HARRISONBURG – We’re into the heart of the Colonial Athletic Association and this is when teams really start to separate. Some teams have made strong cases to be elite (I’m looking at you New Hampshire and James Madison). Others are trying to prove they’re more than just Cinderella-style upstarts (Hey, Towson and Old Dominion. This one’s for you.) And some teams (Delaware, Richmond, William & Mary and Rhode Island) are trying to show they still can be a force to be reckoned with this year.
It looked like I was a force to be reckoned with until stubbing my toe with a 4-3 mark last week. Still, I’m at a respectable 31-10 for the year. Let’s rebound.
Here are this week’s picks.
Villanova at New Hampshire: Easy pick. All Wildcats. Okay, in all seriousness. Villanova’ Wildcats have started to get things together a bit, playing William & Mary (who is proving to be massively overrated) tough last weekend.
New Hampshire’s Wildcats boast the league’s top scoring offense but also are giving up the most points per game in the CAA. They shouldn’t have to claw and scratch much against the overmatched and inexperienced Villanova Wildcats.
PICK: New Hampshire 38, Villanova 17
Old Dominion at Rhode Island: This was supposed to be a matchup of two of my sleeper teams in the CAA. Unfortunately, the Rams were in such a deep sleep, they couldn’t wake up. Rhode Island comes in 1-3 after losing its rivalry game to Brown. But don’t count the Rams out.
Old Dominion jumped all over Massachusetts last week and the Monarchs would establish themselves as a legit contender in the CAA with their first road win.
But I’m taking the Rams to circle the wagons.
PICK: Rhode Island 34, Old Dominion 31
Central Connecticut State at Massachusetts: CCSU showed it can be a plucky, tough out in its loss at James Madison earlier this year. But the Minutemen – despite a surprising loss to CAA-newcomer Old Dominion last week – are still too much for a limited-scholarship NEC team.
Look for Massachusetts’ tailback Jonathan Hernandez, who leads the league in rushing averaging 129.8 yards per game, to have a monster day in this one.
PICK: Massachusetts 31, Central Connecticut 10
William & Mary at Delaware: The wheels have come off in Williamsburg. Done in by an unsettled quarterback situation, the Tribe – the preseason favorite in the CAA – is next to last in scoring at 14.8 points per game. Tailback Jonathan Grimes has been less effective because opponents haven’t had to respect W&M’s passing game.
Delaware is reeling as well, having just been smacked by Maine. It gave up 193 yards and three touchdowns to Maine tailback Pushaun Brown. If Grimes has that kind of production against the Blue Hens, William & Mary could right its ship.
More likely, Andrew Pierce and Delaware emerge with the win.
PICK: Delaware 24, William & Mary 13
Richmond at Towson: Richmond looked terrible against JMU on both offense and defense. The Spiders’ injury decimated defensive line was dominated by the Dukes’ running game. Offensively, Richmond couldn’t block JMU’s front four and never got anything going.
Towson is coming off a 28-3 loss to Maryland that should not have taken any of the steam out of the Tigers’ drive toward respectability. Towson should get talented quarterback Grant Enders (concussion) back this week.
The Spiders aren’t a terrible football team, and I usually like the desperate team to pull out the win. But in this case, I’m going to drink Rob Ambrose’s black-and-yellow Kool-Aid.
PICK: Towson 24, Richmond 21
Maine at James Madison: Maine joins Towson as the biggest early season surprise this year. Quarterback Warren Smith is protecting the football and tailback Pushaun Brown is a yard-gaining load. Defensively, the Black Bears are fourth in the CAA in fewest points allowed.
This won’t be a cake-walk by any stretch for JMU, but the way the Dukes played defense a week ago against Richmond, it’d be tough for anyone to beat them.
The offense should only improve in Game 2 under new quarterback Jace Edwards.
Maine isn’t used to playing in front of the 24,000-plus fans JMU is expecting at Bridgeforth Stadium on Saturday, but coach Jack Cosgrove’s kids always seem to rise to the occasion. Just ask Pittsburgh, which barely survived Maine’s visit 35-29 earlier this season.
PICK: James Madison 27, Maine 17
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