FCS Second-Round Playoff
The Matchup – UNI (7-5) at No. 6 seed UC Davis (9-2) at Aggie Stadium (10,743) in Davis, California
Kickoff – 7 p.m. ET
Coverage – ESPN3
Series – First meeting
3 Players to Watch – UNI: QB Eli Dunne (197 of 333, 18 TDs, 6 INTs), RB Marcus Weymiller (221 carries, 922 yards, 7 TDs; 14 receptions, 2 TDs), DE Rickey Neal (53 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks); UC Davis: QB Jake Maier (310 of 477, 3,387 yards, 31 TDs, 6 INTs), WR Keelan Doss (100 receptions, 1,054 yards, 9 TDs), LB Mason Moe (66 tackles, 16 TFL, 8.5 sacks)
The Skinny – Northern Iowa, or UNI, had a tougher-than-expected game against Lamar in a 16-13, first-round win last Saturday. Still, the Panthers from the Missouri Valley Football Conference are facing an opponent in its FCS playoff debut for the second straight week while their program is playing for the 47th time. Working with a Carl Twait-led O-line, they will try to beat the Aggies with physical play at the line of scrimmage. Weymiller has rushed for at least 89 yards in the last six games, including a season-high 128 yards against Lamar. The defense has three shutouts, but also a handful of porous games. CB Xavior Williams has been slowed by an ankle injury, which is a negative considering how UC Davis’ passing game spreads out opponents. The Panthers are just 2-4 outside their UNI-Dome. UC Davis, a former Division II power which moved to the FCS in 2007, ranks sixth nationally in scoring (42.2 ppg) and seventh in total offense (495.5 ypg). Maier was the Big Sky’s offensive player of the year one year after Doss won the award. They are the focal points of the offense, but UNI also has to account for freshman RB Ulonzo Gilliam (1,134 yards from scrimmage) on carries and catches out of the backfield. With an undersized front in the 3-4 defense, the Aggies’ linebackers are going to have to fill the gaps. The secondary is young, but experienced.
Up Next – The winner will play either Nicholls (9-3) or No. 3 seed Eastern Washington (9-2) in the quarterfinals Dec. 7 or 8.
Prediction – It’s the Big Sky-MVFC Challenge Series all over again. UNI is bigger and stronger, but UC Davis is healthier and more explosive. UC Davis, 28-24.
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