AGS Game Of The Week, 2024 Week 4

[Chalupa Batman]

Only 6 games this week (or 7 if “other” is your choice), but there are plenty of exciting non-conference matchups to choose from. For the 2nd week in a row, there’s a mini CAA/SoCon challenge as there’s 2 games between the leagues to choose from.


#24 Western Carolina @ #8 Montana This looked to be a colossal cross-country matchup after week 1, but week 2 losses for both teams has this feeling more like a must win for both teams before they enter conference play.

#28 East Tennessee State @ #37 Elon The Buccaneers look to avoid a let-down and build off their near win against NDSU, while the Phoenix look to rebound after their first loss of the season and snag a quality non-conference win.

#25 Furman @ #14 William & Mary Two teams that are moving in opposite directions. Can the Paladins right the ship and snag a ranked win, can the Tribe continue their strong start heading into conference play?

#17 Southeast Missouri State @ #7 Southern Illinois With both teams off to strong starts, The War for the Wheel could have massive playoff implications come playoff selection/seeding time.

#29 Northern Arizona @ #16 Incarnate Word Both teams are probably considering this a must win. The Lumberjacks begin conference play against 3 teams currently ranked in the top 11 of the AGS poll, while the Cardinals need this game to have any chance of a high-ish seed should they prevail in the Southland.

#3 Idaho @ #21 Abilene Christian At the beginning of the season this looked like a bit of a breather for the Vandals between their first 3 games and conference play, but now it is another opportunity for a resume boosting win. The Wildcats can get a huge win that would give them a little margin for error in conference play.

[Professor Chaos]

Not only is SEMO/SIU a matchup of two pretty highly ranked teams it seems like that game is always a crazy one.

I just hope Hugh Jasoll emails into the broadcast again. xlolx

https://twitter.com/Reddit_FCS/status/1703490633019670858

[MSUBobcat]

Not only is SEMO/SIU a matchup of two pretty highly ranked teams it seems like that game is always a crazy one.

I just hope Hugh Jasoll emails into the broadcast again. xlolx

https://twitter.com/Reddit_FCS/status/1703490633019670858

Wow... just... wow. I wonder if the announcer ever found Amanda Huggenkis. Class of 1999.

[wcugrad95]

Tough choice this week with so many ranked (or at least close to ranked) match-ups. All 3 SOCON-related games are really important for those schools, and all 3 teams are on the road. My criteria changes from week-to-week, and this week I am going with ETSU @ Elon because both are trying to prove they are top-25/playoff caliber teams but one of them is going to be 1-3 come Sunday.

[KPSUL]

How about Howard vs Hampton? A rivalry game on a neutral field with two evenly matched teams. The annual game to determine "The Real HU". It means a lot to the teams and schools involved.

[ST_Lawson]

Not only is SEMO/SIU a matchup of two pretty highly ranked teams it seems like that game is always a crazy one.

It's also a pretty big non-conference rivalry game.
They're ~54 miles apart: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wbzeAmSX1vq5Gn9F8
They've played 91 times dating back to 1909 with SEMO leading the series 40-43-8.
#17 SEMO vs #7 SIU was my vote for this week.

Although, I'd like to add an honorable mention for Illinois State/Eastern Illinois this weekend. This will be the 112th "Mid-America Classic" between the two schools that are separated by just over 100 miles of mostly corn. The series dates back to 1901 and the Redbirds hold a 59-43-9 advantage over the Panthers. ISU has won five of the last six contests in the series overall but dropped a heartbreaker by a point at EIU last year. ISU is tied for 18th in this week's AGS poll, and while EIU is not in the AGS poll currently, they were 8-3 last year and won their only FCS game so far this year (27-20 over Indiana State).

[Outsider1]

As much as I would like to vote for my team as a GOTW, I just don't see it. It should be a good game, but the SEMO and Southern Illinois will be the bigger one. It has bigger implications and more of a rivalry feel. I think Montana will take care of business, and although there could be post season implications the SEMO/SIU will have more. The other games are good, but also not quite GOTW.

[KPSUL]

As much as I would like to vote for my team as a GOTW, I just don't see it. It should be a good game, but the SEMO and Southern Illinois will be the bigger one. It has bigger implications and more of a rivalry feel. I think Montana will take care of business, and although there could be post season implications the SEMO/SIU will have more. The other games are good, but also not quite GOTW.

The only big thing about this game is how much South Ill. will win by, I'd guess at least 17 points. I'd be more interested in seeing how Idaho plays down in Texas.

[FU_Paladin08]

I choose Idaho bc I like to see the Big Sky and Valley teams come out of their corner of the country. NDSU made that interesting last week!

[Outsider1]

I choose Idaho bc I like to see the Big Sky and Valley teams come out of their corner of the country. NDSU made that interesting last week!

I do agree that it's nice to see more of these match ups. We enjoyed going up and playing North Dakota back in '22. I like Idaho coming down to our end of the country.

[ElCid]

I got to think about this for a day or two. These are all really good games.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I went with SEMO at SIU given their history, geographical proximity and their current ranking. I believe SEMO will put up a good fight, just not convinced they're ready to get over the hump. Last year's meeting in Cape Girdadeau was absolutely bonkers.

Eastern Illinois at Illinois State also has my attention....

[Houndawg]

I went with SEMO at SIU given their history, geographical proximity and their current ranking. I believe SEMO will put up a good fight, just not convinced they're ready to get over the hump. Last year's meeting in Cape Girdadeau was absolutely bonkers.

Eastern Illinois at Illinois State also has my attention....

Who the better team is doesn't mean a lot in this game and last year wasn't the first bonkers game in recent history. Coach Matukewicz was an assitant here with Jerry Kill and a kot of locals were hoping he would take over when Kill left