Western Carolina's ratings far outrank its 3-4 record against Chattanooga

The records suggest Chattanooga, at 4-3, should be the steadier team walking into this Southern Conference matchup, but Versus sees it the other way. Western Carolina sits at 3-4 yet carries a divisional rank of 29 to Chattanooga's 49, graded A- overall against a B, with an A- offense ranked 19th in FCS that has carried a team playing one of the toughest schedules in the division, 7th in strength of schedule.

Chattanooga's case is built on the other side of the ball. Its A+ defense ranks 7th in FCS, and the Moccasins have not been beaten by more than 15 points all season. The issue is an offense graded only B- and ranked 56th, which has to find enough against a Western Carolina defense that is itself a respectable B+.

Western Carolina's season includes a 28-spot jump in the Versus rankings back in Week 6 and an upset of a team ranked 18 spots ahead of it, signs of a club still finding its level. Versus projects a tight finish in this Southern Conference game that counts in the standings, with Western Carolina favored 24-23 and given a 52 percent win probability to Chattanooga's 48.