Saturday, October 11
#22 Richmond (0-1/3-2) at Albany (1-1/4-1)
What a game for the Spiders last week! With 8 seconds to go and on the road at Liberty, Richmond kicked what it thought was the winning field goal and took a 32-29 lead. In the remaining 8 seconds the Liberty Flames get it to midfield and kick a 60 yard field goal with no time on the clock to tie it and send it into overtime where the Spiders won in the 2nd OT, 46-39. The Spiders went 3-1 in their out-of-conference record with that lone loss to 1-A Virginia, 45-13. Their Sagarin rating is 120 - 3rd best in the CAA. They average 36 ppg (3rd best in the CAA) but must tighten up their defense if they want to be successful in the playoffs giving up 28ppg. That one CAA loss was to New Hampshire at home in the last 19 seconds.
The Great Danes lost their first game of the year last week and their Top 25 ranking in their home loss to JMU. Albany tied the game with a touchdown with 55 seconds to go only to see JMU kick a 34 yard winning field goal with 4 seconds left. The Great Danes are 3-0 in their out-of-conference schedule with 3-2 Colgate still to play on Oct. 25. Albany beat Rhode Island, 37-20 and lost to JMU, 31-28. Their Sagarin rating is 164 for 5th best in the CAA but they were a preseason pick of 10th in the CAA. Albany lost to Richmond last year, 27-10 but then again they lost all their CAA games last year.
If either team wants the playoffs then this is a must "get" game. Thinking the Spiders have the better chance, let's go with a 28-27 Richmond win. Close game for the Spiders as they had 2 weeks to prepare for Liberty and that game took a lot out of them. An overtime game and a travel week = a close game. Richmond hosts URI next and Albany is at Maine.
Elon (0-1/1-4) at Delaware (1-0/3-2)
The Phoenix really struggle scoring points averaging only 12.4 a game. They give up 32 a game and both rank 11th in the CAA. Their out-of-conference record was 1-3 with a loss to 1-ADuke, 52-13.That one win was over 1-AA independent Charlotte, 20-13. Their 1st CAA conference game was a loss to UNH last week, 48-14.
The Blue Hens fell out of the Top 25 wth their home loss to Northeast Sacred Heart,10-7 last week. The Hens finished 2-2 with their out-of-conference schedule with wins over 3-2 Colgate in the last minute and 1-5 Delaware St. Their signature win was at 3-3 JMU in overtime, 30-23. Sagarin has them rated 186 (out of 252 1-A/1-AA teams)for 8th best in the CAA.
Hens to win in Newark, 31-21. Delaware hosts Towson next and Elon hosts Stony Brook.
Towson (0-2/2-4) at JMU (1-2/3-3)
I'm giving up on you Towson and so is Jeff Sagarin. He rates you 216/11th in the CAA. Their out-of-conference record was 2-2 with losses to Northeast Central Connecticut St and 1-A West Virginia. The two wins were over 1-5 Delaware St. and 2-3 NC Central. The two CAA losses were to Maine, 27-24 and Stony Brook, 14-3, both at home.
Sagarin rates JMU 170/6th in the CAA. The Dukes really strugg on the defensive side of the ball giving up 35 ppg. In their out-of-conference schedule they are 2-1 with 3-3 Charlote next week. Their CAA losses are to Villanova and Delaware and got a nice CAA road win over previously undefeated Albany last week.
JMU 31 and Towson 21. Towson plays at Delaware next week and JMU hosts Charlotte.
#10 William & Mary (1-0/4-1) a #4 New Hampshire (2-0/4-1)
Jeff Sagarin rates the Tribe 123 and 4th in the CAA. They have a 3-1 out-of-conference record with wins over 2-3 Lafayette, 2-4 Norfolk St. and 1-4 Hampton. The loss was to 1-A Virginia Tech. The Tribe CAA win was over Stony Brook in overtime, 27-21 after scoring a come-from-behind touchdown with just 25 seconds left in the game. The Tribe have had two weeks to heal and prepare for this matchup with UNH which W&M won, 17-0 last year.
Sagarin rates UNH 93 and 2nd best in the CAA. They can score points with ease averaging 39 a game but give up 28 on defense. Since UNH is only playing an 11 game schedule they finished 2-1 in their out-of-conference schedule with wins over 0-4 Lehigh and 2-1 Dartmouth. The one loss was to 1-A MAC Toledo. UNH has two CAA road wins - Richmond and Elon.
This may be the last chance for a team to beat New Hampshire as their schedule is very favorable for them to run the table. Since Villanova plays at W&M next week (a very tough place to win) is it better for the Tribe to win or lose at UNH? Thoughts, anyone? Since UNH never loses at home, let's give them a 34-28 win ove the Tribe. UNH has a bye nexweek and plays Stony Brook in two weeks. W&M hosts Villanova.
Maine (1-1/2-3) at Stony Brook (1-1/2-4)
Sagarin rates Maine at 183 and 7th in the CAA. They are struggling to score - just 15ppg and give up 25 a game. They play only 11 games this year and finished 1-2 out-of-conference with losses to Northeast Bryant and 1-A B.C. Their one win was over 2-4 Norfolk St. In the CAA they have a nice last minute win at Towson and a home loss to Villanova last week, 41-20. The 2013 CAA conference champs beat Stony Brook last year, 19-14.
Sagarin rates the Seawolves at 191 and 9th in the CAA. They have the top rated defense in the CAA giving up a paltry 13 ppg. Trouble is they only score 13 a game. Out-of-conference they were 1-3 and that should never happen. They lost to Northeast Bryant, 1-A UConn and Big Sky North Dakota. That one win was over a D-2 team. In the CAA they beat Towson last week and lost in OT to W&M.
Flip your coin, guys, on this game. It's heads so Stony Brook wins by a TD, 17-10. Maine hosts Albany on the 18th and the Seawolves travel to Elon.
Rhode Island (0-1/0-5) at #6 Villanova (2-0/4-1)
The Rams are dead last in their offensive production in the CAA averaging only 12 a game. They also are dead last on the other side of the ball giving up 39ppg. Sagarin has them rated last in the CAA and 232 out of 252 in the nation. They lost this game at home last year to Villanova, 45-0. They went 0-4 in out-of-conference play which is a no-no but had two opportunities for wins against Northeast Central Connecticut St. and 1-2 Brown last week, a 20-13 loss. Those two other losses were to 1-A 5-0 Marshall and 5-1 Fordham. Former Defensive Coordinator and Andy Talley assistant (1998-1999) Jim Fleming is the new head coach at URI taking over for another former Andy Talley assistant and back with the Cats - Joe Trainer.
Villanova, according to Jeff Sagarin, is rated 63rd in the nation, 2nd in FCS and 1st in the CAA. They average 41 points a game and give up 18ppg. They are 2-1 outside of the CAA with 3-3 MEAC Morgan St. still to play (Oct. 25th). Oh, by the way, in case you are wondering, 3 time consecutive FCS champion (2011, 2012, 2013) North Dakota St. is rated #1 in the FCS by Sagarin and rated eleven spots ahead of the Cats at 52.
Hopefully, no starter has to play in the 2nd half and we get a chance to see the future of Villanova football in 2015 and 2016 in the 2nd half this weekend. Cats 42 Rams 10.
Villanova is at W&M on the 18th and URI travels to Richmond.
GO CATS - BEAT THE RAMS!
#22 Richmond (0-1/3-2) at Albany (1-1/4-1)
What a game for the Spiders last week! With 8 seconds to go and on the road at Liberty, Richmond kicked what it thought was the winning field goal and took a 32-29 lead. In the remaining 8 seconds the Liberty Flames get it to midfield and kick a 60 yard field goal with no time on the clock to tie it and send it into overtime where the Spiders won in the 2nd OT, 46-39. The Spiders went 3-1 in their out-of-conference record with that lone loss to 1-A Virginia, 45-13. Their Sagarin rating is 120 - 3rd best in the CAA. They average 36 ppg (3rd best in the CAA) but must tighten up their defense if they want to be successful in the playoffs giving up 28ppg. That one CAA loss was to New Hampshire at home in the last 19 seconds.
The Great Danes lost their first game of the year last week and their Top 25 ranking in their home loss to JMU. Albany tied the game with a touchdown with 55 seconds to go only to see JMU kick a 34 yard winning field goal with 4 seconds left. The Great Danes are 3-0 in their out-of-conference schedule with 3-2 Colgate still to play on Oct. 25. Albany beat Rhode Island, 37-20 and lost to JMU, 31-28. Their Sagarin rating is 164 for 5th best in the CAA but they were a preseason pick of 10th in the CAA. Albany lost to Richmond last year, 27-10 but then again they lost all their CAA games last year.
If either team wants the playoffs then this is a must "get" game. Thinking the Spiders have the better chance, let's go with a 28-27 Richmond win. Close game for the Spiders as they had 2 weeks to prepare for Liberty and that game took a lot out of them. An overtime game and a travel week = a close game. Richmond hosts URI next and Albany is at Maine.
Elon (0-1/1-4) at Delaware (1-0/3-2)
The Phoenix really struggle scoring points averaging only 12.4 a game. They give up 32 a game and both rank 11th in the CAA. Their out-of-conference record was 1-3 with a loss to 1-ADuke, 52-13.That one win was over 1-AA independent Charlotte, 20-13. Their 1st CAA conference game was a loss to UNH last week, 48-14.
The Blue Hens fell out of the Top 25 wth their home loss to Northeast Sacred Heart,10-7 last week. The Hens finished 2-2 with their out-of-conference schedule with wins over 3-2 Colgate in the last minute and 1-5 Delaware St. Their signature win was at 3-3 JMU in overtime, 30-23. Sagarin has them rated 186 (out of 252 1-A/1-AA teams)for 8th best in the CAA.
Hens to win in Newark, 31-21. Delaware hosts Towson next and Elon hosts Stony Brook.
Towson (0-2/2-4) at JMU (1-2/3-3)
I'm giving up on you Towson and so is Jeff Sagarin. He rates you 216/11th in the CAA. Their out-of-conference record was 2-2 with losses to Northeast Central Connecticut St and 1-A West Virginia. The two wins were over 1-5 Delaware St. and 2-3 NC Central. The two CAA losses were to Maine, 27-24 and Stony Brook, 14-3, both at home.
Sagarin rates JMU 170/6th in the CAA. The Dukes really strugg on the defensive side of the ball giving up 35 ppg. In their out-of-conference schedule they are 2-1 with 3-3 Charlote next week. Their CAA losses are to Villanova and Delaware and got a nice CAA road win over previously undefeated Albany last week.
JMU 31 and Towson 21. Towson plays at Delaware next week and JMU hosts Charlotte.
#10 William & Mary (1-0/4-1) a #4 New Hampshire (2-0/4-1)
Jeff Sagarin rates the Tribe 123 and 4th in the CAA. They have a 3-1 out-of-conference record with wins over 2-3 Lafayette, 2-4 Norfolk St. and 1-4 Hampton. The loss was to 1-A Virginia Tech. The Tribe CAA win was over Stony Brook in overtime, 27-21 after scoring a come-from-behind touchdown with just 25 seconds left in the game. The Tribe have had two weeks to heal and prepare for this matchup with UNH which W&M won, 17-0 last year.
Sagarin rates UNH 93 and 2nd best in the CAA. They can score points with ease averaging 39 a game but give up 28 on defense. Since UNH is only playing an 11 game schedule they finished 2-1 in their out-of-conference schedule with wins over 0-4 Lehigh and 2-1 Dartmouth. The one loss was to 1-A MAC Toledo. UNH has two CAA road wins - Richmond and Elon.
This may be the last chance for a team to beat New Hampshire as their schedule is very favorable for them to run the table. Since Villanova plays at W&M next week (a very tough place to win) is it better for the Tribe to win or lose at UNH? Thoughts, anyone? Since UNH never loses at home, let's give them a 34-28 win ove the Tribe. UNH has a bye nexweek and plays Stony Brook in two weeks. W&M hosts Villanova.
Maine (1-1/2-3) at Stony Brook (1-1/2-4)
Sagarin rates Maine at 183 and 7th in the CAA. They are struggling to score - just 15ppg and give up 25 a game. They play only 11 games this year and finished 1-2 out-of-conference with losses to Northeast Bryant and 1-A B.C. Their one win was over 2-4 Norfolk St. In the CAA they have a nice last minute win at Towson and a home loss to Villanova last week, 41-20. The 2013 CAA conference champs beat Stony Brook last year, 19-14.
Sagarin rates the Seawolves at 191 and 9th in the CAA. They have the top rated defense in the CAA giving up a paltry 13 ppg. Trouble is they only score 13 a game. Out-of-conference they were 1-3 and that should never happen. They lost to Northeast Bryant, 1-A UConn and Big Sky North Dakota. That one win was over a D-2 team. In the CAA they beat Towson last week and lost in OT to W&M.
Flip your coin, guys, on this game. It's heads so Stony Brook wins by a TD, 17-10. Maine hosts Albany on the 18th and the Seawolves travel to Elon.
Rhode Island (0-1/0-5) at #6 Villanova (2-0/4-1)
The Rams are dead last in their offensive production in the CAA averaging only 12 a game. They also are dead last on the other side of the ball giving up 39ppg. Sagarin has them rated last in the CAA and 232 out of 252 in the nation. They lost this game at home last year to Villanova, 45-0. They went 0-4 in out-of-conference play which is a no-no but had two opportunities for wins against Northeast Central Connecticut St. and 1-2 Brown last week, a 20-13 loss. Those two other losses were to 1-A 5-0 Marshall and 5-1 Fordham. Former Defensive Coordinator and Andy Talley assistant (1998-1999) Jim Fleming is the new head coach at URI taking over for another former Andy Talley assistant and back with the Cats - Joe Trainer.
Villanova, according to Jeff Sagarin, is rated 63rd in the nation, 2nd in FCS and 1st in the CAA. They average 41 points a game and give up 18ppg. They are 2-1 outside of the CAA with 3-3 MEAC Morgan St. still to play (Oct. 25th). Oh, by the way, in case you are wondering, 3 time consecutive FCS champion (2011, 2012, 2013) North Dakota St. is rated #1 in the FCS by Sagarin and rated eleven spots ahead of the Cats at 52.
Hopefully, no starter has to play in the 2nd half and we get a chance to see the future of Villanova football in 2015 and 2016 in the 2nd half this weekend. Cats 42 Rams 10.
Villanova is at W&M on the 18th and URI travels to Richmond.
GO CATS - BEAT THE RAMS!