If you haven’t been following our FCS picks the entire year, you’ve missed out on a financial windfall. We have posted just two losing weeks all season long, and we are hitting at levels that only touts would claim. After going 4-0 ATS last week, we are 35-13-1 ATS over the course of the season, and we are looking to finish the year over 70 percent. If you want to know who we like in both FCS playoff semifinal games and why, you’re going to have to keep reading:
Week 1 Record: 3-1 ATS
Week 2 Record: 3-0 ATS
Week 3 Record: 1-1 ATS
Week 4 Record: 1-1-1 ATS
Week 5 Record: 3-0 ATS
Week 6 Record: 3-0 ATS
Week 7 Record: 1-1 ATS
Week 8 Record: 1-1 ATS
Week 9 Record: 2-0 ATS
Week 10 Record: 2-0 ATS
Week 11 Record: 0-2 ATS
Week 12 Record: 2-0 ATS
First Round Record: 7-1 ATS
Second Round Record: 2-5 ATS
Quarterfinals Record: 4-0 ATS
FCS Playoffs Semifinals Betting Odds
North Dakota State -11.5 vs. South Dakota State, O/U 52
Only two teams have been continually competitive against North Dakota State over the last two years, James Madison and South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits have knocked off the Bison twice in the last three years, claiming the Dakota Marker in both 2016 and ’17, and they nearly made it three straight regular season victories this year. South Dakota State took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter in Fargo before the Bison scored late to win 21-17.
South Dakota State has not had the same good fortune in the postseason. The Jackrabbits were eliminated from the playoffs by the Bison in 2012, 2014, and 2016, and two of those three meetings weren’t even close.
This time will be different. South Dakota State is talented enough to keep things close, and North Dakota State might be in a little disarray. Although the Bison weren’t distracted when former coach Craig Bohl took the job at Wyoming during their 2013 postseason run, you can’t say for certain they’ll be fine with Chris Klieman leaving for Kansas State. Especially since the early signing period is a big part of college football now.
Taryn Christion has shown he can beat the Bison secondary through the air over the course of his career, and he will be the focal point of the Jackrabbits offense once more. He hasn’t been great in the playoffs, but he might not need to be considering how well the defense has played Provided South Dakota State can prevent the Bison from picking up big chunks of yards on the ground, they should get the cover.
Pick: South Dakota State +11.5
Eastern Washington -13.5 vs. Maine, O/U 58
The Eagles are coming off an incredible win over UC Davis last week. They were down for most of the second half, but they continued to fight and they scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to win 34-29.
Eastern Washington’s offense put up pretty good numbers over the course of the day. The defense’s inability to get off the field nearly cost the team though, as the Aggies ran 77 plays. UC Davis continually shot itself in the foot as well, turning the ball over four times on the day.
This is uncharted territory for Maine. The Black Bears have never reached the FCS Semifinals before, and they are heavy underdogs here despite upsetting both Jacksonville State and Weber State in consecutive weeks thanks to an incredible defense. That defense has been fantastic against the run, and Maine does a good job of making opposing offenses one-dimensional.
Maine can also run the ball and control the clock, and that’s why we like them to cover the spread here. The Eagles defense allowed 5.2 yards per carry to UC Davis last week, so the Black Bears know they can move the ball on the ground, and they can play keep away enough to keep it close.
Pick: Maine +13.5
