Fearful Forecast Ahead Of Week 3

 The Forecast went 5-2 last week with Patriot League teams responsible for the two losses.

Having watched Lafayette dominate Columbia, and given how Princeton stumbled against San Diego, it seemed to make sense to pick the Leopards over Princeton. The operative word in that sentence: seemed.

But rather than blame Lafayette, let's give credit to Princeton, which bounced back nicely from the collapse against San Diego in the opener.

Picking Holy Cross over Fordham also seemed the right play. There’s that word again.

Yes, the Crusaders were winless but they lost by just three points at FBS Northern Illinois, by three at New Hampshire on a field goal with no time left, and by two at then-No. 6 Rhode Island. OK, they didn’t play well at Yale, but of course they’d handle a Fordham team that had lost to FCS teams by 21, 23 and 23 points, and to Boston College by 56, right? Wrong.

There are five current or future Patriot League teams in games the Forecast is picking this week, and that’s making me nervous.

Columbia (1-1, 0-0) at Princeton (1-1, 0-0)

I really, really, really want to pick Columbia in this Friday night game, but I’m really, really, really not going to do it. Princeton 24, Columbia 21  

Rhode Island (3-1, 2-0) vs. Brown (1-1, 0-1)

Another Friday night game. Rhode Island is the No. 8 team in the nation in the Stats poll. Brown is not. Rhode Island 42, Brown 10

Yale (2-0, 1-0) at Lehigh (5-0, 2-0)

Take the Eli out of Lehigh and what do you have? Hgh. I’m sure there’s a joke in that. Yale 42, Hgh 38

Colgate (1-3, 10-0) at Cornell (0-2, 0-1)

 ‘Gate had a ridiculous early schedule but won handily the last time out. OK, it was against Fordham but look what Fordham did last week, right? Colgate 24, Cornell 14

Harvard (2-0, 1-0) at Holy Cross (0-5, 0-1)

Sometimes you’ve got to take a chance. This isn’t one of those times, but it’s tempting. Harvard 28, Holy Cross 21 

Villanova (2-2, 1-1) at UNH (3-2, 1-0)

Go with the Wildcats. What’s that? Which Wildcats? Villanova 28, New Hampshire 14

Sacred Heart (4-1) at Central Connecticut (2-3, 1-0)

Dartmouth found out Central Connecticut was pretty good last week. Central Connecticut will find out Sacred Heart is pretty good this week. Sacred Heart 35, Central Connecticut 28

Fordham  (1-4, 1-1) at Lafayette (3-2, 1-0)

Fordham is on a roll. One in a row. The Rams won’t make it two. Lafayette 42, Fordham 7

LAST WEEK

This BGA Guy Is A Genius

Predicted: Columbia 35, Georgetown 21

Actual: Columbia 19, Georgetown 10

Comment: Lions “O” hasn't kicked in.

Predicted: Yale 35, Cornell 14

Actual: Yale 41, Cornell 24

Comment: Spread was close.

Predicted: Lehigh 28, Penn  24

Actual: Lehigh 44, Penn 30

Comment: Game was closer than the final score.

Predicted: Harvard 31, Brown 21

Actual: Harvard 41, Brown 7

Comment: The convincing win in Week One was fool's gold.

Predicted: New Hampshire 42, Albany 14

Actual: New Hampshire 24, Albany 6

Comment: UNH took care of business.

This BGA Guy Is A Dolt

Predicted: Lafayette 38, Princeton  17

Actual: Princeton 38, Lafayette 28

Comment: Got the winning total right, the team wrong. 

Predicted: Holy Cross 44, Fordham 10

Actual: Fordham 26, Holy Cross 21

Comment: Sorry prediction of the week.

Last Week: 5-2 (.714)

Season to Date: 12-4 (.750)