FCS Picks Feb. 26-28, 2021

If you thought that the college football season was over until next Fall, you'd be sorely mistaken. The FCS is conducting a shortened season this spring, and there is plenty of terrific action taking place over the next few weeks.

The biggest game on the schedule this weekend is the Northern Iowa Panthers taking on the Youngstown State Penguins. Both teams are members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and each team is still looking for its first win.

Northern Iowa suffered a crushing last-second loss to South Dakota State a week ago, with the final score being 24-20. The Panthers managed just 193 yards of total offense in that loss, and they will need to be better in this one.

Youngstown State suffered a 25-7 loss to North Dakota State last weekend, but that outcome was to be expected. The Penguins are also looking for some more offense, which could lead to a low-scoring affair in this game. 

Northern Iowa is a 6.5-point favorite on the road on Saturday afternoon, and they have what it takes to get this thing turned around. The Dunkel pick is the Panthers by 10.5 as they pick up a road win over the struggling Youngstown State Penguins. 

February 26

Southern at Alabama State
Time: 7:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Southern 50.339; Alabama State 46.852
Dunkel Line & Total: Southern by 3 ½; 54 ½
Vegas Line & Total: Southern by 7 ½; 51 ½
Dunkel Pick: Alabama State (+7 ½); Over

February 27

Wofford at Chattanooga
Time: Noon Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Wofford 63.690; Chattanooga 64.039
Dunkel Line & Total: Chattanooga by 1; 37
Vegas Line & Total: Wofford by 2 ½; 44 ½
Dunkel Pick: Chattanooga (+2 ½); Under

Robert Morris at James Madison
Time: Noon Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Robert Morris 54.236; James Madison 84.842
Dunkel Line & Total: James Madison by 30 ½; 59 ½
Vegas Line & Total: James Madison by 38 ½; 54 ½
Dunkel Pick: Robert Morris (+38 ½); Over

Northern Iowa at Youngstown State
Time: Noon Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Northern Iowa 76.029; Youngstown State 65.601
Dunkel Line & Total: Northern Iowa by 10 ½; 37
Vegas Line & Total: Northern Iowa by 6 ½; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Northern Iowa (-6 ½); N/A

Howard at Delaware State
Time: Noon Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Howard 33.836; Delaware State 29.022
Dunkel Line & Total: Howard by 5; 54 ½
Vegas Line & Total: Howard by 2 ½; 50 ½
Dunkel Pick: Howard (-2 ½); Over

Texas Southern at AR-Pine Bluff
Time: 1:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Texas Southern 23.133; AR-Pine Bluff 43.870
Dunkel Line & Total: AR-Pine Bluff by 20 ½; 55 ½
Vegas Line & Total: AR-Pine Bluff by 15 ½; No Total
Dunkel Pick: AR-Pine Bluff (-15 ½); N/A

Western Carolina at Samford
Dunkel Ratings: Western Carolina 44.058; Samford 62.548
Dunkel Line & Total: Samford by 18 ½; 64
Vegas Line & Total: Samford by 15 ½; 58 ½
Dunkel Pick: Samford (-15 ½); Over

South Dakota at Illinois State
Time: 1:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: South Dakota 65.638; Illinois State 74.449
Dunkel Line & Total: Illinois State by 9; 43
Vegas Line & Total: Illinois State by 6; 48 ½
Dunkel Pick: Illinois State (-6); Under

North Dakota State at Southern Illinois
Time: 1:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: North Dakota State 90.077; Southern Illinois 64.149
Dunkel Line & Total: North Dakota State by 26; 38
Vegas Line & Total: North Dakota State by 16 ½; 45
Dunkel Pick: North Dakota State (-16 ½); Under

Missouri State at Western Illinois
Time: 1:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Missouri State 57.258; Western Illinois 49.129
Dunkel Line & Total: Missouri State by 8; 55 ½
Vegas Line & Total: Missouri State by 5; 49 ½
Dunkel Pick: Missouri State (-5); Over

South Dakota State at North Dakota
Time: 1:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: South Dakota 66.638; North Dakota 70.686
Dunkel Line & Total: North Dakota by 4; 43
Vegas Line & Total: South Dakota by 7 ½; 47 ½
Dunkel Pick: North Dakota (+7 ½); Under

Incarnate Word at McNeese State
Time: 1:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Incarnate Word 43.755; McNeese State 64.137
Dunkel Line & Total: McNeese State by 20 ½; 63 ½
Vegas Line & Total: McNeese State by 11; 56 ½
Dunkel Pick: McNeese State (-11); Over

Furman at VMI
Time: 1:30 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Furman 70.199; VMI 40.256
Dunkel Line & Total: Furman by 30; 56
Vegas Line & Total: Furman by 20 ½; 63
Dunkel Pick: Furman (-20 ½); Under

Southern Utah at Northern Arizona
Time: 3:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Southern Utah 55.938; Northern Arizona 56.569
Dunkel Line & Total: Northern Arizona by 1; 72
Vegas Line & Total: Northern Arizona by 6 ½; 62
Dunkel Pick: Southern Utah (+6 ½); Over

Mississippi Valley State at Jackson State
Time: 3:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Mississippi Valley State 32.209; Jackson State 33.928
Dunkel Line & Total: Jackson State by 1 ½; 55
Vegas Line & Total: Jackson State by 11; 50 ½
Dunkel Pick: Mississippi Valley State (+11); Over

Elon at Gardner-Webb
Time: 3:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Elon 63.423; Gardner-Webb 38.872
Dunkel Line & Total: Elon by 24 ½; 54
Vegas Line & Total: Elon by 18; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Elon (-18); N/A

Dixie State at Tarleton State
Time: 3:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Dixie State 37.446; Tarleton State 60.979
Dunkel Line & Total: Tarleton State by 23 ½; 63
Vegas Line & Total: Tarleton State by 27 ½; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Dixie State (+27 ½); N/A

The Citadel at Mercer
Time: 3:30 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: The Citadel 57.985; Mercer 46.913
Dunkel Line & Total: The Citadel by 11; 44 ½
Vegas Line & Total: The Citadel by 5 ½; 51 ½
Dunkel Pick: The Citadel (-5 ½); Under

Lamar at Nicholls State
Time: 4:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Lamar 47.028; Nicholls State 64.040
Dunkel Line & Total: Nicholls State by 17; 47
Vegas Line & Total: Nicholls State by 21 ½; 54 ½
Dunkel Pick: Lamar (+21 ½); Under

Prairie View at Grambling
Time: 4:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Prairie View 47.606; Grambling 55.284
Dunkel Line & Total: Grambling by 7 ½; 52 ½
Vegas Line & Total: Prairie View by 2 ½; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Grambling (+2 ½); N/A

Weber State at Idaho State
Time: 6:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Weber State 81.202; Idaho State 50.697
Dunkel Line & Total: Weber State by 30 ½; 49
Vegas Line & Total: Weber State by 20 ½; 53 ½
Dunkel Pick: Weber State (-20 ½); Under

Eastern Washington at Idaho
Time: 6:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Washington 67.778; Idaho 66.382
Dunkel Line & Total: Eastern Washington by 1 ½; 75
Vegas Line & Total: Eastern Washington by 5 ½; 62 ½
Dunkel Pick: Idaho (+5 ½)’; Over

SE Louisiana at Sam Houston State
Time: 7:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: SE Louisiana 587.753; Sam Houston State 66.709
Dunkel Line & Total: Sam Houston State by 9; 62
Vegas Line & Total: Sam Houston State by 6 ½; 54 ½
Dunkel Pick: Sam Houston State (-6 ½); Over

February 28

UT-Martin at Murray State
Time: 3:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: UT-Martin 53.828; Murray State 53.350
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 48 ½
Vegas Line & Total: UT-Martin by 7; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Murray State; N/A

Tennessee State at Austin Peay
Time: 3:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee State 45.775; Austin Peay 63.778
Dunkel Line & Total: Austin Peay by 18; 67
Vegas Line & Total: Austin Peay by 14 ½; 57 ½
Dunkel Pick: Austin Peay (-14 ½); Over

SE Missouri State at Eastern Illinois
Time: 3:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: SE Missouri State 63.424; Eastern Illinois 47.767
Dunkel Line & Total: SE Missouri State by 16 ½; 43
Vegas Line & Total: SE Missouri State by 13 ½; 49 ½
Dunkel Pick: SE Missouri State (-13 ½); Under

Tennessee Tech at Jacksonville State
Time: 4:00 P.M. Eastern
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee Tech 49.643; Jacksonville State 67.913
Dunkel Line & Total: Jacksonville State by 18 ½; 48
Vegas Line & Total: Jacksonville State by 12; 54 ½
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville State (-12); Under