{"id":3176,"date":"2011-11-03T23:16:59","date_gmt":"2011-11-04T03:16:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=3176"},"modified":"2011-11-03T23:16:59","modified_gmt":"2011-11-04T03:16:59","slug":"jmu-travels-to-new-hampshire-in-huge-caa-showdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=3176","title":{"rendered":"JMU Travels to New Hampshire in Huge CAA Showdown!"},"content":{"rendered":"

How’s your faith?!\u00a0 Well for you cynics out there, I’ve only got one thing to say.\u00a0 In the immortal words of Bad Ass Billy Gunn, “Suck It!”\u00a0 (Is the first paragraph too early for me to point out the oft-overlooked fact that Ravishing Rick Rude\u00a0 had a brief career renaissance thanks to his “bodyguard” stint for Shawn Michaels during the first incarnation of DX?\u00a0 Didn’t think so.)<\/p>\n

The Dukes head to Durham, New Hampshire with their backs against the wall and a potential playoff berth hanging in the balance against the Wildcats this Saturday at noon.\u00a0 You can only catch the game online through UNH’s website <\/a>as a $9.95 pay per view so the old-school wrastlin’ tie-in just seemed like a natural fit.<\/p>\n

The Good<\/strong><\/p>\n

After losing three offensive linemen and DaeQuan Scott to injury in last week’s irritating loss, the Dukes got some good news this week as OG Matt Kraut and Scott have both returned to practice.\u00a0 Also, rFr Matt Cunningham, who’s now projected as the starter at LT, was pushing for playing time even before the injuries according to coaches so it’s possible after a week of practice to gel a little more, the dropoff on the OLine may not be nearly as severe as well feared after that hideous second half against ODU.\u00a0 On D, DE and JMUSB favorite DJ Bryant has had a somewhat shameful Twitter performance this week, but does seem to be progressing in the training room and there seems to be a decent chance he’ll be back as\u00a0well\u00a0to rush the passser.<\/p>\n

Weather in Durham is projected to be crisp, but sunny.\u00a0 Also, this will be JMU’s first trip to UNH since they installed FieldTurf in\u00a0’07.\u00a0 These two facts should shield JMU from the speed-crushing (and soul) conditions the Dukes have often encountered during November trips to New England.<\/p>\n

UNH has scored a ton of points this season (see The Bad), but their defense is butt-trifling.\u00a0 Yes, butt-trifling.\u00a0 They haven’t stopped anyone all year and have especially struggled the last three weeks against grind-it-out type opponents WM, URI, and UMass, even costing their offense precious time of possession and keeping the overall scores down.\u00a0 They only lost one of those three (WM), but needless to say, JMU’s offensive style lends itself to just the type of style that cramps the Wildcats’ style.<\/p>\n

The Bad<\/strong><\/p>\n

UNH can really score.\u00a0 Especially through the air on the arm of QB Kevin Decker.\u00a0 This has been true for years and we should expect nothing different this year.\u00a0 JMU’s defense has “struggled” against the pass.\u00a0 That said, last week’s performance was deceptive in that despite all of our frustrations, the Dukes did seem to make strides in this department and our guess is ODU had slightly better athletes than UNH.\u00a0 We’ll see this week.<\/p>\n

The Ugly<\/strong><\/p>\n

This game really may be the difference in making the playoffs or not.\u00a0 Mickey said this week he thought 2 out of 3 to get to 7-4, 5-3 CAA would get it done in his opinion, and it’s very tough to disagree.\u00a0 But losing this one would make it very difficult for the Dukes to finish higher than 5th in the CAA (Maine, Towson, ODU, UNH) and that would be a dicey proposition.\u00a0 As we said last Sunday, let’s all just let this thing play out before yellin’ and screamin’ but this one is HUGE.<\/p>\n

Another ugly thing is UNH’s kicking game!\u00a0 Kicker’s missed a few clutch kicks and just from looking at the drive charts, it looks like the ‘Cats coaches don’t have much faith outside of 30 yards on FG’s.\u00a0 This may be the first time all year the Dukes enter a game on at least an even playing field in this department and this could be huge.<\/p>\n

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Gotta love Virginia!<\/p><\/div>\n

JMUSB Beer of the Week<\/strong><\/p>\n

Desparate times call for desparate measures.\u00a0 This week calls for somethin’ a lil’ more serious.\u00a0 We’re going with Wasmund’s Single Malt Whisky from\u00a0Virginia’s own\u00a0Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, VA.\u00a0 You can get a sweet tour of this hidden gem most Saturday’s and this is exactly the kind of winter warmer you need to hunker down with in your shed so you don’t have to explain to the spouse, kids, and pets why you’re intently and maniacally yelling at your laptop.\u00a0 Tastes great with a cigar too.<\/p>\n

Prediction<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Predicting\u00a0late-season CAA football is like starting a land war in Asia.\u00a0 You just shouldn’t do it.\u00a0 But I’m tired of losing of our own contest and despite ALL the naysayers, Dukes take this one 27-21 as the offense controls the ball and the clock and limits UNH’s opportunities on offense.<\/p>\n