{"id":9883,"date":"2017-11-03T13:05:52","date_gmt":"2017-11-03T17:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=9883"},"modified":"2017-11-03T13:05:52","modified_gmt":"2017-11-03T17:05:52","slug":"jmusb-game-preview-9-jmu-rhode-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=9883","title":{"rendered":"JMUSB Game Preview #9: JMU @ Rhode Island"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ah, remember this guy?! Hopefully we get a similar hard-hitting affair this weekend.<\/p><\/div>\n

Apologies for the tardiness of this post. Life and technology got in the way last night, but we wouldn’t miss a preview, even when it is an untelevised trip to Kingston. The Dukes make their first trip in quite a few years to CAA Football’s afterthought, Kingston, Rhode Island this weekend for a matchup with the Rhody Rams.<\/p>\n

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

James Madison Dukes (8-0, 5-0 CAA) at Rhode Island Rams (2-6, 1-4 CAA), Noon Saturday, Meade Stadium, Kingston, RI<\/p>\n

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 54 degrees (really not all that bad for a November trip up there)<\/p>\n

Coverage: This does appear to be available on the pay-site College Sports Live here<\/a>. Don’t forget to call and cancel any subscription on Sunday if you order the broadcast.<\/p>\n

How Rhode Island Can Win<\/strong><\/p>\n

They can’t. If you want to imagine it in a humorous way, then you can read Chase Kiddy’s “Doomed Dukes” piece here<\/a>. But really, barring a MRSA outbreak in the locker room or the entire defense getting stuck in an elevator at the hotel, this ain’t gonna turn out well for the Rams. We’re sure they have some good players and we know they’ve climbed out of the lowlights reel that was last season with, relatively speaking, much more competitiveness this year. But nope.<\/p>\n

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

Wake up, get to the stadium on time, execute the plays the coaches call. Mainly, take the game seriously, get their work in, and hopefully get some much-needed time for some key reserves. And since the Rams defensive front is the strength of their team, if nothing else this should be a necessary challenge for JMU’s somewhat shaky running game.<\/p>\n

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

Deep River Brewing Company’s Happy Hooker Session India Pale Lager. Deep River, from Johnston County, NC, seems to come up with greatness or dreck with no in between. Despite too many overly adventurous fruit monstrosities, for a few years, their big IPL, Bitter Unicorn Tears, has been one of my favorite beers anywhere. But at over 7%, it wasn’t really a noon-kickoff tailgate special. Enter this new “session IPL,” Happy Hooker at a more family-friendly 5.5% ABV. And about that name, it’s not what you think. Rather it’s reference to the Rugby position of Hooker. Deep River is trying to develop the sport in North Carolina a portion of sales from this tasty beverage goes to support their local club and develop a rugby park in Johnston County.<\/p>\n

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

Dukes 42, Rams 14 – That’s half the points JMU put up at home in this matchup last year and double the points for Rhody that they scored last year. And it’s still a blowout. We’re thinking this is exactly what the doctor ordered for JMU’s offense to get back on track.<\/p>\n

Don’t Forget Field Hockey CAA Tourney Live Tonight (Friday) at 6 p.m. on CAA.TV<\/a>. Go Dukes!<\/strong><\/p>\n