← Matchups

North Carolina Central Eagles @ Texas Southern Tigers

2026-08-29 · 7:00 PM · Shell Energy Stadium · Houston, TX
North Carolina Central -4.6
Projected spread
56.7
Projected total
31–26
Proj score (away–home)
60%
North Carolina Central win prob
First recorded meeting between these programs
North Carolina Central Eagles
Balanced · 53% run Ball-control
Texas Southern Tigers — defense
DEFENSE OFFENSE CB S S CB LB LB LB DE DT DT DE WR WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR QB RB
Texas Southern Tigers — offense
Texas Southern Tigers
Run-heavy · 62% run Ball-control
Unit strength weaker · avg · stronger

Position groups are shaded by team-unit strength (rush & pass offense vs. run & pass defense), not individual players — per-player ratings wait on the 2026 rosters. Identity, tempo, dual-threat and unit strength are measured from the 2025 season.

Power breakdown

TeamDivPowerOffDef (higher = better)Rank
North Carolina Central Eagles FCS +0.5 +1.7 -1.2 #172
Texas Southern Tigers FCS -6.5 -4.8 -1.6 #311
North Carolina Central offense vs. Texas Southern defense
+3.3 pts
Texas Southern offense vs. North Carolina Central defense
-3.7 pts
Travel · context only
Away team travels 1,046 mi

These situational spots are shown for context, not baked into the projection: we tested travel, altitude and rest against 6,000+ games and found the power and efficiency ratings already account for them, so adding them again would double-count.

Power = points vs. an average D1 team (Off + Def), FBS and FCS on one scale. The projection assumes a 2.4-pt home edge (0 at neutral sites). An efficiency adjustment from season-to-date EPA and success rate applies once teams have played enough games; before then it is 0 and the number is the power rating alone. Player-level matchups, team strengths/weaknesses, and the Vegas-line comparison arrive as those phases land.