Duquesne and New Haven are close in rank, far apart in schedule

Strength of schedule is what separates Duquesne and New Haven more than their rankings do. Duquesne sits 99th in FCS but carries a schedule rank of 110, the toughest in the conference, while New Haven ranks 108th yet has played a far sturdier schedule at 65th. The nine spots between them in the overall rankings understate how different a path each team took to get here.

Duquesne brings a C- grade on both sides of the ball and a defense that has not allowed more than 21 points in four straight games, a streak that lines up with how tight this one projects. New Haven, graded D overall, has at least been trending the right way, improving its power rating in each of the last three weeks even with a 2-6 record and six losses in its last eight games.

Versus projects Duquesne 25, New Haven 24, with both teams given an even 50 percent to win. This is a Northeast Conference game and it counts in the standings, with Duquesne holding the slimmest of edges as the favorite despite the gap in schedule strength working against it.