clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Which FCS Teams Have A Shot Versus Their FBS Foes in 2015

All 107 FCS vs FBS games are put into groups. Some may surprise you.

By TK Maxwell
Michael Shroyer/Getty Images

When it comes to FCS vs FBS games, it's a necessary evil in the eyes of the college football world. FCS opponents help FBS teams fill in schedule gaps, are cheaper to schedule than other FBS teams and add home games without having to deal with a return trip.

Each season, FCS teams travel to these games with dreams of pulling a shocker. And every year, these upsets happen. In 2014, there were seven such upsets. In 2013, 15 FCS teams claimed an FBS scalp.

2015 features 107 of these matchups. Below the teams are grouped into five tiers by how likely it is the FCS team could win, The games in each team aren't ranked by any likelihood of winning, but rather when the game happens.

Tier 1 - Very Possible

  1. South Dakota State vs Kansas
  2. Northern Iowa vs Iowa State
  3. Presbyterian vs Charlotte
  4. William & Mary vs Virginia
  5. Liberty vs Georgia State
Each of these games features a very bad FBS team and a decent to good FCS team. Out of these games, the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State look to have the best chance since Kansas will be horribly bad at the start of the season. Even though Charlotte defeated Presbyterian on the road two years ago, you have to figure the Blue Hose will give the Niners a heck of a game.

Tier 2 - Eyebrow Raiser

  1. New Hampshire vs San Jose State
  2. Illinois State vs Iowa
  3. Maine vs Boston College
  4. Sam Houston State vs Texas Tech
  5. Florida A&M vs South Florida
  6. Youngstown State vs Pittsburgh
  7. Western Illinois vs Illinois
  8. Indiana State vs Purdue
  9. Wofford vs Idaho
  10. Maine vs Tulane
  11. James Madison vs SMU
  12. Portland State vs North Texas
These are the game you should heavily consider taking the under. Maine is on this list twice for each of their FBS games. The cross-country trip is why Wofford at Idaho and New Hampshire at San Jose State aren't in the top tier. Depending on how SMU looks under Chad Morris, their late-season contest with JMU could move up or down a tier.

Tier 3 - If The Ball Bounces Right...

  1. Villanova vs Connecticut
  2. UC Davis vs Nevada
  3. Fordham vs Army
  4. Stony Brook vs Toledo
  5. Weber State vs Oregon State
  6. Portland State vs Washington State
  7. Wagner vs Rice
  8. Presbyterian vs Miami (OH)
  9. Southern Illinois vs Indiana
  10. Gardner-Webb vs South Alabama
  11. Tennessee Tech vs Houston
  12. Charleston Southern vs Troy
  13. Southeastern Louisiana vs Ohio
  14. Idaho State vs UNLV
  15. Austin Peay vs Vanderbilt
  16. North Carolina Central vs Florida Intl
  17. UC Davis vs Hawaii
  18. Bucknell vs Army
These are the games which have a  decent glimmer of hope for the FCS squads.  Many people are liking Villanova at UConn, but I'm less bullish on it. The Idaho State at UNLV game could be higher if the Bengals play better defense.

Tier 4 - Doubtful But Possible

  1. Elon vs Wake Forest
  2. VMI vs Ball State
  3. Southern Utah vs Utah State
  4. Abilene Christian vs Fresno State
  5. Rhode Island vs Syracuse
  6. Norfolk State vs Rutgers
  7. Richmond vs Maryland
  8. Wofford vs Clemson
  9. Albany vs Buffalo
  10. Howard vs Appalachian State
  11. North Dakota vs Wyoming
  12. Missouri State vs Memphis
  13. Howard vs Boston College
  14. Sacramento State vs Washington
  15. Austin Peay vs Southern Mississippi
  16. Eastern Illinois vs Northwestern
  17. Eastern Kentucky vs NC State
  18. Nicholls State vs Louisiana Monroe
  19. Norfolk State vs Old Dominion
  20. Central Arkansas vs Oklahoma State
  21. Murray State vs Western Michigan
  22. The Citadel vs South Carolina
These are the games where it would take a few good bounces and a crazy event or five to give the FCS team a chance. Depending on how the season goes, South Carolina hosting in-state military school The Citadel could be Spurrier's swan song and in a higher tier. Respect the Flexbone.

Tier 5 - No Chance

  1. Tennessee-Martin vs Ole Miss
  2. Colgate vs Navy
  3. Morgan State vs Air Force
  4. Grambling State vs California
  5. Lamar vs Baylor
  6. Bethune-Cookman vs Miami (FL)
  7. Towson vs East Carolina
  8. Alcorn State vs Georgia Tech
  9. Savannah State vs Colorado State
  10. McNeese State vs LSU
  11. San Diego vs San Diego State
  12. Mississippi Valley State vs New Mexico
  13. Southeast Missouri State vs Missouri
  14. Alabama A&M vs Cincinnati
  15. Prairie View A&M vs Texas State
  16. Southern vs Louisiana Tech
  17. Jackson State vs Middle Tennessee State
  18. South Dakota vs Kansas State
  19. Eastern Washington vs Oregon
  20. Stephen F Austin vs TCU
  21. Jacksonville State vs Auburn
  22. Liberty vs West Virginia
  23. Idaho State vs Boise State
  24. Monmouth vs Central Michigan
  25. Murray State vs Northern Illinois
  26. Savannah State vs Akron
  27. Furman vs Virginia Tech
  28. North Carolina Central vs Duke
  29. North Carolina A&T vs North Carolina
  30. Delaware State vs Kent State
  31. Northwestern State vs Louisiana Lafayette
  32. Cal Poly vs Arizona State
  33. Norfolk State vs Marshall
  34. Northwestern State vs Mississippi State
  35. The Citadel vs Georgia Southern
  36. Furman vs UCF
  37. Missouri State vs Arkansas State
  38. Western Carolina vs Tennessee
  39. Northern Arizona vs Arizona
  40. Nicholls State vs Colorado
  41. Delaware vs North Carolina
  42. Incarnate Word vs UTEP
  43. Samford vs Louisville
  44. Eastern Kentucky vs Kentucky
  45. Wagner vs BYU
  46. Tennessee-Martin vs Arkansas
  47. Southern vs Georgia
  48. Western Carolina vs Texas A&M
  49. Charleston Southern vs Alabama
  50. Chattanooga vs Florida State
Almost half these FCS vs FBS games are in this tier. The FCS teams here can make a good account of themselves and still lose by 20+ points. Special shoutout to Southern (the Louisiana one) at Georgia, both Savannah State games, Alcorn State at Georgia Tech and Alabama A&M at Cincy for being especially cringe-worthy.

More From Underdog Dynasty