JMU Dukes v. New Hampshire Wildcats Preview
Before we get to football, we need to throw in a quick plug for another badassed JMU squad. The Women’s Soccer team won the CAA’s regular season title and with it earned the opportunity to host the CAA tournament this weekend. They kick off Friday in semi-final action at the fantastic new University Park at 6 p.m. If you aren’t in C’ville or the Convo for hoops, make sure you get out to support! And definitely keep an eye out for the final on Sunday if they win tomorrow!
Feed the Beast, this team can’t stop him!
Alright, on to football.
The Basics
The Dukes have not won a road game all year. Let that sink in before we all get fired up after last week’s win. And just like last week, this week’s Wildcats are playing for their playoff lives at 3-2 just like the Dukes in the CAA. At 4-4 overall, UNH’s best-in-FCS playoff streak is basically on life support already with four losses, especially since they only play 11 games this year while most teams play 12. So really this amounts to an elimination game again.
UNH is always tough at home, and generally plays close games. None of their losses (Central Michigan, Lehigh, Towson and W&M) are terrible and like the Dukes, their best win was over Villanova at home (a game in which they converted a 2-pointer for the win after blowing a big lead late). Last week, like the Dukes they were completely shut down at William & Mary, only they were actually shutout 17-0.
Unlike past UNH teams, this one is not quite as high-flying and is more balanced in terms of run/pass than we’re used to seeing from them. However, just like past UNH teams, they’re suspect on defense – and this year that comes complete with poor tackling. Wildcats have actually never tackled well, but have always created big plays on D and the Dukes will need to protect the ball.
What’s at Stake for the Dukes
Simply their playoff lives in all likelihood. But find a way to win a road game here in the weak high school stadium in Durham, NH (i.e. nowheresville, USA) and the possibilities will really open up for them with Stony Brook coming to the ‘Burg next week. Beyond that, wouldn’t it be nice to get the road monkey off their backs, stop the yo-yo season, and build some momentum.
Coverage
This one kicks off at 12:30 p.m. as the national television game on NBCSportsNetwork. No game preceding the Dukes, so you won’t even have to “join in progress” like some places did last week. We’ve actually gone bona fide this week and worked with the actual JMU Alumni Association chapter (in our case the MetroDukes) on a viewing party. I’ll be coordinating the first-ever Falls Church gathering at Dogwood Tavern so stop by, say hi, and join us to root! (Note: weather permitting, we’re going to take over the new roof deck/terrace thing, so be prepared). MetroDukes are also continuing the great new viewing party at Penn Social for you younger, hipper folks downtown (younger and hipper covers everyone reading this in all likelihood relative to us). If you know of other locations, let us know in the comments.
Beer of the Week
After the desperation and excess of Homecoming last week, even though we want something that will stand up to a cold New Hampshire mid-November day, we’re going to bring this back to something sensible. Something with actual flavor, but still capable of sessioning for an early kickoff. You can never go wrong with Stone Pale Ale. Yes, Stone goes nuts with some of their more adventurous offerings, but this is a GREAT example of a traditional Pale that’s one step removed from the original Sierra.
Prediction
Dukes 31, Wildcats 21 – Repeat of last week, this time on the road, and we are rolling!
Those of you in the Charlotte area I’ll be setting up shop at Dillinger’s – corner of 6th and Church streets uptown
Looking at about 45 degrees and sunny at kickoff. Not bad for Canada, eh?
Dukes defense shuts down wildcats for second week in a row.
Dukes 31
UNH 10
Doughnuts at Tim Hortons post-game.
The Baltimore watch party is at Todd Connors in fells point.
Any prediction contest this week?
Sorry Cory, work/life got in the way this week and we couldn’t get to the prediction contest. (Also, the N’Sync thing took off so much we didn’t want to post over top of it since all of our wives’ friends were finally checking out the site ;))
We might bring it back for the last two weeks, but hoping we’ll have three straight games to plan attendance for!
N’Sync and JT are always more important! Here’s hoping we have to make picks through to January. 35-27 Dukes this week though (I’m only posting it so I don’t forget later)
Once I initially commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now
each time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the identical comment.
Is there any manner you can remove me from that service?
Thanks!
This eBook instructs men methods to look and act confident.
What’s up mates, how is all, and what you would like to say
about this article, in my view its really awesome in support
of me.
If you would like to ditch that annoying double chin, you’re going to need to make some modifications within your eating habits.
Most of these exercises work through toning and strengthening your pelvic area,
stimulating the nerves in the coccyx tailbone area and easing the pain.
If you purchase for it now, it will surely
be available 30 or 40 years later. Corn is among the more well-liked sources of this nutrient, with soybeans.
But what about the rest of us who prefer to get rid of the double chin once and
for all.
After I initially commented I seem to have clicked
the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on whenever a comment is
added I get 4 emails with the exact same comment.
Is there a means you are able to remove me from that service?
Cheers!
I blog quite often and I genuinely appreciate your content.
Your article has truly peaked my interest. I will take a note of your blog and keep checking for new details
about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.
Hey There. I found your blog the use of msn. This is an extremely neatly written article.
I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read
more of your helpful information. Thank you for the post.
I’ll definitely return.
Nice post. I was checking continuously this weblog and I’m impressed!
Extremely useful information specially the remaining phase 🙂 I handle
such info a lot. I used to be seeking this particular information for a long time.
Thanks and best of luck.