Week 8 Picks

 

I bounced back a bit last week by going 4-1 straight up and 3-2 against the spread. My season totals are 31-20 SU (.607) and 26-24-1 AGS (.520)

Princeton -2 at Dartmouth

This is a tough pick it what seems like it will be a low-scoring battle in the trenches. But the Big Green offense just doesn't seem like it can put up the points it will need to win.

Brown +7 1/2 vs. Yale

I like the Elis to win, but not cover. 

Penn -10 vs. Cornell

The Quakers will pull away late. 

Lafayette -16 1/2 vs. Colgate

The Leopards will crush the Raiders. 

Marist +7 1/2 vs. Drake

The Red Foxes bounce back with a win at home.

Ivy Power Rankings

 NOTICE: Due to the ongoing war on Israel and the Jewish people worldwide, my writing and analytic skills (such as they are) have been in constant demand since 10/7. One of the many, many regrets I have about all of these incidents is that I have less time to document the season on this blog and moderate the comments as much as I'd like. However, because I believe the fans' right to vent sadness and frustration in a peaceful way (albeit angry in virtual tone), I'm going to proceed with that light touch going forward)

1) Harvard

The past two weeks haven't made Harvard look nearly as good as the previous six. But the Crimson still have the most complete team in the league... barely.

2) Yale 

The Elis are still inconsistent, but have all the tools still in place.

3) Princeton

If the Tigers beat Dartmouth Friday night, then they'll have a strong case for the top spot a week from today.

4) Penn

Falling to Brown at home was a killer for the Quakers.

5) Dartmouth

The Big Green offense doesn't have enough punch to back up a strong D. 

6) Brown

The Bears finally picked up a key road Ivy win. But this is still too much of an inconsistent team. 

7) Cornell

The Big Red are a different team every week... pretty much like the rest of the teams in the Ivies

8) Columbia

The Lions are actually the only consistent team in the league this year. If only that were a good thing this time around. 

Flushed at the Bowl

Yale 35 Columbia 7

Why Yale Won

The Eli offense was efficient all day while the defense never lost control of the line of scrimmage either. Even some Yale turnovers never did much to hurt them.

Why Columbia Lost

The offense continued its season-long ineptitude, with the offensive line doing a particularly poor job at run blocking. Meanwhile, the Lion defense put in their worst performance of the year. 

Key Turning Points

-After Columbia went three-and-out on its opening possession, (thanks greatly to an under-thrown pass from QB Joe Green to WR Edan Stagg that would have gone for a big gainer or a TD if thrown accurately), Yale took over at its own 30. The Elis then marched down the field easily on a 10-play, 70-yard drive that included just two 3rd down plays. 

-With the score still 7-0 and 4:15 left in the 1st quarter, Yale began an even more impressive 75-yard TD drive on 13 plays that included a 4th down conversion. After that score, the competitive phase of the game was essentially over. 

Columbia Positives

-The Lions did not turn the ball over.

Columbia Negatives

-The Lion defense had no answers and seemingly made no adjustments to the more than dozen times Yale QB Nolan Grooms threw sideline screen passes for gain after gain. 

-The Lions offense was putrid, and did not even complete a pass until the 2nd quarter. 

Columbia MVP

-P William Hughes averaged 43.1 yards per punt and had some beauties during the day. 

The Disappointed Bowl

 

QB Nolan Grooms leads Yale... in rushing

Columbia Lions (2-4) vs. Yale Bulldogs (3-3)

October 28, 2023

Kickoff Time: 12 Noon

Yale Bowl

West Haven, Connecticut

Game Time Weather Forecast: 74 degrees and sunny

The Line: Columbia is a 9 1/2 point underdog

TV/Radio: The game will be streamed live on ESPN+

Columbia Game Notes

Yale Game Notes

Leading Story Lines

-Both teams come into this game as pretty strong disappointments for 2023. Yale was a massive preseason favorite to win the Ivies, but the Elis are just 3-3 and 1-2 in the Ivies. The Lions are 2-4 and have lost all three of their Ivy games in soul-crushing fashion. 

-Yale's season has faltered because of its weaker than expected defense. Columbia's season has taken a big hit from a subpar offense. One of these has to give tomorrow... maybe. 

-After weeks of rainy Saturdays, this game will not only be under a sunny sky but it will be hot. Will the radical weather change produce radically different results?

3 Lions to Watch

-RB Malcom Terry #6 may be the primary rusher for CU tomorrow against a Yale rushing defense that has not been consistent. 

-DE Justin Townsend #36 will likely be chasing Yale QB Nolan Grooms all day.

-PK Hugo Merry #98 will be playing in his first game ever at Yale Bowl; probably the toughest FG kicking venue in the Ivies.

3 Elis to Watch

-WR Mason Tipton #1 can do a lot of damage and he will look to shine in dry weather.

-LT Jonathan Mendoza #76 is taking over that vital position now that NFL draft prospect Kiran Amegadjie is out for the season with an injury. Will Grooms be able to adjust?

-DE Clay Patterson #97 is considered one of the best pass rushers in the league. 

Week 7 Picks

I went a dismal 1-5 straight up and 2-4 against the spread last week. That brings my season totals to 27-19 SU (.586) and 23-22-1 AGS (.511)

Brown + 10 1/2 at Penn

The Quakers will win, but this will be a fun shootout 

Dartmouth +10 1/2 at Harvard

Some of what I saw from the Big Green vs. Columbia gives me pause, but I think they will be able to cover vs. the Crimson. Harvard still wins. 

Princeton +6 at Cornell

Inconsistent Big Red will lose. 

Lafayette -10 1/2 at Georgetown

Leopards keep rolling

Marist +13 at St. Thomas

The Red Foxes will keep it close in a loss.