There are three top ten matchups on the Division I football schedule this weekend: #1 Alabama at #9 Tennessee, #2 Ohio State at #8 Wisconsin and FCS #3 Chattanooga vs FCS #9 The Citadel. I am watching the FCS SOCON showdown on ESPN3.
According to Southern Pigskin.....In mid-October, the Southern Conference is the lone league in the FCS with two undefeated teams, an earmark with an upcoming expiration date. Chattanooga has gone 16-1 in Southern Conference play over the last two-and-half years. The three-time defending league champions have won a postseason game two seasons in a row and are considered, by some, to be the top contender to five-time defending national champion North Dakota State. Dating back this past season, The Citadel has won 12 of 14, its lone losses coming to the Mocs and Charleston Southern, in the playoffs, by one possession. Included in that span are a postseason triumph over Coastal Carolina and a win at SEC foe South Carolina.
The matchup to watch will be The Citadel's triple-option attack against the Mocs' top-ranked defensive unit. Not only do the Bulldogs have the game's most-prolific running game, The Citadel has averaged a mere stumble under 500 yards on the ground over their past three outings and just set a new mark in the FCS this fall with 559 yards in a win over North Greenville. Chattanooga is allowing just 71.7 yards rushing per game, however, and only 2.3 yards per attempt.
In a battle of strength vs strength, something will have to give.