Thursday, September 3rd
Elon (0-0) at Wake Forest (0-0)
The Phoenix were picked to finish last in the CAA this year after going 0-8 in the conference last year and just 1-11 in 2014. The Phoenix must improve on both sides of the ball having just averaged 14 ppg and giving up almost 31 ppg on defense last year. Elon lost their 1-A game last year at Duke, 52-13.
The Demon Deacs finished last year at 3-9 and are picked to finish in last in the Atlantic Division of the ACC this year.
Wake Forest to win, 38- 17.
Stony Brook (0-0) at Toledo (0-0)
The Seawolves finished last season at 5-7 and boasted the best defense in the CAA giving up only 15ppg on defense. However, it's their offense that needs a major boost this year having averaged only 18ppg in 2014. The Seawolves were a preseason pick for 8th place in the 12 team CAA conference.
The Rockets of Toledo from the 1-A MAC are picked to win the West Division of the MAC in 2015 after going 9-4 last year winning their Bowl game over Arkansas St., 63-44. The Rockets won their 1-AA game last year defeating our own New Hampshire, 54-20.
Toledo to dominate the CAA again this year with a 45-14 win.
#9 New Hampshire (0-0) at San Jose St. (0-0)
The Wildcats of UNH lost their first game last year to 1-A Toledo and then won 12 games in-a-row before losing to Illinois St., 21-18 in the semi-finals of the FCS playoffs. They went undefeated (8-0) in the CAA and enjoy top 10 status in the FCS as this season begins. UNH was picked to finish in 3rd of the 12 team CAA conference for 2015. UNH took a big hit to graduation losing 13 starters from last year's team. However, they have the best coach in the conference, almost never lose at home and have been to the playoffs, I believe, 12 consecutive years. Pencil them in again this year as well.
The Spartans of San Jose St. come from the 1-A Mountain West Conference. They went 3-9 in 2014 and won their 1-AA game over the 5-7 Big Sky North Dakota, 42-10. The Spartans are picked to finish in 4th of the 6 team West Division of the conference ahead of Hawaii and UNLV.
This is a game that New Hampshire could steal but I'm going with a 1-A win here, 35-31, San Jose St.
Friday, September 4
Jacksonville (0-0) at Delaware (0-0)
The Dolphins come from the Pioneer Conference which normally doesn't give out football scholarships. However, the Dolphins have distributed most of their financial aid to nothing but football players and thus, were ineligible last year as well as this year for the Pioneer Championship and the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. The Dolphins finished 9-2 last year losing to 4-7 Marist Red Foxes and 9-4 playoff contender SE Louisiana, 44-3.
The Delaware Blue Hens have gone 7-5 (2013) and 6-6 (2014) in the two years under head coach Dave Brock. This year they will enter the season with a quarterback who has not taken a snap in their offense. Brock intends to give a Rutgers Junior transfer and a redshirt freshman a chance to see who can separate himself as the starter. The Hens are a talented team but very young, relying mostly on Freshmen and Sophomores. Delaware was a preseason pick of 6th place in the 12 team CAA.
Let's give the Hens a 24-21 win in Newark on Friday.
Rhode Island (0-0) at Syracuse (0-0)
The curse of fired coach (and now Villanova assistant Joe Trainer) was in place all of last season until the last game. The Rams were 0-11 and then upset Towson, 13-7, to finish 1-11 in 2014. The Rams had the worst offense in the CAA (only 12ppg) and the worst defense as well in the Conference (34ppg) and so, are picked to finish 11th in the 12 team conference.
Syracuse escaped with a 27-26 double overtime win in the Carrier Dome over Villanova last year after the Cats missed a FG from the 12 yard line with just seconds to go. The 'Cuse would finish a disappointing 3-9 (injuries) and thus, are picked for next-to-last to Wake Forest in the Atlantic Division of the ACC in 2015.
Give the Orange a 45-7 win in the Dome this year.
Saturday, September 5th
Albany (0-0) at Buffalo (0-0)
The Great Danes were a surprise 7-5 (3-5 in the CAA) in 2014. Coach Greg Gattuso took over for Bob Ford, who had been at Albany since 1973. Though the Great Danes were picked for 10th in the CAA in 2015, look for Gattuso to move Albany up the food chain quickly.
The Bulls from Buffalo are a 1-A MAC team that went 5-6 last year and beat Duquesne in their 1-AA game 38-28. Buffalo is picked to finish 5th in the 7 team MAC East.
How about a 35-28 win up in Buffalo.
Morehead St. (0-0) at #12 JMU (0-0)
The Pioneer Conference Eagles were 4-8 in 2014 and lost to CAA Richmond last year, 55-10. Morehead was picked to finish 8th of the 10 teams eligible in the conference for 2015.
The Dukes of JMU are picked to finish 2nd behind Villanova in the CAA this year. JMU was 9-4 last year losing to Liberty in the first round of the FCS playoffs, 26-21. JMU lost their 2014 1-A game to Maryland, 52-7. JMU will play their 1-A game at SMU on September 26.
Super quarterback Vad Lee will lead JMU to a 52-10 win down in Harrisonburg this weekend.
Maine (0-0) at Boston College (0-0)
It seems every other year Maine gets hot and surprises everyone. Two years ago they were picked 8th and won the CAA. Last year the Black Bears were 5-6 and were a preseason pick of 7th for 2015. Could this be another surprise year? Jack Cosgrove's Bears lost to BC last year, 40-10. The Black Bears must improve their anemic offense (only 16ppg last year) in order to be successful this year.
The Eagles were 7-5 last year and then lost their Bowl Game to Penn St. in the last seconds, 31-30 in OT. BC was picked ahead of Syracuse for 5th place in the Atlantic Division of the ACC for this year.
Look for the Eagles to beat the Black Bears, 38-10.
#18 Richmond (0-0) at Maryland (0-0)
The Spiders finished 9-5 last year going 1-1 in the FCS playoffs beating Morgan St., 46-24 in Round One but losing to Coastal Carolina in the next round, 36-16. The Spiders lost their 1-A game at Virginia in 2014, 45-13. Richmond was picked to finish 5th in the 12 team CAA Conference.
Maryland was 7-5 in 2014 and then lost their Bowl Game to Stanford, 45-21. They beat JMU in their 1-AA game in 2014, 52-7. In 2015 the Terps are a preseason pick for 5th place in the 7 team East Division of the Big Ten.
Let's give the Terps a 45- 17 win over the Spiders.
Towson (0-0) at East Carolina (0-0)
After going to the championship game of the FCS playoffs in 2013, the Tigers had a very disappointing 4-8 season in 2014 even losing to Rhode Island for their only win of the year. The Tigers lost their 1-A game to West Virginia last year, 54-0 (ouch!). This year Rob Ambrose and his Tigers are picked for 9th in the CAA.
The 1-A AAC (Temple's conference) Pirates of East Carolina finished 8-5 in 2014 losing their Bowl Game to Florida, 28-20. In 2014 the Pirates won their 1-AA game over NC Central, 52-7.
Give the Pirates a 38-14 win over Towson.
# 27 William & Mary (0-0) at Lafayette (0-0)
The Tribe went 7-5 last year and missed the FCS playoffs with their last game of the season loss to Richmond, 34-20. They lost their 1-A game to Virginia Tech in 2014, 34-9. The Tribe are picked for 4th in the CAA this year.
Lafayette lost to the Tribe last year in Williamsburg, 33-19. The Leopards were 5-6 in 2014 and play in the Patriot League.
Give the Tribe a 28-17 win to open their season.
Thursday, September 3rd
#4 Villanova (0-0) at UConn (0-0)
The Huskies went 2-10 in 2014 in coach Bob Diaco's first year. The two wins were over CAA 5-7 Stony Brook, 19-16 and 9-4 Central Florida, 37-29. The Huskies are a preseason pick for last in the East Division of the AAC (Temple's conference). The Huskies quarterback is a NC State transfer who is a dual-threat QB who has excellent running ability and can throw the deep pass. Two sophomores give UConn a decent run attack and Junior Noel Thomas is an explosive downfield threat at wide receiver. The offensive line struggled last year but seems much improved this season. UConn returns 7 starters on defense with two very nice linebackers and some talent in the secondary.
I'm going to agree with coach Talley that I think the Cats are somewhat overrated right now. There are just too many question marks on the offensive side. The O line had to be rebuilt, the running backs are not as strong as last year nor is our receiving game with the lost of Poppy Livers. Then there is John Robertson. Sure, he is Superman and we only win if he has another John Robertson game that we've come to expect but is he ready for the season after spending the summer on Wall Street? Will the coaching staff keep the chains off him or shackle him knowing that any injury to him could cost us the season? I love our D line and linebackers but the secondary still has question marks as well.
I have done a flip flop on this game everyday for the past week or so. On the one hand, our talent can match UConn in most positions and we know how to win, UConn doesn't. Of course, we must execute to get the job done. On the other hand, we are on the road, going against a team that can throw 22 more scholarship players at us. And then there is the mental aspect to the game. It would be devastating for UConn to lose this game. They simply can't afford to lose this game. For the Cats, a win over a 1-A can almost punch your playoff ticket baring any injury to John Robertson this year.
In the end I'm going with a 21-20 game. Today it's UConn. Tomorrow it will be Villanova and on Thursday it will be...
GO CATS! BEAT THE HUSKIES!
Elon (0-0) at Wake Forest (0-0)
The Phoenix were picked to finish last in the CAA this year after going 0-8 in the conference last year and just 1-11 in 2014. The Phoenix must improve on both sides of the ball having just averaged 14 ppg and giving up almost 31 ppg on defense last year. Elon lost their 1-A game last year at Duke, 52-13.
The Demon Deacs finished last year at 3-9 and are picked to finish in last in the Atlantic Division of the ACC this year.
Wake Forest to win, 38- 17.
Stony Brook (0-0) at Toledo (0-0)
The Seawolves finished last season at 5-7 and boasted the best defense in the CAA giving up only 15ppg on defense. However, it's their offense that needs a major boost this year having averaged only 18ppg in 2014. The Seawolves were a preseason pick for 8th place in the 12 team CAA conference.
The Rockets of Toledo from the 1-A MAC are picked to win the West Division of the MAC in 2015 after going 9-4 last year winning their Bowl game over Arkansas St., 63-44. The Rockets won their 1-AA game last year defeating our own New Hampshire, 54-20.
Toledo to dominate the CAA again this year with a 45-14 win.
#9 New Hampshire (0-0) at San Jose St. (0-0)
The Wildcats of UNH lost their first game last year to 1-A Toledo and then won 12 games in-a-row before losing to Illinois St., 21-18 in the semi-finals of the FCS playoffs. They went undefeated (8-0) in the CAA and enjoy top 10 status in the FCS as this season begins. UNH was picked to finish in 3rd of the 12 team CAA conference for 2015. UNH took a big hit to graduation losing 13 starters from last year's team. However, they have the best coach in the conference, almost never lose at home and have been to the playoffs, I believe, 12 consecutive years. Pencil them in again this year as well.
The Spartans of San Jose St. come from the 1-A Mountain West Conference. They went 3-9 in 2014 and won their 1-AA game over the 5-7 Big Sky North Dakota, 42-10. The Spartans are picked to finish in 4th of the 6 team West Division of the conference ahead of Hawaii and UNLV.
This is a game that New Hampshire could steal but I'm going with a 1-A win here, 35-31, San Jose St.
Friday, September 4
Jacksonville (0-0) at Delaware (0-0)
The Dolphins come from the Pioneer Conference which normally doesn't give out football scholarships. However, the Dolphins have distributed most of their financial aid to nothing but football players and thus, were ineligible last year as well as this year for the Pioneer Championship and the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. The Dolphins finished 9-2 last year losing to 4-7 Marist Red Foxes and 9-4 playoff contender SE Louisiana, 44-3.
The Delaware Blue Hens have gone 7-5 (2013) and 6-6 (2014) in the two years under head coach Dave Brock. This year they will enter the season with a quarterback who has not taken a snap in their offense. Brock intends to give a Rutgers Junior transfer and a redshirt freshman a chance to see who can separate himself as the starter. The Hens are a talented team but very young, relying mostly on Freshmen and Sophomores. Delaware was a preseason pick of 6th place in the 12 team CAA.
Let's give the Hens a 24-21 win in Newark on Friday.
Rhode Island (0-0) at Syracuse (0-0)
The curse of fired coach (and now Villanova assistant Joe Trainer) was in place all of last season until the last game. The Rams were 0-11 and then upset Towson, 13-7, to finish 1-11 in 2014. The Rams had the worst offense in the CAA (only 12ppg) and the worst defense as well in the Conference (34ppg) and so, are picked to finish 11th in the 12 team conference.
Syracuse escaped with a 27-26 double overtime win in the Carrier Dome over Villanova last year after the Cats missed a FG from the 12 yard line with just seconds to go. The 'Cuse would finish a disappointing 3-9 (injuries) and thus, are picked for next-to-last to Wake Forest in the Atlantic Division of the ACC in 2015.
Give the Orange a 45-7 win in the Dome this year.
Saturday, September 5th
Albany (0-0) at Buffalo (0-0)
The Great Danes were a surprise 7-5 (3-5 in the CAA) in 2014. Coach Greg Gattuso took over for Bob Ford, who had been at Albany since 1973. Though the Great Danes were picked for 10th in the CAA in 2015, look for Gattuso to move Albany up the food chain quickly.
The Bulls from Buffalo are a 1-A MAC team that went 5-6 last year and beat Duquesne in their 1-AA game 38-28. Buffalo is picked to finish 5th in the 7 team MAC East.
How about a 35-28 win up in Buffalo.
Morehead St. (0-0) at #12 JMU (0-0)
The Pioneer Conference Eagles were 4-8 in 2014 and lost to CAA Richmond last year, 55-10. Morehead was picked to finish 8th of the 10 teams eligible in the conference for 2015.
The Dukes of JMU are picked to finish 2nd behind Villanova in the CAA this year. JMU was 9-4 last year losing to Liberty in the first round of the FCS playoffs, 26-21. JMU lost their 2014 1-A game to Maryland, 52-7. JMU will play their 1-A game at SMU on September 26.
Super quarterback Vad Lee will lead JMU to a 52-10 win down in Harrisonburg this weekend.
Maine (0-0) at Boston College (0-0)
It seems every other year Maine gets hot and surprises everyone. Two years ago they were picked 8th and won the CAA. Last year the Black Bears were 5-6 and were a preseason pick of 7th for 2015. Could this be another surprise year? Jack Cosgrove's Bears lost to BC last year, 40-10. The Black Bears must improve their anemic offense (only 16ppg last year) in order to be successful this year.
The Eagles were 7-5 last year and then lost their Bowl Game to Penn St. in the last seconds, 31-30 in OT. BC was picked ahead of Syracuse for 5th place in the Atlantic Division of the ACC for this year.
Look for the Eagles to beat the Black Bears, 38-10.
#18 Richmond (0-0) at Maryland (0-0)
The Spiders finished 9-5 last year going 1-1 in the FCS playoffs beating Morgan St., 46-24 in Round One but losing to Coastal Carolina in the next round, 36-16. The Spiders lost their 1-A game at Virginia in 2014, 45-13. Richmond was picked to finish 5th in the 12 team CAA Conference.
Maryland was 7-5 in 2014 and then lost their Bowl Game to Stanford, 45-21. They beat JMU in their 1-AA game in 2014, 52-7. In 2015 the Terps are a preseason pick for 5th place in the 7 team East Division of the Big Ten.
Let's give the Terps a 45- 17 win over the Spiders.
Towson (0-0) at East Carolina (0-0)
After going to the championship game of the FCS playoffs in 2013, the Tigers had a very disappointing 4-8 season in 2014 even losing to Rhode Island for their only win of the year. The Tigers lost their 1-A game to West Virginia last year, 54-0 (ouch!). This year Rob Ambrose and his Tigers are picked for 9th in the CAA.
The 1-A AAC (Temple's conference) Pirates of East Carolina finished 8-5 in 2014 losing their Bowl Game to Florida, 28-20. In 2014 the Pirates won their 1-AA game over NC Central, 52-7.
Give the Pirates a 38-14 win over Towson.
# 27 William & Mary (0-0) at Lafayette (0-0)
The Tribe went 7-5 last year and missed the FCS playoffs with their last game of the season loss to Richmond, 34-20. They lost their 1-A game to Virginia Tech in 2014, 34-9. The Tribe are picked for 4th in the CAA this year.
Lafayette lost to the Tribe last year in Williamsburg, 33-19. The Leopards were 5-6 in 2014 and play in the Patriot League.
Give the Tribe a 28-17 win to open their season.
Thursday, September 3rd
#4 Villanova (0-0) at UConn (0-0)
The Huskies went 2-10 in 2014 in coach Bob Diaco's first year. The two wins were over CAA 5-7 Stony Brook, 19-16 and 9-4 Central Florida, 37-29. The Huskies are a preseason pick for last in the East Division of the AAC (Temple's conference). The Huskies quarterback is a NC State transfer who is a dual-threat QB who has excellent running ability and can throw the deep pass. Two sophomores give UConn a decent run attack and Junior Noel Thomas is an explosive downfield threat at wide receiver. The offensive line struggled last year but seems much improved this season. UConn returns 7 starters on defense with two very nice linebackers and some talent in the secondary.
I'm going to agree with coach Talley that I think the Cats are somewhat overrated right now. There are just too many question marks on the offensive side. The O line had to be rebuilt, the running backs are not as strong as last year nor is our receiving game with the lost of Poppy Livers. Then there is John Robertson. Sure, he is Superman and we only win if he has another John Robertson game that we've come to expect but is he ready for the season after spending the summer on Wall Street? Will the coaching staff keep the chains off him or shackle him knowing that any injury to him could cost us the season? I love our D line and linebackers but the secondary still has question marks as well.
I have done a flip flop on this game everyday for the past week or so. On the one hand, our talent can match UConn in most positions and we know how to win, UConn doesn't. Of course, we must execute to get the job done. On the other hand, we are on the road, going against a team that can throw 22 more scholarship players at us. And then there is the mental aspect to the game. It would be devastating for UConn to lose this game. They simply can't afford to lose this game. For the Cats, a win over a 1-A can almost punch your playoff ticket baring any injury to John Robertson this year.
In the end I'm going with a 21-20 game. Today it's UConn. Tomorrow it will be Villanova and on Thursday it will be...
GO CATS! BEAT THE HUSKIES!
