FAMU football vs Bethune-Cookman prediction, X-Factors for Florida Classic
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Rivalry week is here.
Florida A&M football is taking on Bethune-Cookman in the annual Florida Classic at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium this Saturday, Nov. 22.
The Week 13 Southwestern Athletic Conference game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and Tallahassee radio station 96.1 JAMZ.
The Rattlers (5-5, 4-2 in SWAC) are fresh off a narrow 26-23 road victory over Alabama A&M behind four touchdowns by quarterback RJ Johnson III last Saturday, Nov. 15. It was FAMU’s second consecutive win and fourth triumph in its last five games.
Meanwhile, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (5-6, 4-3 in SWAC) traveled and lost to SWAC East frontrunner and defending Black College Football National Champion Jackson State 28-13.
FAMU has defeated longtime rivals Bethune-Cookman four straight seasons, dating back to 2021. All time, FAMU holds a 54-24-1 record over Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic.
Last year, the Rattlers won a 41-38 shootout versus the Wildcats. FAMU running back Thad Franklin Jr. had three touchdowns and rushed for a Florida Classic record of 195 yards en route to earning the game’s Most Valuable Player honors.
Will FAMU continue to claim bragging rights over Bethune-Cookman for the fifth straight year?
Let’s predict the score and discuss X-Factors for the rivalry matchup in The City Beautiful.
RJ Johnson III, FAMU Quarterback
FAMU is improving at quarterback and as an offense.
The Rattlers average 33.25 points per game in their last four wins versus Alcorn State, Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and Alabama A&M.
Johnson is fresh off his best performance at Alabama A&M. He completed 20 of 24 passes, 83 percent, for 299 yards, and threw three touchdowns and rushed for one.
He was named BOXTOROW’s HBCU National Player of the Week and SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
“I think the quality of our quarterback play has improved. Therefore, our team has improved,” said FAMU head coach James Colzie III.
FAMU’s midseason offensive surge comes after weeks of struggling to put the ball in the endzone, which played a large part in its 1-4 start to the season.
Now, the Rattlers are up against the Bethune-Cookman defense, which is the worst in the SWAC out of 12 teams.
The Wildcats allow 438.6 yards per game, eighth in SWAC run defense, and 12th in the league in stopping opposing offenses from passing the ball.
Last week, Bethune-Cookman allowed Jackson State to have three different rushers to eclipse 100 yards on the ground.
“You’re not playing North Carolina Central, you’re not playing Alabama State,” Colzie said. “Not discredit to everyone else, but those are some of the top teams in the country that we had to play early in the year.”
Despite its low performance in SWAC defensive statistics, Bethune-Cookman does well in intercepting passes. The Wildcats are fifth in the SWAC with eight interceptions.
Cornerbacks Johnny Harris III, Matthew McKenzie, and Gabe White are all tied at two apiece.
Johnson doesn’t throw many interceptions.
In fact, he has only thrown one pick all season against 14 touchdown passes and 2,086 yards.
“We can’t put the ball on the ground. They do a very, very good job of getting turnovers,” Colzie said.
Javon Ross, Bethune-Cookman Wide Receiver and Kick Returner
FAMU doesn’t have the best defense, either.
The Rattlers are eighth in the SWAC for total defense and give up 407.4 yards per game.
FAMU’s run defense allows 192 yards per game, 11th in the SWAC, and pass defense allows 215.4 yards per game, eighth in the league.
Bethune-Cookman’s run game is middle of the pack.
It’s the Wildcats’ SWAC-leading passing game that’s dangerous and helps them place fourth in the SWAC by scoring 28.9 points per game.
Quarterback Cam Ransom has completed 133 of 209 passes for 1,743 yards for 13 touchdowns against six interceptions.
His top receiver is Maleek Huggins, who is second in the SWAC with 56 catches and seven touchdowns, and third with 808 yards.
But don’t sleep on Javon Ross, a sophomore who has 50 receptions for 603 yards and three touchdowns.
“They have the ability to take one to distance at any given time,” Colzie said. “They’ve got a very talented bunch. We’re going to have our work cut out for us.”
Speaking of Ross, he returned a 98-yard kick return for a score at Jackson State. It was his second kick return that went for a touchdown this year.
FAMU has been prone to allowing some explosive kick and punt returns this season.
“They do a great job, special teams-wise, of getting those guys the ball,” Colzie assessed Bethune-Cookman. “Those are things that we’re going to have to take care of.”
FAMU football vs Bethune-Cookman will light up the scoreboard
“It’s going to be a great football game,” says Colzie.
And while it may sound cliché and obvious, whoever can score at the highest rate will raise the Florida Classic trophy on Saturday.
FAMU and Bethune-Cookman can score, especially against bad defenses.
But Bethune-Cookman’s offense has performed well against good teams more than FAMU has.
The Wildcats posted 41 points against South Carolina State, the defending Black College National Champion runner-up, and 35 against Alabama State, which is on the brink of a 10-win season and in the SWAC East race. Both games were losses, though.
FAMU hasn’t posted many points against good defenses, such as Alabama State (14), North Carolina Central (7), and Jackson State (16).
But those stats are irrelevant.
Both defenses can’t stop a nosebleed.
So, expect some offensive fireworks at Orlando’s Florida Classic this Saturday.
Gerald Thomas, III Official Score Prediction: Bethune-Cookman 38, FAMU 34
Florida A&M (5-5, 4-2 in SWAC) vs Bethune-Cookman (5-6, 4-3 in SWAC) ― Florida Classic
- When: Saturday, Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
- TV/Radio: ESPN+, 96.1 JAMZ
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football vs Bethune-Cookman Florida Classic rivalry game prediction
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