Over the past few weeks, we have seen the playoff field for the 2018 FCS Playoffs be whittled down from 24 to four. North Dakota State has run roughshod over its competition, and two other powerhouses have gotten to this point too, although a lot less convincingly. South Dakota State was in a dogfight on the road against Kennesaw State, until Owls quarterback Chandler Burks was knocked out of the game. From there, the Jackrabbits cruised to a 27-17 win.
Eastern Washington was tested even more. The Eagles allowed UC Davis to score a go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute remaining to take a one-point lead and needed to score to stay alive. Eric Barriere answered the call, and Eastern Washington needed just 44 seconds to take the lead once more and hold onto it for good.
Maine is the newcomer here. This is the deepest the Black Bears have ever been in the playoffs, and the program is euphoric after an upset win over Weber State last week. They have relied on their defense this season, and they will be put to the test this weekend against Eastern Washington.
North Dakota State -9 vs. South Dakota State (O/U 51), Friday, December 14, 8 p.m. ET
This is the most important rivalry in the FCS currently, and the stakes will be ratcheted up even higher this time. This will be the fourth time in the last seven years that these teams have met in the playoffs (all four meetings have been in even-numbered years interestingly enough), and this is the latest these two teams have played. In 2012 and 2014, they met in the second round of the playoffs, and in 2016, they met in the quarterfinals. North Dakota State has won all three previous meetings in the postseason.
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South Dakota State has proven it can beat North Dakota State though. The Jackrabbits knocked off the Bison in the regular season in Fargo in 2016, and they doubled down on that the next year by winning by 12 points in Brookings. They nearly made it three Dakota Marker wins in a row this season, but a late touchdown gave the Bison the win.
There is some reason to doubt North Dakota State this time. Although the Bison are odds-on favorites per the FCS betting odds to claim another national title, head coach Chris Klieman just accepted the head coaching position at Kansas State. Klieman is going to be NDSU’s head coach for the rest of its playoff run, but you have to wonder whether or not his mind is in Manhattan.
Eastern Washington -11 vs. Maine (O/U 59), Saturday, December 15, 2 p.m. ET
Hopefully Maine likes making cross-country trips, because the Black Bears are set to make another one. After traveling more than 2,500 miles to take on Weber State last week, they are traveling even further to take on Eastern Washington this week. The school could not stay on the West Coast because that would interfere with finals week, so instead they are making two long journeys.
The Black Bears were one of the best defensive teams in the country this season. They rode their defense to a win over FBS Western Kentucky, and they held FBS Central Michigan to just 17 points when they met. Maine has continued to play good defense into the postseason, knocking off Jacksonville State and Weber State despite being an underdog in consecutive weeks.
Eastern Washington has one of the most dynamic offenses in the country, but the defense has been the talk of Cheney this season. For once, the Eagles are playing good defense and that has many thinking this team is a serious title contender. If they can win this one, they will be playing in Frisco in three weeks.
