Atlanta showdown tops schedule

BY:LUT WILLIAMS-BCSP Editor-- BCSP No. 2 North Carolina A&T and BCSP No.6 South Carolina State square off in the Georgia Dome Saturday (3:30 p.m.) in the marquee match-up of this week's football schedule, the 25th Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic. Rod Broadway's A&T squad (3-0, 1-0MEAC), the only undefeated team in black college football through the first month of the season, has not cracked The Sports Network FCS Top 25 despite wins over Appalachian State (24-21),Elon (23-10) and last week over MEAC rival Howard(27-19). The Aggies received 126 votes in this week's poll to finish five places out of the Top 25. South Carolina State (3-2, 1-0) under veteran 12-year head coach Buddy Pough, is the other MEAC school (besides A&T and 21st-ranked Bethune-Cookman)to receive votes in the FCS poll. The Bulldogs garnered seven votes. They opened the season with a close 27-20 loss to un-defeated (5-0) and now FCS fifth-ranked CoastalCarolina and a 52-13 loss at Clemson. They've come back to post big wins overAlabama A&M(32-0),Benedict(59-6), and last week's MEAC opener over Hampton (30-6).The game is critical for South Carolina State as A&T does not face defending conference champ Bethune-Cookman this season. The Bulldogs face Bethune-Cookman on October 26th in Daytona Beach, Florida. "If they get by us, they could very well havean undefeated season," said Pough Tuesday of A&T, who has now won seven straight games dating back to last season. "That's why this is a critical game for us."They're balanced everywhere. They've not allowed a rushing touchdown in forever (30 quar-ters) and they have as good of an offensive and defensive line as we've seen. Their special teams are among the leaders in the nation and they're getting great play from their quarterback. We've got our work cut out for us. ""In terms of winning, consistency and cham-pionships, we want to be where South Carolina State is," said Broadway Tuesday during the conference coaches' teleconference. SC State has won or shared four MEAC titles in the past decade, the last they shared in 2010 with Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. "We're not there yet but we'regetting better. This will be a good test of where we are." Elsewhere in the MEAC, BCSP No. 1.BETHUNE-COOKMAN(3-1) - Idle.NEXT: At Delaware State with a 2pm start. NORTH CAROLINA A&T(3-0) - Beat Howard Thursday, 27-19. NEXT:South Carolina State in Atlanta.3.TENNESSEE STATE(4-1) - Walloped Central State, 73-6. NEXT:Hosts SE Missouri.4.WINSTON-SALEM STATE(3-1) - Dominated Virginia Union, 55-15.NEXT:At home vs. Bowie State.5.JACKSON STATE(3-2) - Got by Southern, 19-14.NEXT:Hosts Arkansas Pine Bluff.6.SOUTH CAROLINA STATE(3-2) - Beat Hampton, 30-6. NEXT: Meets No. 2 NC A&T in Atlanta.7.TUSKEGEE(3-1)-Handled Lane, 42-14. NEXT: At Fort Valley State.8.ALABAMA STATE(3-2) - Knocked off Alcorn State, 49-30. NEXT: AtTexas Southern.9.PRAIRIE VIEW(4-1) - Outscored Stephen F. Austin, 56-48. NEXT:Grambling at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. 10. ALCORN STATE(3-2) - Lost to Alabama State, 49-30. NEXT: Hosting Warner. BCSP TOP TEN SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5th. Kentucky State vs. Alderson-Broaddus in Frankfort, KY. 12 noon.Howard vs. NC Central in Washington, DC 1pm.Livingstone vs. Virginia Union in Salisbury, NC 1pm.Mercyhurst vs. Cheyney in Erie, PA 1pm. Norfolk State vs. Savannah State in Norfolk, VA 1pm. Shaw vs. Virginia State in Durham, NC 1pm.St. Augustine's vs. Elizabeth City State in Raleigh, NC 1:30pm.Winston-Salem State vs. Bowie State in Winston-Salem, NC 1:30pm. Benedict vs. Miles in Columbia, SC 2pm. Delaware State vs. Bethune-Cookman in Dover, DE 2pm. Johnson C. Smith vs. Lincoln (Pa) in Charlotte, NC 2pm. West Texas A&M vs. Central State in Canyon, TX 3pm.Fayetteville State vs. Chowan in Fayetteville, NC 4pm.Stillman vs. Lane in Tuscaloosa, AL 5pm. Jackson State vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Jackson, MS 6pm Tennessee State vs. SE Missouri in Nashville, TN 6pm. Fort Valley State vs. Tuskegee in Fort Valley, GA 6pm. Homecoming S Alabama A&M vs. Mississippi Valley State in Huntsville, AL 1pm. Morgan State vs. Florida A&M in Baltimore, MD 1pm. West Virginia State vs. Urbana in Institute, WV 1:30pm. Concordia-Selma vs. Ave Maria in Selma, AL 12 noon. Alcorn State vs. Warner in Lorman, MS 2pm.Lincoln (MO) vs. Emporia State in Jefferson City, MO 2pm Edward Waters vs. Va.-Lynchburg in Jacksonville, FL 2pm. Classics- 25th Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic - ESPN3/ESPNU at 10:30pm - HSRN SC State vs. NC A&T in Atlanta, GA 3:30pm.Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic Prairie View A&M vs. Grambling State in Dallas, TX 4:30pm.TV games- Comcast SportsNet Houston Delayed - 10/8/13 in noon CT Texas Southern vs. Alabama State in Houston, TX 6pm- Bounce TV Morehouse vs. Clark Atlanta in Atlanta, GA 7pm.