COLGATE +200
Colgate hosts James Madison in the Div 1AA playoff Rd 16 game at 1pm EST tomorrow.
No goofy guarantees of a lock winner or anything, just letting you know that I've followed Colgate a bit this year, watched them play, and they are REALLY GOOD. Defensively, they are incredibly solid and hit really hard (especially their top linebacker). While not flashy on offense, they do have a decent running back, and a QB that handles the team well with some capable receivers.
Why do you get such a generous price of +200 ML or +6?
Well, for starters, Colgate plays in a powder puff conference with the likes of Lehigh, Lafayette, and Holy Cross among others, whereas James Madison comes from a powerhouse conference, and has made the 1-AA title game the last 2 years including winning it all 2 years ago (and beating mighty five time defending champ North Dakota St. in North Dakota on the way). HOWEVER ........................................ ...............................
James Madison is nowhere near as good this year as they were the last 2 years. Former offensive stars Bryan Schor (QB) and Marcus Marshall (RB)are gone,and their QB this year is Ben DiNucci. If you're wondering where you heard that name before, it's because he used to stink up the field playing QB at Pitt the last couple of years. And while Colgate has 6 lousy teams in their conference, they did beat all 6 by a combined score of 223-26. Colgate's only loss this year was at Army (who is a very good Div1 team this year) and actually held their own for much of the game.
Any common opponents this year?
Yes, there were 2. While common opponents are somewhat meaningless, they did both shut out William & Mary, and while Colgate went to New Hampshire and beat them 10-3, James Madison went to New Hampshire later in the year and suffered a 24-35 loss (6 turnovers probably had something to do with that).
Personally, I would have made Colgate -1, and expected anywhere from -3 to +3. James Madison opened at -1.5, shot up to -7.5, and came back to -6. Obviously, not much money is needed to move lines on games like this. With James Madison's past success and their playoff experience against a program that hasn't seen big games in a long time, it's understandable why many back James Madison, but the reality is, in my humble opinion, this years Colgate team is just as good, and perhaps even a little better then this years James Madison team.
In summary, I expect Colgate to play real hard and real tough in front of their 1,500 rabid home fans in somewhat chilly upstate NY, and while I have all the respect in the world for James Madison, and their program, I think Colgate is solid enough on both sides of the ball to give you a very competitive football game at a dynamite betting price. Hope I'm right and at least get a great game, no matter how it pans out in the end.
And oh by the way, if we (Colgate) beat James Madison tomorrow, we get to travel to North Dakota St. next week to try the #1 ranked and defending champ Bisons.
Colgate hosts James Madison in the Div 1AA playoff Rd 16 game at 1pm EST tomorrow.
No goofy guarantees of a lock winner or anything, just letting you know that I've followed Colgate a bit this year, watched them play, and they are REALLY GOOD. Defensively, they are incredibly solid and hit really hard (especially their top linebacker). While not flashy on offense, they do have a decent running back, and a QB that handles the team well with some capable receivers.
Why do you get such a generous price of +200 ML or +6?
Well, for starters, Colgate plays in a powder puff conference with the likes of Lehigh, Lafayette, and Holy Cross among others, whereas James Madison comes from a powerhouse conference, and has made the 1-AA title game the last 2 years including winning it all 2 years ago (and beating mighty five time defending champ North Dakota St. in North Dakota on the way). HOWEVER ........................................ ...............................
James Madison is nowhere near as good this year as they were the last 2 years. Former offensive stars Bryan Schor (QB) and Marcus Marshall (RB)are gone,and their QB this year is Ben DiNucci. If you're wondering where you heard that name before, it's because he used to stink up the field playing QB at Pitt the last couple of years. And while Colgate has 6 lousy teams in their conference, they did beat all 6 by a combined score of 223-26. Colgate's only loss this year was at Army (who is a very good Div1 team this year) and actually held their own for much of the game.
Any common opponents this year?
Yes, there were 2. While common opponents are somewhat meaningless, they did both shut out William & Mary, and while Colgate went to New Hampshire and beat them 10-3, James Madison went to New Hampshire later in the year and suffered a 24-35 loss (6 turnovers probably had something to do with that).
Personally, I would have made Colgate -1, and expected anywhere from -3 to +3. James Madison opened at -1.5, shot up to -7.5, and came back to -6. Obviously, not much money is needed to move lines on games like this. With James Madison's past success and their playoff experience against a program that hasn't seen big games in a long time, it's understandable why many back James Madison, but the reality is, in my humble opinion, this years Colgate team is just as good, and perhaps even a little better then this years James Madison team.
In summary, I expect Colgate to play real hard and real tough in front of their 1,500 rabid home fans in somewhat chilly upstate NY, and while I have all the respect in the world for James Madison, and their program, I think Colgate is solid enough on both sides of the ball to give you a very competitive football game at a dynamite betting price. Hope I'm right and at least get a great game, no matter how it pans out in the end.
And oh by the way, if we (Colgate) beat James Madison tomorrow, we get to travel to North Dakota St. next week to try the #1 ranked and defending champ Bisons.
