler
13. Southern Illinois - Lost 44-3 vs. No. 9 South Dakota State
14. Jacksonville State - Won 21-3 vs. Southeast Missouri (Sunday)
15. Delaware - at New Hampshire postponed
16. Austin Peay - lost 37-34 vs. Tennessee-Martin (Sunday)
17. Chattanooga - Won 20-18 at Furman
18. Northern Iowa - Lost 13-6 vs. Missouri State
19. Villanova - Idle
20. Albany - Lost 17-10 vs. Rhode Island
21. Incarnate Word - Won 56-45 vs. SE Louisiana
22. Holy Cross - vs. Fordham postponed
23. Alabama A&M - at No. 24 Prairie View A&M postponed to 4/3
24. Prairie View A&M - vs. No. 23 Alabama A&M postponed to 4/3
25. Nicholls State - Idle
More to come after Sunday's games.
SEE: Scores and Picks