No. 22 McNeese State (7-4) at No. 2 Montana (10-1) (KGVO 1290 AM; KPAX-TV)
Venue: Washington-Grizzly Stadium (23,183), Missoula, Mont.
Forecast: Possible snow showers, 31 degrees.
The teams: The Grizzlies won the Big Sky outright, becoming the first conference team to go unbeaten since they turned the trick in 2000 and 2001. UM won 10 straight games after an opening loss at Big 10 member Iowa. They've won or shared the Big Sky title nine straight times, and this is their 14th straight playoff trip, an all-time record, and 17th overall. McNeese State started 1-3, which resulted in the firing of Coach Tommy Tate, but bounced back to win the Southland Conference. The Cowboys lost their league opener under Matt Viator to Texas State - which lost to Northern Colorado, the last-place team in the Big Sky - then buckled down and won their final five games. This is the 12th playoff appearance for the Lake Charles, La., school.
The matchup: UM's offense has been up-and-down. QB Josh Swogger (2,029 yards, 11 TD/9 INT) is capable of posting big numbers, and has a good receiving corps headed by Eric Allen, Craig Chambers and Ryan Bagley. Explosive RB Lex Hilliard has missed the season with an Achilles injury, leaving Reggie Bradshaw, Brady Green and Thomas Brooks-Fletcher to share the duties. The strength of the team is the defense, which is deep, balanced and speedy. Ends Mike Murphy, Kroy Biermann (9 sacks) and Dustin Dlouhy, and safeties Torrey Thomas (4 INT) and Colt Anderson (66 tackles) lead the way. Kicker/punter Dan Carpenter and punt returner Tuff Harris are also key contributors. McNeese is led by QB Derrick Fourroux (1,374 yards, 10 TD/7 INT), and has spread the carries around while averaging 175.8 rushing yards per game. Bryan Smith (12 sacks) leads a defense that has forced 30 turnovers, and Stephen Whitehead is a dangerous return man.
No. 12 Tennessee-Martin (9-2) at No. 10 S. Illinois (8-3) Kickoff: 12:30 p.m., MST
Venue: McAndrew Stadium (15,000), Carbondale, Ill.
Forecast: Cloudy, 59 degrees.
The teams: This looked to be a rebuilding year for Southern Illinois, but the Salukis of the Gateway Conference kept plugging to earn an at-large berth. This is their fourth straight playoff trip, second only to Montana in the field, and fifth overall. They won the national title in their first crack, in 1983. It's the first playoff appearance for Tennessee-Martin, the Ohio Valley champ. The Skyhawks should be called the Phoenix - they had nine straight seasons of two wins or less from 1996-2004, then went 6-5 last season.
The matchup: Southern Illinois has a legit Walter Payton Award candidate in RB Arkee Whitlock (1,541 yards, 21 TD), fueling a run-first attack that averages 247.5 rushing yards and 37.2 points per game. The defense, led by Brandin Jordan, has 29 sacks and 74 tackles for loss. Tennessee-Martin's stud is Donald Chapman (1,304 yards, 13 TD), who has five 100-yard games and leads a rushing attack that averages 219.3 yards. The defense, led by LB Markeseo Jackson, ranks in the top 15 nationally against both the rush and the pass.
Lafayette (6-5) at No. 3 Massachusetts (10-1) Kickoff: 10 a.m., MST
Venue: McGuirk Alumni Stadium (17,000), Amherst, Mass.
Forecast: Partly cloudy, 51 degrees.
The teams: Massachusetts was the first Atlantic-10 team in nine years to go undefeated in conference play. Only a one-point loss at Division I-A Navy kept the Minutemen from a perfect season. This is the seventh playoff trip and first since 2003 for UMass, which won the national championship in 1998. Lafayette shook off an early five-game losing streak to claim the Patriot League with a 49-27 victory over rival Lehigh. The Leopards' only previous playoff trips came in 2004 and 2005, resulting in first-round losses.
The matchup: The UMass defense, solid across the board, gives up just 11.3 points, second in the nation. LB Jason Hatchell (107 tackles) and blitzing safety James Ihedigbo are the leaders. Physical RB Steve Baylark (1,308 yards, 10 TD), the A-10 co-Player of the Year, notched his fourth 1,000-yard season, but the passing game is equally dangerous behind QB Liam Coen (2,179 yards, 20 TD/4 INT). Lafayette's late-season surge was keyed by RB Jonathan Hurt (1,181 yards, 15 TD), who will have to control the ball to protect a defense that has slipped a notch from last year.
No. 13 Coastal Carolina (9-2) at No. 1 Appalachian St. (10-1) (TV: ESPNU)
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m., MST
Venue: Kidd Brewer Stadium (17,000), Boone, N.C.
Forecast: Sunny, 58 degrees.
The teams: After an opening loss to Division I-A North Carolina State, defending national champ Appalachian State won 10 straight and cruised through the normally tough Southern Conference. This is the 14th playoff appearance for the Mountaineers, who haven't lost at home in Boone, N.C., in four seasons. That spells trouble for Coastal Carolina, making its playoff debut after snagging an at-large berth out of the Big South. The Chants have only played football for four years.
The matchup: Appalachian State graduated record-setting QB Richie Williams but has another gem in freshman Armanti Edwards, who can pass (1,065 yards, 11 TD) or run (685 yards, 9 TD). He's complemented by RB Kevin Richardson (1,065 yards, 19 TD) and WR William Mayfield (18.4 yards per catch). The defense, which gives up just 12.5 points, has two of the nation's best safeties in Jeremy Wiggins and Corey Lynch, and a fine DE in Marques Murrell (65 tackles, 7 sacks). Coastal Carolina has a dangerous player in QB Tyler Thigpen (2,945 yards, 26 TD) but has struggled mightily against the run, surrendering 183.6 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry.
No. 7 Furman (8-3) at No. 18 Montana State (7-4) (KLCY AM 930)
Kickoff: 11:30 a.m., MST
Venue: Bobcat Stadium (13,500), Bozeman, Mont.
Forecast: Possible snow showers, 31 degrees.
The teams: Southern Conference runner-up Furman, the 1988 national champ, is back in the playoffs for a third straight year and 15th time overall. It didn't come easy for the Paladins, who won four games by seven points or less to land an at-large bid, then found out they had to fly across the country from South Carolina to Bozeman. Montana State, the Big Sky runner-up, joined Eastern Illinois as the first at-large teams to have four losses since Idaho in 1995. MSU won the 1984 national title in its first playoff appearance, but its only other trips ended in first-round losses at McNeese State (2002) and Northern Iowa (2003).
The matchup: Furman is banged up, and starting QB Renaldo Gray (1,045 yards) may not play. The Paladins, who average 174.2 rushing yards, will need productive games from RB Cedrick Gipson (845 yards) and FB Jerome Felton (670 yards, 22 TD), and a typically solid effort from an opportunistic defense led by LB Andrew Jones (112 tackles). MSU's up-and-down offense, which averages just 98.5 rushing yards per game, is led by QB Jack Rolovich (1,212 yards, 8 TD/9 INT) and WR Michael Jefferson (842 yards, 8 TD). The Bobcats' strength is their defense, anchored by LB Bobby Daly (107 tackles) and FS Ryan Force.
No. 9 New Hampshire (8-3) at No. 8 Hampton (10-1)
Kickoff: 11 a.m., MST.
Venue: Armstrong Stadium (17,000), Hampton, Va.
Forecast: Partly cloudy, 60 degrees.
The teams: New Hampshire needed an overtime win over Atlantic-10 rival Maine last Saturday to earn an at-large berth and make the playoffs for the third year in a row. The Wildcats also advanced in 1991 and 1994. The Hampton Pirates captured the MEAC's automatic bid for the third straight season and fifth time overall, but are still looking for their first playoff victory.
The matchup: New Hampshire's high-octane attack, which averages 36.5 points, is fueled by a pair of Walter Payton Award candidates. QB Ricky Santos (2,681 yards, 23 TD/5 INT) has a dangerous target in WR David Ball (82 catches, 990 yards, 11 TD), who broke Jerry Rice's I-AA record for career TD receptions this season. That sets up a classic matchup against Hampton's defense, which leads the nation against the pass and has a Buchanan Award candidate in LB Justin Durant (84 tackles, 12 for loss). New Hampshire's defense, despite forcing 21 turnovers, has been vulnerable to the run. That should give hope to Hampton, especially since veteran RB Alonzo Coleman (909 yards, 11 TD) is rounding into form after struggling with early-season injuries.
No. 6 James Madison (9-2) at No. 5 Youngstown State (9-2) (TV: ESPN2)
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m., MST
Venue: Stambaugh Stadium (20,630), Youngstown, Ohio
Forecast: Cloudy, 48 degrees.
The teams: The opening round's marquee matchup features a couple of heavyweights. Atlantic-10 runner-up James Madison, which defeated the Griz for the 2004 national title, made it out of the Virginia hills and back to the playoffs as an at-large selection after a one-year absence. This is the Dukes' seventh appearance. The Youngstown State Penguins, whose four national titles trails only Georgia Southern, won the Gateway after being snubbed last year despite an 8-3 record. This marks the 11th playoff trip for the Ohio power.
The matchup: Youngstown RB Marcus Mason (1,496 yards, 19 TD) is on a roll, having rushed for more than 170 yards in the past five games. When Mason missed a game against Western Kentucky, Monquantae Gibson stepped in and rushed for 236 yards. QB Tom Zetts (1,476 yards, 10 INT) has struggled at times. The defense has given up 340 yards per game, but also forced 21 turnovers. Third-year starting QB Justin Rascati (1,900 yards, 19 TD/6 INT) has been more effective with the emergence of RB Eugene Holloman (995 yards, 8 TD). The Dukes' strength, however, is a defense led by LB Akeem Jordan (126 tackles, 16 for loss), the A-10 Player of the Year and a Buchanan Award candidate. DE Kevin Winston (11 sacks) spearheads a unit that leads the nation with 48 sacks.
No. 11 Illinois State (8-3) at No. 14 Eastern Illinois (8-4)
Kickoff: Noon, MST
Venue: O'Brien Stadium (10,000), Charleston, Ill.
Forecast: Cloudy, 53 degrees.
The teams: Illinois State returns to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and only the third time in school history. The Redbirds joined Southern Illinois as at-large selections out of the Gateway Conference. Eastern Illinois, the alma mater of Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo, made it back for a second straight year - and 11th time overall - after receiving an at-large bid from the Ohio Valley. The Panthers played 12 games because of a trip to Division I-A Hawaii.
The matchup: Eastern Illinois' attack revolves around RB Vincent Webb (1,351 yards) and QB Cole Stinson (1,270 yards, 12 TD). The defense leads the nation with 32 takeaways, including 19 fumble recoveries. Donald Thomas and Tristan Burge have combined for 223 tackles. Illinois State counters with RB Pierre Rembert (1,507 yards, 15 TD) and QB Luke Drone (2,595 yards, 19 TD/5 INT). The Redbirds don't have great defensive numbers, but features a strong LB corps in Cameron Siskowic (130 tackles), Kyle Stewart and Niall Campbell.
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