College Sports Journal Northeast Conference Previews: Week of 9/28/2019
A brand-new rivalry is spawned in the NEC and a league tilt between St. Francis (PA) and Bryant feature this week.
BYE: Sacred Heart, Central Connecticut State
Fearless Predictions
LIU (0-2) at Wagner (0-4), Saturday September 28th, 12:00 PM, Hameline Field, Staten Island, NY, ESPN3 (subscription req’d)
In the future this “Battle for the Best Borough”, or whatever this New York City Rivalry will be called, could be a great one. But for now, it’s a battle of winless teams. Wagner came close to upsetting UConn, then has struggled, though two of the losses were to FBS teams. I think that tough scheduling finally pays off for the Seahawks. Wagner 28, LIU 24
Merrimack (2-2) at Lehigh (0-3), Saturday September 28th, 12:30 PM, Murray Goodman Stadium, Patriot League Network
Read our game preview here and a full-blown breakdown of Merrimack here. Lehigh can win this game – in fact, really, need to win this game – if they match Merrimack’s motor and execution, which they’ve shown in two lopsided wins over sub-D-I competition and a furious rally against Central Connecticut State. The Warriors will be a stern test for the Mountain Hawks in a game that could go either way. Lehigh 34, Merrimack 27
Saint Francis (PA) (2-2) at Bryant (0-4), Saturday September 28th, 1:00 PM, Beirne Stadium, Smithfield, RI, NEC Front Row
The Red Flash should be too much for a Bryant team that has struggled in the post-James Perry era. St. Francis (PA) 31, Bryant 22
Duquesne (2-1) at New Hampshire (1-2) Saturday September 28th, 1:00 PM, Wildcat Stadium, Durham, NH, NBC Sports Boston, FLO Sports ($$/subscription req’d)
New Hampshire was able to get past Rhode Island last week for their first victory of the season. Duquesne has proven they can beat CAA teams with a playoff win at Towson last year. The “other” Dukes get the best of the Wildcats this week behind a big game from AJ Hines. Duquesne 24, New Hampshire 22
Robert Morris at Youngstown State | Youngstown, Ohio • 6 p.m. ET [ESPN+/ESPN+ (subscription req’d)]
The Penguins will role in this one and head into MVFC on a high note. YSU 38 RMU 10
Chuck has been writing about Lehigh football since the dawn of the internet, or perhaps it only seems like it. He’s executive editor of the College Sports Journal and has also written a book, The Rivalry: How Two Schools Started the Most Played College Football Series.
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