Here's my weekly picks of other games around the I-AA world. With all the Thursday games, and the games cancelled to the impending Hurricane Rita, it's a much thinner schedule than usual. Here they are.
Patriot League:
Fordham at Lafayette. The first league game for both teams, it's of course a must-win game for both teams as well. Lafayette has shown a lot of talent against Richmond in an up-and-down September, while the Rams have struggled against everybody they've played. Whatever happens, we will learn a lot about both these teams going forward. I like the Leopards here, though. Lafayette 28, Fordham 14.
Georgetown at Stony Brook. After a drubbing by a very good Brown team, the Hoyas look to right the ship against another (dangerous?) NEC team. I think the Hoyas, while suffering from a lot of high expectations, will win this game in pretty easy fashion. GU 31, SB 12.
Holy Cross at #4 Delaware. When you saw this game in May, you thought "Delaware blowout", just like me, right? This ain't your brother's Holy Cross team, however, with convincing wins against Georgetown and Sacred Heart, while losing to nationally-ranked Harvard last week. Whatever the score, the Crusaders will be looking to prove to the world that they are Patriot League contenders. With nothing to lose, they will fall; but not by much. Delaware 35, Holy Cross 28.
Top 25:
#1 Western Kentucky at Auburn (I-A). No upset here as the Hilltoppers get spanked. Auburn 56, WKU 3.
#2 Eastern Washington at Idaho St. Interesting league matchup in a tough place to play. I think this one will be surprisingly close before the Eagles finally squeak it out. EWU 28, ISU 26.
Dartmouth at #3 New Hampshire. On paper, it's not even close. But I think Dartmouth will surprisingly keep this "Granite Bowl" game close. It's the battle of New Hampshire; Dartmouth has more talent than you think, and Buddy Teevens is a good I-AA coach. Trust me here. UNH 35, Dartmouth 30.
#7 North Dakota St. at #20 Montana St. No team has been more impressive in the early going than the Bison, while Montana St. was creamed at home by Cal Poly last week. I don't know why, but I just get the feeling that the Bobcats will assert themselves and find a way to beat the Bison. MSU 28, NDSU 26.
#17 Hofstra at #10 Furman. Another intriguing matchup of ranked teams, we have the unproven (3-0 Hofstra, against Sister Mary Elephant and her sisters), and the inconsistent (2-1 Furman, who struggled in every single game this year). They're both a little light on the defense, so I'm going with Furman and Ingle Martin at home, in an old-fashioned shootout. Furman 52, Hofstra 45.
#11 Cal Poly at South Dakota St. Cal Poly is on a mission, and I don't think the Jackrabbits are going to stand in their way this week. Cal Poly 30, SDSU 14.
Brown at #13 Harvard. It's sad that the Ivy Champion could be determined in Week 2 of their season, but you could make a case. Both teams played an absolute stormer in a 35-34 Harvard win last year, and the Bears are looking for revenge. Harvard looked a little shaky against Holy Cross, and Brown has the veteran leadership. Plus, the Crimson must be under a lot of pressure to keep the longest D-I football winning streak alive. Here is where it goes down. Brown 32, Harvard 24.
#14 Hampton at Morgan St. Playing in East Rutherford, NJ as part of the "New York Urban League Classic", Hampton hasn't impressed me very much, but they've continued to pull out wins against completely overmatched opponents. Enter Morgan St., who won't put up much of a fight either. The Pirates continue to win, but will still fail to impress. Hampton 31, Morgan St. 17.
#15 Appalachian St. at The Citadel. This is the game I was sweating out all week. I want so bad to take The Citadel, as the Mountaineers are a completely different team on the road. But it's hard to judge how good the Bulldogs are with only a 28-14 win over pitiful Charleston Southern and a 62-10 drubbing by I-A Florida State. My guess is that App St. pulls it off. Reluctantly. App St. 28, The Citadel 21.
Liberty at #18 William & Mary. Exposed last week versus Rhode Island, Liberty at first glance may seem to be able to match up -- if this were last year. With such a young offense, the Tribe regain their footing. W&M 42, Liberty 10.
#22 Youngstown St. at Pittsburgh (I-A). The I-A Panthers are 0-3 and struggling mightily. The Penguins are 3-0 against Cupcake and Cupcake State. Upset? I just can't see it. Pitt 35, YSU 21.
Rhode Island at #23 UMass. If UMass loses here, they're probably finished when it comes to the Atlantic 10 title. Rhody, on the other hand, is fresh of a great upset win against Bill & Mary. All signs point to the Minutemen bringing the hammer to Rhode Island's title hopes. UMass 24, URI 7.
Patriot League:
Fordham at Lafayette. The first league game for both teams, it's of course a must-win game for both teams as well. Lafayette has shown a lot of talent against Richmond in an up-and-down September, while the Rams have struggled against everybody they've played. Whatever happens, we will learn a lot about both these teams going forward. I like the Leopards here, though. Lafayette 28, Fordham 14.
Georgetown at Stony Brook. After a drubbing by a very good Brown team, the Hoyas look to right the ship against another (dangerous?) NEC team. I think the Hoyas, while suffering from a lot of high expectations, will win this game in pretty easy fashion. GU 31, SB 12.
Holy Cross at #4 Delaware. When you saw this game in May, you thought "Delaware blowout", just like me, right? This ain't your brother's Holy Cross team, however, with convincing wins against Georgetown and Sacred Heart, while losing to nationally-ranked Harvard last week. Whatever the score, the Crusaders will be looking to prove to the world that they are Patriot League contenders. With nothing to lose, they will fall; but not by much. Delaware 35, Holy Cross 28.
Top 25:
#1 Western Kentucky at Auburn (I-A). No upset here as the Hilltoppers get spanked. Auburn 56, WKU 3.
#2 Eastern Washington at Idaho St. Interesting league matchup in a tough place to play. I think this one will be surprisingly close before the Eagles finally squeak it out. EWU 28, ISU 26.
Dartmouth at #3 New Hampshire. On paper, it's not even close. But I think Dartmouth will surprisingly keep this "Granite Bowl" game close. It's the battle of New Hampshire; Dartmouth has more talent than you think, and Buddy Teevens is a good I-AA coach. Trust me here. UNH 35, Dartmouth 30.
#7 North Dakota St. at #20 Montana St. No team has been more impressive in the early going than the Bison, while Montana St. was creamed at home by Cal Poly last week. I don't know why, but I just get the feeling that the Bobcats will assert themselves and find a way to beat the Bison. MSU 28, NDSU 26.
#17 Hofstra at #10 Furman. Another intriguing matchup of ranked teams, we have the unproven (3-0 Hofstra, against Sister Mary Elephant and her sisters), and the inconsistent (2-1 Furman, who struggled in every single game this year). They're both a little light on the defense, so I'm going with Furman and Ingle Martin at home, in an old-fashioned shootout. Furman 52, Hofstra 45.
#11 Cal Poly at South Dakota St. Cal Poly is on a mission, and I don't think the Jackrabbits are going to stand in their way this week. Cal Poly 30, SDSU 14.
Brown at #13 Harvard. It's sad that the Ivy Champion could be determined in Week 2 of their season, but you could make a case. Both teams played an absolute stormer in a 35-34 Harvard win last year, and the Bears are looking for revenge. Harvard looked a little shaky against Holy Cross, and Brown has the veteran leadership. Plus, the Crimson must be under a lot of pressure to keep the longest D-I football winning streak alive. Here is where it goes down. Brown 32, Harvard 24.
#14 Hampton at Morgan St. Playing in East Rutherford, NJ as part of the "New York Urban League Classic", Hampton hasn't impressed me very much, but they've continued to pull out wins against completely overmatched opponents. Enter Morgan St., who won't put up much of a fight either. The Pirates continue to win, but will still fail to impress. Hampton 31, Morgan St. 17.
#15 Appalachian St. at The Citadel. This is the game I was sweating out all week. I want so bad to take The Citadel, as the Mountaineers are a completely different team on the road. But it's hard to judge how good the Bulldogs are with only a 28-14 win over pitiful Charleston Southern and a 62-10 drubbing by I-A Florida State. My guess is that App St. pulls it off. Reluctantly. App St. 28, The Citadel 21.
Liberty at #18 William & Mary. Exposed last week versus Rhode Island, Liberty at first glance may seem to be able to match up -- if this were last year. With such a young offense, the Tribe regain their footing. W&M 42, Liberty 10.
#22 Youngstown St. at Pittsburgh (I-A). The I-A Panthers are 0-3 and struggling mightily. The Penguins are 3-0 against Cupcake and Cupcake State. Upset? I just can't see it. Pitt 35, YSU 21.
Rhode Island at #23 UMass. If UMass loses here, they're probably finished when it comes to the Atlantic 10 title. Rhody, on the other hand, is fresh of a great upset win against Bill & Mary. All signs point to the Minutemen bringing the hammer to Rhode Island's title hopes. UMass 24, URI 7.
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