{"id":4455,"date":"2012-10-04T22:38:12","date_gmt":"2012-10-05T02:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=4455"},"modified":"2012-10-05T17:58:15","modified_gmt":"2012-10-05T21:58:15","slug":"towson-jmu-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=4455","title":{"rendered":"Towson @ JMU Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the bye week, it’s time to launch into meat of the CAA schedule as the defending conference champion Towson Tigers make their first visit to New Bridgeforth on Parent’s Weekend. \u00a0And in case you didn’t notice, Towson gave LSU all they could handle in Baton Rouge last week so this should be quite the measuring stick for the Dukes.<\/p>\n

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

Towson is a\u00a0very strong, balanced squad on offense. \u00a0Led by last year’s CAA Offensive ROY RB Terrance West and veteran QB Grant Enders, they can light up the scoreboard or grind through a time of possession battle. \u00a0Enders can sling it, but he’s a surprisingly slippery runner as well, and the JMU’s edge defenders will need to play with a discipline they haven’t been asked for JMU’s four mismatch games so far. \u00a0The defense is more questionable and hopefully the Dukes can find opportunities to exploit. \u00a0To do so, they’ll have to contain DT Frank Beltre, who makes a ton more plays than most interior DLinemen.<\/p>\n

Don’t be fooled by Towson’s 2-2 record. \u00a0The losses were the aforementioned LSU trip and at FBS Kent St. in Week 1. \u00a0They weren’t challenged either by St. Francis or W&M so it’s possible this will be the first true test for both teams. \u00a0Towson has a tough schedule the rest of the way and will need to win at least two of three against JMU\/ODU\/UNH to get to 7 wins so look for them to be plenty motivated.<\/p>\n

Parent’s Weekend\/Pink Out<\/strong><\/p>\n

While both of these items tend to mellow the football atmosphere at BFS, we’re feeling good this week and looking for silver linings: At least it’s been moved to 1 p.m. \u00a0instead of the old noon start for Parent’s Weekend for a bit more tailgating(we may be monitoring the situation, but at least we’re responding to game time requests); remember, Parent’s Weekend sells the extended JMU family on the continuously improving product; at least JMU is combining these two things into one week; and finally…<\/p>\n

…National TV on NBC Sports Network<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is JMU’s first action as part of the CAA’s new NATIONAL deal with NBC Sports Network. \u00a0From what we’ve heard, the network formerly known as Versus has been producing a program on par with the best in college football that blows away anything we’ve ever seen for a CAA broadcast! \u00a0Enjoy.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Beer of the Week<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s Parent’s Weekend, so bring something decent (or even better, see if they’ll spot you). \u00a0We’re going with Sculpin IPA from Ballast Point Brewing in San Diego. \u00a0A classic, tasty west coast IPA that seems to be available at most decent places back here in Virginia. \u00a0Big fan of Ballast Point as I also love the Big Eye IPA, but this tastes classier (probably because Big Eye has a pleasantly nostalgic aroma of other extracurricular substances no longer in my old-man life).<\/p>\n

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

Towson is really good, and we’re nervous that JMU hasn’t really played a meaningful game ALL SEASON, but not sure the Tigers have either. \u00a0They should be confident after the LSU trip, but that makes for a long week while the Dukes were getting healthier (though we’ll still be missing Till). \u00a0That said, we’re thinking the Dukes are ready to show they really are as good as we’ve all been hoping since NDSU last season and this is their first real chance to prove it.<\/p>\n

Dukes 34, Kittens 23<\/p>\n