CAA Forecast - Maine
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:13 pm
The Pluses:
1. 15 Starters returning (8 Off, 5 Def, & 2 St).
2. The "O" will be led by QB Brusko, and FB Turcotte.
3. New DC, Rossi, promoted from within knows the system
4. Really good recruiting class.
5. Good size on the O-Line with RT Barber 6'6 295, RG Shea 6'4 291, C Spearin 6'2 290, LG Howley 6'3 293, and LT Eastman 6'6 321.
The Negatives:
1. 08 was a Senior led team. That type of loss (Belcher & co) isn't made up in a year.
2. This year's Black Bears will be young in places and thin in others (WR).
3. TB position still up in the air.
The Schedule:
9/3 Thu vs St. Cloud. Warm-up game for the Black Bears. Won't bother with the score. Maine wins easily.
9/12 Sat @ Northeastern. Conference opener on the road against a weakend Northeastern squad. Maine wins going away 27 - 3.
9/19 Sat @ Albany. CAA vs NEC. Maine takes on the defending NEC champs and proves decisively that the Danes have not yet arrived. Maine dominates early on defense and runs the smaller Danes into the ground 42 - 13.
9/26 Sat @ Syracuse. I want to be a CAA HOMER and say that Maine pulls the upset, but the Cuse will have too much depth and win easily at home. Maine falls 13 - 27.
10/3 Sat vs Delaware. UD comes into Alfond Stadium with heralded PSU xfer, Pat Devlin looking to avenge last season's loss on TV to the Black Bears. But, the Black Bears will have none of it. The Bears defense pressure Devlin into some early TO's to seize control of the game and win at home 27 - 17.
10/10 Sat @ Hofstra. Maine travels to Long Island only to find a revamped and fired up Pride team. HU matches up well with the Bears, and catches the Bears in a surprise upset. HU 24 - Maine 21.
10/17 Sat vs Richmond. Stunned by the previous week's loss, Maine doesn't answer the bell when defending NC UR comes into town. Falling behind early, Maine fights back to 20 - 27. However time runs out as UR leaves with the victory.
10/24 Bye.
10/31 Sat. vs Massachusetts. UMass comes into Orono looking for redemption, and leaves without it. Maine out muscles UMass with a 23 - 16 win.
11/7 Sat. @ James Madison. In their only trip to Va to face a CAA South foe, the Bears run into Dukes team fired up to make the playoffs. Both teams in "Must Win" situations, only the Dukes want it more. The Bears leave with their tales between their legs suffering an embarrasing 45 - 17 loss to the Dukes.
11/14 Sat. vs Rhode Island. Facing the rebuilding Rams, the Bears jump on the visitors early enroute to a 27 - 10 win.
11/21 @ New Hampshire. In what some will consider a "Play-In" game (Again), UNH marches 80 yds in the final minute of play to come from behind and steal the game 21 - 20.
Overall: 6 - 5, CAA 4 - 4
1. 15 Starters returning (8 Off, 5 Def, & 2 St).
2. The "O" will be led by QB Brusko, and FB Turcotte.
3. New DC, Rossi, promoted from within knows the system
4. Really good recruiting class.
5. Good size on the O-Line with RT Barber 6'6 295, RG Shea 6'4 291, C Spearin 6'2 290, LG Howley 6'3 293, and LT Eastman 6'6 321.
The Negatives:
1. 08 was a Senior led team. That type of loss (Belcher & co) isn't made up in a year.
2. This year's Black Bears will be young in places and thin in others (WR).
3. TB position still up in the air.
The Schedule:
9/3 Thu vs St. Cloud. Warm-up game for the Black Bears. Won't bother with the score. Maine wins easily.
9/12 Sat @ Northeastern. Conference opener on the road against a weakend Northeastern squad. Maine wins going away 27 - 3.
9/19 Sat @ Albany. CAA vs NEC. Maine takes on the defending NEC champs and proves decisively that the Danes have not yet arrived. Maine dominates early on defense and runs the smaller Danes into the ground 42 - 13.
9/26 Sat @ Syracuse. I want to be a CAA HOMER and say that Maine pulls the upset, but the Cuse will have too much depth and win easily at home. Maine falls 13 - 27.
10/3 Sat vs Delaware. UD comes into Alfond Stadium with heralded PSU xfer, Pat Devlin looking to avenge last season's loss on TV to the Black Bears. But, the Black Bears will have none of it. The Bears defense pressure Devlin into some early TO's to seize control of the game and win at home 27 - 17.
10/10 Sat @ Hofstra. Maine travels to Long Island only to find a revamped and fired up Pride team. HU matches up well with the Bears, and catches the Bears in a surprise upset. HU 24 - Maine 21.
10/17 Sat vs Richmond. Stunned by the previous week's loss, Maine doesn't answer the bell when defending NC UR comes into town. Falling behind early, Maine fights back to 20 - 27. However time runs out as UR leaves with the victory.
10/24 Bye.
10/31 Sat. vs Massachusetts. UMass comes into Orono looking for redemption, and leaves without it. Maine out muscles UMass with a 23 - 16 win.
11/7 Sat. @ James Madison. In their only trip to Va to face a CAA South foe, the Bears run into Dukes team fired up to make the playoffs. Both teams in "Must Win" situations, only the Dukes want it more. The Bears leave with their tales between their legs suffering an embarrasing 45 - 17 loss to the Dukes.
11/14 Sat. vs Rhode Island. Facing the rebuilding Rams, the Bears jump on the visitors early enroute to a 27 - 10 win.
11/21 @ New Hampshire. In what some will consider a "Play-In" game (Again), UNH marches 80 yds in the final minute of play to come from behind and steal the game 21 - 20.
Overall: 6 - 5, CAA 4 - 4
