2011 FCS Football Playoffs: First-Round Preview and Predictions

"Oh man, the BCS sucks. I wish there were a playoff in college football."

Well, there is.  

The FCS football season culminates in a 20-team playoff to determine its champion. Ten of the bids in the playoff go to conference champions, and the other 10 bids go to at-large teams.  

Twelve of the 20 teams receive byes into the second round, and eight of those teams will battle it out this Saturday for a chance to compete for the national championship.  

Here's a look at the first-round matchups on Saturday as well as the schedule through the second round.

First Round (Nov. 26)

Albany at Stony Brook

Central Arkansas at Tennessee Tech

Norfolk State at Old Dominion 

James Madison at Eastern Kentucky

Second Round (Dec. 3)

No. 1 Sam Houston State vs. Albany/Stony Brook winner

New Hampshire at Montana State

Wofford at No. 5 Northern Iowa

No. 4 Montana vs. Central Arkansas/Tennessee Tech winner

No. 3 Georgia Southern vs. Norfolk State/Old Dominion winner

Maine at Appalachian State

Lehigh at Towson

No. 2 North Dakota State vs. James Madison/Eastern Kentucky winner

Albany Great Danes at Stony Brook Seawolves

Stony Brook has been playing great football lately. Since starting the season 0-3 (two of those losses to FBS Texas-El Paso and Buffalo), the Seawolves have won eight straight games.  

The offense has been on fire, averaging 48.3 points per game in Big South Conference play. Stony Brook running backs Miguel Maysonet and Brock Jackolski have both averaged over 100 yards on the ground per game.

Albany breezed through conference play to a Northeast Conference title, with its only conference stumble a 31-17 loss to Bryant. However, Albany ranked sixth in the Northeast Conference in rush defense (158 yards per game) and fourth in pass defense (189.0 yards per game.)

Albany should have the opportunity to keep it close for awhile, but ultimately, Stony Brook's rushing offense will open the window for the Seawolves.

Prediction

Stony Brook 38, Albany 24

Winner's Second-Round Game

At No. 1 Sam Houston State

Central Arkansas Bears at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles

This will be the most competitive game in the first round. Tennessee Tech's defense has been impressive. Led by cornerbacks Corey Watson and Caleb Mitchell, the Golden Eagles have been on top of the Ohio Valley Conference in many statistical categories.

The Bears of Central Arkansas have been on a roll lately, too, winning seven straight games. Arkansas transfer Nathan Dick has led the offense with 2,691 yards passing and 28 touchdowns.

This game will be a close one. Even though the game is not being played on UCA's crazy purple and gray home turf, they should walk away with the victory.

Prediction

Central Arkansas 31, Tennessee Tech 28

Winner's Second-Round Game

At No. 4 Montana

Norfolk State Spartans at Old Dominion Monarchs

Old Dominion (9-2) is hot right now and concluded the season with huge wins over in-state rivals Richmond and William & Mary.  

The Monarchs will make their first playoff appearance in the school's brief history this season after finishing in second place in the Colonial Athletic Association.  

Norfolk State had a nice regular season also, going 9-2. The Spartans even hung around with West Virginia earlier this season, leading at the half 12-10 before the Mountaineers came back for the 55-12 victory.

Norfolk State quarterback Chris Walley leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in passing efficiency and passing yards.

However, Old Dominion has played a tougher slate and is overall a better team. Look for the Monarchs to win and move on to the second round against Georgia Southern.

Prediction

Old Dominion 34, Norfolk State 21

Winner's Second-Round Game

At No. 3 Georgia Southern

James Madison Dukes at Eastern Kentucky Colonels

Both James Madison and Eastern Kentucky were on the bubble but received at-large bids into the playoffs. Other bubble contenders, Illinois State and Liberty, will stay at home this postseason.

James Madison is most likely the best four-loss team in the country. Three of those losses were to playoff teams (Maine, Old Dominion and New Hampshire), and the other was to FBS North Carolina.  

The ground game has been key for the Dukes this season. They are second in the Colonial Athletic Association in rushing offense.  

The defense has also been great for JMU, as they lead the CAA in scoring defense and rushing defense.

Eastern Kentucky is making its first playoff appearance since 2008.  

The Colonels are led by running back Matt Denham, who leads the Ohio Valley Conference with 125.7 rushing yards per game.  

EKU also has plenty of stars on defense, including cornerback Jeremy Caldwell, safety Brooklyn Fox and linebacker Kevin Hamlin.

This game has the potential to be close, but James Madison's defense will prove to be too much for the Colonials.

Prediction

James Madison 24, Eastern Kentucky 14

Winner's Second-Round Game 

At No. 2 North Dakota State