Other games to follow today
In the Patriot League:
Lafayette at Georgetown. Last year, Georgetown surprised a Lafayette team and won, 17-10, in effect dashing the Leopards' hopes at any title run. Think anyone from Lafayette was circling this game on the calendar last January? This time, Lafayette is focused and prepared, and they roll. Lafayette 49, Georgetown 14.
Colgate at UMass. A rematch of the 1-AA playoffs from last year, but this time in Springfield, Mass, home of the Minutemen. With UMass' new coach, and the humiliation of last year's away playoff game STILL not quite behind them, Colgate picks up where they left off last year, and gets a key Patriot victory on the road. Colgate 24, UMass 21
San Diego at Holy Cross. Last years 47-46 OT thriller in San Diego is now brought to Holy Cross in this home-and-home. Trouble is, Holy Cross stuggled mightily against Duquesne last year, and there seems little reason to believe that they will get their offense on track against a offensively potent San Diego team that already knows their personnel. San Diego 45, Holy Cross 14
Fordham at Albany. Fordham hung real tough at A-10 foe Rhode Island last week. Albany should provide a much-needed breather for the Rams. Fordham 49, Albany 3
In the Top 25:
Northeastern at 1-A Navy. Navy supposedly is a great team, though they lost to 1-A Delaware last year (which I predicted). This year, they host N'Eastern. How I would love to pick an upset. However, I can't see the Huskies exposing Navy the way Delaware did through the passing game. Take Navy in a close game. Navy 24, N'Eastern 17
New Hampshire at 1-A Rutgers. Villanova enjoyed a win against Rutgers as early as 2002. Rutgers has been known as a moribund program over the years -- can the Wildcats pull another upset? I don't think so. After beating Michigan St. 19-14 last week, hope springs on the Raritan that the Scarlet Knights will have a good Big East year this year, and a spent UNH squad seems ripe for the picking (especially with their 3 starting QB's out). This one's not close. Rutgers 56, UNH 0
E. Kentucky at Appalachian St. The best the OVC has to offer travels down to one of the perennial SoCon contenders. Can they get it done? To do so, they'll have to score - points will be at a premium. App St. does enough to win. App St. 16, E. Kentucky 3
Hofstra at Montana. Montana/Maine last week lived up to billing as the game of the week last week, as Montana won it in the closing minutes. Hofstra, one of the doormats of the A-10, should pose no such challenge. Montana 35, Hofstra 3
S. Illinois at N. Illinois. The #1 team in 1-AA takes on one of the best 1-A mid-majors in the land, N. Illinois. Can S. Illinois hang with the big dogs? NIU's powerful offense will make things tough for them, but I think they will keep it close in the first quarters, before predictably falling. NIU 31, SIU 17
N. Colorado at Maine. Maine, already playing a "must" game, is playing a very tough N. Colorado team from the Great West. I think Maine rises to the challenge, though NCU plays a tough game. Maine 27, NCU 24
N. Arizona at Stephen F. Austin. An early battle of ranked teams that should be interesting. Is SFA for real? My thought is N. Arizona has a little extra incentive not to start 0-2, and they manage to win a tight game. NAU 38, SFA 35
In the Patriot League:
Lafayette at Georgetown. Last year, Georgetown surprised a Lafayette team and won, 17-10, in effect dashing the Leopards' hopes at any title run. Think anyone from Lafayette was circling this game on the calendar last January? This time, Lafayette is focused and prepared, and they roll. Lafayette 49, Georgetown 14.
Colgate at UMass. A rematch of the 1-AA playoffs from last year, but this time in Springfield, Mass, home of the Minutemen. With UMass' new coach, and the humiliation of last year's away playoff game STILL not quite behind them, Colgate picks up where they left off last year, and gets a key Patriot victory on the road. Colgate 24, UMass 21
San Diego at Holy Cross. Last years 47-46 OT thriller in San Diego is now brought to Holy Cross in this home-and-home. Trouble is, Holy Cross stuggled mightily against Duquesne last year, and there seems little reason to believe that they will get their offense on track against a offensively potent San Diego team that already knows their personnel. San Diego 45, Holy Cross 14
Fordham at Albany. Fordham hung real tough at A-10 foe Rhode Island last week. Albany should provide a much-needed breather for the Rams. Fordham 49, Albany 3
In the Top 25:
Northeastern at 1-A Navy. Navy supposedly is a great team, though they lost to 1-A Delaware last year (which I predicted). This year, they host N'Eastern. How I would love to pick an upset. However, I can't see the Huskies exposing Navy the way Delaware did through the passing game. Take Navy in a close game. Navy 24, N'Eastern 17
New Hampshire at 1-A Rutgers. Villanova enjoyed a win against Rutgers as early as 2002. Rutgers has been known as a moribund program over the years -- can the Wildcats pull another upset? I don't think so. After beating Michigan St. 19-14 last week, hope springs on the Raritan that the Scarlet Knights will have a good Big East year this year, and a spent UNH squad seems ripe for the picking (especially with their 3 starting QB's out). This one's not close. Rutgers 56, UNH 0
E. Kentucky at Appalachian St. The best the OVC has to offer travels down to one of the perennial SoCon contenders. Can they get it done? To do so, they'll have to score - points will be at a premium. App St. does enough to win. App St. 16, E. Kentucky 3
Hofstra at Montana. Montana/Maine last week lived up to billing as the game of the week last week, as Montana won it in the closing minutes. Hofstra, one of the doormats of the A-10, should pose no such challenge. Montana 35, Hofstra 3
S. Illinois at N. Illinois. The #1 team in 1-AA takes on one of the best 1-A mid-majors in the land, N. Illinois. Can S. Illinois hang with the big dogs? NIU's powerful offense will make things tough for them, but I think they will keep it close in the first quarters, before predictably falling. NIU 31, SIU 17
N. Colorado at Maine. Maine, already playing a "must" game, is playing a very tough N. Colorado team from the Great West. I think Maine rises to the challenge, though NCU plays a tough game. Maine 27, NCU 24
N. Arizona at Stephen F. Austin. An early battle of ranked teams that should be interesting. Is SFA for real? My thought is N. Arizona has a little extra incentive not to start 0-2, and they manage to win a tight game. NAU 38, SFA 35
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