LIBERTY REPORT: Week 10 picks

A new batch of picks as I contemplate why I ever thought Northern Arizona would beat Weber State. Nice beatdown by the Wildcats last week ...

Last week's record: 17-5
Season record: 152-46 (.768)

BIG SOUTH

Saturday's games

VMI at Charleston Southern: VMI was very competitive at Gardner-Webb, but it couldn't stop the pass. The Keydets have lost 19 straight road games, with the last win coming at a 1-10 Liberty team in 2005. I tend to agree with CSU coach Jay Mills. There's no way that the CSU team that showed up last week in Lynchburg is the real CSU. Look for a bounceback at home against the Keydets. Charleston Southern 28, VMI 24

No. 20 Liberty at Presbyterian: North Greenville had two running back go for more than 100 yards against the Blue Hose. Rashad Jennings licking his chops. Liberty 48, Presbyterian 10

Gardner-Webb at Stony Brook: Every time I start to believe in Gardner-Webb, the Bulldogs disappoint me. I'm starting to believe in Gardner-Webb. Stony Brook 27, Gardner-Webb 21

FCS TOP 25

Friday's game

No. 2 Wofford at No. 3 Appalachian State: Halloween special on ESPN2, kicking off at 8 p.m. in Boone. A tremendous national showcase for the Southern Conference and for FCS football, and frankly a lot more interesting than the awful MAC and Sun Belt games that seem to permeate the midweek dial. Wofford has been electric on offense of late. The Terriers turned Elon turnovers into quick points and ran the Phoenix off their own field. App State has been squeaking by, relatively at least, escaping Georgia Southern with a win and coming from behind in the fourth quarter to beat Furman at home. App is beatable in Boone. Something tells me it's Wofford's year. Wofford 38, App State 34

Saturday's games

Delaware at No. 1 James Madison: Lost year for the Blue Hens. No Hail Mary needed this week for Dukes. JMU 51, Delaware 7

Idaho State at No. 4 Cal Poly: Cal Poly scored 69 against Southern Utah last week. The Thunderbirds are at least decent. Idaho State is not, winless and hopeless in this one. Cal Poly 66, Idaho State 3

No. 5 Villanova at Northeastern: Northeastern plays a lot of good teams tough at home. But Villanova will be ready to smack someone in the mouth after last week's Hail Mary loss to JMU. Villanova 42, Northeastern 20

Portland State at No. 6 Weber State: Cameron Higgins is the truth at quarterback, and Weber State is still massively underrated in the national polls. The Wildcats' only losses were to Hawaii and Utah. Weber State 49, Portland State 30

No. 22 Northern Arizona at No. 7 Montana: Jerome Souers used to coach at Montana, but he doesn't know how to beat the Griz, who have won every matchup against the Jacks since 1997. Montana 28, NAU 17

No. 8 Northern Iowa at No. 13 Western Illinois: Could an at-large FCS playoff berth be on the line here? Southern Illinois is in the driver's seat in the MVC, and only one of these two figures to make it to the playoffs. Western Illinois is devoid of quality wins, and the Leathernecks won't make the field without beating UNI. Northern Iowa 34, Western Illinois 27

Hofstra at No. 9 New Hampshire: Watched some of the Wildcats' game with Towson last week on TV. UNH better than people are giving them credit for. UNH 41, Hofstra 10

No. 12 Central Arkansas at Nicholls State: Nicholls State won't catch, UCA sleeping. The Bears' lone goal is to win the Southland title this year, since they're not playoff eligible. UCA 40, Nicholls State 24

North Dakota at No. 14 Southern Illinois: Salukis take a step back from the MVC grind to beat a FCS newcomer. SIU 27, North Dakota 14

No. 15 Massachusetts at Rhode Island: The Minutemen can't afford a loss here if they want to keep their playoff hopes afloat. UMass 38, Rhody 20

No. 16 William & Mary at Towson: I just have a sneaking suspicion that Towson will make life tough on the Tribe this week. W&M 31, Towson 28

No. 17 Furman at Samford: Samford keeps playing SoCon opponents tough at home. The Bulldogs pick up a significant win here, and essentially end Furple's playoff hopes. Samford 27, Furman 21

No. 18 Harvard at Dartmouth: Harvard is good. Dartmouth is winless. That is all. Harvard 44, Dartmouth 16

No. 19 Lafayette at Colgate: Game 4 of the brutal five-game road stretch takes the Leopards north to Hamilton, N.Y., where they'll have to slow Walter Payton Award candidate tailback Jordan Scott. Lafayette managed to keep Liberty's Rashad Jennings under wraps for the most part, save for one long touchdown. Colgate has played well since opening with an ugly loss at Stony Brook. Lafayette 24, Colgate 21

No. 23 South Carolina State at Delaware State: The last potential pothole on the MEAC schedule for South Carolina State. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs will fall in. Delaware State 28, South Carolina State 20

Northwestern State at No. 24 Texas State: I'm sticking to the trend. Texas State looks like the No. 1 team in the country on the road, but the Bobcats have been quite suspect at home. Northwestern State 31, Texas State 30

Iona at No. 25 Maine: Back to back shutouts for the Bears? Maine 21, Iona 0