Predictions of Other Games
In the Patriot League:
Marist at Holy Cross. Can the Red Foxes, the second MAAC team to play Holy Cross this year, duplicate Duquesne's feat and beat the Crusaders on their home field? Marist won't get only 106 *total* yards like they did last week against Duquesne, but I figure they will still lose out to an improved Crusader squad. Holy Cross 24, Marist 16.
Fordham at Bucknell. Hard to see Fordham contain Bucknell on the road, after the Bison righted the ship against Holy Cross. Hard to see Bucknell contain Fordham at home after giving up 28 points to Holy Cross. I'm predicting a close back-and-forth game, with Fordham wanting the win just a little but more. Fordham 38, Bucknell 35.
Lafayette at Colgate. The game of the week, with lots of potential title and playoff implications. Will a determined, talented Colgate team give Lafayette their first huge test on the road? Or will the Leopards, with a week off and control of their own destiny, pull off the upset to place them in the Patriot League elite? Though tempting to take the Leopards with their great ground game, I've got to believe that Dick Biddle has too much talent, and is too good a coach, to let this game slip away. Colgate 27, Lafayette 14.
In the Top 25:
New Hampshire at Rhode Island. The Rams somehow upset UMass... and really didn't beat anybody else. I'm dying to pick a UNH upset somewhere, but this just ain't it. UNH 38, Rhode Island 7.
Villanova at William & Mary. A relatively untested William & Mary team host an angry caged Wildcat team who needs to win out in order to make the I-AA playoffs. I have a funny feeling an improving Wildcat team is going to put a damper on the Tribe's title and playoff hopes. Villanova 35, W&M 31.
Delaware at James Madison. Will there be a changing of the guard? The Dukes play the Blue Hens, and the winner will probably end up winning the A-10 in the process. I'd love to pick against Delaware or JMU here, but I think the difference will be that Delaware has been here before. Give me the Hens. Delaware 28, JMU 17.
Columbia at Harvard. Undefeated Harvard only winning 13-12 against Dartmouth? Could it be they could lose soon - maybe even this week against the Lions? Not against a bad Columbia team they won't. Harvard 38, Columbia 7.
Penn at Princeton. How bad I'd like to pick against Penn here. Then I told myself the mantra once again, "Never pick against Penn in the Ivy". I'll go with my mantra. This week. But it will be a close game. Penn 24, Princeton 22.
Bethune-Cookman at Hampton. The winner of this game will very likely win the MEAC. I-AA playoff hopefuls are praying to their gods that Hampton takes care of business at home so that Hampton doesn't get into the at-large playoff mix. I'm saying they do, but it will be awfully close. Hampton 44, Bethune Cookman 39.
Southern Illinois at Illinois St. SIU has 2 more Gateway cupcakes to dispatch on their way to the #1 overall seed. One gets dispatched today. SIU 35, Illinois St. 21.
Western Kentucky at SMS. The Hilltoppers should not let down against an SMS team that got beaten badly by SIU and Northern Iowa in consecutive weeks. WKU 35, SMS 10.
Georgia Southern at Furman. You think this is the game of the week? Oh yeah. The real question, however, is: Do the Golden Eagles have any weaknesses? A very good Furman team is going to find out if there are any. Furman will do a better job that App. St. against GSU, but it still won't be enough. GSU 31, Furman 27.
Northern Arizona at Montana. A dispirited NAU has no chance against the Grizzlies at home, looking for another Big Sky title. Montana 38, NAU 14.
Cal Poly at Eastern Washington. A very tough game to pick. Does Cal Poly disappont after a tough loss to UC-Davis? Or does a deperate Eagle team beat another ranked opponent and keep their playoff hopes alive? Give me the desperate team at home. EWU 28, Cal Poly 24.
McNeese St. at Sam Houston St. A few years ago this would be a great matchup. Now, it should be a speed bump for Sam Houston on their way to the Southland title. Sam Houston St. 41, McNeese St. 10.
Texas St. at Northwestern St. Texas St. may be 4-4, but they are a strong team, losing to 2 1-A schools, then-ranked Appalachian St., and ranked Cal Poly. Northwestern St. has looked awful losing their last 2 games. Make it 3. Texas St. 44, Northwestern St. 17.
Stpehen F. Austin at Nicholls St. Nicholls St. could be the single strangest team in I-AA. Maddeningly inconsistent, they've creamed 2 ranked opponents while losing to a pitiful Western Carolina team. Which Colonel team will show up against a reeling Lumberjack team who have lost 3 of their last 4? Here's a hint: Their two wins against the Top 25 all came at home. Give me the hot home team. Nicholls St. 40, SFA 17.
See you later for Lehigh vs. Georgetown!
In the Patriot League:
Marist at Holy Cross. Can the Red Foxes, the second MAAC team to play Holy Cross this year, duplicate Duquesne's feat and beat the Crusaders on their home field? Marist won't get only 106 *total* yards like they did last week against Duquesne, but I figure they will still lose out to an improved Crusader squad. Holy Cross 24, Marist 16.
Fordham at Bucknell. Hard to see Fordham contain Bucknell on the road, after the Bison righted the ship against Holy Cross. Hard to see Bucknell contain Fordham at home after giving up 28 points to Holy Cross. I'm predicting a close back-and-forth game, with Fordham wanting the win just a little but more. Fordham 38, Bucknell 35.
Lafayette at Colgate. The game of the week, with lots of potential title and playoff implications. Will a determined, talented Colgate team give Lafayette their first huge test on the road? Or will the Leopards, with a week off and control of their own destiny, pull off the upset to place them in the Patriot League elite? Though tempting to take the Leopards with their great ground game, I've got to believe that Dick Biddle has too much talent, and is too good a coach, to let this game slip away. Colgate 27, Lafayette 14.
In the Top 25:
New Hampshire at Rhode Island. The Rams somehow upset UMass... and really didn't beat anybody else. I'm dying to pick a UNH upset somewhere, but this just ain't it. UNH 38, Rhode Island 7.
Villanova at William & Mary. A relatively untested William & Mary team host an angry caged Wildcat team who needs to win out in order to make the I-AA playoffs. I have a funny feeling an improving Wildcat team is going to put a damper on the Tribe's title and playoff hopes. Villanova 35, W&M 31.
Delaware at James Madison. Will there be a changing of the guard? The Dukes play the Blue Hens, and the winner will probably end up winning the A-10 in the process. I'd love to pick against Delaware or JMU here, but I think the difference will be that Delaware has been here before. Give me the Hens. Delaware 28, JMU 17.
Columbia at Harvard. Undefeated Harvard only winning 13-12 against Dartmouth? Could it be they could lose soon - maybe even this week against the Lions? Not against a bad Columbia team they won't. Harvard 38, Columbia 7.
Penn at Princeton. How bad I'd like to pick against Penn here. Then I told myself the mantra once again, "Never pick against Penn in the Ivy". I'll go with my mantra. This week. But it will be a close game. Penn 24, Princeton 22.
Bethune-Cookman at Hampton. The winner of this game will very likely win the MEAC. I-AA playoff hopefuls are praying to their gods that Hampton takes care of business at home so that Hampton doesn't get into the at-large playoff mix. I'm saying they do, but it will be awfully close. Hampton 44, Bethune Cookman 39.
Southern Illinois at Illinois St. SIU has 2 more Gateway cupcakes to dispatch on their way to the #1 overall seed. One gets dispatched today. SIU 35, Illinois St. 21.
Western Kentucky at SMS. The Hilltoppers should not let down against an SMS team that got beaten badly by SIU and Northern Iowa in consecutive weeks. WKU 35, SMS 10.
Georgia Southern at Furman. You think this is the game of the week? Oh yeah. The real question, however, is: Do the Golden Eagles have any weaknesses? A very good Furman team is going to find out if there are any. Furman will do a better job that App. St. against GSU, but it still won't be enough. GSU 31, Furman 27.
Northern Arizona at Montana. A dispirited NAU has no chance against the Grizzlies at home, looking for another Big Sky title. Montana 38, NAU 14.
Cal Poly at Eastern Washington. A very tough game to pick. Does Cal Poly disappont after a tough loss to UC-Davis? Or does a deperate Eagle team beat another ranked opponent and keep their playoff hopes alive? Give me the desperate team at home. EWU 28, Cal Poly 24.
McNeese St. at Sam Houston St. A few years ago this would be a great matchup. Now, it should be a speed bump for Sam Houston on their way to the Southland title. Sam Houston St. 41, McNeese St. 10.
Texas St. at Northwestern St. Texas St. may be 4-4, but they are a strong team, losing to 2 1-A schools, then-ranked Appalachian St., and ranked Cal Poly. Northwestern St. has looked awful losing their last 2 games. Make it 3. Texas St. 44, Northwestern St. 17.
Stpehen F. Austin at Nicholls St. Nicholls St. could be the single strangest team in I-AA. Maddeningly inconsistent, they've creamed 2 ranked opponents while losing to a pitiful Western Carolina team. Which Colonel team will show up against a reeling Lumberjack team who have lost 3 of their last 4? Here's a hint: Their two wins against the Top 25 all came at home. Give me the hot home team. Nicholls St. 40, SFA 17.
See you later for Lehigh vs. Georgetown!
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