Week 4 Ivy League Game Breakdowns
Lehigh at Princeton, Saturday @ 6 pm
Lehigh enters the game at 2-0 after a 28-25 win over Monmouth. They are led by veteran QB Brandon Bialkowski who was 24-40 for 275 yards. Princeton is an upper echelon Ivy team, despite a disappointing 2012 campaign. QB Connor Michelsen is a good one and the porous pass defense, led by freshmen last year, is more veteran this season. Lehigh has the experience under its belt and a more veteran team than the Tigers. If the two met later in the season, the result could be different.
PREDICTION: LEHIGH 27 - PRINCETON 24
Yale at Colgate, Saturday @ 1pm
Yale is picked near the bottom of the Ivies, but returns some key skill players, led by running back Tyler Varga, who can also catch the ball in traffic. The defense is veteran. Colgate is off to a disappointing 0-3 start after giving up 551 yards at New Hampshire. Demetrius Russell was a bright spot, gaining 144 yards on the ground. Feels like upset time, especially since Yale has won its last six openers.
PREDICTION: YALE 27 - COLGATE 20
Dartmouth at Butler, Saturday @ 6 pm
Dartmouth is a middle of the pack Ivy team, returning 14 starters including running back Dominique Pierre who rushed for 830 yards last season. Junior QB Alex Park can play and the defense is anchored by senior linebacker Michael Runger. Butler, new to Ivy foes, is 2-1 with a strong passing attack.
PREDICTION: DARTMOUTH 27 - BUTLER 26
Lafayette at Penn, Saturday @ 6 pm
Lafayette enters this contest with the best Ivy team at 0-2, despite a strong performance from quarterback Zach Zweizig in his last outing. Penn returns 18 starters from a 6-4 team. They are led by QB Billy Ragone who threw for 1,288 yards last season and now has a more veteran receiving corps. Dan Davis, Jr. anchors the defense.
PREDICTION: PENN 31 - LAFAYETTE 20
Harvard at San Diego, Saturday @ 3 pm
Harvard travels across country in what is essentially a recruiting trip. The Crimson were 8-2 last season and should be just as good this year. TE Cameron Brate had 41 receptions last year and running back Paul Stanton performed well in a reserve role. PK David Mothander is a good one. San Diego is 1-1, with a high octane offense, scoring over 30 points in each game.
PREDICTION: SAN DIEGO 31 - HARVARD 30
Georgetown at Brown, Saturday @ 12:30 pm
Brown has a potentially explosive offense this year, led by quarterback Patrick Donnelly and running backs, John Spooney and Jordan Reisner. They are very quick on the offensive side of the ball and could be a factor in the Ivy race. Georgetown is off to a disappointing 1-2 start and are high scoring, but have gotten beaten in the trenches.
PREDICTION: BROWN 31 - GEORGETOWN 28
Columbia at #17 Fordham, Saturday @ 1:00 pm
Columbia is coming off of a 3-7 season and is picked last in the Ivies. They have a strong runner in Marcorus Garrett, who ran for 957 yards last season. Fordham may be a class higher coming off of an upset win at Temple, an FBS school.
PREDICTION: FORDHAM 31 - COLUMBIA 21
Bucknell at Cornell, Saturday @ 3 pm
Cornell boasts the top player in the Ivies in quarterback Jeff Matthews. He could end up as an NFL player. They have a strong passing attack and a weak defense. Bucknell, coached by former Rutgers assistant Joe Susan, is coming off of a 3-8 season and is 1-0 with a win over Marist. They have a strong defense and the ability to contain Matthews in the secondary.
PREDICTION: CORNELL 37 - BUCKNELL 20
See All FCS Games of the Week Breakdowns
