{"id":8241,"date":"2015-12-03T21:57:34","date_gmt":"2015-12-04T02:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=8241"},"modified":"2015-12-03T21:57:34","modified_gmt":"2015-12-04T02:57:34","slug":"jmusb-playoff-game-1-preview-colgate-at-jmu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=8241","title":{"rendered":"JMUSB Playoff Game #1 Preview: Colgate at JMU"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dukes<\/a>

Dukes are finally wearing ALL purple this week. We approve!<\/p><\/div>\n

And so it begins. Thankfully this year it begins in the Round of 16 against a Patriot League team (sound familiar anyone?)<\/p>\n

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

Match-up: Colgate Raiders (8-4, 6-0 Patriot, beat UNH 27-20 in opening round) at #5 JMU Dukes (8-2, 5-2 CAA)<\/p>\n

Kickoff: 1:00 PM at Bridgeforth Stadium<\/p>\n

Weather:\u00a0Sunny, high of 55 – really couldn’t be a better December Saturday in the ‘Burg<\/p>\n

Broadcast: Streaming on ESPN3 and available on ESPN’s CollegeExtra at bars with DirecTV on Ch. 791 or thereabouts<\/p>\n

\"football_generic_091613\"<\/a>Tell Me About\u00a0Colgate<\/strong><\/p>\n

We actually know next to nothing about Colgate. JMU and Colgate have never met in football. Colgate and JMU have one common opponent this year in Lehigh, who the Raiders outgunned 49-42 late in the year. Colgate did make a run all the way to the title game in ’03 (the year before JMU won the title) but otherwise are just 2-8 (including last week and they do claim two national titles in 1916 and 1932) in the FCS playoffs all time. Colgate is located in New York, but you’d be excused for thinking PA. They are Patriot League, not Ivy, but they’re often mistaken themselves on that.\u00a0 Their helmet says simply ‘gate<\/em> and they were actually originally called Madison University before the school was renamed for an important contributor during the school’s early years (seems like this makes them morons, but we should all probably be thankful that happened or who knows what school we all would’ve attended). Eugene Robinson played there which is not cool. Coach Dan Hunt is in his second year after succeeding the legendary Dick Biddle (yes, that’s funny).<\/p>\n

How Colgate Can Win<\/strong><\/p>\n

Follow the pattern that allowed them to “upset” New Hampshire last week. Win the time of possession battle while still occasionally letting dual-threat QB Jake Melville make plays and turning punishing fireplug of a RB James Holland (think MJD) loose in the red zone. He had four rushing TD’s accounting for all of Colgate’s scoring last week. They also probably need to jump out to a big lead and hang on like last week as they almost wore down enough to give away a 27-6 lead late to UNH and again will be at a depth disadvantage. They’ve got to avoid falling behind and letting the Dukes’ pace take over and they’ll likely try to do so by pounding the ball as much as possible.<\/p>\n

How JMU Can Win<\/strong><\/p>\n

By\u00a0not beating themselves first and foremost. Protect the football, catch the ball in the return game, make the makeable kicks without getting them blocked, and tackle. Really just tackle and the rest will take of itself. Work on finding a rhythm on offense and commit as much as possible to stopping the run on the other side. A few big plays in the first half could make a huge difference. This one really feels like it has the potential to tip JMU’s way in a hurry if, and that’s a big IF, the Dukes play to their potential.<\/p>\n

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

Foothills Brewing’s Frostbite Black IPA. Tricky style that we love, but lots of people get wrong. Not these guys. Such a good combination of a beer that smells like good herb but has a lot more balance and substance than the IPA’s we usually get carried away with. This is the rare IPA that stout and porter people will really like.<\/p>\n

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

I’m sorry, but we’re in the spirit now and none of you attendance-complaining (hardcore fans + students = fine atmosphere so cool it), we-miss-Vad-too-much, we-can’t-defend naysayers are going to talk us out of it. JMU can still be great with Bryan Schor and with this defense. Stop overrating the FCS field and start thinking about the team that still has only scored under 38 points in a single game this season (24 in W over UD). They’ve scored 38 twice and 40+ eight times. Just think about that. Colgate is good. Colgate beat UNH fair and square and deserves respect. Colgate ain’t JMU. They’ve scored 30+ only three times this season. Settle down and root!<\/p>\n

Dukes 41, Raiders 27<\/p>\n