What a time to be a football fan. Not only is the 2021 NFL Draft going on this weekend, but on top of that, the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs are all set to take place on Sunday.
South Dakota State will host MVFC rival Southern Illinois on Sunday night. The Jackrabbits almost shut out Holy Cross last weekend, winning 31-3. As for the Salukis, they took down previously unbeaten Weber State. The winner of South Dakota State vs Southern Illinois will face the winner of Delaware vs Jacksonville State. The Hens and Gamecocks easily took care of their first round opponents. Delaware held on to beat Sacred Heart,19-10, last weekend. As for the Gamecocks, they crushed Davidson, 49-14. On the other half of the FCS Playoffs bracket, James Madison will host a good North Dakota team. The Dukes were faced a tough VMI team last weekend, 31-24. The Fighting Hawks dominated MVFC rival Missouri State, 44-10, to advance to the quarterfinals. Finally, in the biggest matchup of the weekend, Sam Houston State will host North Dakota State for the right to go to the semi-finals.
It should be a great day of FCS Playoff Football on Sunday. Let’s check out the third match-up of the day, North Dakota at (3) James Madison!
North Dakota vs James Madison | FCS Football Playoffs
Date: Sunday, May 2nd, 2021 | Time: 6 PM ET
Coverage: ESPN2
Location: Bridgeforth Stadium — Harrisonburg, VA
North Dakota vs James Madison Betting Odds
Spread: UND +3 (-110) | JMU -3 (-110)
Moneyline: UND (+130) | JMU (-150)
Total: 52.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks have been one of the best stories of this weird FCS Spring Football season. Under head coach “Bubba” Schweigert, the Hawks sit at 5-1, with a great chance to advance. The Hawks downed top-ranked South Dakota State, 28-17, at the end of February. After that win, the Hawks won two in a row before falling to rival North Dakota State in the Fargodome. Freshman quarterback Tommy Schuster has been great for the Hawks. If Schuster and running backs Luke Skokna and Otis Weah can have big games, UND could waltz into the semi-finals.
James Madison could care less about how great a story the Hawks have been. The Dukes are mad, and they have a right to be. Ranked number one in the polls all year, to only pick up the three seed? Head coach Curt Cignetti and his Dukes are having none of it. They believe they’re the best team in the FCS, and they could be right. Percy Agyei-Obese, a Walter Payton Award finalist, and Jawon Hamilton could be the best 1-2 running punch in the country. It’s going to be tough to stop an angry Dukes team.
