A battle between two undefeated teams -- the Winston-Salem State Rams and the St. Augustine’s Falcons -- is my HBCU game of the week.

At stake this weekend is separation and supremacy in the CIAA Southern Division. St. Aug hopes to go undefeated in the conference, while Winston-Salem State is looking for complete domination in Division II.

Expect a game full of action and high scoring, with the winner being all but championship bound.

The Falcons will travel to Winston-Salem State with a 3-0 record in conference play. They also are averaging 41 points in their last three games. Their deadliest talon has been senior running back Walter Sanders, who currently has 756 rushing yards and is on track to be well over 1,000 by season’s end.

While Sanders has averaged 140 yards per game, he will face a stingy Winston-Salem defense that has given up just under 85 yards per game this season. So if the Falcons have any hope of winning they must present a balanced offensive attack – and that means getting their passing game going early and often. What is even more obvious is that St. Augustine’s will have to keep a keen eye on WSSU’s sophomore quarterback, Kameron Smith, and his top-rated passing game.

My heart is with St. Aug, but my mind is telling me that Coach Connell Maynor and the WSSU Rams are making a statement this year and are looking to head not only to the CIAA championship in Durham but to the overall Division II championship as well.

I don’t believe that St. Augustine’s – despite their perfect record -- is the team that will stop the Rams’ quest. Therefore, I pick WSSU over St. Aug 38-14.

As for the battle of the bands, much like WSSU’s football team, the Red Sea of Sound appears to be heading to a perfect CIAA season. I’m picking them, too, to emerge victorious.

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