When the country saw that FIVE MVFC teams had made the FCS Playoffs, we knew there would be at least a couple in-conference clashes. That is exactly what we have here. In his first year at the helm, Missouri State coach Bobby Petrino would like to make some noise in the FCS Playoffs. However, on the other sideline, North Dakota head coach Kyle Schweigert has other plans in mind. Missouri State closed out the season winners of four straight. The Bears played three games in the fall, losing to Oklahoma and Central Arkansas twice. On the other side, North Dakota is having one of the best seasons in recent memory. They opened the spring with a win over Southern Illinois. They went on to upset top-seeded South Dakota State, 28-17. This should be a great game on Saturday.
Let’s take a look at this FCS Playoffs matchup of Missouri State vs North Dakota, review the betting odds and give our official FCS football prediction.
Missouri State vs North Dakota | FCS Football Playoffs
Date: Saturday April 24th, 2021 | Time: 4 PM ET
Coverage: ESPN3
Location: Alerus Center — Grand Forks, ND
Missouri State vs North Dakota Betting Odds
Spread: MSU +7 (-110) | UND -7 (-110)
Moneyline: MSU (+215) | UND (-260)
Total: 44.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)
These two MVFC rivals didn’t get a chance to meet in the regular season. However, the FCS Playoffs seems like the perfect setting for this great matchup. Coaching journeyman Bobby Petrino has done a great job with the Bears this year. After losing three games in the fall, they reloaded and won four of five games this spring. The Bears somehow finished the regular season with a negative point differential. Quarterback Jaden Johnson, a one-time Louisville commit, has been up and down all season. He’s thrown six interceptions, but has been a big play threat in the running game. The Missouri State defense will need to have a near-perfect game to slow down Hawks’ backfield tandem of Tommy Schuster and Otis Weah.
Speaking of Weah and Schuster, the Hawks offense has been explosive all year. The redshirt-freshman signal caller Schuster has burst onto the FCS football scene this year. He’s thrown for eight touchdowns to only three interceptions, all while completing his passes at a 65% clip. Schuster is a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award in the FCS. Running backs Otis Weah, a Walter Payton Award finalist, and Luke Skokna have combined for 10 rushing touchdowns this year. Weah has been great, but keep an eye on Luke “Sunshine” Skokna. He’s been a great change of pace back this year. If I was Missouri State, I wouldn’t kick the ball anywhere near him, or he can make you pay real quick.
FCS Football Prediction: North Dakota 23, Missouri State 13 (UND -7, Under 44.5).
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