FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

2022 Week #1 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...it's Week #1 in the league where they "pay to play"...this week features two really interesting games as Wesleyan hosts Matt Coyne's UBates Bobcats and Hartford State travels to Ellis Oval to face the Jumbo's. Due to systems constraints, we have to post our picks one game at a time....

Hamilton College at Bowdoin College: Someone has to win this battle of perennial NESCAC cellar dweller. We don't expect this one to be much of a contest for program's seemingly going in opposite directions. Keys To Victory ("KTV") for Bowdoin: Eden left, Eden right, Eden all day. Establish the running game to control the clock and create opportunities for Boel to throw the ball down the field. Avoid turnover's. Run a more traditional defense to stop the Conts from hitting the big play. KTV for Hamilton: Stop the Bowdoin running game. Move eight men into the box to force Boel to throw. Force turnovers and control the clock on offense. We think Bowdoin has way too many weapons for Hamilton. They get the win at home.

Bowdoin 28 Hamilton 14
Point Spread: Bowdoin -7 
Weather (courtesy of The Weather Channel): Mostly sunny. High of 67.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 0-0
2021 Season: 33-12
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: 261-79 (.768 winning percentage)

[Nescacman]

2022 Week #1 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...it's Week #1 in the league where they "pay to play"...this week features two really interesting games as Wesleyan hosts Matt Coyne's UBates Bobcats and Hartford State travels to Ellis Oval to face the Jumbo's.

Middlebury College at Amhurst College: Formerly a marquis match-up, the time around it will be a battle over who will reign supreme over the mid-tier of the NESCAC. Both teams will rely on ball control offenses and their defenses to force turnovers. KTV for Amhurst: Get some/any production out of their offense and let their typical solid defense dictate the game. KTV for Middlebury: Atypical Middlebury offense emphasizing the run. Running game will need to work in Maldjian's first game back since 2019. Avoid turning the ball over which they did not do in '21. We give the slight edge to Amhurst in a close defensive battle.

Amhurst 17 Middlebury 14
Point Spread: Amhurst -3
Weather: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 73.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 0-0
2021 Season: 33-12
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: 261-79 (.768 winning percentage)

[Nescacman]

2022 Week #1 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...it's Week #1 in the league where they "pay to play"...this week features two really interesting games as Wesleyan hosts Matt Coyne's UBates Bobcats and Hartford State travels to Ellis Oval to face the Jumbo's.

Williams College at Colby College: Tough draw for the Mules as they face the defending league champs on opening day. Should be a good scrimmage for the Purple Cows. Literally, the only question mark for Williams is at the QB position. This is a good match-up for the Purple Cows to figure things out. KTV for Colby: Get to the new Williams QB early and often, force a bunch of turnovers and try to get an early lead to instill some confidence. Establish some semblance of a running game. KTV for William: Make sure the bus doesn't break down and the players/coaches don't get food poisoning at breakfast. Williams should easily cover the 24 point spread on the road. This one could get ugly as Williams sends a message to the rest of the league.

Williams 38 Colby 13
Point Spread: Williams -24
Weather:Generally sunny with a few afternoon clouds. High 68.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 0-0
2021 Season: 33-12
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: 261-79 (.768 winning percentage)

[Charlie]

Yikes-
Tufts roster 100
Wesleyan roster 101

Trinitys 102 I also dont believe they count kids who are injured

[BigKat]

Not sure I understand the pot shots at Noontime. "He" spends a lot of time and resources covering not only the Nescac ( which has very little social media coverage at all) but also covering other New England D3 programs as well as HS teams. He has a podcast which is excellent and has many of the Nescac coaches and players on it. That seems a million times more reliable than a lot of the false rumors i see on here during the season.

Anyway, wishing everyone a happy, healthy and competitive Nescac season. Parity appears to be alive and well.

[Nescacman]

2022 Week #1 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...it's Week #1 in the league where they "pay to play"...this week features two really interesting games as Wesleyan hosts Matt Coyne's UBates Bobcats and Hartford State travels to Ellis Oval to face the Jumbo's...

NESCAC Game of the Week

Hartford State College at Tufts University: #1 ranked offense (Tufts) in '21 against the #1 defense (HS). Bants have nearly everyone back, however they will miss their stud receiver, Girard, big time. Should be interesting to see how Bant WR Reid performs without his partner. No question Tufts can keep up with Hartford State offensively, but can their rebuilt D stop Fetter and the high powered Hartford State offense. KTV for Hartford State: Pick-up where they left off in 2021...stopping Berluti and the Tufts offense once or twice may be enough.KTV for Tufts: Defense has to play much better than 2021 for the Jumbo's to have any shot in this game. Pressure and hit QB Fetter, which he does not seem to like (see the Wesleyan game at the end of last season). Big test for both teams to start the season. Could come down to turnovers and specials. We give Hartford State the edge in a what could be a shoot out. 

Hartford State 35 Tufts 28   
Point Spread: Hartford State -7
Weather: Intervals of clouds ands sunshine. High of 79.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 0-0
2021 Season: 33-12
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: 261-79 (.768 winning percentage)

[Nescacman]

2022 Week #1 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...it's Week #1 in the league where they "pay to play"...this week features two really interesting games as Wesleyan hosts Matt Coyne's UBates Bobcats and Hartford State travels to Ellis Oval to face the Jumbo's...

UBates at Wesleyan University: Cards alum and former DC Matt Coyne in his first game as UBates HCOF faces the mighty Wesleyan Cardinals.Wesleyan hasn't been this talented since perhaps 2013.Wes returns 18 starters including many current and former all-NESCAC performers and the reigning DPOTY Nick Helbig. Both teams will be running new offensive schemes so it should be interesting to watch how they perform. KTV for UBates: Play keep away from the two-headed Wes QB monster (Ashton Scott and David Estevez). Somehow block DT Helbig. Get decent special teamsplay as they did last year in Lewsiton. KTV for Wesleyan: Get the ball to their playmakers and let them do their thing.Take care of business avoiding stupid pemalties and turnovers. We think Wesleyan has too much talent to not win this game although we think UBates could make it interesting in the early going.

Wesleyan 31 UBates 14
Point Spread: Wesleyan -14
Weather: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High of 76.   

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 0-0
2021 Season: 33-12
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: 261-79 (.768 winning percentage)

[nescac1]

Whelp, Colby is a LOT better this year and Williams is a LOT worse.  Ephs struggled on offense, defense, special teams, penalties, and play-calling ... otherwise, not a bad day. 

The Ephs could never get the power running game going and didn't even TRY to look down the field until they were desperate late in the game.  Receivers didn't seem open all day, almost all the completions were to TBs, and Dickinson is obviously learning so likely it would not have ended well if they look deep anyway.  But man, Williams HAS to get a bit more creative on offense, and soon, because they just aren't good enough to run it up the middle nearly every play -- especially after the starting center went down with an injury half-way through the game.  The Ephs defense surprisingly struggled all day.  Colby seemed to really fool the Ephs consistently with misdirection, a lot of huge runs and screen type plays that bounced to the outside and went for big gains.  Ephs also had some crucial penalties at terrible times. 

Colby on the other hand looked very good.  The same cast of characters back on offense, but now a lot more experienced and more confident.  Smart (especially) and the Sawyer twins are three very good skill guys and Hersch looked very confident all game and executed the game plan perfectly.  Colby won the battle on both lines of scrimmage, which I certainly did not expect with all the Ephs had back.  A wake-up call for Williams and I'd say Colby is announcing itself as a team to be reckoned with this year. 

For Williams, they have to play a bit faster and looser on offense, and find more ways to keep the D off balance.  Fischetti seemed like the only really super dangerous weapon as a playmaker today and he needs a lot of touches.  I'd say that two of he, Vaughn and Nicholas need to be on the field nearly every play because those are the Ephs' biggest weapons. The defense needs to do a LOT better job setting the edge especially on misdirection plays, and avoid penalties.  Ephs still have a lot of veteran talent and can bounce back from this one, especially if the QB gets more comfortable and the team gets a bit more balanced on offense. 

I think Colby could surprise more teams this year.  They are tough, disciplined and physical on both sides of the ball.  They really came to play today. 

[Scoops]

Hmmm.... It's almost like this was predicted? Who could've possibly seen that Colby was returning most of their offense, and that Williams lost ALL of their important players? The reality is that the Ephs were only successful because Maimaron was such a tremendous threat on the ground. 11 eyes had to be on him or he would eat defenses alive. With him gone, defenses will be able to focus on their efforts more evenly among the rest of their underwhelming skill group.

Whelp, Colby is a LOT better this year and Williams is a LOT worse.  Ephs struggled on offense, defense, special teams, penalties, and play-calling ... otherwise, not a bad day. 

The Ephs could never get the power running game going and didn't even TRY to look down the field until they were desperate late in the game.  Receivers didn't seem open all day, almost all the completions were to TBs, and Dickinson is obviously learning so likely it would not have ended well if they look deep anyway.  But man, Williams HAS to get a bit more creative on offense, and soon, because they just aren't good enough to run it up the middle nearly every play -- especially after the starting center went down with an injury half-way through the game.  The Ephs defense surprisingly struggled all day.  Colby seemed to really fool the Ephs consistently with misdirection, a lot of huge runs and screen type plays that bounced to the outside and went for big gains.  Ephs also had some crucial penalties at terrible times. 

Colby on the other hand looked very good.  The same cast of characters back on offense, but now a lot more experienced and more confident.  Smart (especially) and the Sawyer twins are three very good skill guys and Hersch looked very confident all game and executed the game plan perfectly.  Colby won the battle on both lines of scrimmage, which I certainly did not expect with all the Ephs had back.  A wake-up call for Williams and I'd say Colby is announcing itself as a team to be reckoned with this year. 

For Williams, they have to play a bit faster and looser on offense, and find more ways to keep the D off balance.  Fischetti seemed like the only really super dangerous weapon as a playmaker today and he needs a lot of touches.  I'd say that two of he, Vaughn and Nicholas need to be on the field nearly every play because those are the Ephs' biggest weapons. The defense needs to do a LOT better job setting the edge especially on misdirection plays, and avoid penalties.  Ephs still have a lot of veteran talent and can bounce back from this one, especially if the QB gets more comfortable and the team gets a bit more balanced on offense. 

I think Colby could surprise more teams this year.  They are tough, disciplined and physical on both sides of the ball.  They really came to play today.

[LochNescac]

Looks like we may have an interesting season...!!

A wee bit 'o competitive balance.....

As predicted by some of y'all .....

[Charlie]

Looks like we may have an interesting season...!!

A wee bit 'o competitive balance.....

As predicted by some of y'all .....

Anyone see the Tufts Coaching debacle Yesterday. Two back to back fake field goals down 10 and they loose by 3 ?

[Zlax45]

Photos from the Amherst/Middlebury matchup

https://www.foley-photography.com/Football/College-Football/2022-Season/Middlebury-at-Amherst/

[NESCACFball24/7]

Tufts looked like two completely different teams in the first and second half. They let up 26 in the first half and only scored 3 then shut out trinity in the second half and came back to within 3 points to make that game close. It was night and day and seems like the defense finally kicked into stride and the offense just started making the bantams look silly. If they can play like that on both sides the rest of the year they'll be dangerous.

[lumbercat]

................................Tufts offense just started making the bantams look silly.

Really? ---I gotta see that tape.

[NESCACFball24/7]

................................Tufts offense just started making the bantams look silly.

Really? ---I gotta see that tape.

They put up 23 unanswered in the second half and had 250+ yards in the half.