FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

2021 NESCACMAN Weekly Power Rankings-Week 0

*yawn

What is a  "yawn" is the new Coop...we don't know how others feel but totally underwhelming and unimpressive, especially when compared to what the Lord Mammoths and Ephs built in recent years (and the beer tent in the end zone was a tremendous add in Willytown)...we've seen nicer (much) facilities during our recruiting missions in NJ/PA...

[Nescacman]

2021 Week #1 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC fans! After almost 700 days, it's Week #1 in the league where they "pay to play"...should be an interesting week to see what each team really has highlighted by the big MID/TTUN battle...here we go...

Bowdoin College at Hamilton College: Hamilton hasn't had a winning season since 1996 and Bowdoin hasn't had a winning season since 2005....HCOF Hammer looking for his first win in the 'CAC...Both teams will be starting first time QBs...think about this, Hamilton was 4-5 in 2019 with one of the better QB/receiver groups in the league...what will their offense look like in the post-Kenny Gray/Joe Schmidt era...not really sure what to expect here...we don't think either team will be particularly good in 2021...this one will probably come down to whomever makes the fewest mistakes...One of the longest bus rides in the league which will be that much longer if they're driving up Saturday AM (about 5 hours)...We'll take the home team here...2019 team stats: Bowdoin: 10th in total offense; 10th in total defense Hamilton:7th in offense; 7th in defense...

Hamilton 17 Bowdoin 14
Point Spread: Hamilton -3
Weather: Cloudy with occasional showers. High of 77.

Amhurst College at UBates (Lewiston College): Should be a good opening day "scrimmage" for the Lord Mammoths, despite being on the road...hard to believe that the LMs are coming off a losing record, their first this century...UBates QB Costa and a decent group of WRs give the Bobcats a punchers shot...interim HCOF Ed Argast has his hands full...we think that the LMs will have too many good players to lose to the undermanned 'Cats...2019 team stats: Amhurst: 6th in total offense; 6th in total defense UBates:9th in offense; 8th in defense...

Amhurst 35 UBates 14
Point Spread: Lord Mammoths -17 
Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers in the afternoon. High of 77.

Tufts University at Hartford State College: Interesting game in the new "Coop"...we don't know about you but we are completely underwhelmed by the Coop pics we saw...Jumbo's return about half of their starters including 5th year RB Pedrini, NESCAC top WR OJ Armstrong and DPOTY candidate DE Nenadovic...2019 part-time QB Woodson back and will give the Jumbo's an RPO look...2019 was first losing season for Tufts since going winless in 2013....Tufts always plays HS tough...HS always has the edge at the Coop and we think playing at HS allows them to break their home losing streak going back to 2019... 2019 team stats: Hartford State: 4th in total offense; 2nd in total defense Tufts:3rd in offense; 5th in defense...

Hartford State 30 Tufts 23
Point Spread: Hartford State -7
Weather: Partly cloudy. High of 83.

Wesleyan University at Colby College: Colby was challenged on both sides of the ball in 2019 and returns very few starters, which may be a good thing...Hersch is good QB but needs some weapons...almost all top WRs and RBs are gone so any playmakers on campus with be all new...
Wes is loaded on both sides of the ball and should be exciting to watch with almost all of their 2019 playmakers back...look for QB Scott, WR Simco, all-purpose Estevez and WR Tomlinson all to contribute...DPOTY candidate (and reigning Defensive rookie of the year) Nick Helbig looks ready for a big year...Wes's O line will be unusually big and deep...Wes K Von Jess could be next 'CAC guy in the NFL...we think Colby is going to be improved, unfortunately their season starts with Wes...2019 team stats: Wesleyan: 4th in total offense; 4th in total defense Colby: 8th in offense; 9th in defense...

Wesleyan 34 Colby 17
Point Spread: Wesleyan -10
Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers in the afternoon. High of 77.


NESCAC Game of the Week

Middlebury College at TTUN: Great Week 1 game...2019 #1 against #3...should be best Eph squad since 2010 Whalen-built team went undefeated and won the 'CAC and Little 3 titles...obviously both teams are loaded...Pants with reigning offensive and defensive players of the year and Ephs with arguably the best QB and WRs...both teams playing with rebuilt offensive line...we think this game will come down to whose offensive line plays better and turnovers...will be interesting to see how MID offense adjusts to loss of RB offensive rookie of the year...will HCOF Ritter figure out a way to have a balanced attack without him or will they revert to a pass heavy attack reminiscent of MID pre-2019...we're going with the home team here in a squeaker...2019 team stats: Middlebury: 2nd in total offense; 3rd in total defense TTUN:1st in offense; 1st in defense...   

TTUN 31 Middlebury 28
Point Spread: TTUN -3
Weather: Mostly sunny. High of 42.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2020 Season: 0-0
2019 Season: 33-12
2018 Season: 36-9
2017 Season: 35-10
2016 Season: 32-8
2015 Season: 30-10
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8
Career: 228-67 (.773 winning percentage)

[Trin9-0]

2021 NESCACMAN Weekly Power Rankings-Week 0

*yawn

What is a  "yawn" is the new Coop...we don't know how others feel but totally underwhelming and unimpressive, especially when compared to what the Lord Mammoths and Ephs built in recent years (and the beer tent in the end zone was a tremendous add in Willytown)...we've seen nicer (much) facilities during our recruiting missions in NJ/PA...

Says the guy with temporary stands. 

[Trin9-0]

On the D3 Football podcast released today, Pat put Greg Thomas "on the spot" and asked him to pick the winners of each NESCAC opener. His picks were as follows:

Amherst over Bates
Wesleyan over Colby
Hamilton over Bowdoin
Trinity over Tufts
Middlebury over Williams

Not a preview, but good to get some publicity. Keep an eye on The Noontime Sports Podcast (Matt Noonan). Wheaton (MA) grad who does a great job covering New England Sports. He interviewed Dice a week or two ago and gives a lot of coverage to NESCAC CCC NEWMAC MASCAC and ECFC teams with interviews and commentary. He will certainly be putting something out this week.

here is a link to his site: https://noontimesports.com/

Game Week, gotta love it

Any preseason previews out there?

Some really bold picks there by "Greg Thomas"....really going out on a limb....

We continue to believe Noontime is an overrated, hack, NARP who has no clue....if you don't know what a NARP is, Google it....

Nescacman, let me get this straight... you mocked these picks earlier this week for not being bold enough. Then you made the exact same picks with one exception. The outlier? You picked Williams over Middlebury.

So it's more bold to pick Williams when they're playing at home and you just ranked them as the top team in the league?

[nescac1]

Williams roster posted:  https://ephsports.williams.edu/sports/football/roster?path=football

Ten fifth year seniors back, eight of whom are key players (six have been all-league players)

Only three other seniors, as twelve guys from the class of 2022 reclassified as juniors (including seven projected starters). 

Seems like almost no one in the sophomore class took a gap year, but there are plenty of chances for those guys to take a semester off at some point.  In particular, the two highly-regarded QBs in that class ...

Per a point SpringSt7 made, some guys (and I assume this is true throughout the league) seem to have put on a LOT of muscle .. the Eph offensive line is going to be absolutely massive, averaging around 6'3 295, plus the Ephs have three TE/HB's who average around 250.  The Eph defensive line also seems much heftier overall than it has been in recent years ....

The frosh class is not huge in number (19) but I think has a lot of talent, especially at TB, DL and OL.  Will be interesting to see if any of those guys can see the field much this year given how many veterans are locked into starting spots ... K Shuran seems like he will be starting.  Counting Shuran, it seems like only around 6-7 guys who are not in their fourth or fifth year in the program will be starting for the Ephs. 

[Nescacman]

On the D3 Football podcast released today, Pat put Greg Thomas "on the spot" and asked him to pick the winners of each NESCAC opener. His picks were as follows:

Amherst over Bates
Wesleyan over Colby
Hamilton over Bowdoin
Trinity over Tufts
Middlebury over Williams

Not a preview, but good to get some publicity. Keep an eye on The Noontime Sports Podcast (Matt Noonan). Wheaton (MA) grad who does a great job covering New England Sports. He interviewed Dice a week or two ago and gives a lot of coverage to NESCAC CCC NEWMAC MASCAC and ECFC teams with interviews and commentary. He will certainly be putting something out this week.

here is a link to his site: https://noontimesports.com/

Game Week, gotta love it

Any preseason previews out there?

Some really bold picks there by "Greg Thomas"....really going out on a limb....

We continue to believe Noontime is an overrated, hack, NARP who has no clue....if you don't know what a NARP is, Google it....

Nescacman, let me get this straight... you mocked these picks earlier this week for not being bold enough. Then you made the exact same picks with one exception. The outlier? You picked Williams over Middlebury.

So it's more bold to pick Williams when they're playing at home and you just ranked them as the top team in the league?

Scores and spreads our fair feathered friend (with at least some limited rationale for our picks which are usually pretty accurate)...but you know all that already...

[Nescacman]

Williams roster posted:  https://ephsports.williams.edu/sports/football/roster?path=football

Ten fifth year seniors back, eight of whom are key players (six have been all-league players)

Only three other seniors, as twelve guys from the class of 2022 reclassified as juniors (including seven projected starters). 

Seems like almost no one in the sophomore class took a gap year, but there are plenty of chances for those guys to take a semester off at some point.  In particular, the two highly-regarded QBs in that class ...

Per a point SpringSt7 made, some guys (and I assume this is true throughout the league) seem to have put on a LOT of muscle .. the Eph offensive line is going to be absolutely massive, averaging around 6'3 295, plus the Ephs have three TE/HB's who average around 250.  The Eph defensive line also seems much heftier overall than it has been in recent years ....

The frosh class is not huge in number (19) but I think has a lot of talent, especially at TB, DL and OL.  Will be interesting to see if any of those guys can see the field much this year given how many veterans are locked into starting spots ... K Shuran seems like he will be starting.  Counting Shuran, it seems like only around 6-7 guys who are not in their fourth or fifth year in the program will be starting for the Ephs.

Yup, they will be/are very good...probably not even Hartford State will be able to keep up with them 

As we have discussed before, we strongly believe the rise of the Ephs has a lot to do with the problems that the Lord Mammoths are having with recruiting...further demonstrates just how bad HCOF Kelton truly was (we have a new Saturday betting strategy; we take whoever Howard/Kelton is playing and give the points...last week Maryland covered the 48 point spread by a lot)...the question now is how long Raymond sticks around and who is "next man up"...

Speaking of coaching changes, we heard from a good source that this might be HCOF Devaney's last year in the Coop and he may move up ala his predecessor, HCOF Priore (Stony Brook)...something to keep an an eye on... 

[AmherstStudent05]

On the D3 Football podcast released today, Pat put Greg Thomas "on the spot" and asked him to pick the winners of each NESCAC opener. His picks were as follows:

Amherst over Bates
Wesleyan over Colby
Hamilton over Bowdoin
Trinity over Tufts
Middlebury over Williams

Not a preview, but good to get some publicity. Keep an eye on The Noontime Sports Podcast (Matt Noonan). Wheaton (MA) grad who does a great job covering New England Sports. He interviewed Dice a week or two ago and gives a lot of coverage to NESCAC CCC NEWMAC MASCAC and ECFC teams with interviews and commentary. He will certainly be putting something out this week.

here is a link to his site: https://noontimesports.com/

Game Week, gotta love it

Any preseason previews out there?

Some really bold picks there by "Greg Thomas"....really going out on a limb....

We continue to believe Noontime is an overrated, hack, NARP who has no clue....if you don't know what a NARP is, Google it....

Nescacman, let me get this straight... you mocked these picks earlier this week for not being bold enough. Then you made the exact same picks with one exception. The outlier? You picked Williams over Middlebury.

So it's more bold to pick Williams when they're playing at home and you just ranked them as the top team in the league?

Scores and spreads our fair feathered friend (with at least some limited rationale for our picks which are usually pretty accurate)...but you know all that already...

Just out of curiosity then, do you have Hamilton and Trinity covering or not?

[SpringSt7]

I don't even know why I'm going to get into this but in what world is Middlebury -3 at Williams and in what world are there going to be 59 points in that game?

[lumbercat]

Nescacman-

We don't always agree but once again you've outdone yourself with these game previews. Really good, enjoy the read each week.

A minor correction on your Bowdoin preview---the trip for Hammers Boys to Hamilton is more like 7 hours. I remember the bus ride from Maine to Hamilton very well. No way the White Bears leave on Saturday. Usually Friday morning with a practice at some venue en route.

I disagree on the Coop, looks fantastic to me (not sure if they relocated the track). The New Coop is gonna be as big and bold as it gets in the NESCAC.

Wes is fixated on the whole Andrus field history thing--time to let it go. They have become the NESCAC equivalent of Cleveland Municipal Stadium or Oakland Coliseum sharing the gridiron with the Baseball Program. Time to move the football or baseball venue to another location on campus. They can still have the plaque or monument at Andrus saying they played the first game in the history of man at Andrus field....blah, blah blah---old, we get it already.

Colby receivers may be thin but they've got 2 potential fine NESCAC backs in Morocco and Cyr.......a couple of BBN guys who can play. I think you will see.

And last, regarding the facetious question floated on the end of Football at Bates. I'd suggest a check by correspondents with the AD and committee formed at Bates for the search and hiring of the new HC. A very familiar and well known coaching guy has been retained as lead consultant.  The wheels have been turning for almost a month now with an active vetting and identification process well underway. The intent is having the new guy in place by 12/15.

[lumbercat]

NESCACMAN:
Speaking of coaching changes, we heard from a good source that this might be HCOF Devaney's last year in the Coop and he may move up ala his predecessor, HCOF Priore (Stony Brook)...something to keep an an eye on...
[/quote]


Sounds like a classic NESCACMAN plant headline but thought provoking just the same.

True of not, I know this-- Lord Jeffrey would be out of his mind to leave Trinity.  There is no other program outside of the Power 5 conferences where a coach has more overwhelming advantages in terms of recruiting leniency, college support and alumni support that so far exceeds every other program in his conference. He's got loaded dice at Trinity- can't think of another coaching job where he would have such a huge edge within another conference.

[Nescacman]

I don't even know why I'm going to get into this but in what world is Middlebury -3 at Williams and in what world are there going to be 59 points in that game?

Correct....you got us Spring....we were thinking "what if" the Pants were playing at the friendly confines of Leaf Peeper Stadium or whatever they call where they play ("Youngman Stadium at Alumni Field")...should have been Ephs -3...correction noted and modified in our picks...thanks!

[Nescacman]

On the D3 Football podcast released today, Pat put Greg Thomas "on the spot" and asked him to pick the winners of each NESCAC opener. His picks were as follows:

Amherst over Bates
Wesleyan over Colby
Hamilton over Bowdoin
Trinity over Tufts
Middlebury over Williams

Not a preview, but good to get some publicity. Keep an eye on The Noontime Sports Podcast (Matt Noonan). Wheaton (MA) grad who does a great job covering New England Sports. He interviewed Dice a week or two ago and gives a lot of coverage to NESCAC CCC NEWMAC MASCAC and ECFC teams with interviews and commentary. He will certainly be putting something out this week.

here is a link to his site: https://noontimesports.com/

Game Week, gotta love it

Any preseason previews out there?

Some really bold picks there by "Greg Thomas"....really going out on a limb....

We continue to believe Noontime is an overrated, hack, NARP who has no clue....if you don't know what a NARP is, Google it....

Nescacman, let me get this straight... you mocked these picks earlier this week for not being bold enough. Then you made the exact same picks with one exception. The outlier? You picked Williams over Middlebury.

So it's more bold to pick Williams when they're playing at home and you just ranked them as the top team in the league?

Scores and spreads our fair feathered friend (with at least some limited rationale for our picks which are usually pretty accurate)...but you know all that already...

Just out of curiosity then, do you have Hamilton and Trinity covering or not?

We think HAM and Hartford State both cover, by a razor thin margin...btw, DraftKings now carrying our NESCAC spreads 

[Nescacman]

NESCACMAN:
Speaking of coaching changes, we heard from a good source that this might be HCOF Devaney's last year in the Coop and he may move up ala his predecessor, HCOF Priore (Stony Brook)...something to keep an an eye on...

Sounds like a classic NESCACMAN plant headline but thought provoking just the same.

True of not, I know this-- Lord Jeffrey would be out of his mind to leave Trinity.  There is no other program outside of the Power 5 conferences where a coach has more overwhelming advantages in terms of recruiting leniency, college support and alumni support that so far exceeds every other program in his conference. He's got loaded dice at Trinity- can't think of another coaching job where he would have such a huge edge within another conference.
[/quote]

Not even for 3x at UConn, UMass or UBates??? Money talks...$$$

[xPolarDadx]

A minor correction on your Bowdoin preview---the trip for Hammers Boys to Hamilton is more like 7 hours. I remember the bus ride from Maine to Hamilton very well. No way the White Bears leave on Saturday. Usually Friday morning with a practice at some venue en route.

Correct, they bussed up (down?) to NY today.  Interestingly, the writeup posted on the Bowdoin football page here lists a large number of sophomores (Hammer's first recruiting class) as probable starters.