Saturday, September 12
Rhode Island (0-1) at Albany (0-1)
The 2015 season in the CAA gets underway with this league matchup game.The Rams opened their season last week with a 47-0 blow-out in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. The schedule doesn't get any easier next week taking on a Top 25 team in Harvard (10-0 in 2014 and Ivy League champs). The Rams lost their home game with Albany last year, 37-20 and finished 1-7 in the CAA (beat Towson) and 1-11 for the year.
Albany lost to 1-A MAC Buffalo Bulls, 57-14, last week in their opener. The Great Danes enjoyed a winning season last year going a surprising 7-5. They were picked to finish in 10th of the 12 CAA teams. Next week the Great Danes play another CAA foe at JMU.
Albany will get their first win of the 2015 season with a 38-14 win over the URI Rams.
Lafayette (0-1) at Delaware (0-1)
The Leopards opened at home last week going against another CAA team in William & Mary and lost to the Tribe, 34-7. Lafayette was picked to finish in 4th of the 7 team Patriot League after going 5-6 in 2014.
The Blue Hens were upset at home last week by the Pioneer Jacksonville Dolphins, 20-14. Coach Dave Brock could not decide on a quarterback in preseason play and so, tried Rutgers Junior transfer Blake Rankin in the 1st and 3rd quarter and redshirt freshman Joe Walker in the 2nd and 4th quarter. The Hens also have two of the best running backs in the conference but only managed 117 yards rushing between the two. Will be interesting to see what happens this week as they prepare for Villanova the following week.
The Hens will get that elusive 1st win on Saturday in Newark, 24-14.
Elon (0-1) at Gardner-Webb (0-1)
The Phoenix finished 1-11 (0-8 in CAA) last year with their only win being against Charlotte (5-6), 20-13. This game may be their only chance for a win on this year's schedule and it's only the 2nd week of the season. The Phoenix lost at 1-A ACC Wake Forest last week, 41-3. Next week they play their first home game but against North Carolina A&T which was picked to win the MEAC this year after going 9-3 in 2014.
The Runnin' Bulldogs from the Big South were a preseason pick for 5th in the 7 team conference after going 4-8 in 2014. They opened their season last week at 1-A Sun Belt South Alabama (6-7 in 2014) and played well (leading 16-13 in the 3rd Q) before losing, 33-23.
It would be nice to see a CAA team take out a Big South foe especially the last place team of the CAA. However, have to think Gardner-Webb prevails, 31-21.
#15 New Hampshire (0-1) at Colgate (0-1)
OK, UNH lost at 1-A Mountain West San Jose St., 43-13 last week to open their season. They also lost their 1-A game in 2014 to MAC Toledo, 54-20 but then went undefeated in their next 12 games. Don't see the same thing happening this year as graduation took its toll with the UNH program. However, in the end this will still be a playoff team.
The Patriot League Raiders of Colgate were a preseason pick of 3rd in the 7 team conference. The Raiders went 5-7 in 2014. Colgate opened at Navy last week and lost, 48-10.
New Hampshire should have no problem this weekend with a 38-14 win at Colgate.
UNH will play at Stony Brook on the 19th.
#22 Richmond (0-1) at Hampton (1-0)
The Spiders were a preseason pick for 5th in the 12 team CAA. They opened up at 1-A Big Ten Maryland last weekend and lost, 50-21. Richmond defeated Hampton at home last year, 42-17. The Spiders come home for the first time in 2015 next weekend against VMI (2-10 in 2014).
The Hampton Pirates from the MEAC were picked to finish 6th in the 11 team conference in 2015. Last year they finished with a 3-9 record. Last weekend the Pirates beat D-2 Kentucky St., 35-30.
Don't expect much of a fight in this one as Richmond wins, 45-14.
Central Connecticut State (0-1) at Stony Brook (0-0)
The Blue Devils play in the Northeast Conference and were a preseason pick for 4th in the 7 team league. In 2014 the Blue Devils finished with a 3-9 record. However, one of those wins was against a CAA team (Towson) in a big upset. CC ST. lost last weekend to Lehigh, 20-14.
The Seawolves opened their 2015 season at 1-A Toledo and were losing at halftime, 16-7. Inclement weather prevented the rest of the game to be played and so it was ruled - no contest - and none of the stats will count. Stony Brook finished last year at 5-7 and was a preseason pick for 8th in the 12 team CAA. Don't think the Seawolves will take the Blue Devils lightly as Towson did last year and so, let's give Stony Brook their first win of the season, 35-10. Stony Brook hosts New Hampshire next weekend.
St. Francis (1-0) at Towson (0-1)
The Red Flash from the Northeast Conference were picked for dead last (7 of 7) in 2015. They had a 5-6 record in 2014. Last weekend they beat the Georgetown Hoyas, 48-20 (heck, most college intramural football teams could beat Georgetown).
In 2013 Towson played in the FCS Championship game. In 2014 the Tigers just went through the motions in most games finishing a very disappointing 4-8. One of those losses was to 3-9 Northeast Central Connecticut State and also gave Rhode Island their only win of the year. I think a message was sent last week in their first game of the 2015 season by almost beating 1-A AAC East Carolina (a 8-5 team in 2014 that almost beat Florida in their Bowl Game) before losing, 28-20.
After playing this cupcake of a team, Rob Ambrose's Tigers play another pancake team in Holy Cross (4-8 in 2014) next weekend.
Give Towson a 42-14 win this weekend.
Lehigh (1-0) at #11 JMU (1- 0)
The Mountain Hawks were picked for 5th in the 7 team Patriot League after going 3-8 in 2014. What has happened to this program? Just a few years ago they were the toast of the Patriot League and annually went to the 1-AA playoffs. The Engineers defeated Central Connecticut State last week, 20-14. Sorry Villanova fans but right now JMU is the best program in the CAA. OK, so they opened up against some cotton-candy in Morehead State and won big time, 56-7. Next week they will play their third consecutive home game for 2015 in CAA foe Albany. JMU played at Lehigh last year and struggled to a 31-28 win. Don't see that happening this year as the Dukes crush the Mountain Hawks, 41-17.
#2 Villanova (0-1) at #16 Fordham (1-0)
Two Top 20 teams going at each other for one of the best 1-AA games this weekend. Fordham Rams - WOW! You lose one-half of your team (30 Seniors) to graduation, you lose 18 starters and return only 4. You lose one of the best quarterbacks in 1-AA, a John Robertson clone in UConn transfer Mike Nebrich and send out a Marshall QB transfer who hasn't taken a snap in two years and you go out and become the first 1-AA team in 2015 to defeat a 1-A team this past weekend in the Black Knights of Army. (3 other 1-AA teams would also upset a 1-A later in the weekend). Final score was 37-35, Fordham. You can do that when you have the 2014 Jerry Rice Award winner (given to the best freshman player in 1-AA) in RB Chase Edmonds. Edmonds gained almost 2,000 yards last year and scored 23 touchdowns. Against Army last week he ran for 110 yards and 3 touchdowns and had 140 yards on just 6 catches. The Marshall transfer quarterback, Kevin Anderson, was 15 of 23 for 322 yards. They had 37 rushing plays and 23 passes for a total of 445 yards against Army for a very balanced attack. Coach Joe Morehead is in his 4th season at Fordham. They have gone 23-5 in the last two years, going to the Playoffs both years. Last year they were 11-3 and beat Sacred Heart in the first round of the playoffs, 44-22, before losing at New Hampshire, 44-19 in round two. Don't forget - Fordham also beat a 1-A in Temple in 2013 at the Linc. The Rams were picked to win the Patriot League this year. Another "don't forget" - Fordham beat Villanova in the Bronx two years ago, 27-24. OK, maybe Villanova beat themselves that day by turning the ball over 5 times. Villanova got its revenge last year on the Mainline winning 50-6. So, the Rams have a score to even up with us.
Now I don't want to take away from the Fordham victory over Army but one can argue that even an Ivy League team beat the Black Knights in 2014 (8-2 Yale), 49-43 and Army finished that season at 4-8.
Now for the Wildcats. OK, Villanova fans - what did we learn about our team in game one? That the 1-AA Player of the Year in 2014, John Robertson, has a lot of rust on him and isn't anywhere near midseason form having spent a summer away from football working on Wall Street. JR had a fumble where he literally just dropped the ball on the carpet, had an interception, muffed a 4th down and 6 inches snap that was a critical turnover of downs and threw some passes that just weren't in sync. We also learned that our receiving corps has to step up big time. No one is getting separation. We need our speed merchants to really step it up - guys like SO/WR Taurus Phillips, FR/RB/WR Jarrett McClenton, JR/RB Javon White, SO/WR Lincoln Collins. If SR/RB Gary Underwood isn't playing, we could be in big trouble. John Robertson can't do it by himself ,we need some playmakers and fast. On defense we had way too many missed tackles and a lot by our most seasoned veterans. Hopefully,All-American Don Cherry recovers from a rather pedestrian performance. Reggie Parris - let's step it up big boy! Tanoh Kpassagnon sent a message that he could be playing for money on Sundays in two years. The dude was a beast last week. Too much inconsistency from ourDB/CB/SS. They will be tested on Saturday.
Now for the prediction. First team to 20 wins. Think it will be the Cats, 21-17.
Cats come home next week for their archrival Blue Hens of Delaware.
Maine is off this week and plays at 1-A Tulane next week.
W&M also off and pllays at 1-A Virginia next weekend.
Last week was a 9-1 pick week.
GO CATS - BEAT THE RAMS!
Rhode Island (0-1) at Albany (0-1)
The 2015 season in the CAA gets underway with this league matchup game.The Rams opened their season last week with a 47-0 blow-out in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. The schedule doesn't get any easier next week taking on a Top 25 team in Harvard (10-0 in 2014 and Ivy League champs). The Rams lost their home game with Albany last year, 37-20 and finished 1-7 in the CAA (beat Towson) and 1-11 for the year.
Albany lost to 1-A MAC Buffalo Bulls, 57-14, last week in their opener. The Great Danes enjoyed a winning season last year going a surprising 7-5. They were picked to finish in 10th of the 12 CAA teams. Next week the Great Danes play another CAA foe at JMU.
Albany will get their first win of the 2015 season with a 38-14 win over the URI Rams.
Lafayette (0-1) at Delaware (0-1)
The Leopards opened at home last week going against another CAA team in William & Mary and lost to the Tribe, 34-7. Lafayette was picked to finish in 4th of the 7 team Patriot League after going 5-6 in 2014.
The Blue Hens were upset at home last week by the Pioneer Jacksonville Dolphins, 20-14. Coach Dave Brock could not decide on a quarterback in preseason play and so, tried Rutgers Junior transfer Blake Rankin in the 1st and 3rd quarter and redshirt freshman Joe Walker in the 2nd and 4th quarter. The Hens also have two of the best running backs in the conference but only managed 117 yards rushing between the two. Will be interesting to see what happens this week as they prepare for Villanova the following week.
The Hens will get that elusive 1st win on Saturday in Newark, 24-14.
Elon (0-1) at Gardner-Webb (0-1)
The Phoenix finished 1-11 (0-8 in CAA) last year with their only win being against Charlotte (5-6), 20-13. This game may be their only chance for a win on this year's schedule and it's only the 2nd week of the season. The Phoenix lost at 1-A ACC Wake Forest last week, 41-3. Next week they play their first home game but against North Carolina A&T which was picked to win the MEAC this year after going 9-3 in 2014.
The Runnin' Bulldogs from the Big South were a preseason pick for 5th in the 7 team conference after going 4-8 in 2014. They opened their season last week at 1-A Sun Belt South Alabama (6-7 in 2014) and played well (leading 16-13 in the 3rd Q) before losing, 33-23.
It would be nice to see a CAA team take out a Big South foe especially the last place team of the CAA. However, have to think Gardner-Webb prevails, 31-21.
#15 New Hampshire (0-1) at Colgate (0-1)
OK, UNH lost at 1-A Mountain West San Jose St., 43-13 last week to open their season. They also lost their 1-A game in 2014 to MAC Toledo, 54-20 but then went undefeated in their next 12 games. Don't see the same thing happening this year as graduation took its toll with the UNH program. However, in the end this will still be a playoff team.
The Patriot League Raiders of Colgate were a preseason pick of 3rd in the 7 team conference. The Raiders went 5-7 in 2014. Colgate opened at Navy last week and lost, 48-10.
New Hampshire should have no problem this weekend with a 38-14 win at Colgate.
UNH will play at Stony Brook on the 19th.
#22 Richmond (0-1) at Hampton (1-0)
The Spiders were a preseason pick for 5th in the 12 team CAA. They opened up at 1-A Big Ten Maryland last weekend and lost, 50-21. Richmond defeated Hampton at home last year, 42-17. The Spiders come home for the first time in 2015 next weekend against VMI (2-10 in 2014).
The Hampton Pirates from the MEAC were picked to finish 6th in the 11 team conference in 2015. Last year they finished with a 3-9 record. Last weekend the Pirates beat D-2 Kentucky St., 35-30.
Don't expect much of a fight in this one as Richmond wins, 45-14.
Central Connecticut State (0-1) at Stony Brook (0-0)
The Blue Devils play in the Northeast Conference and were a preseason pick for 4th in the 7 team league. In 2014 the Blue Devils finished with a 3-9 record. However, one of those wins was against a CAA team (Towson) in a big upset. CC ST. lost last weekend to Lehigh, 20-14.
The Seawolves opened their 2015 season at 1-A Toledo and were losing at halftime, 16-7. Inclement weather prevented the rest of the game to be played and so it was ruled - no contest - and none of the stats will count. Stony Brook finished last year at 5-7 and was a preseason pick for 8th in the 12 team CAA. Don't think the Seawolves will take the Blue Devils lightly as Towson did last year and so, let's give Stony Brook their first win of the season, 35-10. Stony Brook hosts New Hampshire next weekend.
St. Francis (1-0) at Towson (0-1)
The Red Flash from the Northeast Conference were picked for dead last (7 of 7) in 2015. They had a 5-6 record in 2014. Last weekend they beat the Georgetown Hoyas, 48-20 (heck, most college intramural football teams could beat Georgetown).
In 2013 Towson played in the FCS Championship game. In 2014 the Tigers just went through the motions in most games finishing a very disappointing 4-8. One of those losses was to 3-9 Northeast Central Connecticut State and also gave Rhode Island their only win of the year. I think a message was sent last week in their first game of the 2015 season by almost beating 1-A AAC East Carolina (a 8-5 team in 2014 that almost beat Florida in their Bowl Game) before losing, 28-20.
After playing this cupcake of a team, Rob Ambrose's Tigers play another pancake team in Holy Cross (4-8 in 2014) next weekend.
Give Towson a 42-14 win this weekend.
Lehigh (1-0) at #11 JMU (1- 0)
The Mountain Hawks were picked for 5th in the 7 team Patriot League after going 3-8 in 2014. What has happened to this program? Just a few years ago they were the toast of the Patriot League and annually went to the 1-AA playoffs. The Engineers defeated Central Connecticut State last week, 20-14. Sorry Villanova fans but right now JMU is the best program in the CAA. OK, so they opened up against some cotton-candy in Morehead State and won big time, 56-7. Next week they will play their third consecutive home game for 2015 in CAA foe Albany. JMU played at Lehigh last year and struggled to a 31-28 win. Don't see that happening this year as the Dukes crush the Mountain Hawks, 41-17.
#2 Villanova (0-1) at #16 Fordham (1-0)
Two Top 20 teams going at each other for one of the best 1-AA games this weekend. Fordham Rams - WOW! You lose one-half of your team (30 Seniors) to graduation, you lose 18 starters and return only 4. You lose one of the best quarterbacks in 1-AA, a John Robertson clone in UConn transfer Mike Nebrich and send out a Marshall QB transfer who hasn't taken a snap in two years and you go out and become the first 1-AA team in 2015 to defeat a 1-A team this past weekend in the Black Knights of Army. (3 other 1-AA teams would also upset a 1-A later in the weekend). Final score was 37-35, Fordham. You can do that when you have the 2014 Jerry Rice Award winner (given to the best freshman player in 1-AA) in RB Chase Edmonds. Edmonds gained almost 2,000 yards last year and scored 23 touchdowns. Against Army last week he ran for 110 yards and 3 touchdowns and had 140 yards on just 6 catches. The Marshall transfer quarterback, Kevin Anderson, was 15 of 23 for 322 yards. They had 37 rushing plays and 23 passes for a total of 445 yards against Army for a very balanced attack. Coach Joe Morehead is in his 4th season at Fordham. They have gone 23-5 in the last two years, going to the Playoffs both years. Last year they were 11-3 and beat Sacred Heart in the first round of the playoffs, 44-22, before losing at New Hampshire, 44-19 in round two. Don't forget - Fordham also beat a 1-A in Temple in 2013 at the Linc. The Rams were picked to win the Patriot League this year. Another "don't forget" - Fordham beat Villanova in the Bronx two years ago, 27-24. OK, maybe Villanova beat themselves that day by turning the ball over 5 times. Villanova got its revenge last year on the Mainline winning 50-6. So, the Rams have a score to even up with us.
Now I don't want to take away from the Fordham victory over Army but one can argue that even an Ivy League team beat the Black Knights in 2014 (8-2 Yale), 49-43 and Army finished that season at 4-8.
Now for the Wildcats. OK, Villanova fans - what did we learn about our team in game one? That the 1-AA Player of the Year in 2014, John Robertson, has a lot of rust on him and isn't anywhere near midseason form having spent a summer away from football working on Wall Street. JR had a fumble where he literally just dropped the ball on the carpet, had an interception, muffed a 4th down and 6 inches snap that was a critical turnover of downs and threw some passes that just weren't in sync. We also learned that our receiving corps has to step up big time. No one is getting separation. We need our speed merchants to really step it up - guys like SO/WR Taurus Phillips, FR/RB/WR Jarrett McClenton, JR/RB Javon White, SO/WR Lincoln Collins. If SR/RB Gary Underwood isn't playing, we could be in big trouble. John Robertson can't do it by himself ,we need some playmakers and fast. On defense we had way too many missed tackles and a lot by our most seasoned veterans. Hopefully,All-American Don Cherry recovers from a rather pedestrian performance. Reggie Parris - let's step it up big boy! Tanoh Kpassagnon sent a message that he could be playing for money on Sundays in two years. The dude was a beast last week. Too much inconsistency from ourDB/CB/SS. They will be tested on Saturday.
Now for the prediction. First team to 20 wins. Think it will be the Cats, 21-17.
Cats come home next week for their archrival Blue Hens of Delaware.
Maine is off this week and plays at 1-A Tulane next week.
W&M also off and pllays at 1-A Virginia next weekend.
Last week was a 9-1 pick week.
GO CATS - BEAT THE RAMS!
