College Football: Predicting the 2008 FCS Upsets, Part II

I’m also very high on running back Kyle Minett, who excelled during spot duty for departing senior Cory Koening last season. Major losses from the defensive side of the football could hurt the Jackrabbits, but that’s assuming Iowa State’s Austen Arnaud and company are in a position to strike early and often (a big “if” at this point)

One thing I look for when predicting upsets are FCS teams that have a mentality of winning and FBS teams which have struggled against FCS competition in recent years.

This matchup is clearly a case, of both as South Dakota State comes off of a 7-4 season and a 4-0 record in conference play while Iowa State is coming off of a 24-13 loss to Northern Iowa last season and a 3-9 record.

South Dakota State’s main problem over the last few seasons has been inconsistent quarterback play, but with Ryan Berry coming back they should be able to more easily disseminate the ball to their playmakers, including potential NFL prospect JaRon Harris.

I think Chizik will have Iowa State headed in the right direction sooner rather than later, but he’s just not an offensive mind, and considering just how poorly Iowa State’s offense started last season (not to mention a new quarterback replacing a four-year starter) there isn’t precedence for Iowa State to score many points against even a rebuilding South Dakota State defense.

South Dakota State is a talented FCS team, and after a strong finish last year I give the Jackrabbits a decent shot at knocking at an Iowa State team which is undergoing an identity change.

6. McNeese State at North Carolina (Aug. 30)

Year one under former Miami (Fla.) National Championship Head Coach Butch Davis saw its ups and downs in Chapel Hill, as the North Carolina Tar Heels played a fairly competitive but uninspiring 4-8 season. 

The Tar Heels managed to take down Davis’ old team in Miami, as well as play fairly competitive games against Virginia Tech and South Carolina. However, as is the case with many of the teams in our countdown were plagued by inconsistent quarterback play.

T.J. Yates did an admirable job coming in as a redshirt freshman but his 18 picks went a long way towards North Carolina’s minus-6 turnover ratio, while the Tar Heel offense amassed a rather mundane 21.2 points per game during the 2007 campaign.

With 10 starters back, they should be improved in 2008, but they’re going to have to rely more on the running game with continued questions at quarterback.  

It was a record setting year in 2007 for the McNeese State Cowboys, who went undefeated in the regular season en route to an 11-1 season and an FCS playoff appearance (The Cowboys lost to Eastern Washington in the first round).

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