While everybody’s focusing on Indiana and Ohio State this weekend, I’m diving into the FCS Action. I’ll even have boots on the ground at one of these games. Well, sort of. Unfortunately, due to the infection I’ve been fighting for over three months, I’m not going anywhere. However, my wife will be in Montana, tailgating with family at the Montana game. To say I’m slightly jealous is an understatement. Anyways, let’s take a look at the top FCS Week 7 bets that I’m placing right now. Literally, the book is open, I’m placing them, and then telling you why.
FCS Week 7 Picks And Best Bets
Columbia at Penn (-6.5)
Penn is 2-2 overall, but 0-1 in Ivy play. Meanwhile, Columbia sits at 3-1, but they’re also 0-1 in Ivy play. The Quakers’ offense has been modest, averaging just 15 points a game and a little over 300 yards. However, the defense has been very good. They’re allowing just 225 yards per game, which is number one in the FCS.
Columbia has a more explosive attack on paper. They’ve averaged 27 points per game and 435 yards. However, they haven’t faced a defense quite like this. Penn should be getting the respect at home, and that’s why they’re a touchdown favorite. If this was over a touchdown, I’d pass. However, Franklin Field isn’t always a lock for them to win, but the Quakers should come out fired up.
FCS Week 7 Best Bet: Penn -6.5
Holy Cross at Harvard (-16.5)
This Harvard team has been damn impressive, and their offense finally showed how it can open up last week. They’re 4-0, ranked 17th, and just beat Cornell on the road 41-29. I was on Cornell. I won’t make the mistake of fading Harvard again. They’re efficient on offense, and the defense is sound.
Holy Cross is 2-4 and has been inconsistent, with some solid conference wins mixed in. However, they’ve also had some perplexing losses. The Crimson have owned this series recently, including winning 59-24 last year. They’re also really tough to beat at Harvard Stadium. Holy Cross may be able to move the ball at times, but Harvard is the better team. I’m comfortable laying the points with the better, more complete team, especially at home.
FCS Week 7 Best Bet: Penn -16.5
Bethune-Cookman (-7.5) at Mississippi Valley State
Mississippi Valley State (3-4) is hosting Bethune-Cookman (3-3) for homecoming. MVSU has shown some fight lately, including a comeback win over Texas Southern. Their offense can put up points when things click.
On the other side, BCU has been competitive in SWAC play, but road trips into hostile homecoming environments in the SWAC get messy. MSVU’s home field and the postential for this to be a messy, lower-efficiency game makes taking the points feel like the right side. MVSU can easily keep within a touchdown of the Wildcats, especially given how they haven’t been dominant enough to justify laying over a touchdown on the road.
BCU is coming off a 55-17 beat down by Alabama A&M. They also lost to SC State by 10 at home. I’m riding with the homecoming team.
FCS Week 7 Best Bet: Mississippi Valley State (+7.5)
VMI at Wofford (-28.5)
VMI is 0-6 and has been one of the most overmatched teams in the FCS. They’re only averaging 8 points per game. Wofford is 4-3 and coming off a shutout win at Elon. The Terriers are the clearer favorite at home for homecoming, and the series history leans their way.
Laying over four touchdowns in the FCS is tough, even if it is against a struggling one. They only beat Elon 16-0. VMI has stayed competitive at times. They only lost by three to Davidson, by 11 to Bucknell and 28 to Idaho State. Hoewver, they did lose to Samford 45-7, and last week they lost to Mercer 54-3.
I volleyed back and forth, thinking I was going to absolutely go with VMI to cover on this one. There’s no reason Wofford can’t beat them 52-10 like they did last year. However, Wofford hasn’t beaten anybody by 29 points this year. Will this be the game that changes that on homecoming night?
FCS Week 7 Pick: VMI +28.5
Marist at Drake (-5.5)
Drake is 2-4 (2-1 in Pioneer) and hosts Marist who is 3-3 (2-0 in Pioneer). The Bulldogs have a high-powered passing attack and Riley Warzynski has piled up a bunch of yards and touchdowns. However, their defense is slightly leaky.
Marist is balanced and has a pretty stingy defense. However, they did just lose to Columbia. Drake is at home, has the offensive ceiling to pull away, and the line of 5.5 seems just slihgtly too low. In a pioneer League game that figures to have plenty of possessions, I’m riding with the more explosive team.
Keep in mind…I live in Iowa!
FCS Week 7 Best Bet: Drake -5.5
Idaho at Montana (-14)
I couldn’t not pick the game that my other half will be tailgating at. Montana is 5-2 and ranked in the top 10, while Idaho is 1-5 after an upset of Montana State. However, this isn’t Montana State. The Grizzlies average in the high 30s in scoring, attacking multiple different ways. They’re also really tough to beat at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Idaho’s defense has regressed significantly, allowing close to 40 points per game. The Vandals can score, and have shown they can hang with big quality teams on occation. However, the talent and home-field edges favor Montana by multiple touchdowns. A 14-point number is in the range of what models have projected and I’m comfortable laying it with the higher-ranked, better-balanced team in front of their home crowd.
FCS Week 7 Best Bet: Montana -14
