Gardner-Webb's grades outrun its record against Charleston Southern

A 1-4 record makes Gardner-Webb look like the team in trouble here, but Versus's ratings tell a different story. The Runnin' Bulldogs carry an A- in power, offense and defense, sitting 20th in FCS in power and offense and 25th on defense, one of just 19 FCS teams inside the top 25 on both sides of the ball. No opponent has beaten them by more than 18 points all season, a sign the losses have been closer than the record suggests.

Charleston Southern's 2-2 mark looks steadier on paper, but its underlying grades are more modest, a C+ in offense and a B- on defense, with a power rank of 67th in FCS against a strength of schedule rank of 122nd. The Buccaneers did show they can put up points, routing Point U 65-0 on September 19 in their most lopsided win since 2017, but that burst came against lighter competition than what Versus sees in Gardner-Webb.

This is a conference matchup in the Ohio Valley Conference, and the head-to-head history leans toward the visitors. Gardner-Webb holds the series 10-9 and has won the last four meetings, with Charleston Southern's last win over them dating to October 2022. Versus ranks Gardner-Webb 78th in FCS, 12 spots ahead of Charleston Southern at 90th, and projects a 31-20 result with the Runnin' Bulldogs favored at 75 percent.