Here are our Big South Football Power Rankings which we will update each week during the season.
Note: Last week’s ranking in parenthesis.
1. (1) Coastal Carolina 9-0, 3-0
Last week: CCU 38, GWU 14
So, we created a firestorm with this tweet Saturday night:
Coastal up 28-14 over GWebb late in the first half. Might be time to start asking who the Chants have beaten?
— Flames Nation (@Flames_Nation) November 1, 2014
Sure their 9-0 mark and #2 ranking is impressive, but their schedule has been weak. Here’s who their nonconference wins have come against (all rankings according to GPI prior to this past week’s games): #63 Citadel (3-6), #49 North Carolina A&T (7-2), #44 South Carolina State (6-3), #104 Florida A&M (2-7), #92 Elon (1-8), #70 Furman (2-7). Not exactly a murderer’s row of FCS teams. They face #88 Charlotte (3-5) Saturday. If you want to have some fun, go back and read our mentions on twitter from Saturday night.
Next: @ Charlotte, noon
2. (2) Liberty 6-3, 2-0
Last week: LU 28, PC 7
And with Liberty’s win over the last Big South pretender, only Liberty and Coastal remain in the Big South Championship race. Everyone else in the conference has 2 losses. So, while the next 2 weeks mean plenty for Liberty, that regular season finale on November 22nd against Coastal has already set itself up as the Big South’s championship game. It should be a fun week leading up to it, but the focus for this week is on Monmouth who has struggled the past 2 weeks in Big South play.
Next: vs Monmouth, 3:30
3. (5) Charleston Southern 6-3, 1-2
Last week: CSU 27, Monmouth 0
Talk about a turnaround. After losing 3 straight games to effectively remove them from any playoff discussion, the Buccaneers dominated Monmouth in New Jersey. CSU outgained the Hawks 411-112. The Bucs held Monmouth to 15 rushing yards while rushing for over 300 yards themselves. Charleston Southern is trying to prove the Presby loss was a trap game for them between the Vanderbilt and Coastal games. They should beat Gardner-Webb this week, and, if they do, will come to Lynchburg riding a 2 game win streak.
Next: vs Gardner-Webb, 11am
4. (3) Presbyterian 5-4, 2-2
Last week: Liberty 28, PC 7
Heys McMath threw 4 interceptions which exceeded his season total entering the game. No way the undermanned Blue Hose overcome that to defeat the more talented Flames. Still, it’s been a good season for Presby who has won more Division I games this season than in their previous 2 seasons combined. They also entered November 1st with a legitimate chance to win the Big South championship. They finish their season with road games against Ole Miss and Gardner-Webb. A split in those 2, and they clinch their first winning season since 2007.
Next: @ Ole Miss, noon
5. (4) Monmouth 5-3, 0-2
Last week: CSU 27, Monmouth 0
Which team is the real Monmouth team? The one that raced out to a 5-1 record while scoring nearly 40 points a game, or the one that has lost their last 2 games while scoring just 12 points total? Monmouth had just 15 rushing yards against Charleston Southern while quarterback Brandon Hill threw for just 97 yards and 2 interceptions. They will have their work cut out for them when they head to Lynchburg to face Liberty.
Next: @ Liberty, 3:30
6. (6) Gardner-Webb 4-5, 0-2
Last week: Coastal 38, GWU 14
After opening conference play against Liberty and Coastal Carolina, the Runnin’ Bulldogs have a chance to finish the season on a high note. GWU faces CSU, Presbyterian, and Monmouth in their final 3 games. It wouldn’t be shocking for them to win out even with 2 of the 3 on the road.
Next: @ Charleston Southern, 11am