Other games to follow today
In the Patriot League:
Holy Cross at Harvard. The Crusaders, now holders of 1-AA's longest losing streak at 12 games (tied with Norfolk St.), travel to Boston to face Harvard in their season opener. If Holy Cross struggled against mid-major Duquesne and 1-AA independent San Diego, wait until you see what a quality Ivy opponent will do to them. Harvard 58, Holy Cross 10.
Dartmouth at Colgate. When this was put on the schedule, the Big Green was probably thinking they could be competitive. Think this mid-level Ivy opponent will hang with the 1-AA championship runners-up from last year, especially after losing a hard-fought battle with UMass the week before? I didn't think so either. Colgate 41, Dartmouth 17.
Georgetown at Duquesne. Which Duquesne will show up? The one that manhandled Holy Cross 31-7? Or the one that got handled by mid-major Robert Morris 34-14 (which really wasn't even that close)? Georgetown, after losing a tough game to Lafayette last week, I think should have the edge in this game against a limping Dukes squad. Georgetown 24, Duquesne 14.
Cornell at Bucknell. Bucknell played a tough game against Villanova 16 days ago, and they return home with their heads held high, whereas Cornell is somewhat of an unknown quantity in their opening game of the season. But Cornell, picked to finish last in the Ivy by the Sports Network, won't pull any upsets here as Bucknell rolls. Bucknell 42, Cornell 13.
Fordham at Columbia. Last week Fordham scored only 14 points against mid-major Albany. That's not a typo - 14 points. However, Columbia will be looking to fill the void of a bunch of seniors lost to graduation, and I think Fordham wins this game - but it's a defensive struggle. Fordham 13, Columbia 0.
Lafayette at Princeton. Can Lafayette open at 3-0? The Leopards next test will be a Palmer stadium for the Tigers' home opener. The Tigers were a tough team last year against Lehigh, and many of the same offensive players remain. This one will be a dandy I think, with Princeton taking it in a nailbiter. Princeton 22, Lafayette 20.
In the Top 25:
William & Mary at New Hampshire. Think the Wildcat faithful are happy to see their team come home, after upsetting last year's 1-AA champion and 1-A Rutgers in consecutive weeks? Is Ricky Santos eating karma for breakfast? Think the Tribe are happy to go on the road for a second straight week and lose to a better team (in a now-rocking stadium)? UNH wins a shootout. UNH 45, W&M 38.
James Madison at Villanova. The Wildcats scraped by against 2 Patriot opponents in back-to-back weeks in Bucknell and Lehigh. How will they do against JMU, a team which predictably pounded Lock Haven 62-7? I think they actually do even better. Villanova 17, JMU 3.
Cal Poly at Montana St. The Bobcats beat Division II Adams St. 19-0. If they score 19 points against a quality team like Cal Poly, they won't win the game. I don't think they get that many. Cal Poly 24, Montana St. 10
Furman at Gardner-Webb. G-W needs this game to be considered for an at-large berth come 1-AA playoff time. Can they do it against a SoCon contender? I think they play a lot better than in the first two weeks in an emotional game, but Furman wins it in the closing minutes. Furman 38, G-W 35.
Stephen F. Austin at Northern Iowa. SFA upended a very good Northern Arizona team in overtime last week, but face a tough task in travelling to N. Iowa to play in the dome. I envision another thriller, with UNI winning the game since they need it more to not start out the year 1-2. UNI 24, SFA 21.
Maine at 1-A Mississippi St. First Montana, then Northern Colorado, then 1-A Mississippi St.? The Black Bears don't do cupcakes in the first weeks of the season. However I think the punishing schedule works against them here against one of the not-so-good teams in the SEC. A banged-up Maine team won't be able to run with the Bulldogs for 4 quarters. Miss St. 35, Maine 21.
W. Kentucky at E. Kentucky. An old-fashioned Kentucky rivalry game, this game pits the Gateway's W. Kentucky Hilltoppers versus the OVC's E. Kentucky Colonels. I've seen nothing that leads me to believe any OVC team is in the same league as the Gateway teams (especially early in the season), and I think W. Kentucky spanks the Colonels in their own house. WKU 29, EKU 17.
Wofford at Georgia Southern. The SoCon title game in Week 3? It very well could be, with Wofford and Georgia Southern fully expecting to be playing in December this year. Can Wofford upset GSU for a third straight year? All I can say for sure is if there are more than 150 yards passing combined for these run-happy teams, I'll be surprised. I have a funny feeling that GSU isn't going to take being beat 3 years in a row, especially at home. GSU 17 Wofford 14.
Youngstown St. at McNeese St. McNeese St., the incredible upset candidate last week, tries to lick its wounds and return home to face the YSU Penguins. After losing to SE Louisiana 51-17 last week, any offensive coordinator must know that you can throw on the Cowboys - and YSU has just the QB to do it, Tom Zetts. I don't see McNeese fixing their secondary problems this week as YSU pulls the upset. YSU 41, McNeese 21.
And one more press clipping
There was one more press report for the Liberty game, from the Express-Times:
Lehigh picks up, moves on
Quotes:
"Villanova's behind us," coach Pete Lembo snapped. "We're moving on. For me, the glass is always half-full. We were well-prepared, the game plans were effective, we played hard for 60 minutes. The kids came out of the weekend with their heads high and a real positive attitude.
"How can you not be optimistic about what we can do, beginning this week and down the road?"
"Josh Cooney's a guy who's been playing on and off for us since his freshman year," Lembo said. "I'm anxious to see him play a lot of snaps out there. He's a very intelligent, tough football player."
"They've got a 300-pound offensive line, some outstanding tailbacks," Lembo said. "They've got big, strong kids, they play very hard they're one of the best rushing teams in the country."
"It is going to be our first big test as a defense to stop the running game here," Cooney said. "Can't wait."
"Coming off a loss, you always want to get a win as quick as you can," Cooney said. "I think we're going to be real hungry coming back."
I really like the positive attitude Coach Lembo, who takes the correct attitude down to Liberty. And I like Cooney's attitude about the challenges ahead. I read stuff like this, it makes me feel like the position is in good hands. I have a good feeling about this weekend.
Oh yeah, and finally...
Here's Matt Dougherty's take on Lehigh/Liberty:
Sports Network Predictions: Week 3
No. 24 Lehigh (1-1) at Liberty (1-1), 7:00
Lehigh has to be kicking itself after missing a golden opportunity for a quality win. The Brown and White had Villanova on the ropes with a 16-0 edge in the first half, but couldn’t sustain the running game or defensive effort and fell, 22-16. It was a tough loss to take for a team that was one of the last left out of the playoffs a year ago. Liberty played a good first half at Kent State a week ago, but really Kent State is no better than Lehigh. The Brown and White get back on track with a win. Final Score: Lehigh 31, Liberty 21
Something to put on the mantlepiece. A national columnist saying that "Kent St. is no better than Lehigh". It's quotes like that which make this Engineer proud.
Go Lehigh! Tune in tomorrow at 7PM for Lehigh/Liberty commentary!
In the Patriot League:
Holy Cross at Harvard. The Crusaders, now holders of 1-AA's longest losing streak at 12 games (tied with Norfolk St.), travel to Boston to face Harvard in their season opener. If Holy Cross struggled against mid-major Duquesne and 1-AA independent San Diego, wait until you see what a quality Ivy opponent will do to them. Harvard 58, Holy Cross 10.
Dartmouth at Colgate. When this was put on the schedule, the Big Green was probably thinking they could be competitive. Think this mid-level Ivy opponent will hang with the 1-AA championship runners-up from last year, especially after losing a hard-fought battle with UMass the week before? I didn't think so either. Colgate 41, Dartmouth 17.
Georgetown at Duquesne. Which Duquesne will show up? The one that manhandled Holy Cross 31-7? Or the one that got handled by mid-major Robert Morris 34-14 (which really wasn't even that close)? Georgetown, after losing a tough game to Lafayette last week, I think should have the edge in this game against a limping Dukes squad. Georgetown 24, Duquesne 14.
Cornell at Bucknell. Bucknell played a tough game against Villanova 16 days ago, and they return home with their heads held high, whereas Cornell is somewhat of an unknown quantity in their opening game of the season. But Cornell, picked to finish last in the Ivy by the Sports Network, won't pull any upsets here as Bucknell rolls. Bucknell 42, Cornell 13.
Fordham at Columbia. Last week Fordham scored only 14 points against mid-major Albany. That's not a typo - 14 points. However, Columbia will be looking to fill the void of a bunch of seniors lost to graduation, and I think Fordham wins this game - but it's a defensive struggle. Fordham 13, Columbia 0.
Lafayette at Princeton. Can Lafayette open at 3-0? The Leopards next test will be a Palmer stadium for the Tigers' home opener. The Tigers were a tough team last year against Lehigh, and many of the same offensive players remain. This one will be a dandy I think, with Princeton taking it in a nailbiter. Princeton 22, Lafayette 20.
In the Top 25:
William & Mary at New Hampshire. Think the Wildcat faithful are happy to see their team come home, after upsetting last year's 1-AA champion and 1-A Rutgers in consecutive weeks? Is Ricky Santos eating karma for breakfast? Think the Tribe are happy to go on the road for a second straight week and lose to a better team (in a now-rocking stadium)? UNH wins a shootout. UNH 45, W&M 38.
James Madison at Villanova. The Wildcats scraped by against 2 Patriot opponents in back-to-back weeks in Bucknell and Lehigh. How will they do against JMU, a team which predictably pounded Lock Haven 62-7? I think they actually do even better. Villanova 17, JMU 3.
Cal Poly at Montana St. The Bobcats beat Division II Adams St. 19-0. If they score 19 points against a quality team like Cal Poly, they won't win the game. I don't think they get that many. Cal Poly 24, Montana St. 10
Furman at Gardner-Webb. G-W needs this game to be considered for an at-large berth come 1-AA playoff time. Can they do it against a SoCon contender? I think they play a lot better than in the first two weeks in an emotional game, but Furman wins it in the closing minutes. Furman 38, G-W 35.
Stephen F. Austin at Northern Iowa. SFA upended a very good Northern Arizona team in overtime last week, but face a tough task in travelling to N. Iowa to play in the dome. I envision another thriller, with UNI winning the game since they need it more to not start out the year 1-2. UNI 24, SFA 21.
Maine at 1-A Mississippi St. First Montana, then Northern Colorado, then 1-A Mississippi St.? The Black Bears don't do cupcakes in the first weeks of the season. However I think the punishing schedule works against them here against one of the not-so-good teams in the SEC. A banged-up Maine team won't be able to run with the Bulldogs for 4 quarters. Miss St. 35, Maine 21.
W. Kentucky at E. Kentucky. An old-fashioned Kentucky rivalry game, this game pits the Gateway's W. Kentucky Hilltoppers versus the OVC's E. Kentucky Colonels. I've seen nothing that leads me to believe any OVC team is in the same league as the Gateway teams (especially early in the season), and I think W. Kentucky spanks the Colonels in their own house. WKU 29, EKU 17.
Wofford at Georgia Southern. The SoCon title game in Week 3? It very well could be, with Wofford and Georgia Southern fully expecting to be playing in December this year. Can Wofford upset GSU for a third straight year? All I can say for sure is if there are more than 150 yards passing combined for these run-happy teams, I'll be surprised. I have a funny feeling that GSU isn't going to take being beat 3 years in a row, especially at home. GSU 17 Wofford 14.
Youngstown St. at McNeese St. McNeese St., the incredible upset candidate last week, tries to lick its wounds and return home to face the YSU Penguins. After losing to SE Louisiana 51-17 last week, any offensive coordinator must know that you can throw on the Cowboys - and YSU has just the QB to do it, Tom Zetts. I don't see McNeese fixing their secondary problems this week as YSU pulls the upset. YSU 41, McNeese 21.
And one more press clipping
There was one more press report for the Liberty game, from the Express-Times:
Lehigh picks up, moves on
Quotes:
"Villanova's behind us," coach Pete Lembo snapped. "We're moving on. For me, the glass is always half-full. We were well-prepared, the game plans were effective, we played hard for 60 minutes. The kids came out of the weekend with their heads high and a real positive attitude.
"How can you not be optimistic about what we can do, beginning this week and down the road?"
"Josh Cooney's a guy who's been playing on and off for us since his freshman year," Lembo said. "I'm anxious to see him play a lot of snaps out there. He's a very intelligent, tough football player."
"They've got a 300-pound offensive line, some outstanding tailbacks," Lembo said. "They've got big, strong kids, they play very hard they're one of the best rushing teams in the country."
"It is going to be our first big test as a defense to stop the running game here," Cooney said. "Can't wait."
"Coming off a loss, you always want to get a win as quick as you can," Cooney said. "I think we're going to be real hungry coming back."
I really like the positive attitude Coach Lembo, who takes the correct attitude down to Liberty. And I like Cooney's attitude about the challenges ahead. I read stuff like this, it makes me feel like the position is in good hands. I have a good feeling about this weekend.
Oh yeah, and finally...
Here's Matt Dougherty's take on Lehigh/Liberty:
Sports Network Predictions: Week 3
No. 24 Lehigh (1-1) at Liberty (1-1), 7:00
Lehigh has to be kicking itself after missing a golden opportunity for a quality win. The Brown and White had Villanova on the ropes with a 16-0 edge in the first half, but couldn’t sustain the running game or defensive effort and fell, 22-16. It was a tough loss to take for a team that was one of the last left out of the playoffs a year ago. Liberty played a good first half at Kent State a week ago, but really Kent State is no better than Lehigh. The Brown and White get back on track with a win. Final Score: Lehigh 31, Liberty 21
Something to put on the mantlepiece. A national columnist saying that "Kent St. is no better than Lehigh". It's quotes like that which make this Engineer proud.
Go Lehigh! Tune in tomorrow at 7PM for Lehigh/Liberty commentary!
Comments