FCS-CFB Game Preview: VMI Keydets (1-2) vs. Richmond Spiders (1-2)

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Kickoff: 11:00 AM ET
Venue: E. Claiborne Robins Stadium, Richmond, Virginia (Capacity: ~8,700)
Broadcast: ESPN+

Weather Forecast (Richmond, VA)

Temperature: 78–80°F at kickoff, cooling into the mid-70s by the 4th quarter

Conditions: Mostly clear to partly cloudy

Winds: ENE at 6 mph

Impact: Ideal early fall football weather; no disruptions expected.

Injury Report

VMI Keydets (1–2, SoCon):

No major injuries reported.

QB Collin Shannon – Healthy, 782 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT through 3 games.

WR Owen Sweeney – Healthy, 261 yards, 4 TDs.

Richmond Spiders (1–2, CAA):

No major injuries reported.

QB Kyle Wickersham – Healthy, 313 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs.

RB Aaron Foster-Powell – Healthy, 107 yards rushing.

Key Player Matchups

QB Collin Shannon (VMI) vs. Richmond Secondary

Shannon has been efficient with 7 TDs to 1 INT; Richmond’s defense must limit his deep-ball connection with Sweeney.

WR Owen Sweeney (VMI) vs. Richmond Corners

Sweeney is averaging 20+ yards per catch; a big-play threat every snap.

QB Kyle Wickersham (Richmond) vs. VMI Pass Rush

Wickersham has struggled with turnovers; VMI will look to pressure him into mistakes.

RB Aaron Foster-Powell (Richmond) vs. VMI Front Seven

Richmond’s run game must establish balance to keep pressure off Wickersham.

Recent Team Form

VMI Keydets (1–2)

9/13: L 35–28 @ Bucknell

9/6: W 42–7 vs. Ferrum

8/30: L 52–7 @ Navy

Trend: Offense averaging 25.7 PPG; defense allowing 31.3 PPG.

Richmond Spiders (1–2)

9/13: L 41–6 @ North Carolina (FBS)

9/6: W 14–10 @ Wofford

8/30: L 21–14 @ Lehigh

Trend: Offense averaging 11.3 PPG; defense allowing 24 PPG.

Series History

Richmond leads the all-time series comfortably.

Last meeting: Richmond defeated VMI 38–14 in 2024.

VMI’s last win over Richmond came in 1997.

Betting Trends

VMI:

1–4 SU in last 5 games.

2–3 ATS in last 5.

Overs hit in 3 of last 5.

Richmond:

2–3 SU in last 5 games.

2–3 ATS in last 5.

Unders hit in 3 of last 5.

Head-to-Head: Richmond has covered in 4 of the last 5 meetings.

Historical Betting Results

VMI: Struggles ATS against CAA opponents; overs more common when defense collapses.

Richmond: Profitable ATS at home in September; unders frequent when defense dictates pace.

CAA vs. SoCon Trends: CAA teams cover ~63% of the time in September non-conference games.

Game Odds

VMI Keydets                      42.5

Richmond Spiders           – 14.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025