JMUSB Game Preview #4: JMU Travels Beyond the Wall

So about that old anti-FBS argument about the CAA’s cozy little footprint…just kidding. But seriously, trips to Orono, Maine have never been easy on the Dukes. Noon starts after that much travel are never easy for any team. And noon starts after that much travel when the host is coming off a bye is a special level of torture the CAA just loves to reserve for “the mob at JMU.”

The Basics

JMU (2-1, 0-0 CAA) at Maine (0-2, 0-0 CAA) High Noon Saturday, Harold Alfond Sports Stadium, Orono, Maine.

Weather: Sunny, a very crisp 60 (morning low of 39!), and a 12 mph breeze outta Canada. Should be quite a pleasant change from last weekend’s third level of hell.

TV: American Sports Network. So this is the first ASN-produced game of the year and you’ll have to trust us on two things. One, it’s on your guide somewhere. Two, it’s on a spot on your guide that you have never ever ever noticed college football before and there is no consistency between markets as to where on your guide the game is located. Just look around or try and decipher the explanation on the Black Bears’ website.

How the Black Bears Can Win

Ride the momentum of their new era (new coaching staff, new pro-tailgating gameday policies), the extra week of preparation the CAA seems intent on screwing the Dukes with, and take advantage of a team on an 800 mile trip with a noon start to a lead and then find a way to slow JMU down enough in the second half to set up a repeat of one of the more heartbreaking finishes in Dukes history (you know the 2-pt. conversion we’re talking about, ugh).

Also, don’t let the Bears’ 0-2 record deceive you. They’ve played two FBS games, albeit against Toledo and UConn teams the Dukes may very well have beaten, but it’s hard to know any more about Maine’s overall quality from those two games than it is from the three contests the Dukes have played against two crappy teams and UNC. Maine almost pulled it off against UConn too, falling only 24-21. Senior LB Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga has had huge numbers in both games and leads an always tough Maine Defense. He’s going to need to equal his 12 tackles per game or more likely exceed that with more help from his teammates to shut down the Dukes’ running game, but the Black Bears are always a hard-nosed group capable of mucking up a game, slowing the clock down and generally ruining your day.

How JMU Can Win

Get off the plane ready to play, warm up as if it’s 50k plus at UNC not 7k plus in Nova Scotia, and do their damn jobs. It’s really that simple. Look, Maine is legit CAA competition with two weeks to prepare and 15 returning starters, but what we’ve seen from the Dukes so far makes us believe that if JMU plays its best, they should win this game going away. Defensively, JMU needs to find a pass rush and stop looking into the backfield, thus making itself susceptible to trick plays that have hurt the Dukes, both recently and historically against this particular opponent. Offensively, just keep hammering away and running your stuff. With two weeks to prepare, Maine is almost certain to stack the box against JMU’s fearsome run game so this may be the perfect time to start fully employing the services of the talented and extremely deep receiving corps. Alls, Davis, Hyman?, Ravenel, Kloos, Domo, etc. Spread it around and see what happens if Maine dares you to do so.

Beer of the Week

Maine Beer Company’s “Zoe” Amber Ale – Pretty sure we’ve highlighted Maine Beer Co.’s “Lunch” IPA before and there would be nothing at all wrong with Lunch for a noon kick, but a barely-60-degree day in Maine in October is a reminder we live in the South and that in a few weeks we’ll get to enjoy sweatshirt weather ourselves and sets itself up perfectly for Fall’s best style, the Amber Ale (what, you thought we’d give in and allow for a certain gourd in our beer?! You know us better than that mushy nonsense).

Official JMUSB Prediction

Dukes 42, Black Bears 27 – This is going to be the first true four-quarter tussle JMU will have played, but if the Dukes can avoid turnovers and play their games, they can pull away in the second half. We respect Maine, and in general we believe the CAA is deep in an old-school kind of way this year, but we also – for the moment – truly believe Coach Houston and his staff is capable of doing more with the talent advantage JMU has enjoyed for a decade plus than either of his predecessors and this is the first week to show it! Rootin’