#45 Delaware (1-1/2-3) at Rhode Island (0-3/0-5)
Remember, the Hens are basically playing just about all freshmen and sophomores. They are young but very talented. Last week the Blue Hens came from behind to upset William & Mary at home with a last second FG, 24-23. The Hens are averaging 18.4 points a game and give up 24.2 a game. They are the 2nd best rushing team in the CAA and that's with two backups. They also are the best team in the CAA in stopping the run. However, they are 11th in the effectiveness of their passing game.
The Rams lost last week on the road to their rival, Ivy Brown, 41-31. I was shocked at the offensive output as the Rams were averaging only 8ppg. They are giving up 38ppg. URI lost this game at Delaware last year, 28-13.
Hens even their record up at .500 with a 31-10 win. Delaware has a bye next week and then hosts New Hampshire. The Rams host Richmond on the 17th.
#5 JMU (2-0/5-0) at Towson (0-1/2-2)
QB Vad Lee has taken over for John Robertson as the best offensive player in the Conference and may be the leading candidate for the best in FCS. Stony Brook was able to bring this offensive juggernaut down to earth a little bit last week by yielding only 38 points to JMU when the Dukes were averaging 50ppg. Final score was 38-20 in Harrisonburg. JMU leads the CAA in rushing offense and passing offense and is 3rd in stopping the run. Those numbers should lead to a long playoff run this year. JMU defeated Towson last year at home, 62-7.
Towson had a bye last week and last played at Elon where they gave the Phoenix their 1st CAA win since joining the conference. The Tigers are averaging 24ppg and give up 22.8. They have the 3rd best rushing offense in the CAA and are 2nd best in stopping the run.
JMU continues its winning ways with a 45-17 win over the Tigers. JMU plays at Elon next and the Tigers travel to Stony Brook.
Maine (0-1/1-3) at Albany (1-1/2-3)
The Black Bears got crushed at Richmond last week, 48-17. Their rushing attack is very weak and their passing game average at best. They average only 13.5ppg and are giving up 31.8ppg.
The Great Danes got blown out by the 2-2 Patriot League Holy Cross Crusaders last week, 37-0. A very bad loss for the CAA conference. Albany is averaging 18.8ppg and give up 30.2 on defense. Albany won this game last year at Maine, 20-7.
Two teams in dire need for a win. Let's give the home team Great Danes a 24-21 win on Saturday. Maine travels to Ivy Yale next week and Albany hosts Villanova.
Elon (1-1/2-3) at #16 Richmond (1-0/3-1)
The Phoenix are dead last in rushing offense and defense in the CAA. They rank next-to-last in passing offense. Not going to win many CAA games with those stats (unless you play Towson). The Phoenix lost at home to Richmond last year, 30-10.
The Spiders defeated Maine at home last week, 48-17. The strength of their offense is their passing attack being ranked 2nd in the CAA. They are averaging almost 36ppg and give up 26 a game.
Spiders to win, 38-14. Spiders travel to URI next week and Elon hosts JMU. Look at this brutal 5 game stretch for Elon - at UNH, at Richmond, JMU, at Stony Brook and then William & Mary. Don't see a win anywhere in that Bataan Death March.
#33 William & Mary (1-1/2-2) at #14 Villanova (1-0/2-2)
After leading Delaware 23-14 with less than 12 minutes to go in the 4th Quarter last week, the Tribe defense fell asleep and let the Hens steal a one point win in Newark last week. Hard to believe since the Tribe leads the CAA in scoring defense giving up only 16.5ppg. Their defense is very, very good (though they may have two starting linebackers out with injury) but counter that with three defenders who should be playing on Sundays next year. They have the best 2014 CAA runningback in Mikal Abdul-Saboor and another quality rising star RB in Kendell Anderson who ran for 191 yards against Stony Brook. They have a very solid QB in Steve Clulely and some good WR in SO DeVonte Dedmon and R-FR Jack Armstrong. Add a coach (Jimmye Laycock) who has been doing this at W&M for 36 years with over 230 wins. Inspite of all this the Tribe find ways to lose games that they should (for example, at home last year vs Villanova and others).
The Cats had a much-needed bye last week to rest up and get healthy and give their new R-FR QB Zach Bednarczyk time for some reps with the 1st unit. The Cats were embarrassed at home two weeks ago losing for the 1st time in 104 years to Ivy Penn, 24-13. The Cats stole this game in the closing seconds down in Williamsburg last year behind their miracle-worker John Robertson, 35-31 but that option is off the table for Villanova for the remainder of the season. The Cats led the CAA in scoring offense last year averaging almost 38ppg but that has dropped to an anemic and pathetic 17.5ppg this year. The Cats must hit the recruiting trails hard in the off-season and need serious upgrades in the backfield and with their receivers - all which are playing average at best. The Cat defense is carrying this team. They are the top-ranked team in the CAA in total defense (274 yards per game) and 2nd to William & Mary in scoring defense (18ppg). However, unless the offense can stay on the field (they only had the ball for 5 minutes to Penn's 25 minutes in their 1st half) this team will quickly run out of gas and die from exhaustion.
Now for the prediction. Though the Cats had 2 weeks to prepare for this game and the coaching staff and program was utterly embarrassed by Penn which they must atone for that in itself should mean a Cat victory at home. However, this offense is so stagnant and with a QB who is only starting his 2nd game of his career I just can't go with a Cat win. Tribe 24 Cats 14. If the Cat defense can score a touchdown for our offense then it will be the Tribe by 3 in overtime, 24-21. Lack of a kicking game really hurts when you can't score in the red zone. Until our speed merchants step up their game (Jarrett McClenton, Taurus Phillips, Aaron Wells, Javon White) this season could get real ugly fast. W&M hosts UNH next and the Cats go on the road to Albany next weekend.
