CAA Picks: Week 8

PARK RIDGE, N.J. – The gauntlet that is the Colonial Athletic Association’s football schedule is taking its toll on teams and prognosticators alike. Two teams (Maine and Towson) are looking to remain unbeaten in league play. Three (Richmond, Rhode Island and Villanova) are still searching for their first CAA win.

And in one rivalry matchup, two teams (Massachusetts and New Hampshire) square off for the final team as league foes.

The UMass-UNH tilt at Gilette Stadium certainly is this week’s headline grabber. But when the dust settles, Maine-Richmond will probably be more impactful on the league standings.

As for me, the CAA slate continued to take its toll. The bye week came at the perfect time, giving me a long weekend back home in New Jersey, feasting on bagels and lox, REAL pizza, veal parmigiana and pork chops. THAT’S how to spend the bye week.

I went 3-2 last week to drop my overall record to a less-than-spectacular 38-14. Let’s shake things up this week by picking Villanova to get off the schneid and William & Mary to get back on track.

Here are this week’s picks…

Delaware at Rhode Island: Both of these teams are off to disappointing starts this year. Rhode Island, which is leaving the CAA for the NEC, is going out like a lamb, having lost all three conference games so far.

Delaware is still in the playoff hunt, but losses to Maine and UMass have the Blue Hens walking a tightrope the rest of the way.

Both teams run the ball well and play decent run defense, so it may be a question of which team’s quarterback has the better day. Delaware is going back to Trevor Sasek after Tim Donnelly proved ineffective.

Rhode Island was my sleeper pick in the league before the year, a projection that has blown up completely. Delaware, I had as a contender for a league title. That’s still a possibility.

PICK: Delaware 27, Rhode Island 17

New Hampshire vs. Massachusetts: This is the final meeting between these two teams as league rivals, with UMass bolting for the low-level I-A MAC next year. Both teams are 4-2 and playing well on offense.

UNH hasn’t played much defense at all this year, and that could be the difference in this game. Could. But UMass has been terrible in pass defense all year long, meaning New Hampshire quarterback Kevin Decker should be in line for a big day.

Between Decker and UMass tailback Jonathan Hernandez, fans at Gilette Stadium should see plenty of offense, with just a bit more coming from the Wildcats.

PICK: New Hampshire 45, Massachusetts 41

Old Dominion at Villanova: Statistical analysis says Villanova has no chance in this game. ODU has the league’s top scoring offense and the Wildcats are saddled with the next-to-last ranked defense in terms of points allowed.

But this is a rare gut pick (influenced by talking to some coaches around the league). I can’t see Villanova going winless in the league, and with Rhode Island not on this year’s schedule, this might be the Wildcats’ best chance at a victory.

Villanova played W&M tough at home earlier this year. I say Andy Talley’s team gets over the hump and surprises everyone this week.

PICK: Villanova 20, ODU 17

Maine at Richmond: These two teams are nearly identical statistically, but are miles apart in terms of wins and losses. Their names appear right next to each other in almost every statistical category.

The always gutsy, gritty Black Bears are finding ways to win games this year, thanks to a  strong running game led by Pushaun Brown and the passing attack of QB Warren Smith, who is not just taking care of the football but is also making big plays through the air.

Richmond got off to a fast start, winning its non-conference games, including an upset of I-A Duke. Quarterback Aaron Corp can make big throws when he’s given time.

PICK: Maine 24, Richmond 21

Towson at William & Mary: Towson has been impressive as the league’s up-and-comer this year, winning its past two games in dramatic fashion. William & Mary has been terribly unpredictable this year, playing a close game against Villanova, getting shutout by Delaware and then whipping New Hampshire.

W&M’s Jonathan Grimes had a huge game against New Hampshire. Towson is coming off a miracle finish against ODU, winning by converting a fourth-down-and-miles into a game-winning touchdown.

Let’s trust the Tribe one more time and say the return of quarterback Michael Graham and linebackers Jake Trantin and Dante Cook will have W&M looking more like the national title contender it was predicted to be in the preseason.

PICK: William & Mary 24, Towson 21