Welcome to the Sickos Committee’s Weather, Travel & Football Master Almanac Network aka the SCWTFMAN.

Here at the SCWTFMAN we will attempt to forecast the upcoming 2024 college football season by using our Sickos Committee alert system. We’re going to do this in the Famer’s Almanac style. If you don’t know what a Farmers' Almanac is, basically it provides long-range weather predictions for both the U.S. and Canada. We will be applying our forecast to all of Division I in the United States. We’re trying to predict what the upcoming season holds for all Division I teams in college football using our Sickos Committee Weather Alert System.

First we will preview the 129 FCS teams in a conference by conference breakdown over the next coming weeks. Then we will get to the FBS.

Will these previews be long winded and incredibly in depth? No. 

Will these previews be mostly based on “vibes” as assessed by the Sickos Committee weather forecasters? Yes. 

Basically, we’re going to try to assess the team as a Sickos Warning, Watch or Advisory, give you their record last year, provide a little blurb about the team and for the FCS version to possibly advise you of any of their games against the FBS and interesting schedule tidbits. This year we’re also adding a conference specific thing.

For the SoCon, we noticed nearly 20% of FBS used to be in the Southern Conference at one time or another. So, we’ll give you the distance to the nearest former SoCon conference member.

The Southern Conference

Chattanooga

Where: Chattanooga, TN

Last Year’s Record: 8-5 (6-2 SoCon)

Why Should You Care: The Mocs are coming off their first FCS Playoffs appearance since 2016, and have a roster with many great football names, including Quay Wiggles & AD Crutcher.

Also, their stadium used to host the FCS Championship game from 1997 - 2009 before it moved to Frisco, TX.

Sickos Forecast: Advisory - This team has improved each of the last 3 seasons and is poised to make another postseason appearance.

Potential Sickos Game(s): vs Portland State on September 28. This is the first half of a home-and-home that will see the Mocs travel nearly 2,500 miles to the pacific northwest in 2025. The Vikings are a feisty bunch, and will surely contend here.

Nearest Former SoCon School: 109 miles to Tennessee.

The Citadel

Where: Charleston, SC

Last Year’s Record: 0-11 (0-8 SoCon)

Why Should You Care: Not so fun fact but The Citadel is coming off its first winless season since 1918. They will be trying to build on offense after averaging just 10 PPG last season, the lowest in FCS.

Sickos Forecast: Advisory - Military academies are always at a disadvantage, and we’re just hoping the Bulldogs win a single game this year to snap the streak.

Potential Sickos Game(s): vs Charleston Southern on August 31. The crosstown schools face off in the Lowcountry Boil Bowl (say that five times fast), where the winner gets a trophy full of piping hot seafood and corn.

Also vs North Greenville on September 14, their best chance for a win all year.

Nearest Former SoCon School: 112 miles to South Carolina.

East Tennessee State

Where: Johnson City, TN

Last Year’s Record: 3-8 (2-6 SoCon)

Why Should You Care: ETSU brings in a new coach in Tre Lamb, who was HC at Gardner-Webb the past 4 seasons, with playoff appearances the last 2 years.

Sickos Forecast: Warning - Lamb will be implementing an air raid offense for the Buccaneers, meaning we should get some shootouts this year.

Potential Sickos Game(s): vs Samford on October 12. The last 3 games between these 2 have averaged 91 combined points per game, and add in the new air raid offense, this has all the ingredients for some fun.

Nearest Former SoCon School: 56 miles to Appalachian State.

Furman

Where: Greenville, SC

Last Year’s Record: 10-3 (7-1 SoCon)

Why Should You Care: The ‘Dins have won an FCS playoff game each of the last 2 years, and nearly went 10-1 in the regular season last year before being stunned by then 1-9 Wofford in the regular season finale.

Sickos Forecast: Advisory - They return most of their key talent, along with head coach Clay Hendrix being back for a 7th season, and have their eyes set on a deep playoff run.

Potential Sickos Game(s): vs Chattanooga on October 12. A home game the week before homecoming could result in a trap game here, and the Paladins will need to keep their head up.

Nearest Former SoCon School: 32 miles to Clemson.

Mercer

Where: Macon, GA

Last Year’s Record: 9-4 (6-2 SoCon)

Why Should You Care: The Bears are off their first FCS playoff appearance in school history, having only reinstated their football program in 2012 after not having one for 72 years! They beat Gardner-Webb in round 1 before running into the juggernaut that is South Dakota State.

Sickos Forecast: Watch - The bring in a new head coach this year in Mike Jacobs, former Lenoir-Rhyne HC and former long snapper at Ohio State! Will be an interesting transition to watch.

Potential Sickos Game(s): vs Princeton on October 12. A random non-conference game in October against an Ivy League school feels like it could be full of mayhem.

Nearest Former SoCon School: 87 miles to Georgia Tech

Samford

Where: Homewood, AL

Last Year’s Record: 6-5 (4-4 SoCon)

Why Should You Care: The Bulldogs were a middling FCS program for many years, but have turned a corner recently, and are still trying to recapture the magic from an 11-2 season in 2022.

Sickos Forecast: Watch - 2023 was a major disappointment following an FCS quarterfinals appearance, and they’ll be out for serious revenge this season.

Potential Sickos Game(s): at West Georgia on August 31. This will be West Georgia’s first game as an FCS program, and the fired up Wolves will be a good test out the gate for the Bulldogs.

Nearest Former SoCon School: 58 miles to Alabama.

VMI

Where: Lexington, VA

Last Year’s Record: 5-6 (4-4 SoCon)

Why Should You Care: The Keydets are experiencing a program resurgence, having won 5 or more games 4 of the last 5 seasons after not reaching that mark since 2003. Also, their mascot is Moe the Kangaroo. The Keydets Kangaroo.

Sickos Forecast: Warning - VMI is a very defense-first school, only scoring 20 points thrice (must use thrice when you get the chance) last year, and when they win, it’s often quite ugly.

Potential Sickos Game(s): vs Bucknell on September 7. The Keydets lost at Bucknell last year in a close 21-13 matchup, and these 2 evenly-matched teams should play a tight one this time as well.

Nearest Former SoCon School: 65 miles to Virginia.

Western Carolina 

Where: Cullowhee, NC

Last Year’s Record: 7-4 (5-3 SoCon)

Why Should You Care: The Catamounts have improved their record each of the last 3 seasons and have a high-flying offense, scoring 49+ points in 4 games last season.

Sickos Forecast: Watch - We love a team that can get into shootouts, and when the matchup is right, we’ll get some fun ones from WCU.

Potential Sickos Game(s): vs Campbell on September 7. The Camels like to score in bunches as well, and there’s a high chance for plenty of offense here.

Nearest Former SoCon School: 65 miles to Clemson.

Wofford 

Where: Spartanburg, SC

Last Year’s Record: 2-9 (2-6 SoCon)

Why Should You Care: Wofford won 3 straight SoCon titles from 2017-2019, but hasn't had a winning season since. They still can put up a fight, as seen in their major upset of Furman to finish last season. Their two wins in conference last year were against the winless Citadel and the Conference Champion Furman. What a weird season to say the least but they ended with two straight wins!

Sickos Forecast: Watch - The Terriers only eclipsed 20 points in one game last year, but still had 5 one-score games. If they force you into a defensive struggle, watch out.

Potential Sickos Game(s): vs The Citadel on November 16. These two played a “Something’s Gotta Give” game last year, as both were 0-9 when they faced off. Terriers won it 11-3, and an ugly one should be in store this year as well.

Nearest Former SoCon School: 67 miles to Clemson.

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