FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

2023 Week #1 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...it's Week #1 in the league where they "pay to play"...this week features a game that should have league championship ramifications as the Tufts Jumbo's travel to the coop to face Hartford State...

Bowdoin College at Hamilton College: Congratulations to Bowdoin on 1,000 games of sub-par football (399 wins and no winning seasons since 2005)...Will be an interesting early season match-up to see if either of these 2 programs has advanced...Not sure playing each other will be the best indicator...Curious to see how BOW QB Boel looks post injury and if HAM QB Banbury can take the next step...one of these two teams will be in first place after this week...think about that...Keys To Victory ("KTV") for Bowdoin: We think the Polars offense puts the ball in Eden's hands a ton in Week 1, they establish the running game to control the clock, and create opportunities for Boel to throw high percentage passes to help his confidence...Bowdoin will execute HCOF Hammer's high pressure defense which will work against a team of HAM's caliber...Need to stop the Conts All-League TE...KTV for Hamilton: Stop the Bowdoin running game...Force Boel to throw...Play much better defense than a year ago. Overview: We think Bowdoin has better personnel than the Conts...We expect the Continental defense to be one of the worst in the League and despite the long ride for the Polars, they get the win in Clinton.

Bowdoin 34 Hamilton 14
Point Spread: Bowdoin -10 
Weather (courtesy of The Weather Channel): Considerable clouds early. Clouds decrease later in the day. High of 70.

[Nescacman]

Amhurst College at Middlebury College: First game of the HCOF Mandigo era at Middlebury...one word describes Middlebury, "solid"...Formerly a marquis match-up...We are very curious to see what HCOF Mills does to ignite the offense...Not a great draw for Amhurst; on the road against a new HCOF trying to prove something...KTV for Amhurst: Get some production out of their offense, which was woeful in 2022 and let their typically good defense dictate the game. KTV for Middlebury: Get QB Kennon going after tossing 24 TDs in 6 games last year...Will be interesting to see how the running game performs with Maldjian's back after missing all of '21 and only playing in 2 games last year. Overview: Score 14 points and the Pants win...We give the big edge to Middlebury at home.

Middlebury 24 Amhurst 7 
Point Spread: Middlebury -10
Weather: Cloudy. High 65.

[Nescacman]

Colby College at Williams College: Really interesting game #1 as we see a changing of the guard at QB for both teams...As noted, we are believers in the Mules defense, not so much in the offense...Williams will try to ground and pound with Dickinson and Fischetti leading the way...KTV for Colby: Stop the Williams running game and force them to throw...Try to get an early lead to instill some confidence...Establish some semblance of an offensive attack. KTV for Williams: Safe short passes (as few as possible) to instill confidence for the returning QB...Run the ball effectively to eat up the clock. Overview: We expect a close game with the home team winning.

Williams 17 Colby 14
Point Spread: Williams -3
Weather: Overcast. High of 69.

[lumbercat]

Colby beats Williams

[Nescacman]

Wesleyan University at UBates (Lewiston Campus): We love that a new rivalry has developed outside of the typical NESCAC rivalries formed as a result of geography and history...Cards Alum and former Wes Coach HCOF Coyne faces off against his friend Coach Dice in a Friday night tiel in Lewiston (thanks Hurricane Lee!)...Wesleyan loses (or as Charlie says, "looses") marquis talent but still returns 15 starters and All-League kicker Daniel Yoon (back from a 2022 injury)...Meanwhile, UBates starts 8 first year players...Players to watch include new Wes TB Ezrea Jenifer (can UBates tackle him?) and UBates QB Colton Bosselait (can he cut down on the league leading INTs?)...KTV for UBates: Try to slow things down to give new players time to acclimate to the college game...Run the ball to kill the block and avoid turnovers...Don't give up the big play to one of the more explosive NESCAC offenses in recent years...KTV for Wesleyan: Get the ball to their playmakers and let them do their thing...Avoid penalties and turnovers. Overview: We think Wesleyan's experience and talent will win out. UBates will have their day, just not in 2023.

Wesleyan 28 UBates 10
Point Spread: Wesleyan -14
Weather: Cloudy, showers developing late. Low of 56.

[Nescacman]

NESCAC Game of the Week

Tufts University at Hartford State College: 2022 #1 ranked offense (Tufts) against the 2022 #1 defense (Hartford State)....Bants are the pre-season favorite to win the NESCAC...Bants won last year's contest at Ellis Oval by 3...We believe that Tufts can keep up with Hartford State offensively, but can their defense stop Fetter, Clapp, and the high powered, experienced Hartford State offense? Hartford loses a lot of talent on defense, but HCOF Devanney has a track record of reloading so we will give them the benefit of the doubt...KTV for Hartford State: Pick-up where they left off in 2022...Stop Berluti and the Tufts offense....The Hartford State offense should be able to put up points on the usually suspect Jumbo's defense...KTV for Tufts: Defense has to play much better than 2022 for the Jumbo's to have any shot in this game...Pressure and hit QB Fetter, which he does not seem to like. Overview: Big test for both teams to start the season. Could come down to turnovers and specials. We give Hartford State the edge in what could be a shoot-out. 

Hartford State 31 Tufts 27   
Point Spread: Hartford State -3
Weather: Overcast. High of 75.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2023 Season: 0-0
2022 Season: 31-14
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: 292-93 (.758 winning percentage)

Follow us on Twitter @realnescacman

[Nescacman]

Meanwhile, back at UBates (Lewiston Campus):

https://x.com/batessports/status/1702442814447984936?s=61&t=iUdAuRfh_FBxr6PUc6Q-fA

[Charlie]

JV Game

Trinity (JV) will be playing Tufts (JV) this Sunday in a JV game at Trinity game time is 1:00 pm not sure how the game will be played or if it is a controlled scrimmage.

I do not know what grade levels are playing in this game suspect third and fourth depth chart players.

Is this for sure Charlie??  What level of confidence is your "source"?.....

Seems unusual...

No this is confirmed but the game is in fact against Wesleyan not Tufts at Trinity Sunday 1:00 pm. Both JV teams

[nescac1]

That Bates link from Nescacman is awesome.

[Scoops]

With the hurricane time change, does anyone else feel like this Wesleyan/Bates game has all the makings of a week 1 upset? Wes has a penchant for playing down to their opponents, and being undisciplined in recent years. With the sudden change, new look rosters on both sides, and road night game atmosphere, I can't help but feel like the Cards are walking into a buzzsaw tonight. Would be a story book way to start off year 2 of the Coyne era in Lewiston.

[GroundandPound]

https://athletics.amherst.edu/sports/football/roster

NESCAC Football starts tonight, and Amherst plays tomorrow.
The Amherst 2023 Football Roster may be published before the season is over, or it may not.

[nescac1]

Perhaps the roster is delayed while in transit via Uber. 

[BantomBerry]

Hello fellow Bantam fans and welcome back to another football season! I hope you're as excited as I am for another Trinity football season!!!
As I'm sure you're aware, we will be honoring the legendary coach Don Miller at the game as the " 'ole ball coach" turns 90! It goes without saying that Coach Miller lives and breathes Trinity football. I have been discussing some options to honor Coach in a way that only us Bantamaniacs can. Coach used to always say his defense was running around like "chickens (or bantams ) with their heads cut off". I think it would mean the world to coach if we all showed up with chicken headgear on for the game. Something like the one seen here https://www.amazon.com/Fuzzy-Chicken-Costume-Accessory-Yellow/dp/B07NPHJ48L/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3MIQ2B1VLTFYT&keywords=chicken+headpiece&qid=1694793964&sprefix=chicken+head%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-3
I know I've already got my headgear and will be wearing it proudly as we celebrate Coach Miller. Hope to see all you Bantamaniacs at the game! Go Trinity!

[GroundandPound]

https://nescacfootballreport.com/weekly-previews/
NESCAC FOOTBALL REPORT weekly preview posted

[lumbercat]

https://athletics.amherst.edu/sports/football/roster

NESCAC Football starts tonight, and Amherst plays tomorrow.
The Amherst 2023 Football Roster may be published before the season is over, or it may not.

Ironically current Amherst SID is a guy who spent many years at Williams. Since his departure from Williams the Ephs rosters are no longer among the last to be posted. Seems that's now an Amherst problem.
Maybe coincidence but just saying.