BIRMINGHAM, ALA – The prevailing sentiment of the Southwestern Athletic Conference football coaches and sports information directors is that back-to-back SWAC Football Champion Grambling State will capture the Southwestern Athletic Conference western division football title, and return to the SWAC Championship game. On the eastern side the voters seem to feel, Jackson State’s high-scoring offense will gain them the divisional title and a ticket to Birmingham’s Legion Field.
In the voting for the western predictions, Grambling State gained 60 points, followed by Southern (53) and Texas Southern (36). Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Prairie View A&M finished with 28 and 18 points respectively.
The voting margins for the eastern predictions were much closer as Jackson State edged out Alabama State by a 61-59 margin. Alcorn State finished a relatively close third with 51 points. Alabama A&M picked up 27 points and Mississippi Valley got 17 points.
However valid or invalid these predictions may turn out to be, the eventual division champions will meet in the Fourth SWAC Football Championship Game on Saturday, December 14, 2002 at historic Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Eastern Division
1. Jackson State (7) 61 points
2. Alabama State (5) 59 points
3. Alcorn State (2) 51 points
4. Alabama A&M 27 points
5. Mississippi Valley 17 points
Western Division
1. Grambling State (8) 60 points
2. SOUTHERN U. (2) 53 points
3. Texas Southern 36 points
4. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 28 points
5. Prairie View 18 points
