Northern Exposure

Memorial Field

Columbia Lions (4-1) at Dartmouth Big Green (5-0)

October 22, 2021 

Kickoff: 6:00pm

Memorial Field

Gametime Weather Forecast: 59 degrees and cloudy

The Line: Dartmouth is favored by 17 1/2 points

TV/Radio: The game is nationally televised on ESPNU

Columbia Game Notes

Dartmouth Game Notes

Leading Storylines

1) Dartmouth is a big favorite as its defense hasn't missed a beat despite some key graduations, and running QB Nick Howard is actually looking better than his predecessor Jared Gerbino in that role. Meanwhile the passing QB Derek Kyler is showing the same surgeon-like accuracy as he did in 2019. This may be a much better overall team than even the Princeton squad Columbia faced three weeks ago. 

2) Much of the 17 1/2 point spread may be coming from the fact that fans may be thinking of the Friday night game in Hanover in 2019 when Dartmouth crushed the Lions 59-24. But this is a very different Columbia team that sure seems a lot better than the 2019 version. 

3) There's a lot of talk about Dartmouth "looking ahead" to the Big Green's potential 1st place showdown with Harvard next week. I doubt there's anything like that going on, but you never know. 

Columbia Players to Watch

-Senior RB Dante Miller is obviously atop this list after two monster games in a row. Columbia will either have to get bigtime production from him again, or use the threat of him to get easier yards elsewhere. That could provide some opportunities for fellow senior RB Ryan Young, who has been quiet lately as the Lions have taken on a series of teams with stronger defenses up the middle. 

-Senior DB Jordan Colbert is one of the players who will likely be asked to contain Howard. But LB's Scott Valentas and Justin Woodely will also be in that mix. 

-Sophomore QB Joe Green may find that this game is the first one where he has to carry the offense more than ever. He almost rose to that challenge against Princeton, but couldn't quite do it. 

Dartmouth Players to Watch

-Junior QB Nick Howard is really hard to bring down when he runs and he seems like a better passer than Gerbino ever was. 

-Senior RB Zack Bair is an underrated catalyst for Dartmouth's offense.

-Senior CB Isaiah Johnson is a true shutdown corner and should get drafted into the NFL. If you see a number of passes thrown his way, either Columbia is desperate or someone made a mistake.