Saturday, October 18
Towson (0-3/2-5) at Delaware (2-0/4-2)
The Tigers finished their out-of-conference schedule at 2-2. Their 3 CAA losses were to Maine at home, 27-24 in the last minute, Stony Brook, also at home, 14-3 and this past weekend an embarrassing loss down at Harrisonburglosing to JMU, 62-7. Last year Towson was picked for 2nd behind Villanova and finished tied for 2nd with UNH at 6-2. Those two losses were both at home - one to Villanova and the other to Delaware, 32-31. Towson finished their storybook-season with atrip to the Championship game where they lost to North Dakota St.
In 2013 after week ten Delaware was ready to print playoff tickets for first year head coach Dave Brock sitting at 7-2. They are trying to write the same story for this year. Like Towson, the Hens finished 2-2 in their out-of-conference schedule. Those two CAA wins came at JMU in overtime, 30-23 and at home last week to Elon, 34-24.
If Delaware can find a way to keep Towson RB Darius Victor somewhat in-check then the Hens win, 31-24. Towson hosts Elon after a bye week and the Blue Hens travel to Williamsburg to play W&M on the 25th.
Stony Brook (2-1/3-4) at Elon (0-2/1-5)
The Seawolves were 1-3 in their non-CAA schedule and have CAA wins over Towson, 14-3 and Maine, 19-7. That one conference loss was an overtime killer at home to W&M, 27-21. It seems that Stony Brook is hitting its stride right now and are becoming a dangerous team to play for teams with playoff hopes. They have the best defense in the conference giving up less than 13ppg.
Like the Seawolves the Elon Phoenix also finished 1-3 in their non-conference schedule. Their two CAA losses were to UNH at home, 48-14 and last week at Delaware, 34-24.
Coach Chuck Priore's Seawolves will grab a 24-10 win down in North Carolina this weekend. Stony Brook plays at UNH next weekend and Elon hosts Richmond.
Albany (1-2/4-2) at Maine (1-2/2-4)
This should be a very close and great game. Get ready to flip a coin on this one. The Great Danes are 3-0 in out-of-conference play with 4-2 Colgate next week finishing that part of their schedule. In the CAA they opened up at URI and came away with a 37-20 win. They dropped their next two - both at home - but the competition was stiffer, losing to JMU, 31-28 and then to Richmond, 41-28.
Maine won this game last year, 33-27 but don't use that as an indicator for this year's game. Maine was picked to finish 8th last year and ended up winning the conference at 7-1 and Albany lost all their conference games going 0-8 and 1-11. I'm just surprised it was that close. Since the Black Bears are only playing 11 games this year they had only 3 out-of-conference games and went 1-2. They opened up their 2014 CAA schedule at Towson and came from behind in the last minute for a 27-24 win. Then it was a trip home to play Villanova and the Bears lost, 41-20. Last week coach Jack Cosgrove took his Bears to Stony Brook, New York and lost, 19-7.
Let's see if Albany can stop the bleeding and squeeze out a one-point victory in Orono, 21-20. Patriot Colgate visits Albany on the 25th while Maine plays at URI.
Rhode Island (0-2/0-6) at #19 Richmond (1-1/4-2)
URI went 0-4 away from the CAA and is 0-2 within the conference. The two losses were to Albany, 37-20 and this past weekend at Villanova, 44-21. While new Ram head coach and former Andy Talley assistant Jim Fleming had to be pleased with his 21 points in the last 6 minutes of the game, I know that ex-Ram head coach and current Villanova assistant Joe Trainer was pissed.
The Spiders were 3-1 in non-CAA action and after letting their UNH game slip away in the last 19 seconds, losing 29-26, they won at Albany last weekend, 41-28.
Spiders to win with ease even without their injured starting QB (Michael Strauss), 42-10. By the way, URI upset Richmond last year, 12-10. That won't happen this year. URI hosts Maine next weekend and the Spiders get back-to-back breathers playing at Elon.
#5 Villanova (3-0/5-1) at #15 William & Mary (1-1/4-2)
The FBS and ACC guardian angel (heard his name is Lucifer) snuck into the Carrier Dome on August 29 and blew so hard that it caused the pig skin to go far right of the upright with just seconds to go snatching victory away from an FCS upstart and keeping them from perfection this year. Credit the coaching staff with keeping the boys focused from week to week and credit John Robertson's guardian angel for keeping him on the field for every game in spite of broken bones and other injuries. For the fourth consecutive week Robertson has been named the CAA Offensive Player of the Week and for 5 straight games has led the Cat offense to more than 40 points a game. That may stop this week but hopefully not the winning. Can the Cats win down in Williamsburg? Let's look at the Cat-Tribe games in the past ten years.
2013 Cats (6-5) win at home over W&M (7-5), 20-16.
2012 no play
2011 W&M (5-6) wins at Villanova (2-9), 20-16.
2010 Cats (9-5/semifinalists) lose at W&M (8-4), 31-24.
2009 Cats (14-1/National Champions) win at home over W&M (9-2), 28-17
Cats beat W&M at home in the semifinals, 14-13 (4th Q victory) W&M finishes 11-3
2008 Cats (10-3) win at W&M (7-4), 38-28.
2007 Cats(7-4) win an uncharacteristic W&M (4-7) game at 'Nova, 63-24.
2006 Cats (6-5) win at W&M (3-8), 35-31.
2005 Cats (4-7) win at home over W&M (5-6), 35-21.
2004 Cats (6-5) lose at W&M (11-3/semifinalists?), 37-29.
2003 no play
2002 Cats (11-4/semifinalists) win at home over W&M (6-5), 41-20.
Many think the Tribe has more talent on their team than Villanova. William & Mary placed the most players (7) on the preseason CAA All-Conference teams than any other CAA team.
Mikal Abdul-Saboor (JR/RB) is 3rd best rusher in the conference. Cats have to stop him. SR/WR Tre McBride is an All-American. He must be stopped. SR/K John Carpenter is the best kicker in the conference. If it comes down to a kicking game, the Tribe wins hands down. SR/DL Mike Reilly, the All-American was voted Defensive Player of the Year in the CAA. Can Villanova's OL keep him off/away from their QB John Robertson? If not, Tribe win hands down. The Tribe QB is sophomore Steve Cluley. The Tribe football team is like North Korea - they have the weapons but can't deliver them. Let's hope Cluley doesn't have an all-star performance against the Cat defense.
The Tribe schedule looks like this: at 1-A 4-2 Virginia Tech, 9-34. Game two - at 1-5 MEAC Hampton, 42-14. Game three - 2-5 MEAC Norfolk St., 29-14. Game four - 3-3 Patriot Lafayette, 33-19. Game five - at Stony Brook, 27-21 OT. Game six - at UNH, 3-32. They dropped out of the Top 10 with that loss. The Tribe have 3 definite wins in their last 6 games and 3 coin-flip games: Villanova, at JMU and Richmond. They must go 2-1 in those games to secure a playoff spot. Beat a Top 5 team and you open up committee members' eyes and probably a playoff door. It's Homecoming down at Zable Stadium with a lot on line. Will Villanova be up to the task? This CAA fan thinks they will be with a 35-31 (hopefully) win down in Williamsburg.
Last week was a perfect 6-0 pick week in the CAA. Let's hope it continues this week.
GO CATS - BEAT THE TRIBE!
Towson (0-3/2-5) at Delaware (2-0/4-2)
The Tigers finished their out-of-conference schedule at 2-2. Their 3 CAA losses were to Maine at home, 27-24 in the last minute, Stony Brook, also at home, 14-3 and this past weekend an embarrassing loss down at Harrisonburglosing to JMU, 62-7. Last year Towson was picked for 2nd behind Villanova and finished tied for 2nd with UNH at 6-2. Those two losses were both at home - one to Villanova and the other to Delaware, 32-31. Towson finished their storybook-season with atrip to the Championship game where they lost to North Dakota St.
In 2013 after week ten Delaware was ready to print playoff tickets for first year head coach Dave Brock sitting at 7-2. They are trying to write the same story for this year. Like Towson, the Hens finished 2-2 in their out-of-conference schedule. Those two CAA wins came at JMU in overtime, 30-23 and at home last week to Elon, 34-24.
If Delaware can find a way to keep Towson RB Darius Victor somewhat in-check then the Hens win, 31-24. Towson hosts Elon after a bye week and the Blue Hens travel to Williamsburg to play W&M on the 25th.
Stony Brook (2-1/3-4) at Elon (0-2/1-5)
The Seawolves were 1-3 in their non-CAA schedule and have CAA wins over Towson, 14-3 and Maine, 19-7. That one conference loss was an overtime killer at home to W&M, 27-21. It seems that Stony Brook is hitting its stride right now and are becoming a dangerous team to play for teams with playoff hopes. They have the best defense in the conference giving up less than 13ppg.
Like the Seawolves the Elon Phoenix also finished 1-3 in their non-conference schedule. Their two CAA losses were to UNH at home, 48-14 and last week at Delaware, 34-24.
Coach Chuck Priore's Seawolves will grab a 24-10 win down in North Carolina this weekend. Stony Brook plays at UNH next weekend and Elon hosts Richmond.
Albany (1-2/4-2) at Maine (1-2/2-4)
This should be a very close and great game. Get ready to flip a coin on this one. The Great Danes are 3-0 in out-of-conference play with 4-2 Colgate next week finishing that part of their schedule. In the CAA they opened up at URI and came away with a 37-20 win. They dropped their next two - both at home - but the competition was stiffer, losing to JMU, 31-28 and then to Richmond, 41-28.
Maine won this game last year, 33-27 but don't use that as an indicator for this year's game. Maine was picked to finish 8th last year and ended up winning the conference at 7-1 and Albany lost all their conference games going 0-8 and 1-11. I'm just surprised it was that close. Since the Black Bears are only playing 11 games this year they had only 3 out-of-conference games and went 1-2. They opened up their 2014 CAA schedule at Towson and came from behind in the last minute for a 27-24 win. Then it was a trip home to play Villanova and the Bears lost, 41-20. Last week coach Jack Cosgrove took his Bears to Stony Brook, New York and lost, 19-7.
Let's see if Albany can stop the bleeding and squeeze out a one-point victory in Orono, 21-20. Patriot Colgate visits Albany on the 25th while Maine plays at URI.
Rhode Island (0-2/0-6) at #19 Richmond (1-1/4-2)
URI went 0-4 away from the CAA and is 0-2 within the conference. The two losses were to Albany, 37-20 and this past weekend at Villanova, 44-21. While new Ram head coach and former Andy Talley assistant Jim Fleming had to be pleased with his 21 points in the last 6 minutes of the game, I know that ex-Ram head coach and current Villanova assistant Joe Trainer was pissed.
The Spiders were 3-1 in non-CAA action and after letting their UNH game slip away in the last 19 seconds, losing 29-26, they won at Albany last weekend, 41-28.
Spiders to win with ease even without their injured starting QB (Michael Strauss), 42-10. By the way, URI upset Richmond last year, 12-10. That won't happen this year. URI hosts Maine next weekend and the Spiders get back-to-back breathers playing at Elon.
#5 Villanova (3-0/5-1) at #15 William & Mary (1-1/4-2)
The FBS and ACC guardian angel (heard his name is Lucifer) snuck into the Carrier Dome on August 29 and blew so hard that it caused the pig skin to go far right of the upright with just seconds to go snatching victory away from an FCS upstart and keeping them from perfection this year. Credit the coaching staff with keeping the boys focused from week to week and credit John Robertson's guardian angel for keeping him on the field for every game in spite of broken bones and other injuries. For the fourth consecutive week Robertson has been named the CAA Offensive Player of the Week and for 5 straight games has led the Cat offense to more than 40 points a game. That may stop this week but hopefully not the winning. Can the Cats win down in Williamsburg? Let's look at the Cat-Tribe games in the past ten years.
2013 Cats (6-5) win at home over W&M (7-5), 20-16.
2012 no play
2011 W&M (5-6) wins at Villanova (2-9), 20-16.
2010 Cats (9-5/semifinalists) lose at W&M (8-4), 31-24.
2009 Cats (14-1/National Champions) win at home over W&M (9-2), 28-17
Cats beat W&M at home in the semifinals, 14-13 (4th Q victory) W&M finishes 11-3
2008 Cats (10-3) win at W&M (7-4), 38-28.
2007 Cats(7-4) win an uncharacteristic W&M (4-7) game at 'Nova, 63-24.
2006 Cats (6-5) win at W&M (3-8), 35-31.
2005 Cats (4-7) win at home over W&M (5-6), 35-21.
2004 Cats (6-5) lose at W&M (11-3/semifinalists?), 37-29.
2003 no play
2002 Cats (11-4/semifinalists) win at home over W&M (6-5), 41-20.
Many think the Tribe has more talent on their team than Villanova. William & Mary placed the most players (7) on the preseason CAA All-Conference teams than any other CAA team.
Mikal Abdul-Saboor (JR/RB) is 3rd best rusher in the conference. Cats have to stop him. SR/WR Tre McBride is an All-American. He must be stopped. SR/K John Carpenter is the best kicker in the conference. If it comes down to a kicking game, the Tribe wins hands down. SR/DL Mike Reilly, the All-American was voted Defensive Player of the Year in the CAA. Can Villanova's OL keep him off/away from their QB John Robertson? If not, Tribe win hands down. The Tribe QB is sophomore Steve Cluley. The Tribe football team is like North Korea - they have the weapons but can't deliver them. Let's hope Cluley doesn't have an all-star performance against the Cat defense.
The Tribe schedule looks like this: at 1-A 4-2 Virginia Tech, 9-34. Game two - at 1-5 MEAC Hampton, 42-14. Game three - 2-5 MEAC Norfolk St., 29-14. Game four - 3-3 Patriot Lafayette, 33-19. Game five - at Stony Brook, 27-21 OT. Game six - at UNH, 3-32. They dropped out of the Top 10 with that loss. The Tribe have 3 definite wins in their last 6 games and 3 coin-flip games: Villanova, at JMU and Richmond. They must go 2-1 in those games to secure a playoff spot. Beat a Top 5 team and you open up committee members' eyes and probably a playoff door. It's Homecoming down at Zable Stadium with a lot on line. Will Villanova be up to the task? This CAA fan thinks they will be with a 35-31 (hopefully) win down in Williamsburg.
Last week was a perfect 6-0 pick week in the CAA. Let's hope it continues this week.
GO CATS - BEAT THE TRIBE!
. Unreal final drive followed by crushing tackle on McBride.