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BCS TEAMS VS. I-AA: DON'T EXPECT AN UPSET

 
Published Sept. 5, 2009|Updated Sept. 9, 2009

USF and Florida, against Wofford and Charleston Southern, respectively, are involved in two of the 24 games this weekend that pit schools from BCS conferences - ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and Pac-10 - against I-AA teams. Upsets are rare. The best known is Appalachian State 34-32 at No. 5 Michigan in 2007.

In the past four seasons, I-AA teams have won only eight of 171 matchups and lost by an average score of 41-12.

The Big East has played the best against them since 2005 with no upsets and one game decided by 10 points or fewer (Syracuse over Northeastern 30-21 last season). The Big Ten has lost four and won four by 10 points or fewer. The only other perfect BCS conference is the SEC, though it has had four close calls, two by South Carolina against Wofford and one each by Arkansas and Mississippi.

The upsets

Oct. 20, 2007: North Dakota State 27, Minnesota 21

Sept. 8, 2007: Northern Iowa 24, Iowa State 13

Sept. 1, 2007: Appalachian State 34, Michigan 32

Sept. 16, 2006: Southern Illinois 35, Indiana 28

Sept. 9, 2006: New Hampshire 34, Northwestern 17

Sept. 2, 2006:Montana State 19, Colorado10

Sept. 2, 2006:Richmond 13, Duke0

Sept. 17, 2005: Cal-Davis 20, Stanford 17

Average scores

ACC 37-11

Big East 45-6

Big Ten 36-16

Big 12 45-13

Pac-10 43-12

SEC 40-12