Sunny! Hope the sunny, dry weather equals a big day at the Lehigh game - and, of course, the "W". And here are my other predictions for today's other games:
Patriot League:
Villanova at Bucknell. The Wildcats, winless on the road in 2005, re smarting after a 38-20 spanking at the hands of Richmond, while Bucknell got drummed by Penn last week 53-7. With the Bison so banged up, it's hard to give them much of a chance. Villanova 27, Bucknell 7.
Gerogetown at Cornell. Cornell, fresh off their win at Harvard, should continue their roll. Cornell 31, G'town 9.
Fordham at Colgate. The Raiders start their home campaign after getting a great 16-10 win against Princeton last week. The Rams embark on their incredible fifth road game in 6 games this week, and their nightmare looks to continue. Colgate 38, Fordham 7.
Harvard at Lafayette. Harvard went from getting first-place votes to being an afterthought this week, where they play a tough Lafayette squad who ripped up their field real good in a 14-7 mudfest. It will be a defensive struggle, but if Harvard turns over the ball like they did against Lehigh, the Leopards will make them play. Lafayette 19, Harvard 7.
Dartmouth at Holy Cross. It's called a lot of things. A letdown game; a look-ahead game; a "tweener" game. Eh, no way. With the Big Green grounded in the passing game, they don't have the goods to challenge Holy Cross here. HC 10, Dartmouth 7.
I-AA Top 25:
Missouri St. at #1 Western Kentucky. If this were at Missouri St. I would be sorely tempted to tke the upset. However, it's hard to give it to the Bears on the road. Call it a Hilltopper win, but with trouble. WKU 31, Missouri St. 30.
#2 James Madison at #13 UMass. The A-10 showdown of the week against two possible playoff teams. Both go in with 4-1 records with surprising upsets on their schedule. Could UMass, with their ferocious defense, win a huge game at home? My hunch is the defending champs will manage to pull this out in this case. JMU 21, UMass 17.
#9 Eastern Washington at #3 Montana. Although it's always tough to beat the Griz at home, if any team can do it, it's the Eagles. I think the Eagles are the best team in the Big Sky, and they prove it in front of 22,000 hostile fans. EWU 34, Montana 30.
Illinois St. at #4 Southern Illinois. Poor Illinois St. So close to being 4-1 and in the Gateway's driver seat, but back-to-back Gateway losses appear to have sealed their fate. Make it their third-straight, oh-so-close loss. SIU 28, ISU 21.
#5 Furman at The Citadel. The Bulldogs used up their one upset this year. Furman 49, The Citadel 13.
Rhode Island at #7 New Hampshire. Nah. UNH 51, URI 10.
#8 Montana St. at Portland St. Every week I hear about how good Portland St. is... and how Bobcat QB Lulay is due for an off week... which of course means, blowout city. MSU 34, PSU 17.
#10 Hampton at Norfolk St. If Hampton is going to lose this year, it will be to their nearby rival. Norfolk St. 19. Hampton 18.
Panhandle St. (D-II) at #11 Texas St. Hard to take a university like "Panhandle State" seriously, even if it wasn't D-II. TSU 70, Teacup... I mean Panhandle St. 0.
#12 William & Mary at Northeastern. The Tribe are good this year; the Huskies are not. W&M 49, N'Eastern 22.
Indiana St. at #14 Northern Iowa. A mad Panther team against a bad Sycamore team? Don't even give me the points. NIU 44, ISU 10.
#18 Georgia Southern at #15 Appalachian St. Likely a playoff game between two hated rivals in ths SoCon. We'll be hearing a lot from the winner about the I-AA playoffs, and nothing from the loser. This year... we're going to hear it from App. St., who is the better team and playing at home. Period. App. St. 37, GSU 10.
Western Illinois at #16 Youngstown St. The Leathernecks can't beat anyone; and they certainly won't beat the Penguins at the Ice Palace. YSU 24, WIU 3.
Southeast Louisiana at #19 Northwestern St. After the Demons made a mockery of my "the home team in the Southland always wins" rule, I will take the home team here... but in a close one. NSU 14, Sela 13.
Gardner-Webb at #20 Coastal Carolina. Did I mention that the Big South, with VMI and Coastal, are a very underrated conference this year? CCU 41, GWU 17.
#22 Delaware at Richmond. A must-win for Delaware, and I think they get it here. Lose, and they're done. The Spiders at 2-3 are basically done anyway, and although they would love nothing better that humiliating the Hens, I don't see it coming. Delaware 17, Richmond 14.
Stephen F. Austin at #23 McNeese St (Lafayette, LA). Watch out for the "home team" Cowboys. They are a solid team that may just win the Southland. MSU 35, SFA 21.
Maine at #24 Hofstra. The Pride need to get by this trap game on their way to an A-10 title shot or the I-AA playoffs. They should. Hofstra 38, Maine 7.
Florida A&M at #25 South Carolina St. The Bulldogs are overrated and should drop out of the Top 25. Plus, I have picked precious few upsets this week. So, why not pick the Rattlers? FAMU 38, SCSU 35.
Patriot League:
Villanova at Bucknell. The Wildcats, winless on the road in 2005, re smarting after a 38-20 spanking at the hands of Richmond, while Bucknell got drummed by Penn last week 53-7. With the Bison so banged up, it's hard to give them much of a chance. Villanova 27, Bucknell 7.
Gerogetown at Cornell. Cornell, fresh off their win at Harvard, should continue their roll. Cornell 31, G'town 9.
Fordham at Colgate. The Raiders start their home campaign after getting a great 16-10 win against Princeton last week. The Rams embark on their incredible fifth road game in 6 games this week, and their nightmare looks to continue. Colgate 38, Fordham 7.
Harvard at Lafayette. Harvard went from getting first-place votes to being an afterthought this week, where they play a tough Lafayette squad who ripped up their field real good in a 14-7 mudfest. It will be a defensive struggle, but if Harvard turns over the ball like they did against Lehigh, the Leopards will make them play. Lafayette 19, Harvard 7.
Dartmouth at Holy Cross. It's called a lot of things. A letdown game; a look-ahead game; a "tweener" game. Eh, no way. With the Big Green grounded in the passing game, they don't have the goods to challenge Holy Cross here. HC 10, Dartmouth 7.
I-AA Top 25:
Missouri St. at #1 Western Kentucky. If this were at Missouri St. I would be sorely tempted to tke the upset. However, it's hard to give it to the Bears on the road. Call it a Hilltopper win, but with trouble. WKU 31, Missouri St. 30.
#2 James Madison at #13 UMass. The A-10 showdown of the week against two possible playoff teams. Both go in with 4-1 records with surprising upsets on their schedule. Could UMass, with their ferocious defense, win a huge game at home? My hunch is the defending champs will manage to pull this out in this case. JMU 21, UMass 17.
#9 Eastern Washington at #3 Montana. Although it's always tough to beat the Griz at home, if any team can do it, it's the Eagles. I think the Eagles are the best team in the Big Sky, and they prove it in front of 22,000 hostile fans. EWU 34, Montana 30.
Illinois St. at #4 Southern Illinois. Poor Illinois St. So close to being 4-1 and in the Gateway's driver seat, but back-to-back Gateway losses appear to have sealed their fate. Make it their third-straight, oh-so-close loss. SIU 28, ISU 21.
#5 Furman at The Citadel. The Bulldogs used up their one upset this year. Furman 49, The Citadel 13.
Rhode Island at #7 New Hampshire. Nah. UNH 51, URI 10.
#8 Montana St. at Portland St. Every week I hear about how good Portland St. is... and how Bobcat QB Lulay is due for an off week... which of course means, blowout city. MSU 34, PSU 17.
#10 Hampton at Norfolk St. If Hampton is going to lose this year, it will be to their nearby rival. Norfolk St. 19. Hampton 18.
Panhandle St. (D-II) at #11 Texas St. Hard to take a university like "Panhandle State" seriously, even if it wasn't D-II. TSU 70, Teacup... I mean Panhandle St. 0.
#12 William & Mary at Northeastern. The Tribe are good this year; the Huskies are not. W&M 49, N'Eastern 22.
Indiana St. at #14 Northern Iowa. A mad Panther team against a bad Sycamore team? Don't even give me the points. NIU 44, ISU 10.
#18 Georgia Southern at #15 Appalachian St. Likely a playoff game between two hated rivals in ths SoCon. We'll be hearing a lot from the winner about the I-AA playoffs, and nothing from the loser. This year... we're going to hear it from App. St., who is the better team and playing at home. Period. App. St. 37, GSU 10.
Western Illinois at #16 Youngstown St. The Leathernecks can't beat anyone; and they certainly won't beat the Penguins at the Ice Palace. YSU 24, WIU 3.
Southeast Louisiana at #19 Northwestern St. After the Demons made a mockery of my "the home team in the Southland always wins" rule, I will take the home team here... but in a close one. NSU 14, Sela 13.
Gardner-Webb at #20 Coastal Carolina. Did I mention that the Big South, with VMI and Coastal, are a very underrated conference this year? CCU 41, GWU 17.
#22 Delaware at Richmond. A must-win for Delaware, and I think they get it here. Lose, and they're done. The Spiders at 2-3 are basically done anyway, and although they would love nothing better that humiliating the Hens, I don't see it coming. Delaware 17, Richmond 14.
Stephen F. Austin at #23 McNeese St (Lafayette, LA). Watch out for the "home team" Cowboys. They are a solid team that may just win the Southland. MSU 35, SFA 21.
Maine at #24 Hofstra. The Pride need to get by this trap game on their way to an A-10 title shot or the I-AA playoffs. They should. Hofstra 38, Maine 7.
Florida A&M at #25 South Carolina St. The Bulldogs are overrated and should drop out of the Top 25. Plus, I have picked precious few upsets this week. So, why not pick the Rattlers? FAMU 38, SCSU 35.
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