FCS CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

The two FCS powerhouses will finish up their collision course on January 11th in Frisco, Texas. Both teams have run through every FCS school on their schedule this year.

North Dakota State has won 7 of the last 8 FCS championship during this impressive dynasty, however, James Madison did find a way to win it all in 2016. The most interesting matchups in this game feature the ground attack. Both teams have an elite rushing attack and have really just run at will against anyone they have lined up against this year. The Bison are averaging nearly 300 yards a game on the ground and now feature something they never had to this extent in a true dual-threat at QB with freshman Trey Lance at the helm. Lance has rushed for over 900 yards this year and second on the team in rushing to Ty Brooks by just six yards. Both Easton Stick and Carson Wentz managed to rush for over 600 in previous seasons at NDSU, but Lance has taken it to a different level this year. However, James Madison will roll in by far the best rush defense the Bison has seen all year. JMU has only surrendered over 100 yards one time this year (Stony Brook) and they grade out to a 92 rush defense score, matching NDSU's 92 rush offense score. NDSU has rushed the ball at a 70% clip this year so this matchup will be a deciding factor in the game.

Conversely, North Dakota State does not have such a dominant rushing defense. JMU is also a rush heavy system (66% of plays) and average about 250 yards a game. This is the only matchup in the game where a team appears to have a distinct advantage on paper.

Both Finnelytics and Vegas are projecting very close games, however, I think the advantage JMU has on the ground will be the deciding factor overall.