FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[bant551]

Beware of a Trinity let-down afte the Williams game against a very good Hamilton defense!

Don't let this happen Bants!  Don't expect to drop 40 on them just by stepping onto the field!

[Col. Partridge]

That's the kind of info the computers don't give me!  Any injury reports?

[Col. Partridge]

Home team in CAPS.

I'm taking all the home teams this week. 

FAVORITE   SPREAD   UNDERDOG TRINITY       15       Hamilton WESLEYAN   6.5       Colby WILLIAMS     10       Bates TUFTS          7        Bowdoin AMHERST      3        Middlebury

[fells]

The Amherst/Middlebury game as stated should be the game of the week. Both defenses are VERY tough, so it should be interesting to see how the offenses do.

I like what Middlebury is doing this season on the offensive end. They are throwing the ball more and have thrown a few wrinkles in. Their freshman quarterback Donald McKillop threw three TD passes to Andrew Matson last week and he makes much better decisions than you would expect from a freshman QB. The running game with David Randolph and Gary Cooper has been good as well.

Middlebury's defense is everything I expected this year. Erik Woodring has been outstanding as has Alex Buggy, Nathan Shreve, Brian Marcks and others.

Amherst of course has been deadly on defense, and their running game with NeSmith and Rauh is one of the best two headed monsters in Division III.

Last year's game was 7-3 Middlebury, this year I see Middlebury winning 10-3.

You can catch the game on the web at www.wfad1490.com. It will be the tag team of me, myself and I with the call.

[Trin9-0]

Home team in CAPS.

I'm taking all the home teams this week. 

FAVORITE   SPREAD   UNDERDOG TRINITY       15       Hamilton WESLEYAN   6.5       Colby WILLIAMS     10       Bates TUFTS          7        Bowdoin AMHERST      3        Middlebury

I agree that all the home teams will win outright, but with the spread I'll take Bowdoin. Nice job Capt. but only a 10 point spread for Williams - Bates? I'm not a gambling man, but if I were I'd bet the house on the Ephs at home. Any Bobcat fans think they can knock the Ephs to 0-3?

If Midd can show the same type of offensive production this week as they did against Wes and Colby then I may have to make some travel plans up to VT on the 27th.

[fells]

Home team in CAPS.

I'm taking all the home teams this week. 

FAVORITE   SPREAD   UNDERDOG TRINITY       15       Hamilton WESLEYAN   6.5       Colby WILLIAMS     10       Bates TUFTS          7        Bowdoin AMHERST      3        Middlebury

I agree that all the home teams will win outright, but with the spread I'll take Bowdoin. Nice job Capt. but only a 10 point spread for Williams - Bates? I'm not a gambling man, but if I were I'd bet the house on the Ephs at home. Any Bobcat fans think they can knock the Ephs to 0-3?

If Midd can show the same type of offensive production this week as they did against Wes and Colby then I may have to make some travel plans up to VT on the 27th.

If you head up to Middlebury, make sure you stop up to the press box and say hello. I would love to meet the man who knows all about Trinity.

[Col. Partridge]

Hamilton's defense might very well slow down Trinity's offense from peak production levels, but they can't seem to score points.

Speaking of teams that don't score points, I'd have Wesleyan beating Colby by more given Colby's performance this year..but the alma mater seems incapable of putting teams away early.  This week I am looking for Wes to cut down on the INTs and continue to establish the run.

Bates has played Williams tough in the recent past, that's why I had that spread a little on the close side.  Where are the Bates posters?  We had Bobcats Dad and the guy from Florida whose son was on the team...it would be good to hear from them.

I think Bowdoin is returning to earth and Tufts seems to be playing well so far this year.

I have the least amount of confidence around the Amhest pick.  If Middlebury can stuff the run, the Panthers may take this one.

[Trin9-0]

If you head up to Middlebury, make sure you stop up to the press box and say hello. I would love to meet the man who knows all about Trinity.

Only if I can get a halftime interview in the booth. OR an autographed 8x10 glossy of Butch!

[fells]

If you head up to Middlebury, make sure you stop up to the press box and say hello. I would love to meet the man who knows all about Trinity.

Only if I can get a halftime interview in the booth. OR an autographed 8x10 glossy of Butch!

I think I can arrange the former and not the latter. See ya in a couple of weeks.

[frank uible]

This year's Trinity team is the best of the last 8 years and possibly much before. It can shut out Hamilton without donning athletic supporters.

[Col. Partridge]

Wes beating Colby 12-7 at the half.  The only thing more frustrating than watching Wesleyan keep the Mules in this game is listening to the students on the webcast second-guess the coaches, as if they have any clue what they are talking about.

[Col. Partridge]

Wes won 23-14.  Middlebury held off Amherst...also looks like Bates gave Williams a game again (Ephs win game but don't cover).

[Ephmen1991]

I was at the Williams - Bates game last Saturday.  I'm not sure if it was the Trinity hangover or not but the first half was pretty ugly, especially seeing Bates run back a blocked FG attempt for a TD.  Second half was more like it.  Williams' receivers and backs do a nice job getting yards after a catch.

The Trinity game, whether win or lose, is always tough for Williams to bounce back from.

[cheerboyscheer]

Great to see Middlebury at 3-0 to start the season, especially considering the anti-panther bias that seems to plague this forum from time to time. 

The Panthers always have problems with the Ephs, however, so Saturday will definitely be a challenge for Coach Ritter and Company.   I am pretty sure that the last Panther win over Williams at home was in 1987, long before the new Alumni Stadium was even built.  Naturally, Trinity will be tough as well in a few weeks.

Fells, Enjoyed listening to your call of the game this weekend from Amherst.  Great work. 

[fells]

Great to see Middlebury at 3-0 to start the season, especially considering the anti-panther bias that seems to plague this forum from time to time. 

The Panthers always have problems with the Ephs, however, so Saturday will definitely be a challenge for Coach Ritter and Company.   I am pretty sure that the last Panther win over Williams at home was in 1987, long before the new Alumni Stadium was even built.  Naturally, Trinity will be tough as well in a few weeks.

Fells, Enjoyed listening to your call of the game this weekend from Amherst.  Great work. 

First off, thanks for your kind words. Doing games solo is always a challenge, so I am glad it sounded good.

As far as the game this weekend, this is going to be a good test for the Panthers. Pat Lucey is one of the best QB's, if not the best QB in the conference, and the passing attack will be unlike any that the Panthers have seen this season. Combine that with a solid running attack and the defense will be able to show that they are one of the better defenses in the conference.

On the offensive end for the Panthers, they will be facing one of the statistically weaker defenses in the conference. I think that if Williams does not turn the ball over like they did against Bowdoin, this will be one heck of a game. If they do turn the ball over, and they have the worst turnover ratio in the NESCAC, Middlebury will  take advantage and score points off their mistakes.

I really like how the Panthers look this season. Their offense is solid and the defense has been outstanding. McKillop is playing beyond his years and I have also been impressed with Gary Cooper who can fly. David Randolph had a pair of TD's against Amherst and he has really developed as the feature back.

Airtime at www.wfad1490.com and on ESPN 1490 in Middlebury is at 1:05 with the kickoff at 1:30.