Previews, team capsules, and predictions for the four FCS playoff games taking place this week follow. Team capsules for the 12 teams with byes will come along next week, don’t panic.

Albany (8-3) at Stony Brook (8-3)
Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, Stony Brook NY, 2pm ET
Video available via ESPN3. Audio available via WOFX and WUSB. Live Stats available via Stony Brook.
Series: Albany leads 9-4 (last: 2007, 24-23 Stony Brook at Albany)

Stony Brook Seawolves

Location: Stony Brook NY
Conference: Big South
Colors: Scarlet, Grey, and Blue
Playoff appearances: 1 (2011)
Coach: Chuck Priore (6th year, 36-30; overall 75-39 including six years at Trinity CT)
Key games: 31-24 loss at FBS Texas-El Paso in OT on 9/3; 21-20 loss to Brown on 9/17; 42-0 win over Coastal Carolina on 10/29; 41-31 win over then #16 Liberty on 11/19
Offense: 39.6 ppg, 449.4 ypg
Defense: 21.9 ppg, 334.4 ypg
Passing offense: 162.0 ypg
Passing defense: 239.0 ypg
Rushing offense: 287.4 ypg
Rushing defense: 95.4 ypg
Turnover margin: +16
Key players: QB Kyle Essington (60.0%, 1435 yds, 16 TD, 2 INT), RB Miguel Maysonet (214-1485, 135 ypg, 6.9 ypc, 15 TD), RB/KR Brock Jackolski (179-1229, 111.7 ypg, 6.9 ypc, 13 TD, 22-711 KR, 32.2 ypr, 1 TD), DB Donald Porter (5 INT)
Other notes: Two runners with over 1200 yards and 32 scores between them? Almost 300 yards a game running? And although they’re “only” 8-3, two of those losses were to FBS teams. They probably can’t get out of the second round, but I wouldn’t want to have to face them if I were a favorite in this field.

Albany Great Danes

Location: Albany NY
Conference: Northeast
Colors: Purple and Gold
Playoff appearances: 1 (2011; one appearance in D-III playoffs in 1977, 0-1)
Coach: Bob Ford (42nd year, 246-156; overall 255-178-1 including four years at Saint Lawrence)
Key games: 37-34 loss in OT at Colgate on 9/3; 31-15 loss to Maine on 9/17; 38-10 win over Duquesne on 10/8
Offense: 34.2 ppg, 421.5 ypg
Defense: 22.5 ppg, 347.4 ypg
Passing offense: 230.7 ypg
Passing defense: 195.9 ypg
Rushing offense: 190.7 ypg
Rushing defense: 151.5 ypg
Turnover margin: +8
Key players: QB Dan Di Lella (60.6%, 2325 yds, 24 TD, 8 INT), RB Drew Smith (177-1052, 95.6 ypg, 5.9 ypc, 9 TD), DL Eddie Delaney (8.5 sacks, 11.5 TFL)
Other notes: Delaney was born without a right forearm or hand, which makes his performance even more impressive. Di Lella heads a potent offense, but the defense is sort of weak; you can get away with giving up 350 yards a game if you’re strong in an area, but Albany gives up 350 because they’re sort of mediocre against both the run and the pass.

Stony Brook 37, Albany 26. Stony Brook allows enough in the air that Albany should be able to score some points, but the Seawolves’ running attack is going to eat time and wreak destruction all on its own. Albany is going to be forced into mistakes against a team with a tasty turnover margin.

Central Arkansas (8-3) at Tennessee Tech (7-3)
Tucker Stadium, Cookeville TN, 2pm
Video available via ESPN3. Audio available via TCWorks (m3u streaming file) and WGIC. Live Stats available via Presto Sports.
Series: first meeting.

Central Arkansas Bears

Location: Conway AR
Conference: Southland
Colors: Purple and Gray
Playoff appearances: 1 (2011; 2 appearances in D-II playoffs (2-2) and 13 NAIA playoff appearances (14-10) with 3 NAIA championships)
Coach: Clint Conque (12th year, 88-50)
Key games: 48-42 loss in OT at FBS Louisiana Tech on 9/10; 31-10 loss at Sam Houston State on 9/17; 21-18 win over then #22 McNeese State on 10/15; 23-22 win over Texas State on 11/12
Offense: 33.7 ppg, 405.8 ypg
Defense: 28.9 ppg, 413.4 ypg
Passing offense: 278.7 ypg
Passing defense: 257.8 ypg
Rushing offense: 127.1 ypg
Rushing defense: 155.5 ypg
Turnover margin: +12
Key players: QB Nathan Dick (62.8%, 2691 yds, 28 TD, 8 INT), RB Jackie Hinton (122-579, 64.3 ypg, 4.7 ypc, 4 TD), WR Jesse Grandy (43-683, 62.1 ypg, 15.9 ypc, 7 TD), DB Jestin Love (5 INT, 1 TD), DE Jermayne Lett (14.5 TFL), LB Seth Allison (14.5 TFL)
Other notes: Against a team that’s defensively stronger against the run, any UCA game is going to be a shootout. Against a team that can defend the pass well, they’re in trouble unless that team’s just hopeless against the run.

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles

Location: Cookeville TN
Conference: Ohio Valley
Colors: Purple and Gold
Playoff appearances: 1 (2011)
Coach: Watson Brown (5th year, 25-30; overall 119-181-1 including stints at Alabama-Birmingham, Vanderbilt, Rice, Cincinnati, and Austin Peay)
Key games: 34-31 win at Tennessee-Martin on 10/1; 42-40 loss to Tennessee State on 10/15; 21-14 win at then #14 Jacksonville State on 10/29; 38-37 loss to Murray State on 11/5; 28-21 win at then #25 Eastern Kentucky on 11/12
Offense: 34.1 ppg, 416.7 ypg
Defense: 24.5 ppg, 343.8 ypg
Passing offense: 208.1 ypg
Passing defense: 192.6 ypg
Rushing offense: 208.6 ypg
Rushing defense: 151.2 ypg
Turnover margin: +1
Key players: QB Tre Lamb (64.7%, 2051 yds, 15 TD, 9 INT; 102-205 rushing, 6 TD), RB Dontey Gay (180-1009, 100.9 ypg, 5.6 ypc, 15 TD), WR Tim Benford (58-826, 82.6 ypg, 14.2 ypc, 5 TD), DB Corey Watson (3 INT, 2 TD), LB Marcus Edwards (5 sacks, 9.5 TFL)
Other notes: Tech has a nicely balanced offense, but their defensive problem is similar to Albany’s: not good against either run or pass, and thus vulnerable against a team that’s potent one way or the other.

Central Arkansas 33, Tennessee Tech 30. It’s going to be somewhat of a gunfight, but I expect the Bears to squeak past. I would be shocked if a turnover didn’t ultimately decide the game.

James Madison (7-4) at Eastern Kentucky (7-4)
Roy Kidd Stadium, Richmond KY, 12pm ET
Game airs on ESPNU; video also available via ESPN3. Audio available via WCYO and James Madison (registration required for JMU feed, but audio-only feed is free). Live Stats available via .
Series: first meeting

James Madison Dukes

Location: Harrisonburg VA
Conference: Colonial
Colors: Purple and Gold
Playoff appearances: 10, 8-9, 1 title (1987, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011)
Coach: Mickey Matthews (12th year, 95-60)
Key games: 27-24 win at then #22 Liberty on 9/17; 20-14 win at then #6 William & Mary on 9/24; 31-7 win over then #10 Richmond on 10/1; 25-24 loss in OT to then #19 Maine on 10/8; 23-20 loss at then #15 Old Dominion on 10/29; 28-10 loss at then #9 New Hampshire on 11/5
Offense: 23.2 ppg, 349.0 ypg
Defense: 19.3 ppg, 305.0 ypg
Passing offense: 115.8 ypg
Passing defense: 209.5 ypg
Rushing offense: 233.2 ypg
Rushing defense: 95.5 ypg
Turnover margin: +4
Key players: QB Justin Thorpe (61.8%, 541 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT), RB Dae’Quan Scott (196-1166, 106.0 ypg, 5.9 ypc, 12 TD), DE D.J. Bryant (5.5 sacks, 11 TFL)
Other notes: Thorpe missed five games due to a suspension after reportedly failing a drug test. This is a run-first team and they make no effort to hide the fact. They’re also very stingy against the run, but extremely vulnerable to the pass.

Eastern Kentucky Colonels

Location: Richmond KY
Conference: Ohio Valley
Colors: White and Maroon
Playoff appearances: 20, 16-17, 2 titles (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2007, 2008, 2011; one appearance in D-II playoffs in 1976)
Coach: Dean Hood (4th year, 19-15)
Key games: 10-7 loss at FBS Kansas State on 9/3; 23-14 loss to then #14 Tennessee-Chattanooga on 9/17; 23-17 loss at Austin Peay on 9/24; 34-33 win at Murray State on 10/29; 52-48 win at then #18 Jacksonville State on 11/5; 28-21 loss to Tennessee Tech on 11/12; 23-16 win over Tennessee-Martin on 11/19
Offense: 28.9 ppg, 352.9 ypg
Defense: 23.6 ppg, 389.8 ypg
Passing offense: 149.9 ypg
Passing defense: 227.4 ypg
Rushing offense: 203.0 ypg
Rushing defense: 162.5 ypg
Turnover margin: +16
Key players: QB T.J. Pryor (54.8%, 1511 yds, 18 TD, 7 INT), RB Matt Denham (237-1445, 131.4 ypg, 5.4 ypc, 9 TD), WR Tyrone Goard (38-604, 54.9 ypg, 15.9 ypc, 11 TD), KR Jeremy Caldwell (28-658, 23.5 ypr, 1 TD), DB Kevin Hamlin (4 INT, 1 TD)
Other notes: A mostly balanced offense which leans toward the run, but a relatively weak defense regardless of the opponent’s scheme. They’ve relied on a strong return game and turnovers to survive much of the year, and they’ve been hot aside from the loss to Tennessee Tech.

James Madison 21, Eastern Kentucky 20. Eastern Kentucky is not going to stop the Dukes on the ground. They may have some trouble moving the ball, too. It’ll be close, but I only say that because I expect EKU to keep it that way by capitalizing on mistakes and special teams play.

Norfolk State (9-2) at Old Dominion (9-2)
Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium, Norfolk VA, 1:30pm ET
Video available via ESPN3. Audio available via WTXG and Old Dominion. Live Stats available via Old Dominion.
Series: first meeting.

Norfolk State Spartans

Location: Norfolk VA
Conference: Mid-Eastern
Colors: Green and Gold
Playoff appearances: 1 (2011; one appearance in D-II playoffs in 1984)
Coach: Pete Adrian (7th year, 43-35; overall 79-72-1
Key games:
Offense: 27.8 ppg, 392.6 ypg
Defense: 15.5 ppg, 266.0 ypg
Passing offense: 225.1 ypg
Passing defense: 167.5 ypg
Rushing offense: 167.5 ypg
Rushing defense: 98.5 ypg
Turnover margin: +5
Key players: QB Chris Walley (69.2%, 2309 yds, 17 TD, 4 INT), RB Takeem Hedgeman (145-669, 60.8 ypg, 4.6 ypc, 3 TD), WR Xavier Boyce (65-725, 65.9 ypg, 11.2 ypc, 4 TD), K Ryan Estep (20-21, long 40), LB Jamal Giddens (6.5 sacks, 9.5 TFL), LB Corwin Hammond (13 TFL), LB Hasan Craig (5.5 sacks, 12 TFL), DL Joey Christine (5.5 sacks, 11.5 TFL)
Other notes: On paper, this would appear to be the best defensive unit playing in the first round, but let’s remember that they play in the MEAC and temper our excitement a little. Not to take anything away from the Spartans, who have an aggressive and dominant linebacking corps, an accurate quarterback, and a kicker who’s almost automatic inside 40.

Old Dominion Monarchs

Location: Norfolk VA
Conference: Colonial
Colors: Slate Blue and Silver
Playoff appearances: 1 (2011)
Coach: Bobby Wilder (3rd year, 26-7)
Key games: 27-17 loss at then #7 Delaware on 9/24; 48-33 win over then #20 Massachusetts on 10/1; 39-35 loss to then #17 Towson on 10/15; 23-20 win over then #9 James Madison on 10/29
Offense: 35.8 ppg, 433.2 ypg
Defense: 26.2 ppg, 364.2 ypg
Passing offense: 262.4 ypg
Passing defense: 241.6 ypg
Rushing offense: 170.8 ypg
Rushing defense: 122.5 ypg
Turnover margin: +10
Key players: QB Taylor Heinicke (70.8%, 1770 yds, 15 TD, 1 INT), RB Angus Harper (120-569, 51.7 ypg, 4.7 ypc, 9 TD), RB Colby Goodwyn (104-493, 70.4 ypg, 4.7 ypc, 3 TD), WR Nick Mayers (51-593, 59.3 ypg, 11.6 ypc, 5 TD), DT Ronnie Cameron (6.5 sacks, 15.5 TFL), LB Craig Wilkins (13.5 TFL)
Other notes: Heinicke, a freshman, has started the last seven games and has been a revelation. The Monarchs are vulnerable against the pass, but unless you’re very adept at stopping a passing game it’s going to become a track meet.

Old Dominion 31, Norfolk State 22. Norfolk’s main problem is that their bread-and-butter on defense doesn’t mean squat to the Monarchs. ODU is going to throw, and they’re going to succeed. They finished second in the toughest FCS conference, and they’re simply better.