Bob Belvin has broadcast games across the OVC for over a decade, and served as host of league Media Day events. Each week this season he will share his thoughts and opinions on matchups and happenings around the OVC and FCS.
After a month of challenging non-conference action, Ohio Valley Conference football officially kicks into gear this Saturday as the race for the league championship and automatic FCS playoff berth begins.
AROUND THE OVC
• Several conference members will be idle this week as the league transitions into conference play.
• Southeast Missouri opens its OVC schedule next Saturday at Lindenwood after completing a challenging five-game non-conference stretch, going
• UT Martin also begins conference competition on October 10th with it travels to Nashville to face Tennessee State
• Eastern Illinois also has an open date this week before making the long trek to Gardner-Webb for its conference opener on October 10th
• Lindenwood does not begin league action again until hosting Southeast Missouri on October 10th
NORTH/SOUTH BBQ BOWL
Gardner-Webb at Charleston Southern
6:00PM ET, ESPN+ | Charleston, S.C.
The conference opener in North Charleston features two programs that know each other well from their days in the Big South Conference. Both teams enter league play looking to make an early statement in a crowded OVC race. Gardner-Webb (1-4) will look to establish itself as a contender after navigating a difficult September slate, which included a gut-wrenching loss last week at FBS Marshall. Charleston Southern (2-2) hopes home-field advantage can help it secure a critical opening victory. Answering to the important elements of the North/South BBQ Bowl (the name given to the annual GWU-CSU clash) CSU HC Gabe Giardina spent some his time on Tuesday’s coaches call explaining the distinct difference between South Carolina and North Carolina explain both states “treat the meat the same” adding that South Carolina BBQ is “going to be mustard based” while North Carolina’s offering is “more vinegar(y)”. CSU has been saucy this season going 80% so far on red zone opportunities.
As for the game, Giardina was very impressed with GWU after watching tape from the Marshall game especially noting that their defense is leading the OVC in sacks while on offense noting Giovanni Adopte after he hauled in seven catches for 179 yards. GWU QB Chad Pennington continues to impress throwing for just under 300 yards last week.
What to Watch: This looks to be a down-to-the-wire game.
Take Your Pick: GWU’s passing attack or CSU’s strong run game.
WESTWARD BOUND: ARE THE TIGERS READY TO ROAR?
Tennessee State at Western Illinois
3:00PM CT, ESPN+ | Macomb, Ill.
Tennessee State opens OVC play on the road with a trip to Macomb to face Western Illinois. The Tigers' conference schedule begins with one of their longest road journeys of the season, before numerous home dates later in October and November. Western Illinois enters the conference season looking to defend its home turf and gain an early head-to-head advantage over one of the league's traditional powers. With both teams expecting to be factors in the standings race, this matchup could carry significant tiebreaker implications by season's end.
WIU HC Joe Davis characterized last weeks loss at North Alabama as “our best effort of the season” and was still visibly frustrated on this week’s Media Call. Defensively for the Leathernecks CJ Johnson “been steady and the team’s most consistent defensive lineman” and one last important quote worth noting from Davis, “You go through 25 years and think you’ve seen it all until you haven’t.. Tough to move on from that one,” noting that moving on from the loss will indeed be critical as they face a resurgent TSU Tiger squad who finally won a road game heading into their bye week. A 20-yard touchdown pass from Daylin Lee to Brenton Paul propelled TSU to their first win in 11 months two weeks ago. Paul and Lee are emerging for the Tigers who remain in dire need of consistent offensive production, averaging less than 20 points per game. WIU ran the ball 45 times last week and is very content with grinding it out and making this contest too, a fourth quarter type of game.
What to Watch: Can Western Illinois continue to run the football rather effectively and benefit from a schedule that has featured a lot of early season homes dates against less-than-spectacular opponents. The schedule gets tougher for the Leathernecks starting Saturday.
FINAL WORD
The OVC championship race officially begins Saturday, and while only two conference games are on the schedule, both feature teams with aspirations of competing for the league crown. Early conference victories are often the difference between lifting a championship trophy in November and spending the offseason wondering what might have been. Expect a pair of physical battles as the chase for the OVC's automatic FCS playoff bid gets underway.