JMU v. Eastern Kentucky Playoff Preview

Hope reading that headline gave you all as much pleasure as it did for me writing it.  The long wait is over!  JMU playoff football is back.  Put all the crap aside and say it again: JMU playoff football is back.  Forget everything else that’s happened since Rodney Landers and the Dukes limped off the field in old Bridegforth on that cold December night three years ago after the loss to Montana and say it again: JMU playoff football is back.  Forget the opponent, the record, the nervous bubble watch,  the suspended star, the upset of Virginia Tech (ok, maybe don’t forget that), the Dudzik/Thorpe controversy, new Bridgeforth, even the webcam, and most of all forget bid-gate and say it again: JMU playoff football is back.  And the best news of all, besides the possibility of getting AJ Scott back on the O-Line of course, is that unless the last two Thorpe-led weeks were a mirage, the Dukes are finally firing on all cylinders and appear as primed for tough competition as they have at any point in the last three seasons.  Needless to say, we believe!

Sports Calendar Interlude

Before we get carried away with the preview, just a quick reminder of all the tasty dishes being served up by JMU sports this holiday weekend.  Men’s hoops has the rare good fortune to play two games in the legendary Palestra this weekend against an underrated Rider team today at 2 p.m. and Penn Saturday night at 7.  Good news for fans is both games are televised (CSN+ or MASN19 or something but consult your local listings).  And of course Sunday we’ve got soccer in the Sweet 16!  1 p.m. at UConn and if the Dukes win this one, there’s a very good chance they’ll be hosting (what a novel concept) the defending national champions Akron for the chance to go to the Final Four.

Also, we just wanted to link to a thread about all the viewing party options for the playoff game around the country.  This game may be on ESPNU, but in our opinion you’re really missing a rare opportunity for playoff atmosphere and general Dukes shenanigans if you don’t go watch this in a group setting.  If you stay home, your stupid-assed Ohio St. uncle is just going to piss you off making ignorant comments about 1-AA anyways.  Viewing parties seem to be coming together in Nova, Loudoun (not Nova), Richmond, the Burg, Charlottesville, Hampton Roads, Fredericksburg, NYC, San Diego (two in SD!), Phoenix, Philly, B’More, and Chicago so get out there and join your fellow Dukes in a little streamer throwing and annoying other bar patrons with a drunken rendition of the fight song!

Beer of the Week

As most of our frequent readers (we’re starting to think you may exist) know, we’re huge supporters of the JMU alum who started Port City Brewing in Alexandria.  And this week he’s provided kegs to Bailey’s in Ballston to offer $2 drafts for the Dukes playoff games.  So of course we’re choosing one of his beers.  That said, I got my first taste of Port City’s seasonal offering, Tidings, yesterday, and it’s definitely one of the most impressive efforts from these guys yet!  Think Mad Elf, just priced reasonably.  Enjoy!

Oh yeah, the preview

Finally, the game.  EKU will be lucky to have 10k in the stands and yes, the Ohio Valley Conference is on an 0-18 run in the playoffs, but the Colonels have a stud RB Denham who rushed for 1400 yards in only about nine games.  They hardly ever turn the ball over (most of their to’s were early in the season when their QB was effected by a broken hand).  The Colonels don’t have much in the way of a kicking game so look out for lots of going for it on 4th.  They also hung in with FBS powerhouse Kansas St. early in the season in a 10-7 loss so they’re not to be taken lightly (though to reenforce the point, K-St. had six turnovers that game).

Honestly, the matchup could not be better for the Dukes.  This is a power team and that plays into the Dukes strengths of running and stopping the run.  If JMU can hang onto the ball, we love the Dukes in this spot.  But this is the playoffs and no one will go away easily.  Our prediction is Dukes 31, Colonels 26.