This week’s schedule is chock full of chances for those teams to get right, playing lesser teams.
I went 8-2 picking CAA games last week. I knew the league would score one I-A upset, but I picked Delaware to topple Navy instead of trusting Richmond to continue its mastery of Duke. Oh well. Still a respectable start.
Let’s keep the ball rolling…
Old Dominion at Georgia State : A year ago, ODU won this game 34-20 at home. This year’s installment is on the road but the Monarchs have a little extra motivation. Playing a full CAA slate, Old Dominion has to win its non-conference games to make a run at the postseason. Quarterback Thomas DeMarco threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns. Of course, Georgia State wants to show it’s ready for CAA play. Could be a tight one.
PICK: ODU 30, Georgia State 17
PICK: New Hampshire 24, Lehigh 17
PICK: Pittsburgh 37, Maine 10
William & Mary at VMI: The Tribe are the league’s preseason favorite and a I-AA national title contender. Yes, they got walloped by Virginia in the opening week, but that doesn’t mean much. Neither will this week’s likely road romp of always-overmatched VMI. The biggest deal in this one will be how W&M quarterback Mike Paulus – who struggled last week – plays.
PICK: William & Mary 41, VMI 3
PICK: Syracuse 24, Rhode Island 13
West Chester at Delaware : The Blue Hens won’t be continuing this lopsided series with Division II West Chester after next year. This year, Delaware gets to put its first W in the win column. Expect tailback Andrew Pierce – who rushed for over 100 yards against Navy – to put up big numbers while he’s in the game. New starting quarterback Trevor Sasek was injured in the opener and won’t play Saturday. It shouldn’t matter.
PICK: Delaware 44, West Chester 3
Wagner at Richmond : The Spiders’ home opener is sold out after the team – under interim coach Wayne Lineburg – upset Duke in its opener. Quarterback Aaron Corps appears recovered from the knee injury that sidelined him last year. And wide receiver Tre Gray has emerged as his top target. I doubted Richmond last week. I won’t make the same mistake this time.
PICK: Richmond 27, Wagner 13
Villanova at Towson : It is so tempting to pick the Tigers in this one. Villanova is so young and inexperienced. New starting quarterback Dustin Thomas did an awful job protecting the football in the season-opening loss to Temple . Towson ’s new quarterback – Grant Enders – looks like a play maker and the Tigers are playing at home. Can I really predict Towson to beat Villanova. It’s tempting but, no. I can’t. The Wildcats aren’t going to have a good year, but it’s not going to be that bad. They pull this one out in too-close-for-comfort fashion.
PICK: Villanova 24, Towson 21
Central Connecticut State at JMU: For what its worth, Central Connecticut State is the preseason favorite to win the Northeast Conference – a limited-scholarship league that does get an automatic bid to the I-AA playoffs. The Blue Devils’ starting quarterback is dinged up and it’s unlikely the team will risk letting him play more than a half. JMU’s defense was embarrassed by giving up 42 points last week to North Carolina . Privately, the players are talking about a shutout. They’ll probably lose that late when the subs are in, but the Dukes should dominate in their home opener.
PICK: JMU 31, CCSU 6
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