FCS Picks/Playoffs

The second round of the FCS playoffs kick off on Friday night with a pair of games starting with the Holy Cross Crusaders facing the Villanova Wildcats. Game time is 7:00 pm ET at Villanova Stadium.

The Crusaders (10-2) finished first in the Patriot League this season and advanced to the second round following a 13-10 win over Sacred Heart last Saturday. It wasn’t easy, though, as Holy Cross had to overcome a 10-3 deficit in the fourth quarter and didn’t secure the win until QB Matthew Sluka completed a 35-yard TD pass to Jalen Coker with just 14 seconds remaining.

The Wildcats (9-2) finished first in the Colonial Athletic Association and had a bye in last week’s first round of the playoffs. Their only two losses during the season were to FBS opponent Penn State and William & Mary. The Wildcats finished the season with three straight wins over Elon, Stony Brook and Delaware.

Dunkel has the Wildcats taking advantage of the home field tonight and covering the 13-point Vegas line while the defenses keep the final score under the Vegas total of 49 ½.

Dunkel’s Pick: Villanova (-13); Under

Below are all of Dunkel’s picks for this week’s FCS schedule.

DECEMBER 3

Holy Cross at Villanova
Time: 7:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Holy Cross 60.967; Villanova 81.546
Dunkel Line & Total: Villanova by 20 ½; 43
Vegas Line & Total: Villanova by 13; 49 ½
Dunkel Pick: Villanova (-13); Under

Eastern Washington at Montana
Time: 9:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Washington 89.657; Montana 75.700
Dunkel Line & Total: Eastern Washington by 14; 45
Vegas Line & Total: Montana by 3; 59
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Washington (+3 ½); Under

DECEMBER 4

Kennesaw State at East Tennessee State
Time: 2:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Kennesaw State 67.654; East Tennessee State 71.299
Dunkel Line & Total: East Tennessee State by 3 ½; 63
Vegas Line & Total: Kennesaw State by 2 ½; 48 ½
Dunkel Pick: East Tennessee State (+2 ½); Over

SE Louisiana at James Madison
Time: 2:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: SE Louisiana 65.942; James Madison 87.588
Dunkel Line & Total: James Madison by 21 ½; 73
Vegas Line & Total: James Madison by 15; 69 ½
Dunkel Pick: James Madison (-15); Over

Incarnate Word at Sam Houston State
Time: 3:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Incarnate Word 67.729; Sam Houston State 87.560
Dunkel Line & Total: Sam Houston State by 20; 62
Vegas Line & Total: Sam Houston State by 13 ½; 53 ½
Dunkel Pick: Sam Houston State (-13 ½); Over

Southern Illinois at North Dakota State
Time: 3:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Southern Illinois 73.584; North Dakota State 90.570
Dunkel Line & Total: North Dakota State by 17; 50
Vegas Line & Total: North Dakota State by 14; 53
Dunkel Pick: North Dakota State (-14); Under

Prairie View A&M at Jackson State
Time: 4:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Prairie View A&M 45.199; Jackson State 58.414
Dunkel Line & Total: Jackson State by 13; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Jackson State by 7; 43 ½
Dunkel Pick: Jackson State (-7); Under

UT-Martin at Montana State
Time: 4:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: UT-Martin 64.042; Montana State 79.494
Dunkel Line & Total: Montana State by 15 ½; 54
Vegas Line & Total: Montana State by 11 ½; 45
Dunkel Pick: Montana State (-11 ½); Over

South Dakota State at Sacramento State
Time: 9:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: South Dakota State 82.457; Sacramento State 81.001
Dunkel Line & Total: South Dakota State by 1 ½; 49
Vegas Line & Total: South Dakota State by 7; 54 ½
Dunkel Pick: Sacramento State (+7); Under