FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

2021 Week #7 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...it's Week #7 in the league where they "pay to play"...this week features our game of the year thus far in the 'CAC as Hartford State heads to Willyville to face the Purple Cows...our "upset" special this week is the Polars order the Pants in Middlebury...

Colby at UBates (Lewiston Campus): First game in the 2021 C-B-B (aka the "world's largest pillow fight")...Colby going for their 3rd straight title......122nd meeting between these two Maine powerhouses....Roller coaster season for both teams...generally we like the home team (UBates) and the team with best player on the field (UBates' QB Costa) in a rivalry game like this...home field advantage not a huge edge in this game given that the Mules only have to driver 45 minutes down the road from Waterville...we like the Mules in a close one on the road... 

Colby 21 UBates 17
Point Spread: Colby -2 
Weather: Periods of rain. High 53.

Tufts University at Hamilton College: Tufts coming off first win...Hamilton has lost their last 3 games by a total of 90-14...battle of FY QBs...we like the Dumbo's young QB a lot better than the Conts ...Dumbo's win their second straight...

Tufts 31 Hamilton 17
Point Spread: Tufts -4
Weather: Cloudy with occasional rain showers. High of 57.

Bowdoin College at Middlebury College: This game seems to be a battle between two teams going opposite directions....Bowdoin playing much better with a competent QB at the controls and Middlebury on 4 game losing streak getting shut-out last week by Wesleyan.....we would not be surprised if HCOF Ritter starts to give some of the young guys a chance to see what he has for 2022...not sure when and if the Polars have ever won in Middlebury, but this could be the year...

Bowdoin 21 Middlebury 17
Point Spread: Middlebury -2
Weather: Showers early, steady rain later in the day. High of 54.

Amhurst College at Wesleyan University: Wesleyan coming off of their best all around game of the year against Middlebury, 6-0 for the first time since 2013...Amhurst coming off their own first shut out of the year against Hamilton...Wes is the second most balanced team in the league and has run the ball exceptionally well the last two weeks which should bode well tomorrow in potentially sloppy conditions on the grass at Andrus...meanwhile, the Lord Mammoths have run the ball far better than what they have done through the air...obviously, Wes has had some issues defending the pass which may not be an issue against the passing challenged Lord Mammoths...both defenses have been comparable, but Wesleyan has averaged almost 100 yards more PER GAME than the LMs on offense...Wes will be as healthy as they have been all year as many of the walking wounded return...despite the weather, should be a big crowd...we'll take the Cards in this traditional Little 3 homecoming battle...

Wesleyan 24 Amhurst 14
Point Spread: Wesleyan -4
Weather: Periods of rain. High of 62.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Hartford State College at TTUN: Game of the year thus far in the NESCAC...both teams fairly similar in points scored for and against, of course against the exact same schedule....Hartford State has gained more yards than the Ephs but they have both scored the exact same number of TDs and allowed the same number of TDs...Williams has run the ball well, HS has had some issues running th ball as they are #4 in the NESCAC and averaging 3.5 yards per carry...Williams #7 in the league in passing (but it feels like they are holding Bobby Maimaron back a bit...maybe he has a shoulder or elbow injury?)....Hartford State challenged kicking FGs (just 2-5) which could be an issue in a close game...HS most penalized team in the league...We think the key is to force Hartford State to run the ball and get some pressure on Fetter to get him to either run or throw the ball on the move....if you let him sit back and just wing it around to his cadre of stud receivers, it will be a long day for the Ephs...For the Ephs, Maimaron will need to pass and run the ball the best he has done all year which won't be easy against a stout Hartford State defense...yes, we think the world of the HS WRs and Fetter is having a great year, but Fetter is one-dimensional (and looks very fragile to us) and the Ephs have the best player on the field Saturday in #2...It should be a great game but we'll go with the home team and more versatile team in a close one (plus, given the weather, we think the Ephs are better designed for the bad weather)...

TTUN 28 Hartford State 27 
Point Spread: TTUN -3
Weather: Periods of rain. High of 58.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2021 Season: 24-6
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: 252-73 (.775 winning percentage)

[SpringSt7]

Good analysis on the two big ones nescacman. I tend to think that Trinity/Williams will be a lower scoring game---think 45 would be a good O/U. It's my belief that when top talent gets together in this league that the defenses tend to win out on net over the offenses. I think that will be especially true for these teams tomorrow considering they have not faced teams of their equal yet to this point this season.

It's obviously a huge cliche but it's a cliche for a reason and that is that I think the turnover battle will dictate this game. Fetter has been great this year but in a way you have to treat him as a freshman due to the circumstances of last year. For that reason I like Maimaron's ability to take care of the ball and be the guy you need him to be in the moment. I'll take Williams 25-20 in a relatively ugly one in the wet.

[D3FLETCH]

I think it is unfair to say Trinity pushes the envelope. Trinity is a very mediocre school by NESCAC academic standards. Why is everyone shocked they get the lowest academic kids? I applaud them for retaining/graduating these players.     

I would not classify it as mediocre at all. If we are talking strictly football Every NESCAC school has its own merits desires and football direction. Depends what the student wants. If you want to go to a Maine school get a great education and win a few football games great. Frankly if you are going to put in the time in the off season , study hard academically why would you not want to go to a program where you have a 50/50 shot at being a champion. These kids put in 20 + hours per week. Now some may not be able to play at a football powerhouse so thats where these schools come into play. Education aside it is what the student does when he is in school  , grades connections and how he projects himself to an employer when he gets out. The school does no give him a job or get him to graduate school. I think each school has its own merits Pros & Cons I would not say at all one is better than another. It is like saying Dartmouth is better than Cornell or Yale they all have there pros/cons

I am not saying that Trinity is a bad school. I believe it is a very good academic institution, but it is much easier to get into Trinity.

Acceptance Rate
Amherst College 11%
Bates College 12%
Bowdoin College 9%
Colby College 10%
Connecticut College 37%
Hamilton College 16%
Middlebury College 15%
Trinity College 33%
Tufts University 15%
Wesleyan University 16%
Williams College 13%

[D3FLETCH]

Also a couple of questions from Trinity 2018 entrance exam... 

How many commandments was Moses given? (approximately)

What are coat hangers used for?

Metric conversion. How many feet is 0.0 meters?

Give a dissertation on the ancient Babylonian Empire with  particular reference to architecture, literature, law and social  conditions -OR- give the first name of Pierre Trudeau.

Advanced math. If you have three apples, how many apples do you have? (only 3 current Trinity players got this one correct)

[polbear73]

It's all a matter of perspective.  In the grand scheme of things, Trinity is a top of of the line world class college. It's in the comparison with it's NESCAC brothers that Trinity comes up short, but these schools are the best in the world. Trinity has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of; in fact it should be proud of its place among US colleges.

[D3FLETCH]

Trinity is an excellent school. I simply hate hearing that they are "cheaters" abusing the tip system. They want to win football games and have the lowest academic standards in the conference. Hater schools should focus on recruiting students who fit the academic requirements of their institution.

[PolarCat]

Totally bush league.  I'm guessing Sour grapes?  Like you really wanted to go to Trin but didn't get an offer?  Keep it classy D3FLETCH

[D3FLETCH]

I did not get an offer to Trinity. I have great respect for the sustained success that Trinity has in the NESCAC.

[PolarCat]

To resurrect the perennial argument:  You can debate whether K's are "football players" but it's hard to win without one.  Bates has put up a good battle against the Mules today, even though the Colby sideline feels like it has twice as many players as the home sideline.  But twice the Bobcats went for it on 4th and short in the red zone instead of trying a FG.  Both times they got stopped.  Pretty clear the Bates HCOF has zero confidence in their K.

It's a shame because Costa has been stellar and the D has been solid, except for one blown coverage resulting in the Colby TD.  That safety was pretty sweet.  And when the long snapper sailed one over the P's head, the D held the Mules to a three and out (with a pooch punt no less)

I remember years when Bates Special Teams were really strong, and could complain that the O didn't give them enough opportunities to put points on the board.  The tables have really turned.  I'm betting that pillow fight or not, the CBB may be decided by the K's and P's this year.

[D3FLETCH]

Great day calling plays for Caput/Ritteri! Some really creative formations/runs. Bowdoin trying to make adjustments but always a play or two late. Midd looking like 2019 team.

[nescac1]

I think it's fair to say that Raymond has not been outcoached today. 

[SpringSt7]

Williams overcomes coaching disadvantage to squeak past Trinity, 42-3.

[jumpshot]

Williams completely dominates Trinity today 42-3. Ephs offensive line crushes Bantams, defensive line and secondary shuts down vaunted Trinity runners and receivers. A masterpiece by Eph players and coaching staff. Am genuinely interested in explanations by Trinity fans.

[nescac1]

And then there was one!  Wesleyan finally fails to pull out an OT game and somehow Amherst is 6-2 with losses to Colby and Bowdoin.  Crazy.

I certainly did not see this Eph result coming ... what an utterly dominating performance in all phases of the game by the Ephs.  313 rushing yards to to 42, I mean, that's about as dominating as it gets along the line of scrimmage. 

For Williams, the offensive line was just spectacular, and as it has done all year, wore the defense down over the course of the game with its huge size and punishing style.  All three TBs and Maimaron (who had a 70 yard TD run called back due to a procedure penalty) played well, but Joel Nicholas was of course an absolute monster.  What a game for him.  Much like last season, Nicholas seems to get better and better as the season goes along, he ran through, over, and around Trinity all day long, no one had any prayer of stopping him.  Fischetti also had some really nice moments (including an especially good run that was again called back due to a penalty, really the only thing that the Ephs did wrong all day was too many penalties by the offense), he runs so darn hard for a little dude.  And Vaughn as always came up clutch when his number was called as well.   The conditions obviously favored the Eph style, but if you want to win in NESCAC, you have to be able to play well in bad weather as winter rolls in ...

But really the defense was the more dominating of the two units.  Ian Devine, who is a leading contender for DPOY, was in the Trinity offensive backfield all day, making big tackles for losses and drawing penalties, he was a monster today as he has been really all year.  The Eph LBs were all over the field, with Coleston Smith making huge hits, Manzella playing great against the pass, and the Ephs' other DPOY candidate, TJ Rothmann, seemingly all over the field, always in the right place to disrupt what Trinity wanted to do.  The entire Eph secondary was spectacular in mostly locking down Trinity's monster receivers.  Special mention to Rocco G. who did as good a job on Girard as anyone can, he matched his physicality and had him locked down most of the game.  But all those guys were great today. 

Definitely the most impressive win of the Raymond era (duh).  As for Trinity, I just did not understand the strategy.  I was happy every time they ran up the middle which seemed to be a lot.  Maybe between the conditions and the Eph pass rush they felt that going to hurry up and throwing the ball quickly and repeatedly just wasn't possible, but I certainly would have tried that rather than matching the Ephs' physically, which was never going to work. 

[SpringSt7]

Am I correct in saying that the Wesleyan loss effectively means nothing as it pertains to the league title? They still control their own destiny right?