UNH at W&M

[dbackjon]

The CAA, after JMU and Richmond, is pretty much a CF.

Loser gets their third overall loss, on the edge of dropping out of at-large potential

[Gil Dobie]

The CAA, after JMU and Richmond, is pretty much a CF.

Loser gets their third overall loss, on the edge of dropping out of at-large potential

UNH by 6

[BDKJMU]

The CAA, after JMU and Richmond, is pretty much a CF.

Loser gets their third overall loss, on the edge of dropping out of at-large potential

UNH by 6

McDonnell 2-10 vs Laycock. 2-7 in playoff seasons. 0-6 in Williamsburg.

01’ @ W&M 38, UNH 28 (W&M playoffs)
02’ W&M 34, @ UNH 27
03’ @ W&M 38, UNH 28
04’ W&M 9, @ UNH 7 (both teams playoffs)
05’ @ W&M 42, UNH 10 (UNH 10-1, playoffs, seed)
08’ W&M 38, @ UNH 34 (UNH playoffs)
09’ @ W&M 20, UNH 17 (both teams playoffs)
10’ W&M 13, @ UNH 3 (both teams playoffs)
11’ @ W&M 24, UNH 10 (UNH playoffs)
12’ @ UNH 28, W&M 25 (UNH playoffs)
13’ @ W&M 17, UNH 0 (UNH playoffs/semis)
14’ @ UNH 32, W&M 3 (UNH playoffs/semis)

W&M wins, McDonnell goes to 0-7 in Williamsburg..

[TribePride]

So far, it does appear that JMU and UR are the best 2 teams in the league. But this game is a big one as traditionally both these teams are in the upper tier of the CAA. New Hampshire gets Goldrich back. If he makes as much difference to New Hampshire as Robertson did to Villanova then New Hampshire will win. William & Mary is not taking them lightly as they destroyed the Tribe 29-3 last year in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. The Tribe has 3 more "revenge" games from last season and needs this one badly. The CAA will likely get at least 3 bids and the winner of this game moves into the lead spot for that 3rd bid behind JMU and Richmond. New Hampshire only has 1 more tough game left against Richmond. So, this is almost a de facto playoff game. There is much respect from the Tribe side for the New Hampshire program and its constant success. New Hampshire is physical, runs a clean program, and has a great history of innovative offense and playmaking. However, the Tribe has had more success against New Hampshire then any other CAA school even going back to dominance during the Chip Kelly days. The Tribe is 14-4 against New Hampshire and 9-1 all time in Williamsburg. The Tribe has a balanced attack offensively and when it plays well, looks like a CAA title contender. If New Hampshire wins, then they are a legitimate contender to repeat as CAA champs(needing only JMU loss since they don't play). I think it will be really close, but the Tribe wins at home.

[BDKJMU]

So far, it does appear that JMU and UR are the best 2 teams in the league. But this game is a big one as traditionally both these teams are in the upper tier of the CAA. New Hampshire gets Goldrich back. If he makes as much difference to New Hampshire as Robertson did to Villanova then New Hampshire will win. William & Mary is not taking them lightly as they destroyed the Tribe 29-3 last year in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. The Tribe has 3 more "revenge" games from last season and needs this one badly. The CAA will likely get at least 3 bids and the winner of this game moves into the lead spot for that 3rd bid behind JMU and Richmond. New Hampshire only has 1 more tough game left against Richmond. So, this is almost a de facto playoff game. There is much respect from the Tribe side for the New Hampshire program and its constant success. New Hampshire is physical, runs a clean program, and has a great history of innovative offense and playmaking. However, the Tribe has had more success against New Hampshire then any other CAA school even going back to dominance during the Chip Kelly days. The Tribe is 14-4 against New Hampshire and 9-1 all time in Williamsburg. The Tribe has a balanced attack offensively and when it plays well, looks like a CAA title contender. If New Hampshire wins, then they are a legitimate contender to repeat as CAA champs(needing only JMU loss since they don't play). I think it will be really close, but the Tribe wins at home.

The CAA will get 4 for the simple fact that:
-24 team field with 1 more At large (14) than last year since no MEAC..
-no CAA playing a Div II
-only 1 playing 2 I-A (Maine).
7 Div I wins out of the CAA is a lock, and there will be at least 4 with 7 Div I wins..

[TribePride]

Very possible, but it is early for that discussion and probably on a different thread. More likely though that at least one 5-3, 7-4 gets left out this year. There might be 4 CAA teams that finish 6-2 or better. Stony Brook, Villanova and New Hampshire all could easily still finish 6-2(even if NH loses this weekend). It is almost certain that JMU will finish no worse than 6-2(and likely better than that). Richmond and W&M could be 6-2 as well. All of them won't finish that high, but there could be 4 that do.

Nova has JMU, but the rest of the games are winnable
NH has W&M and then hosts Richmond, but the rest of the games are likely wins.

W&M has the toughest road still, with NH this weekend, JMU in 2 weeks and then still at Richmond as well.

[BDKJMU]

Very possible, but it is early for that discussion and probably on a different thread. More likely though that at least one 5-3, 7-4 gets left out this year. There might be 4 CAA teams that finish 6-2 or better. Stony Brook, Villanova and New Hampshire all could easily still finish 6-2(even if NH loses this weekend). It is almost certain that JMU will finish no worse than 6-2(and likely better than that). Richmond and W&M could be 6-2 as well. All of them won't finish that high, but there could be 4 that do.

Nova has JMU, but the rest of the games are winnable
NH has W&M and then hosts Richmond, but the rest of the games are likely wins.

W&M has the toughest road still, with NH this weekend, JMU in 2 weeks and then still at Richmond as well.

Nope, won't happen. I'll make a wager with you right now if you want. Too many teams from the Big Sky/So-Con/Southland/Big South/OVC playing multiple I-A and/or Div II. Only the CAA and MVFC for the most part don't. When the field was 16 had a few CAA get in at 7-4, but most didn't. When it was 20 from 2010-2012 some 7-4 CAA got in did and some didn't (JMU got in at 7-4 in 2011 & didn't in 2012). When the field went to 24 in 2013 that meant no more 7 Div I win, 4 loss CAA not getting in. Last year they ran out of 7 Div I win/4 or less loss teams from the top 7 conferences for that 13th at large. And this year there are 14 at large..Good chance with that 14th at large/24th team will have to plug in some turd because there will be no more decent teams left..

[TribePride]

Went back and looked and you have convinced me. I think my statements were based on the hollow feeling of all the late season losses in 2 consecutive 7-5 campaigns for the Tribe. Also, we missed at 7-4 in 2008. Richmond won in OT at W&M in November and went on to win the National Title. We sat home. In 2009, we lost again to the Spiders at the end and lost the #1 seed or #2 seed forcing us into a semifinal with Villanova. Then, we lost each of the last 2 years to the Spiders in a win and in scenario. I guess I have figured out why I hate the Spiders. While the Tribe has occasionally had wins at home over the Dukes(and one memorable win in 2004 in Harrisonburg), Richmond has totally owned us in the big moments in the last 10 years. Our one memorable win was crushing them in 2010 to win the league title.

Because we still have big games with the Dukes and the Spiders still to go, we have to win this weekend against New Hampshire and likely all other games(Elon, Hampton and Towson) as well.