Yes, indeed, there are other games this week. A packed Top 25 schedule especially, with a ton of great matchups.
Patriot League:
Duquesne at Georgetown. The Hoyas are sturggling a bit on offense, and it just seems like a bad matchup for them against the Dukes, who can put points up on the board. Duquesne 24, G'Town 14.
Fordham at Brown. Brown is incredibly strong, and the Rams seem in disarray. Hard to see a Fordham win here. Brown 33, Forhdam 12.
Columbia at Lafayette. Is Lafayette having problems scoring? Even if they do, they shouldn't struggle against the hapless Lions. If so, the Leopards are in deep trouble. Lafayette 19, Columbia 7.
Colgate at Princeton. Probably the most intriguing game in the Patriot aside from Lehigh/Holy Cross. First, which Colgate team is going to show up, the good (who beat nationally-ranked UMass) or the bad (who can't beat Dartmouth or mid-majors)? Second, who are these Princeton Tigers, and are they really as good as their 3-0 record would imply? I have a hunch that we'll see a "message game" from Colgate here, who needs the win more than the Tigers. Colgate 28, Princeton 7.
Bucknell at Penn. Bucknell finally found a QB - who knew he was DB Dante Ross, who was in their defensive backfield this entire time? Unfortunately, they're playing Penn, an excellent team who could be cracking the Top 20 in the near future. The Bison won't be able to make magic this week. Penn 31, Bucknell 10.
Top 25:
#1 New Hampshire at #18 William & Mary. The Wildcats have cruised every week, and will be looking to avenge last year's 9-7 loss. The Tribe are just looking to stay relevant and in the Top 25. I am not foolish enough to pick against the Wildcats here. UNH 44, W&M 17.
#2 Western Kentucky at Illinois St. Upset special alert! A tough Redbirds squad, who absolutely need the win to stay in the Gateway hunt, should give the Hilltoppers (who don't have an impressive win to this point) all they can handle - and also get the "W". ISU 21, WKU 17.
#3 Southern Illinois at Western Illinois. Although the Salukis are overrated at #3, the Leathernecks don't have enough firepower to pull off the upset. SIU 30, WIU 13.
#4 Northern Iowa at Missouri St. I'm liking the Panthers more and more in the Gateway, and hoepfully they will go out this week and prove it again. NIU 49, MSU 12.
Maine at #5 James Madison. A weak Maine team versus the defending national champs? At home? How can this be anything but a laugher? JMU 37, Maine 7.
#6 Montana at Idaho St. A weak and overrated Montana, starting a frosh QB, is ripe for the pickin' and darling Idaho St. are just the team to knock them off hard, playing in Pocatello on the turf. ISU 31, Montana 7.
#13 Appalachian St at #7 Furman. The most intriguing game on this week's schedule. Furman (4-1, 0-1 Conf) pretty much is in a must-win situation to be in the SoCon title hunt. App St. (3-1, 1-0 Conf) has beaten three good teams and is looking solid in the early going (only losing to I-A Kansas) but will also lose to I-A LSU later this year, so they also don't have any breathing room. In a rivalry with crazy finishes, with so much at stake look for another, with a vastly-improved Mountaineer side taking the cake. App St. 29, Furman 28.
#9 North Dakota St. at #8 Cal Poly. The Bison, a I-AA transitional school that is ineligible for the playoffs, is a team which any I-AA playoff bubble team will be rooting for here. A Bison "upset" of the Aggies could posibly eliminate Cal Poly from the Great West title chase, never mind the postseason chase. I think the 'Stangs, though, are too tough at home, and are focused on making up for last year's I-AA playoff snub. 'Stangs win a close one. Cal Poly 27, NDSU 24.
#11 Eastern Washington at Northern Arizona. The Eagles shouldn't have a problem scoring points here. EWU 56, NAU 24.
#12 Montana St. at Weber St. If Lulay doesn't have his annual "meltdown game" here, watch out Big Sky. I don't think he will. MSU 27, WSU 18.
#14 Hampton at Gardner-Webb. Upset special - an uninspiring Hampton team, on the road, get beaten by the Runnin' Bulldogs. Gardner-Webb is a good team that still houses Big South title aspirations, and they will be eager to get a quality win, especially at home. G-W 38, Hampton 21.
Hofstra at #15 Delaware. An interesting game that could end up being an elimination game for the loser, with a 0-2 league record looming for them. Gotta go with Delaware at home here, and undoubtedly fired up after last week's Towson shocker. Delaware 35, Hofstra 17.
#16 Texas St. at Southeastern Louisiana. Finally, the Southland is gearing up for some games after so much hurrincane-related cancellations. All I've really leared about the Southland is that home field advantage really matters, and the SeLa Lions should be looking to make a statement here against the current Southland frontrunner. Lions in an old-fashioned shootout. SeLa 45, Texas St. 28.
Northeastern at #17 UMass. A bad matchup for the Huskies, and the Minutemen's defense should be able to shut them down. UMass 16, N'Eastern 0.
#19 Harvard at Cornell. Bounceback time for the Crimson against a young Cornell squad. Harvard 30, Cornell 3.
#20 UC-Davis at South Dakota St. Do the Jackrabbits have the hardest schedule in I-AA? 4 straight nationally-ranked I-AA teams in 4 weeks? The Aggies are on one of those rolls, and South Dakota St. ain't going to stop it now. UCD 26, SDSU 3
#21 Northwestern St. at #25 Sam Houston St. The winner could be the team to beat in teh Southland; the loser could have an uphill struggle for the playoffs. I like the Bearkats here at home the same way I like *any* Southland team playing at home. SHSU 35, N'Western St. 18.
#22 Youngstown St. at Indiana St. Up-and-comer Youngstown St. should - should - handle the Sycamores. YSU 30, ISU 10.
Western Carolina at #24 Georgia Southern. I don't think Georgia Southern is all that; however, the Catamounts right now couldn't score against Stateboro High School either. Look for a defensive struggle, with the Eagles on top. GSU 17, WCU 7.
See you at the game. I will attempt to audioblog during the game, but maybe only at halftime and after the game since I'll be working that day for I-AA.org.
Patriot League:
Duquesne at Georgetown. The Hoyas are sturggling a bit on offense, and it just seems like a bad matchup for them against the Dukes, who can put points up on the board. Duquesne 24, G'Town 14.
Fordham at Brown. Brown is incredibly strong, and the Rams seem in disarray. Hard to see a Fordham win here. Brown 33, Forhdam 12.
Columbia at Lafayette. Is Lafayette having problems scoring? Even if they do, they shouldn't struggle against the hapless Lions. If so, the Leopards are in deep trouble. Lafayette 19, Columbia 7.
Colgate at Princeton. Probably the most intriguing game in the Patriot aside from Lehigh/Holy Cross. First, which Colgate team is going to show up, the good (who beat nationally-ranked UMass) or the bad (who can't beat Dartmouth or mid-majors)? Second, who are these Princeton Tigers, and are they really as good as their 3-0 record would imply? I have a hunch that we'll see a "message game" from Colgate here, who needs the win more than the Tigers. Colgate 28, Princeton 7.
Bucknell at Penn. Bucknell finally found a QB - who knew he was DB Dante Ross, who was in their defensive backfield this entire time? Unfortunately, they're playing Penn, an excellent team who could be cracking the Top 20 in the near future. The Bison won't be able to make magic this week. Penn 31, Bucknell 10.
Top 25:
#1 New Hampshire at #18 William & Mary. The Wildcats have cruised every week, and will be looking to avenge last year's 9-7 loss. The Tribe are just looking to stay relevant and in the Top 25. I am not foolish enough to pick against the Wildcats here. UNH 44, W&M 17.
#2 Western Kentucky at Illinois St. Upset special alert! A tough Redbirds squad, who absolutely need the win to stay in the Gateway hunt, should give the Hilltoppers (who don't have an impressive win to this point) all they can handle - and also get the "W". ISU 21, WKU 17.
#3 Southern Illinois at Western Illinois. Although the Salukis are overrated at #3, the Leathernecks don't have enough firepower to pull off the upset. SIU 30, WIU 13.
#4 Northern Iowa at Missouri St. I'm liking the Panthers more and more in the Gateway, and hoepfully they will go out this week and prove it again. NIU 49, MSU 12.
Maine at #5 James Madison. A weak Maine team versus the defending national champs? At home? How can this be anything but a laugher? JMU 37, Maine 7.
#6 Montana at Idaho St. A weak and overrated Montana, starting a frosh QB, is ripe for the pickin' and darling Idaho St. are just the team to knock them off hard, playing in Pocatello on the turf. ISU 31, Montana 7.
#13 Appalachian St at #7 Furman. The most intriguing game on this week's schedule. Furman (4-1, 0-1 Conf) pretty much is in a must-win situation to be in the SoCon title hunt. App St. (3-1, 1-0 Conf) has beaten three good teams and is looking solid in the early going (only losing to I-A Kansas) but will also lose to I-A LSU later this year, so they also don't have any breathing room. In a rivalry with crazy finishes, with so much at stake look for another, with a vastly-improved Mountaineer side taking the cake. App St. 29, Furman 28.
#9 North Dakota St. at #8 Cal Poly. The Bison, a I-AA transitional school that is ineligible for the playoffs, is a team which any I-AA playoff bubble team will be rooting for here. A Bison "upset" of the Aggies could posibly eliminate Cal Poly from the Great West title chase, never mind the postseason chase. I think the 'Stangs, though, are too tough at home, and are focused on making up for last year's I-AA playoff snub. 'Stangs win a close one. Cal Poly 27, NDSU 24.
#11 Eastern Washington at Northern Arizona. The Eagles shouldn't have a problem scoring points here. EWU 56, NAU 24.
#12 Montana St. at Weber St. If Lulay doesn't have his annual "meltdown game" here, watch out Big Sky. I don't think he will. MSU 27, WSU 18.
#14 Hampton at Gardner-Webb. Upset special - an uninspiring Hampton team, on the road, get beaten by the Runnin' Bulldogs. Gardner-Webb is a good team that still houses Big South title aspirations, and they will be eager to get a quality win, especially at home. G-W 38, Hampton 21.
Hofstra at #15 Delaware. An interesting game that could end up being an elimination game for the loser, with a 0-2 league record looming for them. Gotta go with Delaware at home here, and undoubtedly fired up after last week's Towson shocker. Delaware 35, Hofstra 17.
#16 Texas St. at Southeastern Louisiana. Finally, the Southland is gearing up for some games after so much hurrincane-related cancellations. All I've really leared about the Southland is that home field advantage really matters, and the SeLa Lions should be looking to make a statement here against the current Southland frontrunner. Lions in an old-fashioned shootout. SeLa 45, Texas St. 28.
Northeastern at #17 UMass. A bad matchup for the Huskies, and the Minutemen's defense should be able to shut them down. UMass 16, N'Eastern 0.
#19 Harvard at Cornell. Bounceback time for the Crimson against a young Cornell squad. Harvard 30, Cornell 3.
#20 UC-Davis at South Dakota St. Do the Jackrabbits have the hardest schedule in I-AA? 4 straight nationally-ranked I-AA teams in 4 weeks? The Aggies are on one of those rolls, and South Dakota St. ain't going to stop it now. UCD 26, SDSU 3
#21 Northwestern St. at #25 Sam Houston St. The winner could be the team to beat in teh Southland; the loser could have an uphill struggle for the playoffs. I like the Bearkats here at home the same way I like *any* Southland team playing at home. SHSU 35, N'Western St. 18.
#22 Youngstown St. at Indiana St. Up-and-comer Youngstown St. should - should - handle the Sycamores. YSU 30, ISU 10.
Western Carolina at #24 Georgia Southern. I don't think Georgia Southern is all that; however, the Catamounts right now couldn't score against Stateboro High School either. Look for a defensive struggle, with the Eagles on top. GSU 17, WCU 7.
See you at the game. I will attempt to audioblog during the game, but maybe only at halftime and after the game since I'll be working that day for I-AA.org.
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