Week 1 of the NEC season kicks off Thursday night and features one match up with an FBS team and three games against D-II schools. As those of us who follow the NEC know, with only 7 teams, scheduling 5 out-of-conference games each year can be a real chore - resulting in 5 D-II match-ups this season. If Duquesne's QB plays well (I'm assuming they are going with the Boise St. transfer), they could give South Dakota St. a decent game. Otherwise, I suspect that the only other games that have the potential to be close are the Stetson/SHU or the Dayton/RMU game.

Picks are in bold

THURSDAY - 8.31.17
Duquesne @ South Dakota St.
Saint Anselm (D-II) @ Wagner

FRIDAY - 9.1.17
Central Connecticut @ Syracuse

SATURDAY - 9.2.17
Lock Haven (D-II) @ Saint Francis U
Dayton @ Robert Morris
Merrimack (D-II) @ Bryant
Stetson @ Sacred Heart