Sam Houston State vs. NDSU: FCS Playoffs 2014 TV Info, Spread, Time, Predictions
For the fourth season in a row, the North Dakota State Bison are through to the semifinal round of the FCS Playoffs and face a familiar foe in the Sam Houston State Bearkats.
These two met in two of the last three FCS championship games, both matchups that went to the Bison.
The second-seeded Bison are the favorite for this showdown, in part due to home-field advantage and a 13-1 record. Sam Houston enters at 11-4 as the 19th seed, with a 1-3 record in this particular series.
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What figures to be a high-scoring affair promises to be one of the most memorable games of the season, so set time aside Friday night as the two sides put everything on the line.
When: Friday, December 19, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Fargodome, Fargo, North Dakota
Watch: ESPN2
Spread: NDSU - 10
Spread via Vegas Insider as of December 17 at 10 p.m. ET.
Breakdown
North Dakota State seems to be an unstoppable force at this point.
A road loss to Northern Iowa is the only blemish on the schedule for the Bison. Chris Klieman's team has held opponents to just 13.9 points per game this year, and the defense has scored 103 points off turnovers to date.
An offense that averages 33.1 points per game is no slouch, either. Junior quarterback Carson Wentz has taken the utmost care of the football this season, as a 63.1 completion percentage with 23 touchdowns shows.
As one of the more prolific dual-threat quarterbacks, Wentz also pops out on the stat sheet with his 625 yards and five scores on the ground. Those duties mostly go to John Crockett, though, who averages 5.5 yards per carry and has 1,754 yards and 17 scores to his name.
As ESPN CollegeFootball illustrates, Crockett spent the season smashing records:
By comparison, Sam Houston State lives a bit on the edge.
The Bearkats allow 27.7 points per game and lean on an offense that averages 36.0 points to get by.
If it is not broke, do not fix it, right? The Bearkats have scored a minimum of 34 points in seven of their last eight games. A quarterfinals bout with Villanova cut things a bit too close for comfort, though, as the final 34-31 tally shows.
What the numbers do not show, though, is that Bearkats starting quarterback Jared Johnson played with the flu—and still threw for 303 yards and a trio of scores.
"He came in and threw the ball very well," Sam Houston State head coach K.C. Keeler said, per The Associated Press, via ESPN.com. "I don't think he ran as well as he has in the past -- probably because he has the flu. That's the time of year it is. It's survival of the fittest."
Johnson has 2,827 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air with another 933 yards and six scores as a rusher this season. Those rushing totals still pale in comparison to senior back Keshawn Hill, who has gained 1,124 yards and 18 touchdowns on a 6.1 per-carry average.
This all points to an offensive shootout that may very well come down to whichever team has the ball last.
Prediction
The Bison are 8-0 at home, and unlike others the Bearkats have steamrolled this year, the defense has the speed to run with what Sam Houston State brings to the table.
Really, the blueprint to success for the hosts is readily available. Crockett is one of the best backs in the land and now gets a shot at a shaky defense that allows an average of 4.4 yards per carry.
All the Bison need to do is stand tall in the face of an early surge and then ride Crockett in a ball-control offense to get the win.
Saturday marks Sam Houston State's third game away from home against a national powerhouse that dominates the series. It has been a magical run to this point, but the hosts will pull away and not look back.
Prediction: NDSU 36, Sam Houston State 24
Note: Statistics and info courtesy of GoBison.com and GoBearkats.com unless otherwise specified.
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