CAA Forecast - William & Mary
Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 11:00 am
The Pluses:
1. 15 starters returning (8 Def + 7 Off), plus others who have started at times during the season.
2. 4 of the OL return, only the tackles are plus 300.
3. DL returns at full strength.
4. QB new, but experienced.
5. RB's are good.
6. Could win a number of other conferences.
The negatives:
1. The middle of the OL is < 300, and the word last year was that the OL was not very strong. Hopefully, their strength & conditionin program improved during the off season.
2. Both DE's are on the small side (Tracey 243 & Herbert 237).
3. Will only be as good as their running game. Very heavy burden on the OL, and will still have to outpoint teams to win. Very unlikely, they'll be able to shut the better teams down.
On to the schedule;
9/5 @ UVA - UVA's fanbase is very confident (over confident) that this game will be a cakewalk. UVA is not a very strong ACC team, and is very young. However, W&M does not appear to have the horses to run with UVA. That smallish def will get run over here. Tough to pick a score, but I'd say something like 27 - 10 UVA.
9/12 vs Central Connecticut State - CCSU has a lot to work out, and will run into a W&M team that's angrier than #@$%. 35 - 3 W&M.
9/19 @ Norfolk St. - In state rivalry games are always fun. W&M exercises their run and passing game, and breezes for another W, 31 - 13.
9/26 vs Delaware - Two years ago, UD came into Zable stadium, and set all kinds of records on opening night. W&M seeks to erase these demons and prove to the world that they are a contender in the CAA South. The W&M ground game runs over, through, and around UD for a convincing 28 - 17 win.
10/3 @ Villanova - The first game with one of the CAA South big boys. Nova's fast and aggressive def proves to be to quick for the W&M OL, and the Nova O wears down the W&M DL for a 38 - 21 Nova win.
10/10 @ Northeastern - Fired up from the previous week's loss, W&M takes it out on lowly NU. NU is in major rebuilding mode, and is worn down quickly. W&M 24 - 7.
10/17 Bye
10/24 vs JMU. This is the game that may very well decide if W&M makes the playoff. At this point W&M only has two losses on the season, one to a FBS team, the other to a ranked opponent. Win here, and W&M could be in the Catbird seat. Lose here, and it's a tough road ahead. JMU is also in Major Re-Build, but there's still a lot left in the cupboard. W&M had two weeks to prepare. Shaking my Magic 8 ball, and flipping a coin, I'm going with W&M in a close one 24 - 21.
10/31 @ URI. Riding last week's high, W&M does not dare let down @ URI. Feeling the playoff momentum beginnng to build, W&M wins going away 33 - 10.
11/7 vs Towson. Another must win for W&M. W&M dispatches TU who's in the middle of rebuilding for a 24 - 0 win.
11/14 vs New Hampshire. W&M stole one @ UNH in 08. Now in the comforts of Zable, W&M wins the home finale with the playoffs in sight 28 - 24.
11/21 @ Richmond. Season finale at the Defending Champs. Unfortunately for W&M the Spiders are not ready to give up their trophy yet. UR prevails 27 - 23.
Overall 8 - 3, CAA 6 - 2.
1. 15 starters returning (8 Def + 7 Off), plus others who have started at times during the season.
2. 4 of the OL return, only the tackles are plus 300.
3. DL returns at full strength.
4. QB new, but experienced.
5. RB's are good.
6. Could win a number of other conferences.
The negatives:
1. The middle of the OL is < 300, and the word last year was that the OL was not very strong. Hopefully, their strength & conditionin program improved during the off season.
2. Both DE's are on the small side (Tracey 243 & Herbert 237).
3. Will only be as good as their running game. Very heavy burden on the OL, and will still have to outpoint teams to win. Very unlikely, they'll be able to shut the better teams down.
On to the schedule;
9/5 @ UVA - UVA's fanbase is very confident (over confident) that this game will be a cakewalk. UVA is not a very strong ACC team, and is very young. However, W&M does not appear to have the horses to run with UVA. That smallish def will get run over here. Tough to pick a score, but I'd say something like 27 - 10 UVA.
9/12 vs Central Connecticut State - CCSU has a lot to work out, and will run into a W&M team that's angrier than #@$%. 35 - 3 W&M.
9/19 @ Norfolk St. - In state rivalry games are always fun. W&M exercises their run and passing game, and breezes for another W, 31 - 13.
9/26 vs Delaware - Two years ago, UD came into Zable stadium, and set all kinds of records on opening night. W&M seeks to erase these demons and prove to the world that they are a contender in the CAA South. The W&M ground game runs over, through, and around UD for a convincing 28 - 17 win.
10/3 @ Villanova - The first game with one of the CAA South big boys. Nova's fast and aggressive def proves to be to quick for the W&M OL, and the Nova O wears down the W&M DL for a 38 - 21 Nova win.
10/10 @ Northeastern - Fired up from the previous week's loss, W&M takes it out on lowly NU. NU is in major rebuilding mode, and is worn down quickly. W&M 24 - 7.
10/17 Bye
10/24 vs JMU. This is the game that may very well decide if W&M makes the playoff. At this point W&M only has two losses on the season, one to a FBS team, the other to a ranked opponent. Win here, and W&M could be in the Catbird seat. Lose here, and it's a tough road ahead. JMU is also in Major Re-Build, but there's still a lot left in the cupboard. W&M had two weeks to prepare. Shaking my Magic 8 ball, and flipping a coin, I'm going with W&M in a close one 24 - 21.
10/31 @ URI. Riding last week's high, W&M does not dare let down @ URI. Feeling the playoff momentum beginnng to build, W&M wins going away 33 - 10.
11/7 vs Towson. Another must win for W&M. W&M dispatches TU who's in the middle of rebuilding for a 24 - 0 win.
11/14 vs New Hampshire. W&M stole one @ UNH in 08. Now in the comforts of Zable, W&M wins the home finale with the playoffs in sight 28 - 24.
11/21 @ Richmond. Season finale at the Defending Champs. Unfortunately for W&M the Spiders are not ready to give up their trophy yet. UR prevails 27 - 23.
Overall 8 - 3, CAA 6 - 2.
