Week 11 CAA Game Breakdowns
The biggest matchup of the week comes from Delaware, where William and Mary has a chance to send Delaware to its second conference loss. Should that be the case, then Maine may be in the driver’s seat for a Colonial Athletic Association championship. Otherwise, there are a couple other decent matchups as we come near the end of the third month of the CAA season. Let’s look at the matchups:
#25 James Madison at New Hampshire, Saturday, 12:30
The day’s first game is considered a rubber game because it will break a 7-7 deadlock between the two schools. James Madison is 0-3 away from the confines of Bridgeforth Stadium, and RB Dae’Quan Scott will look to get that offense going and score his 33rd rushing touchdown this week. That would break a school record. LB Stephon Robertson already has 111 tackles, his career high, and the season isn’t even over yet. New Hampshire should be angry after last week, when it suffered its first shutout loss since 1995. This won’t be a shutout, but James Madison should prevail by a thin margin.
Projected Score: James Madison 27, New Hampshire 21
Villanova at Rhode Island, Saturday, 12:30
Two sophomores lead the Villanova attack. QB John Robertson was recently added to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, and WR Kevin Guylass scored his first two career touchdowns last week against James Madison. Villanova (4-5, 3-3) leads the overall series 15-3, and Rhode Island (3-7, 2-4) is coming off one of its worst losses in school history in a 66-14 loss to Old Dominion. Villanova wins this game if it can bounce back from a subpar running performance a week ago, when it was held under 200 yards on the ground for only the second time in seven weeks.
Projected Score: Villanova 31, Rhode Island 13
Richmond at Stony Brook, Saturday, 1:00
A pair of teams with 1-4 league records will meet for just the second time. Richmond won the previous contest, 42-0, back in 2007, and there are signs of life in this Richmond offense. The Spiders are 3-6 but they have outscored other teams 216-192 this season. CB Wayne Pettus has five interceptions. Stony Brook held Maine to 258 rushing yards last week, and its 162 passing yards per game is seventh nationally among FCS teams. Stony Brook should prevail if that pass defense holds up.
Projected Score: Stony Brook 34, Richmond 21
William & Mary at #16 Delaware, Saturday, 3:00
Delaware looks like it is unstoppable at the current time. The Blue Hens have won three straight games and four out of their last five, including a 21-point fourth quarter comeback to top Towson. WR Jerel Harrison had 12 catches for 109 yards against Towson. Delaware (7-2, 4-1) is challenged by a William & Mary defense that has allowed just seven points in the past two weeks. The Tribe has allowed 12.4 points per game, a number that went down following a 17-0 shutout of New Hampshire. William & Mary (6-3, 3-2) should provide a stiff challenge and this game will be close, but Delaware should get the 23rd win in this series and keep pace with Maine.
Projected Score: Delaware 23, William & Mary 20 (OT)
#12 Maine at Albany, Saturday, 3:30
Albany leads the overall series 4-2, but Maine is on a big roll right about now. If the Black Bears win on Saturday, it would be their sixth straight victory and give the team its best start in school history at 9-1. Maine has also won 10 straight games against FCS foes. Albany (1-8, 0-5) has had a struggle in its first CAA season, but the Great Danes were up against Richmond before they fell 27-10 last week. This game should go to Maine.
Projected Score: Maine 42, Albany 14
