College Football: Predicting the 2008 FCS Upsets, Part II

Like many teams in the countdown the Cowboys defeated a FBS program last season, amassing more than 400 total yards in a 38-17 win at Louisiana-Lafayette last season.

McNeese returns 12 returning starters overall in 2008, including an amazing seven players to earn either First or Second team All-Conference honors.

Quarterback Derrick Forroux is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the FCS, throwing for over 2000 yards in 2007 and rushing for over 500. Four offensive linemen return (two All-Conference), as does a veteran group of skill positions players, including playmaking wide receiver Steven Whitehead, who sat out last season with an injury.

This offense put up more than 450 total yards against ULL last season, and with their top players back, should find similar success against North Carolina.

Butch Davis may have North Carolina well on its way to becoming a force to reckoned with in the ACC, but coming off of a 4-8 season, the Tar Heels are more likely another year or two away, even with 18 returning starters in 2008.

It’s never easy opening the season against a good FCS team like McNeese State, and considering the fact that Yates missed the spring and is coming off shoulder surgery, you almost have to expect some rust from the Tar Heel offense.

McNeese State has an “expect to win” attitude under Head Coach Matt Viator that has manifested itself in a 17-3 record over the past two seasons. I like the fact that McNeese State has an experienced quarterback and offensive line, not to mention speed and athleticism at the skill positions.

North Carolina’s otherwise solid defense struggled against mobile quarterbacks last year, and one factor we’ve seen throughout most FCS upsets is the ability of a mobile quarterback to break down even good FBS defenses.

I could see North Carolina having a winning season in 2007, but their Aug. 30 matchup with McNeese State is by no means a “warmup” game, which I fear the Tar Heels will treat it as before preparing for a Thursday night matchup with Rutgers in Week Three.

#5: James Madison at Duke (Aug 30)

Duke University’s football shortcomings are well documented, but just in case you’ve been living under a rock since 1960, I’ll gladly go through them with you.

Duke has had three winning seasons in the last 45 years, two of them under Spurrier. The Blue Devils have a grand total of 10 wins over the past eight years, including an 0-12 performance in 2006.

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