FCS Playoffs betting lines & picks: South Dakota State a heavy favorite; perennial powerhouse North Dakota State a second-round underdog

FBS fans who want to get an idea of what an expanded playoff field may look like next season need to follow the FCS Playoffs. The second round is set for Saturday with 16 teams facing off.

Let's review the betting lines and odds for all eight games along with the latest FCS Championship odds.

FCS Playoffs odds: Second Round

The FCS playoff format began with just four teams in 1978 (when the league was D I-AA). It has since expanded to its current 24-team format, with eight teams getting a bye in the first round.  

Second-round matchups do not get determined according to record or rankings but by geographic proximity.

Richmond Spiders (9-3) vs. No. 5 UAlbany Great Danes (9-3)

Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y.

Richmond was able to exploit a mediocre N.C. Central defense, wracking up nearly 500 yards of offense and 49 points (the previous season-high was 44 points vs. Campbell).

It will not be nearly as easy to get the offense on track against UAlbany's top-10 defense.

But while the Spiders defense was nothing special during the regular season, it may be good enough to slow down a mediocre Great Danes offense.

Youngstown State Penguins (8-4) vs. No. 8 Villanova Wildcats (9-2)

Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Villanova Stadium in Philadelphia.

Youngstown State dominated Duquesne in the first round last weekend, 40-7. But they will have a tougher time slowing down Villanova's top-10 offense (total yards).

The Wildcats' top-10 defense will probably keep the Penguins offense in check for most of the game. After a dominant effort in the first round, Youngstown State may find themselves on the other end of a blowout this week.

Chattanooga Mocs (8-4) vs. No. 7 Furman Paladins (9-2)

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Paladin Stadium in Greenville, S.C.

Furman's run defense is stout (No. 3 in FCS) and will keep Chattanooga's run game in check. But the Mocs may not be too concerned about the run game since the Paladins have struggled to stop the pass this season.

Injuries will undoubtedly have an impact. When these teams met in the regular season, Furman won 17-14. Paladin QB Tyler Huff was injured in that game, and it is unclear whether he'll play Saturday.

The Mocs have been without quarterback Chase Artopoeus, whose status for Saturday remains uncertain. But his backup, Luke Schomburg, had a solid outing in the first round against Austin Peay (21-36 for 259 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT).

Sacramento State Hornets (8-4) vs. No. 3 South Dakota Coyotes (9-2)

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Dakota Dome in Vermillion, S.D.

Sacramento State's strength lies on the offensive side of the ball, where they rank inside the top 30 FCS teams in the country running (No. 25) and passing (No. 26). They are fresh off a game in the first round that saw the run game lead the way with 244 yards and five touchdowns.

It will not be easy to gain yards against a solid South Dakota defense. The Coyotes defense is one of the best in the country against the pass (No. 13), and they are not bad against the run (No. 47).

South Dakota's offense is somewhat mediocre, but it may have success against a questionable Hornets defense.

Mercer Bears vs. No. 1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, S.D.

The Mercer defense did an admirable job against Gardner-Webb in the first round. But stopping or slowing down South Dakota State's juggernaut of an offense is another matter.

Even if the Bears defense can slow the Jackrabbits down a little, they will have a hard time getting their offense on track against a stellar South Dakota State defense.

North Dakota State Bisons (9-3) vs. No. 6 Montana State Bobcats (8-3)

Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Mont.

Montana State has averaged close to 300 YPG on the ground this season. North Dakota State has been closer to 240. Both have respectable run defenses, but the Bisons may have an advantage in the passing game.

North Dakota State has averaged 211 YPG this season, next to 176 YPG for Montana State. The Bisons also have a top-20 pass defense, while the Grizzlies pass defense ranks No. 56.

Delaware Blue Hens (9-3) vs. No. 2 Montana Grizzlies (10-1)

Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Mont.

As impressive as Delaware was in the first round against Lafayette, they'll need to be even better against the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, the Montana Grizzlies. But while the Blue Hens were able to rally and come back from a 28-7 deficit in the second half, that will be much harder against Montana.

The Grizzlies have a top-10 run defense and one of the better running games in the nation (No. 16). Delaware will likely need to find a few holes in the Montana pass defense to have a shot at the upset.

Southern Illinois Salukis (8-4) vs. No. 4 Idaho Vandals (9-3)

Kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho.

The Salukis defense is one of the better units in the nation this season (No. 5 vs. the run and No. 28 against the pass), and they will have their hands full against an Idaho offense averaging over 400 YPG and 34 points.

But the real question will be whether Southern Illinois can generate enough offense against a solid Vandals defense to keep the game competitive. While they were able to rush for 177 yards and three touchdowns last week, Idaho's run defense is giving up 126 YPG on the ground this season.

The Salukis will probably need to get their passing game on track to record an upset, but that will not be easy against Idaho's top-10 pass defense.

Bets to consider

• Richmond-UAlbany UNDER

Neither team has an impressive offense. But their defenses are not bad. We are not confident in picking a winner, but this should be a low-scoring game.

• Villanova

Youngstown State played a great game in the first round but will find that Villanova plays on an entirely different level.

• Mercer-South Dakota State OVER

The Jackrabbits will probably cover the spread in this game, too. But on the off chance the Bears score a couple of touchdowns in garbage time to get within 30 points, take the OVER.

• North Dakota State

Montana State is a great team, but we find it hard to bet against a perennial champion like North Dakota State. The Bobcats may win, but the Bisons will keep it close.