Game Preview 11: JMU @ Richmond

Time for another Hoodie Sammy? Darn right it is.

Congrats JMU Nation! At long last, we’ve made it back to a big one! Not a flash-in-the-pan tourney win in a watered down year or a struggling for mediocrity and sneaking into a road playoff game at the end, but rather a building-through-the-season, slowly piling dormant fans back onto the bandwagon, grassroots big game. In case you haven’t noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven’t, this game more closely remembers the last great game of the Mickster’s heyday in this same city against this same crappy, carpetbagger-filled, “university.” Kick it to Scotty!

The Basics

Match-up: JMU Dukes (7-3, 4-2 CAA) vs. Poormond Ticks (7-3, 4-2 CAA)

The Line (for recreational purposes only): Richmond -4.5 (opened at Richmond -7, just thought you should know)

Location: Robins High School Stadium, West End, Richmond, Virginia

Kick-off: 12:30 on Saturday, November 15

Broadcast Options: NBC Sports Network (National Game), NO excuses for not watching this one if you can’t be there.

 How They Got Here

Poormond went on the road and laid an egg at Maine, losing 33-20. They were so full of themselves and sitting pretty after upsetting Villanova, it must be very humbling that so quickly they’re now 60 short minutes of purple hell away from begging they can hang onto the bubble.

JMU of course comes into this game riding a five game win streak. You know this, or at least you should. Last week Vad Lee and the offense did what Vad Lee and offense do. On the other side, the Defensive bus was 30 minutes late to Long Island, but managed to find their way to the field around halftime and shut out the Seawolves in the second, thus giving Vad and co. the chance to come back and take down another road victory.

What’s at Stake?

From a playoff standpoint, we’re not exactly sure what a loss means for either team. The Ticks still have William & Mary and they’ve already banked that ‘Nova win, but a loss here would only motivate the Tribe even more in the finale. For JMU, they’ll be seriously sweating out the final week while hopefully dismantling Elon if they can’t pull this out. But a win…oh, a win…a win will go a looooong way towards locking the Dukes into the field.

The Spatters (“RVA” Fake Accent) Will Win If

They manage to control the pace and force JMU to play from behind. Richmond’s whiny-assed little girlyman coach (by way of Liberty of course) doesn’t want JMU’s offense running 80+ plays and has said as much this week.  He’s also said he plans to have the officials come to his office to explain to them that they control the pace, not JMU’s offense, which is just bush league and has already been whining about holding. We’re really not sure when Rocco began channeling his inner K.C. Keeler, but screw them all.

The Dukes Will Win If

They keep Richmond guessing, spread the ball around, and keep it up tempo. Maybe more importantly, they need to play from ahead in this one. Richmond might be the second best defensive team we’ve seen in the CAA after Stony Brook, but needless to say, their offense is a whole lot more capable than the Seawolves were and the Dukes need to play this one from ahead ala Charlotte to feel good about this one. If Vad Lee is doing Vad Lee things, the running backs are finding holes, and multiple receivers are catching passes, it’s a lot for a defense to worry about. If JMU does those things Saturday, it should be able to break through and score. And if Sage Harold continues to go beast mode and the D plays like it did for must of last week’s game, they’ll keep points off the board. Especially if injured UR QB Strauss actually returns to the lineup like Coach Rocco says he will and ends up standing back there like a statue and getting rocked by Harold, Lee, Robinson, and company!  Like most JMU/UR games, and like almost all top-level CAA games, this one is likely to be very tight and it goes without saying a big turnover or a special teams play. On that note, just two words. On second thought, make it three words: Jimmy ‘effin Moreland!

JMUSB Beer of the Week

Flying Dog Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout. It’s a month that end in R and just about the start of the real Oyster season, so this solid stout made with Rappahannock River oysters is just about perfect for a little morning oyster roast. Flying Dog is not our all-time favorite on the whole, but this is a really fun beer this time of year and we’re huge fans of their little partnership with CAO cigars that’s offering a tasting pair with beer and cigars. Look for the pack and thank us later.

JMUSB Prediction

JMU 38 – Poormond 31. If that score rings a bell from more hallowed years of this rivalry, it should. The McGee is strong in Moreland and In Vad We Trust!

Bonus Links

The Purple Wave has made a special one-night-only appearance for the big Tick-squashing.

Old funny Richmond “Spatters” guy Sachmo is back! Love this guy.

Lastly, an early gift to the week thanks to the Hampton Pirates knocking off Bethune-Cookman and reducing the MEAC’s playoff possibles from 2/3 to 1/2, though we all know it should be a one-bid league!