Week 2 CAA Game Breakdowns
Another 10 games are on this week’s Colonial Athletic Association schedule, but everyone is still talking about last week’s historic win for the Towson football team. Even though Connecticut has not had the best of luck in football, Towson’s big win still resonated in a lot of circles and showed that it is definitely possible for FCS schools to beat FBS powers. This week is highlighted by…
#23 Stony Brook at Rhode Island, Saturday, 1:00 pm
Rhode Island is in a deep slump spanning last season and the start of this one, as the team is now on a 14-game losing streak that included last week’s 51-26 loss to Fordham. Not only is this the first game of the season for Stony Brook, it is also the first CAA game of the new year. Stony Brook’s 10-win season in 2012 was highlighted by a big win over FBS foe Army and a playoff win over Villanova. It looks like Rhode Island’s losing streak will reach 15 games, as Stony Brook’s first CAA season should start with a bang.
Projected Score: Stony Brook 34, Rhode Island 10
#6 Towson at Holy Cross, Saturday, 1:00 pm
How do you top a game like the one that happened last week? The answer is you don’t. Instead, you make sure that a letdown doesn’t happen. After all, how many times have you seen a team flop the week following a spectacular win? Last week’s 33-18 win over Connecticut was a huge win for the Towson program. Holy Cross is coming off a disappointing 17-16 loss to Bryant, a member of the Northeastern Conference. Towson should win its second game of the year, but it won’t come with all the fanfare the first win did.
Projected Score: Towson 30, Holy Cross 13
Maine at Massachusetts, Saturday, 2:00 pm
Massachusetts did show up to play last week, but Wisconsin made sure the scoring stayed on the sidelines. The Badgers shellacked Massachusetts, 45-0, but this Maine team is one more in line with the Massachusetts defense. Maine defeated Norfolk State last week, 23-6, behind Marcus Wasilewski’s 209 yards and one touchdown. All told, this should be another win for Maine, but it may not be a shutout like the other game was.
Projected Score: Maine 32, Massachusetts 7
#15 New Hampshire at Central Michigan, Saturday, 3:00 pm
The second of two football teams (Stony Brook being the other) to open its regular season this week, New Hampshire faces a Central Michigan football squad still licking its wounds following last week’s 59-9 pounding at the hands of Michigan. New Hampshire finished in a four-way tie for the CAA championship but lost in the playoffs to Wofford. This game could be another case of FCS beats FBS because Central Michigan does have a few issues to work through.
Projected Score: New Hampshire 28, Central Michigan 17
Delaware State at Delaware, Saturday, 3:30 pm
Delaware State opens its football season by facing a 1-0 Delaware squad coming off a 51-35 win over Jacksonville. If Delaware can limit Delaware State’s rushing like it did Jacksonville (minus 37 yards) this could be a one-sided contest. Delaware avoided a five-game losing streak for the first time since 1939, and it has a chance for a two-game winning streak against a team that went 6-5 in 2012. This is Delaware State’s first of two straight games against CAA opponents (Towson being the other, next week)
Projected Score: Delaware 27, Delaware State 10
Albany at Colgate, Saturday, 6:00
Colgate coach Dick Biddles opens the season by celebrating his 200th game at the school. Colgate has won two of the three matchups but dropped the recent one, 40-23, in 2012. This is Colgate’s first game of the season. Albany lost to Duquesne despite a school record 27 completions and 45 attempts from junior quarterback Will Fiacchi and the first 100-yard receiving game for senior receiver Kevin Chillis. Albany may not be able to avoid an 0-2 start, as this Colgate team looks pretty decent.
Projected Score: Colgate 20, Albany 17
#25 James Madison at Akron, Saturday, 6:00 pm
This is the first meeting for the two schools and another chance for an FCS program to see how it fares against a Mid-American Conference school. It isn’t inconceivable James Madison could win this game. After all, it defeated Virginia Tech 21-16 three years ago. Last week Dae’Quan Scott had 15 carries for 120 yards, marking his 13th career 100-yard rushing game. Akron finished 1-11 last year despite 312.8 yards per game in passing, tops in the MAC. This game will be close, but look for another FCS team to win.
Projected Score: James Madison 28, Akron 24
#16 Richmond at North Carolina State, Saturday, 6:00 pm
Both of these teams are 1-0 after last week, and there isn’t much difference between the two squads. North Carolina State holds a 17-1-1 edge in the overall series and it defeated Louisiana Tech 40-14 on Saturday behind three touchdown runs by running back Matt Dayes. Richmond is 15-4 in non-conference games since the 2007 season and it beat Duke twice before in 2009 and 2011. This game could go either way, but based on NC State’s overall edge look for the Wolfpack to win.
Projected Score: North Carolina State 34, Richmond 20
#8 Villanova at Fordham, Saturday, 6:00 pm
Fordham is known for an explosive offense, as evidenced when it scored over 50 points in the season opener. Michael Nebrich threw for 267 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Rhode Island, and he scored a fifth touchdown on the ground. Fordham faces a Villanova squad that lost 24-14 to Boston College despite two touchdowns by receiver Jamal Abdur-Rahman. Fordham’s offense is pretty explosive and should prevail, although it will score less than last week.
Projected Score: Fordham 34, Villanova 17
Hampton at William & Mary, Saturday, 7:00 pm
William & Mary almost spoiled the party in Morgantown last week as it fell 24-17 to West Virginia despite a 17-7 lead at one point. Tre McBride caught three passes for 108 yards in the loss and Jerome Couplin had 10 solo tackles. Hampton appears to have trouble taking care of the ball. The Pirates committed nine turnovers in a 42-9 loss to Western Illinois. William & Mary should get back in the win column this week.
Projected Score: William & Mary 40, Hampton 10
See All FCS Games of the Week Breakdowns
