Missouri Valley Conference predictions and FCS spring football game previews for Northern Iowa vs Southern Illinois, North Dakota vs Western Illinois, Missouri State vs South Dakota, Youngstown State at South Dakota State, Illinois State vs North Dakota State.
Missouri Valley Conference Spring Football Schedule, Predictions, FCS Game Previews
FCS Spring Game Previews, Predictions, Week 4
North Dakota vs Western Illinois
Missouri State vs South Dakota
Youngstown State at South Dakota State
Illinois State vs North Dakota State
Northern Iowa (2-1) vs Southern Illinois (2-1) Broadcast
Date: Saturday, March 13
Game Time: 1:00 ET
Venue: Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL
Network: ESPN+
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Northern Iowa vs Southern Illinois Game Preview
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What’s Going To Happen
Southern Illinois got past the 44-21 blasting by North Dakota to win two straight including the shocking blowout over North Dakota State. Just when it seemed like the Salukis were going to be fantastic, they struggled in a 30-22 win over a mediocre Youngstown State.
Northern Iowa overcame the late meltdown loss to South Dakota State to beat Youngstown State 21-0 and get by Illinois State 20-10. The offense has yet to get going, but the defense has been fantastic – outside of one late Jackrabbit drive in the opener.
SIU might be great so far at keeping the chains moving, but turnovers have been a problem – at least they were early on – and Northern Iowa has done a strong job so far of taking the ball away.
More than anything else, the Panther offensive front will take over, the running game will rumble, and it’ll be a bit of a statement win to show that this really is a team planning on being in the mix for the Missouri Valley Conference title race.
Northern Iowa vs Southern Illinois Prediction, Line
Northern Iowa 24, Southern Illinois 17
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
Must See Rating: 3.5
5: UEFA Championship League second leg
1: The Real World Homecoming
NEXT: North Dakota vs Western Illinois
North Dakota vs Western Illinois Broadcast
Date: Saturday, March 13
Game Time: 1:00 ET
Venue: Hanson Field, Macomb, IL
Network: ESPN+
North Dakota (3-0) vs Western Illinois (0-2) Game Preview
What’s Going To Happen
You want to turn this whole thing around, Western Illinois? Here you go.
The Leathernecks have struggled so far with a loss to a mediocre – to be nice – Missouri State team and a blowout against South Dakota State. The offense hasn’t been all that bad – it cranked up almost 400 yards against SDSU – but the defense can’t get off the field.
That’s where North Dakota comes in.
With all due respect to James Madison, North Dakota has been the best team in the FCS to start the young spring season, ripping through its first three games with an offense that looked sharp from the start in in blowout win over blowout win.
The Fighting Hawk offensive line has been brilliant, and it’s about to take over and rock the Western Illinois run defense that’s allowing over 250 yards per game.
If it sees like North Dakota always has the ball, it will. It’ll own the time of possession battle with the O on the field for well over 35 minutes.
North Dakota vs Western Illinois Prediction, Line
North Dakota 41, Western Illinois 13
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
Must See Rating: 2
5: UEFA Championship League second leg
1: The Real World Homecoming
FCS Spring Game Previews, Predictions, Week 4
Northern Iowa vs Southern Illinois
Missouri State vs South Dakota
Youngstown State at South Dakota State
Illinois State vs North Dakota State
NEXT: Missouri State vs South Dakota
Missouri State vs South Dakota Broadcast
Date: Saturday, March 13
Game Time: 2:00 ET
Venue: DakotaDome, Vermillion, South Dakota
Network: ESPN+
Missouri State (1-1) vs South Dakota (1-1) Game Preview
What’s Going To Happen
Missouri State was able to get by a bad Western Illinois team, and last week was shutout by North Dakota State 25-0.
Bobby Petrino’s team has a few playmakers – QB Jaden Johnson isn’t bad, and WR Damoriea Vick is among the most dangerous receivers in the Missouri Valley Conference – but not they have to deal with a solid South Dakota team that wasn’t bad in battling red hot North Dakota.
The Coyotes have been great at taking the ball away, the run defense is better than it showed in the 21-10 loss to the Fighting Hawks, and they’re about to come up with a whole lot takeaways against a Missouri State O that’s not nearly tight enough.
South Dakota will be +2 in turnover margin and the ground game will roll for well over 200 yards.
Missouri State vs South Dakota Prediction, Line
South Dakota 27, Missouri State 10
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
Must See Rating:
5: UEFA Championship League second leg
1: The Real World Homecoming
FCS Spring Game Previews, Predictions, Week 4
Northern Iowa vs Southern Illinois
North Dakota vs Western Illinois
Youngstown State at South Dakota State
Illinois State vs North Dakota State
NEXT: Youngstown State at South Dakota State
Youngstown State at South Dakota State Broadcast
Date: Saturday, March 13
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Venue: Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD
Network: ESPN+
Youngstown State (0-3) at South Dakota State (2-1) Game Preview
What’s Going To Happen
Youngstown State was supposed to be in for a rough season, but it hasn’t been all that bad even though it’s 0-3.
The defense has been decent, and losing to North Dakota State and Northern Iowa is more than acceptable. Now, though, the Penguins have to deal with a South Dakota State team that’s been interesting.
The Jackrabbits rallied late to get by Northern Iowa, lost to what has turned out to be a fantastic North Dakota team, and rocked a bad Western Illinois squad.
The D is the best in the Missouri Valley at stopping everything on third downs, and the ultra-efficient passing game is good enough to keep things moving and control the game against a Youngstown State team that’s struggling to come up with points and big plays.
Youngstown State at South Dakota State Prediction, Line
South Dakota State 27, Youngstown State 10
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
Must See Rating: 2
5: UEFA Championship League second leg
1: The Real World Homecoming
FCS Spring Game Previews, Predictions, Week 4
Northern Iowa vs Southern Illinois
North Dakota vs Western Illinois
Missouri State vs South Dakota
Illinois State vs North Dakota State
NEXT: Illinois State vs North Dakota State
Illinois State vs North Dakota State Broadcast
Date: Saturday, March 13
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Fargodome, Fargo, ND
Network: ESPN+
Illinois State (0-2) vs North Dakota State (2-1) Game Preview
What’s Going To Happen
Okay, so this isn’t your older brother’s North Dakota State team, but it’s still pretty good.
It’s having a hard time getting the offense rolling, and the defense has been able to crank up the stats against Missouri State and Youngstown State – two of the lesser teams in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Illinois State can turn its 0-2 season around in a hurry, and it has the talent to do it.
It got stuck in a defensive battle with Northern Iowa – a 20-10 Redbird loss – and lost to South Dakota in a 27-20 fight. However, Brock Spack’s team has the right mix of run defense and passing game to get by the relatively punchless Bison.
That’s a stretch – North Dakota State is fine – but the passing attack isn’t doing enough and the O hasn’t been consistent. The Bison will get by in the Fargodome, but Illinois State has the upside to pull this off if it gets all the right breaks.
Illinois State vs North Dakota State Prediction, Line
North Dakota State 23, Illinois State 17
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
Must See Rating: 3.5
5: UEFA Championship League second leg
1: The Real World Homecoming
FCS Spring Game Previews, Predictions, Week 4
Northern Iowa vs Southern Illinois
North Dakota vs Western Illinois
Missouri State vs South Dakota
Youngstown State at South Dakota State
