SoCon Football Schedule - Week 12

Game Previews

Western Carolina vs. ETSU

The Catamounts are coming off a real heartbreaker at home against Mercer, in which some players and fans thought a field goal had gone through the uprights as time expired. It hadn’t, and Western fell by two points to the Bears, who have an argument for being top five at the FCS level. This week, the Catamounts face off against ETSU. The Buccaneers made quick work of Samford on the road last weekend behind 151 yards on the ground and two scores from Devontae Houston. If there’s a team that’s better than its record in the

SoCon, it’s likely the Bucs. They have the potential to upset any team in the league, but the fact that this game is being played in Cullowhee likely makes the difference. Taron Dickens should win the Walter Payton Award this year.

Western Carolina 38, ETSU 30

Furman vs. VMI

VMI has not had a very productive season. Outside of a win over D-II Ferrum, the Keydets are 0-9 and haven’t beat a SoCon opponent since last November. It’s been over a year.Furman, meanwhile, has won four games against conference opponents in that span. Sure, the Paladins are 1-4 in their past five games, but at least they’re not VMI. The Keydets, in their last three games, are 0-3 with an average score of 50-11. That’s not good, and don’t forget that this game is being played in Greenville.

Furman 40, VMI 17

Samford at Austin Peay

If you haven’t been tuned into Austin Peay football, quarterback Chris Parson is having a hell of a year. The one-time Mike Leach commit sports a 6:1 TD:INT ratio this season, and the Governors have a 6-4 record for a reason. Samford, on the other hand, let go of their head coach, Chris Hatcher, after last week’s loss to ETSU. This one likely won’t be close.

Austin Peay 34, Samford 10

The Citadel vs. Wofford

It’s a battle of the dogs this Saturday in Charleston. Both the Bulldogs and Terriers enter their penultimate game of the season with 4-6 overall records and 3-3 records against SoCon competition. The last time these two teams met, The Citadel scored 17 points in the second half to stun the Terriers in Spartanburg. The road team has won the past two games in this matchup, and there’s a pretty decent chance of that happening tomorrow: then Terriers just waxed VMI 52-10, and they’ve won four of their past five. But there’s

something always in the water in Charleston whenever the Bulldogs get down that just puts them right back up. Quentin Hayes will have a big day through the air.

The Citadel 27, Wofford 23

Mercer vs. Chattanooga

Mercer proved that the Bears are the best team in the SoCon with a nailbiter of a win over the Catamounts last weekend. Freshman quarterback Braden Atkinson has of course been fantastic, and the offense has scored 38+ points in seven straight games now. Does that streak end this week? Chattanooga’s defense has only given up 38+ points once in their past six games, and the Mocs won that game anyway. This matchup has sneaky potential to be good, and people need to tune in to ESPN+.

Mercer 28, Chattanooga 22