CAA Week 7 Prediction Thread

[BDKJMU]

Week 7 CAA Standings

----------------CAA-Overall
--ODU----------2-0---5-0
1. JMU---------2-0---4-1
2. UNH---------2-1---4-2
-- UR-----------2-1---4-2
-- Villanova----2-1---4-2
5. TU-----------1-1---2-3
-- Maine-------1-1---2-3
7. UD-----------1-2---4-2
-- W&M---------1-2---2-4
9. URI-----------0-2---0-5
10. GST---------0-3---0-6

Week 7 Games:

UR @ UNH (noon, CSN-MA/CSN-NE/TCN-P)
GST @ URI (1 PM )
Villanova @ ODU (3:30 PM)
W&M @ JMU (3:30 PM, CSN-MA+/TCN-P/CSN-CA/CSN-NW (tape-delay))
Maine @ TU (7 PM)

Bye: UD

[BDKJMU]

UR @ UNH (noon, CSN-MA/CSN-NE/TCN-P) by 11
GST @ URI (1 PM ) by 4
Villanova @ ODU (3:30 PM) by 18
W&M @ JMU (3:30 PM, CSN-MA+/TCN-P/CSN-CA/CSN-NW (tape-delay)) 27-6
Maine @ TU (7 PM) by 21

Home teams sweep....

[BDKJMU]

JMU on offense already has their starting LT and a WR out for the season. Lost another starting WR vs TU to a serious concussion, won’t play vs W&M, should be back 10/20 for@ UR.

On defense should get back starting OLB/SS Titus Till (started at MD last yr) and the other MD transfer who is a 2 deep corner. Both have missed the last 2 games. Till is a real talent, maybe the 2nd-3rd best player on JMU's defense & mabye had a shot at 1st team All CAA, 3rd team/honorable mention AA before he injured his ankle vs WVU (could still see him get 2nd team All CAA).
All CAA/pre season AA MLB Stephon Robertson, the heart and soul of the JMU de, is questionable- had an MRI on his knee Mon. JMU has solid backup at every position except for MLB. The one guy on defense JMU CANNOT afford to lose. Leads the team in tackles with 39, 15 vs TU. IF Robertson plays, JMU should have their entire 2 deep defense intact for the 1st time all season. IF Robertson doesn’t play, that is a HUGE hole, and am changing my 27-6 prediction to 27-13.

[CAA Flagship]

JMU on offense already has their starting LT and a WR out for the season. Lost another starting WR vs TU to a serious concussion, won’t play.
On defense should get back starting OLB/SS Titus Till (started at MD last yr) and the other MD transfer who is a 2 deep corner. Both have missed the last 2 games. So healthy on defense except for pre season AA MLB Stephon Robertson, the heart and soul of the JMU de, is questionable- had an MRI on his knee Mon. JMU has solid backup at every position except for MLB. The one guy on defense JMU cannot afford to lose. If he doesn’t play, am changing my 27-6 prediction to 27-13.

Don't worry about the lost WR's. MM has a three option offense and passing is the third option. First is running and second is punting.

[ODUalum78]

Richmond @ UNH 31-38 Richmond continues to improve but UNH wins 'must' game at home.

GaSt @ URI 20-27 Home field advantage wins the "Blunder Bowl". The loser of this one goes winless on the year, the winner gets it's only W.

W&M @ JMU 10 - 20 W&M defense could make this one much closer IF the Tribe can generate some offense.

Villanova @ ODU 27-48 'Nova has looked good this year, but ODU is at home and coming off a bye

Maine @ Towson 20-27 This game depends on which one of Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde shows up for Maine. A 'must' win for Towson to maintain playoff hopes. Maine could make this very interesting.

[BDKJMU]

JMU on offense already has their starting LT and a WR out for the season. Lost another starting WR vs TU to a serious concussion, won’t play.
On defense should get back starting OLB/SS Titus Till (started at MD last yr) and the other MD transfer who is a 2 deep corner. Both have missed the last 2 games. So healthy on defense except for pre season AA MLB Stephon Robertson, the heart and soul of the JMU de, is questionable- had an MRI on his knee Mon. JMU has solid backup at every position except for MLB. The one guy on defense JMU cannot afford to lose. If he doesn’t play, am changing my 27-6 prediction to 27-13.

Don't worry about the lost WR's. MM has a three option offense and passing is the third option. First is running and second is punting.

That was true on 2 possessions, handoffs on 3rd and 11 and 3rd and 12. Of course neither came close to making a 1st down. The 2nd one in the 4th qtr JMU fans were actually screaming at Mickey and booing.

Yeah, that 3 option offense the week before vs URI which was stacking the box 8-9 players the whole game went 26-40, 340 yds, 2 TDs.

As far as the TU game, the JMU offensive struggles:
-Give credit where credit is due. The TU defense is close to as good as JMU's, and I still think they are the most balanced team in the CAA. Problem for them is their schedule and they are -9 in Turnovers (-6 vs Kent and -3 vs JMU).
-JMU did have 2 1st half redzone drives where only got 3 points: 4th and 1 from the 14 that got stuffed by Dangerfield and 4th and 1 for the 4 where settled for a field goal.

As far as Thorpe, the struggles until that last drive mostly weren't his fault. It had more to do with the WR's, who with the exception of one of them, aren't getting the job done. JT passing: 11 for 19, 0 TD, 0 Int. Of his 8 incompletions:
-3 were drops/should have been caught (one a nice 40 yd pass that went right through the WR's hands (same WR also missed a sideline pass he should have had ).
-1 was a throw away.
-1 was on the Dangerfield helmet to helmet where the JMU receiver had the ball before he was almost knocked out cold and Dangerfield was flagged for 15 yd personal foul.
-1 in 4th qtr that TU DB went over JMU WR's back for. JMU fans were calling for pass interference. Watching it on TV later it looked like it could have gone either way (which means if you are a JMU fan it was pass interference and if you are a TU fan it wasn't).
-1 where the JMU WR ran a down & out and JT threw it upfield along the sideline- the reaction of the JMU coaches was that it was the receiver who goofed, not JT.
-Only 1 for certain bad pass (ironically throwing a 30 yd sideline pass on 3rd and 4).
Nothing close to being picked off.
If the JMU receivers make the catches they should, run the right route and one of them doesn't get almost knocked unconscious with a helmet to helmet, JT finishes 15 or 16 of 19, and this game maybe isn't a nailbiter at the end.

[Ivytalk]

I'll pick Maine to upset Towson, chiefly because Andy keeps voting for Alexis Morgan in the SportsBabe game.

All other home teams win. Even URI.

[CAA Flagship]

UNH 42 UR 24
URI 27 GST 21
ODU 41 Nova 21
JMU 38 W&M 14
TU 31 Maine 20

[bluehenbillk]

UNH 40 UR 31- Wildcats rarely lose at home
URI 24 GSU 20- No ties allowed, someone has to win the Stinker Bowl
ODU 41 VU 31- Relatively a lower scoring game involving ODU
JMU 34 W&M 13- Not a very close game at all
TU 24 UM 14- Tigers get must-win at home

[BDKJMU]

JMU on offense already has their starting LT and a WR out for the season. Lost another starting WR vs TU to a serious concussion, won’t play vs W&M, should be back 10/20 for@ UR.

On defense should get back starting OLB/SS Titus Till (started at MD last yr) and the other MD transfer who is a 2 deep corner. Both have missed the last 2 games. Till is a real talent, maybe the 2nd-3rd best player on JMU's defense & mabye had a shot at 1st team All CAA, 3rd team/honorable mention AA before he injured his ankle vs WVU (could still see him get 2nd team All CAA).
All CAA/pre season AA MLB Stephon Robertson, the heart and soul of the JMU de, is questionable- had an MRI on his knee Mon. JMU has solid backup at every position except for MLB. The one guy on defense JMU CANNOT afford to lose. Leads the team in tackles with 39, 15 vs TU. IF Robertson plays, JMU should have their entire 2 deep defense intact for the 1st time all season. IF Robertson doesn’t play, that is a HUGE hole, and am changing my 27-6 prediction to 27-13.

He practiced today....JMU fans breath a sign of relief it wasn't anything serious....

[Sirloin Burger]

Maine 21 Towson Lincoln Mercury 17 ( TU still smarting from that loss to a lesser opponent.)
ODU Offense 45 ODU Defense 28 ( because really, that's who ODU is playing against.)
W&M 21 JMU 10 ( I saw both teams against Towson. W&M is better of the 2.)
GSU 21 URI 20 ( Student riots in Atlanta, knocks over garbage can)
UNH 47 UR 31 ( UNH thinks they're the ODU of the Northeast.)

[andy7171]

Maine 21 Towson Lincoln Mercury 17 ( TU still smarting from that loss to a lesser opponent.)
ODU Offense 45 ODU Defense 28 ( because really, that's who ODU is playing against.)
W&M 21 JMU 10 ( I saw both teams against Towson. W&M is better of the 2.)
GSU 21 URI 20 ( Student riots in Atlanta, knocks over garbage can)
UNH 47 UR 31 ( UNH thinks they're the ODU of the Northeast.)

I see flaggy isn't the only one who hasn't recovered from 4th and 29.

[CAA Flagship]

Maine 21 Towson Lincoln Mercury 17 ( TU still smarting from that loss to a lesser opponent.)
ODU Offense 45 ODU Defense 28 ( because really, that's who ODU is playing against.)
W&M 21 JMU 10 ( I saw both teams against Towson. W&M is better of the 2.)
GSU 21 URI 20 ( Student riots in Atlanta, knocks over garbage can)
UNH 47 UR 31 ( UNH thinks they're the ODU of the Northeast.)

I see flaggy isn't the only one who hasn't recovered from 4th and 29.

[CAA Flagship]

JMU on offense already has their starting LT and a WR out for the season. Lost another starting WR vs TU to a serious concussion, won’t play vs W&M, should be back 10/20 for@ UR.

On defense should get back starting OLB/SS Titus Till (started at MD last yr) and the other MD transfer who is a 2 deep corner. Both have missed the last 2 games. Till is a real talent, maybe the 2nd-3rd best player on JMU's defense & mabye had a shot at 1st team All CAA, 3rd team/honorable mention AA before he injured his ankle vs WVU (could still see him get 2nd team All CAA).
All CAA/pre season AA MLB Stephon Robertson, the heart and soul of the JMU de, is questionable- had an MRI on his knee Mon. JMU has solid backup at every position except for MLB. The one guy on defense JMU CANNOT afford to lose. Leads the team in tackles with 39, 15 vs TU. IF Robertson plays, JMU should have their entire 2 deep defense intact for the 1st time all season. IF Robertson doesn’t play, that is a HUGE hole, and am changing my 27-6 prediction to 27-13.

He practiced today....JMU fans breath a sign of relief it wasn't anything serious....

I don't think you need him against that struggling offense.

[BDKJMU]

Observations on the game (without yet having watched the recording other than the OTs):

- JMU was not ready to play at all. Didn’t bring their A game, esp for the 1st 1.3 qtrs. W&M showed up to play- brought their A game. Give credit where credit is due.

-JMU I think was outcoached on both sides of the ball.

-Thorpe and the rest of the JMU offense were horrible for the 1st qtr+. The Thorpe INT and fumble contributed to that 14-0 hole that JMU found themselves in.

-Tre McBride is the best WR JMU has yet faced so far outside of the 2 for WVU. Looks like he might have Sunday potential. 7 catches for 79 yds. He was never wide open, just would outjump, outfight JMU DBs for high pass/jump balls every time.

Again, give credit where credit is due- W&M has a good team. Yeah, they got whipped by UD where they allowed 3 non offensive TDs. But in their other 4 games:
Lost 7-6 @ Maryland. From what I heard, they should have won that game.
Lost 17-14 Lafayette. I don’t know anything about that game, but I’m sure they should have won it.
Lost 20-17 @ TU. Watching that game on TV, they should have won it if not for some very questionable officiating.
Lost 27-26 @ JMU in 2OT. They definitely should have won that game.
This is a team that has 4 losses by a combined 8 points and could very easily be 6-1.

-JMU was hurt on both sides of the ball by 3 of the top 4 players at one position missing, some of them unexpectedly.

On offense beside the starting OT and WR out for the season, a 2nd WR who’d started every game was out because of a serious concussion last week vs TU. JMU’s leading WR, D-Andre Smith, #6, who had started the last 2 games, with 12 catches for 95 yds in those last 2 games, came down with the flu Fri according to Mickey, and if he played, he was very limited. Plus I’m sure JMU didn’t want to throw at whoever was being covered by BJ Webb, one of the best corners in all of I-AA.

On defense I earlier stated that the entire 2 deep was healthy. I was wrong
-2 deep DT, transfer from VT, wasn’t dressed. I don’t know what happened with him
-2 deep DT, #90, Alex Mosley, who last week got CAA Defensive Rookie of the Week honors, wasn’t dressed. I don’t know what happened with him.
-Starting DT #98 Sean O’Neil got injured in the 2nd qtr? DNP 2nd half. Don’t know what happened with him.
AT DT JMU was down to a starter, a 3rd stringer, and a starting DE moved down to DT. Defense wasn’t as good up the middle, where W&M was getting some push.
Course I can't find out what happened with these guys, as the CAAZone has been down for about the last 18 hrs. And that is after being down for about 16 hours last weekend.

W&M has a lot of guys injured/out too, and again, bottom line, is they deserved to win this game. I said to people around me after W&M missed that last second FG in regulation that would have won it that I wouldn’t have been that upset if they had made it, because they deserved to win the game, and pretty much everyone agreed.

IF JMU plays the rest of the season like did yesterday, will lose only beat GST, maybe @ Maine, and lose to @ UR, @ Nova, and to ODU. Depressing.

[BDKJMU]

Thought it sucked for both teams. I haven't watched a recording of the full game yet, only the overtimes. The officiating was horrible in the W&M @ JMU game: From what I remember (again, with only having watched the recording of the OTs):

-The refs blew the inadvertent whistle on W&M's successful onside kick in the 1st qtr. W&M got screwed there.

-The offensive pass int called on Tre McBride that negated his TD catch in the 1st OT I think could have gone either way. Watching the replay in slo mo looks like he pushed off a little.

But I haven't no sympathy for any calls that went against W&M.

-JMU was called for 4 holding calls, 2 on their AA OG Earl Watford on the 1 drive in the 3rd qtr which resulted in only a FG. Were they legit calls? I don't know, as I haven't watched the recording yet.

W&M was never called for a hold. There were NUMEROUS times, esp in the 2nd half, where W&M was getting away with holds, particularly their tackles against the JMU de ends. I was sitting in my seats the top row just below the press box in the 1st half, and sitting down in the 200 level second half. I've never seen so many blatant non calls on holds in my life. Tons of people around me on several occasions were screaming for the refs to throw a flag. The best example of this was the 2nd OT, W&M 3rd and 4 that they converted. Both W&M OT's can be seen holding the JMU de ends, plain as day, one right in front of the referree (white hat) and wasn't called. I'm sitting with an ex OL who started for 3 years for JMU back in the 90s. Ex OL are the last people to be complaining about O lineman holding, and even he was screaming about it.

-The whole screw up on McBride's TD catch in the 2nd OT. It looked like amateur hr for the officials.

[CAA Flagship]

UNH 42 UR 24 (44-40)
URI 27 GST 21 (7-41)
ODU 41 Nova 21 (14-38)
JMU 38 W&M 14 (27-26)
TU 31 Maine 20 (24-19)

My first 2 loss week. And to think that they came from ODU and GST.