As we turn the calendar to November, the Big South football playoff race looks like it will come down to a clash between longtime rivals and Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina in a couple weeks.
Note: last week’s ranking in parenthesis.
1. (1) Coastal Carolina 8-0, 3-0
The Chanticleers improved to 8-0 following their 66-27 victory over VMI. Coastal led by just 6 at halftime, but turned it on in the 2nd half outscoring the Keydets 36-3. With a top 5 ranking, all Division I wins, and 2 more should-be home wins, the Chanticleers are virtually guaranteed of a spot in the newly expanded 24 team FCS playoffs even if they lose the auto-bid to Charleston Southern.
Next: vs Charlotte
2. (2) Charleston Southern 8-1, 1-0
Charleston Southern improved to 6-0 on the season against FCS competition with their 36-14 win over Charlotte. 4 Big South games are all that remain for the Buccaneers, will they make the FCS playoffs for the first time in school history?
Next: @ Presbyterian
3. (3) Liberty 4-4, 1-1
Liberty bounced back in impressive fashion with a 24-0 shutout victory in Boiling Springs over Gardner-Webb. The Flames return to WIlliams Stadium for a 3 game home stand which begins Saturday against VMI.
Next: vs VMI
4. (4) Gardner-Webb 4-4, 0-2
After GWU’s impressive 4-1 start, the Runnin’ Bulldogs have been grounded losing 3 consecutive by a combined score of 119-58. That includes their last 2 losses to Coastal and Liberty by a combined score of 66-7.
Next: vs Warner
5. (5) Presbyterian 3-4, 1-0
Presbyterian did what it was supposed to do in dispatching Point 49-19. The Blue Hose jumped out to a 35-3 halftime lead, and never looked back. Was this Presby’s last win of 2013? They finish with the top 4 teams in the conference.
Next: vs Charleston Southern
6. (6) VMI 1-7, 0-3
VMI made a game of it early with unbeaten Coastal Carolina, but did not have enough firepower to stay with the Chanticleers for 60 minutes falling 66-27.
Next: @ Liberty
