2018 Yale Schedule and Analysis
So, to follow the lead of JMU and NDSU (even Marist)... why not have an analysis of the defending Ivy League football champions? (Red colored days are losses; black colored days are wins)
September
15 - Holy Cross - not sure about the Crusaders' chances now. Elis will get their first W here.
22 - Cornell - the Big Red are greatly improved (or slightly?). Close game, but Elis will still get the W.
29 - Maine - home opener for Yale this season. Elis will get win #3, but Black Bears will keep it close.
October
5 - Dartmouth - win #4.
13 - Mercer - will the scholarships and the tougher SOS of the Macon Bears' games played before this game put this game in their favor?
19 - Penn - no doubt about it... Elis will rebound.
27 - Columbia - tough game to call here. Toss-up.
November
3 - Brown - win no matter what
10 - Princeton - I'm afraid given the number of 2019 NFL Draft prospects the Tigers has, it may become well, another toss-up (depending on the injury situation of the Tigers by then)
17 - Harvard (Fenway Park) - can the Elis spoil the Fenway party of the Crimson? Who knows... Toss-up again.
Final predicted record - 8-2, 6-1 Ivy League
Re: 2018 Yale Schedule and Analysis
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bonarae
So, to follow the lead of JMU and NDSU (even Marist)... why not have an analysis of the defending Ivy League football champions? (Red colored days are losses; black colored days are wins)
September
15 - Holy Cross - not sure about the Crusaders' chances now. Elis will get their first W here.
22 - Cornell - the Big Red are greatly improved (or slightly?). Close game, but Elis will still get the W.
29 - Maine - home opener for Yale this season. Elis will get win #3, but Black Bears will keep it close.
October
5 - Dartmouth - win #4.
13 - Mercer - will the scholarships and the tougher SOS of the Macon Bears' games played before this game put this game in their favor?
19 - Penn - no doubt about it... Elis will rebound.
27 - Columbia - tough game to call here. Toss-up.
November
3 - Brown - win no matter what
10 - Princeton - I'm afraid given the number of 2019 NFL Draft prospects the Tigers has, it may become well, another toss-up (depending on the injury situation of the Tigers by then)
17 - Harvard (Fenway Park) - can the Elis spoil the Fenway party of the Crimson? Who knows... Toss-up again.
Final predicted record - 8-2, 6-1 Ivy League
Based on this and your Harvard analysis, you really think Cornell will improve and really think Dartmouth will regress.
Re: 2018 Yale Schedule and Analysis
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Go Green
Based on this and your Harvard analysis, you really think Cornell will improve and really think Dartmouth will regress.
I am not sure about both schools' progressions heading into fall camp. The first attempts for the schedule analysis of a few teams here were made this season.
Both are question marks though... xchinscratchx
Re: 2018 Yale Schedule and Analysis
Holy Cross goes into this season with a lot of ????'s.....could be dangerous for Yale though, as they will have played two games already and this will be the home openah for the Saders and new HC Chesney.
Re: 2018 Yale Schedule and Analysis
Yale should have no problem with Holy Cross. Historically Yale has dominated the series. This doesn't look like a year for a reversal of fortune with Holy Cross transitioning to a new coach and a new QB.
Yale could be surprised by a Cornell upset if they're not careful. Cornell is returning a lot of starters and they can be pretty tough at home, especially at homecoming. Same goes for Penn. I put both in the toss up category.
Reno loves the big OOC match-ups, so I expect Yale will beat Mercer and Maine. Reno must be tired of losing to Teevens so I expect Yale will trounce Dartmouth to excise themselves of years of heartbreak and frustration.
Reno is 4-2 against Bagnoli. With Columbia graduating their QB I expect Yale will easily handle Columbia. Same with Brown.
The Ivy League Championship will likely be decided by the Yale-Princeton game, who are the best two teams in the league when healthy. This however looks like Princeton's year.
Harvard will likely be distracted by hosting The Game at Fenway and a better prepared Yale team will win The Game for a third year in a row.
Final prediction: Yale will lose to either Cornell or Penn (but not both) and to Princeton. They will finish 8-2(5-2) in 2nd place behind Princeton.
Re: 2018 Yale Schedule and Analysis
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sader87
Holy Cross goes into this season with a lot of ????'s.....could be dangerous for Yale though, as they will have played two games already and this will be the home openah for the Saders and new HC Chesney.
On the other hand, the Crusaders will be rebounding from those tough 2018 season opening losses @Colgate and @BC with a very inexperienced roster that was ravaged by graduation. The H.C. 2017 season roster that was ravaged for 2018 lost to Yale 0-32.
By half time in 2017, the Eli had routed the Crusaders. The refs were looking to prevent injuries for the dazed crusaders in the 2nd half. Crusader bodies were saved. But longtime Head Coach Tom Gilmore was axed by Sunday morning.
Re: 2018 Yale Schedule and Analysis
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Son of Eli
Reno loves the big OOC match-ups, so I expect Yale will beat Mercer...
So, because the Head Coach ‘loves’ a certain type of game, Yale will beat Mercer? If we want to go with that metric as the primary variable, you should know that Mercer’s Head Coach was the starting QB when Furman beat Georgia Tech and NC State (2x) in 3 successive years. He also led a relatively young & highly inconsistent (Offensively) Mercer Team to within a few minutes of darn-near stealing one of those BIG OOC matchups from Auburn last year. When it comes to “loving” to win Big OOC games, his resume is pretty solid. So, let’s call that one a draw.
While I think Coaching is much Bigly-er at the FCS level than it is in FBS or the NFL, I still think this game will be determined by a few factors beyond what you’ve cited. I know Mercer lost 1 excellent OLman & 2 starting WR’s along with a couple of good LB’s & 1 workmanlike DL Starter, who ‘rolled’ with the backups A LOT. But, they return A TON of experience everywhere and possible talent upgrades in some of those areas mentioned. They also made an ‘intentional’ change at the OC spot, which I believe will address a lot of those consistency issues I mentioned.
I know Yale had an amazing season last year & I know they return their starting QB, top RB, and 2 starting OLmen. I counted among those 2 and the backups returning 22 starts on the OL. So, the new Starters there will be very green. I also know the OC/OL Coach took a HC job & Yale is on their 2nd Replacement Hired to Coach the OL - an individual who has never been THE OL Coach of any Team at any level, if I’m not mistaken. On D, I think the losses might even be a little heavier - most of the Secondary, several Starting DLmen, and an NFL Draft Pick LB (GO FALCONS!); one of 2 LB Starters lost, I think. I know the Top 5 Tacklers departed & I think it is something like 8 of the Top 12 or 14 Tacklers are not returning. Oh, I think the DB Coach & Special Teams Coodinator followed the OC/OL Coach. Not sure of the experience level of his replacement, but I think the Secondary will be very inexperienced also.
So...recognizing a couple of key skill players return on Offense, how does Yale replace the rest of the studs who graduated and key Coaches who departed and, who, I believe, brought the Eli’s their 1st outright IL title in 37 years?
Re: 2018 Yale Schedule and Analysis
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FUBeAR
So...recognizing a couple of key skill players return on Offense, how does Yale replace the rest of the studs who graduated and key Coaches who departed and, who, I believe, brought the Eli’s their 1st outright IL title in 37 years?
The Ivies have a reputation for being deep thinkers. But when it comes to football predictions, the analysis is pretty much "are you bringing your starting QB back?"
Hence, everyone thinks Yale will be the team to beat this year--just like everyone thought Princeton was the team to beat at this time last year. It's also why people think Dartmouth will take a step backwards, even though we're bringing back plenty of quality experience at the other 21 positions (ok, 20 positions given that our projected starting TE tore his ACL in spring practice).
Re: 2018 Yale Schedule and Analysis
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Go Green
The Ivies have a reputation for being deep thinkers. But when it comes to football predictions, the analysis is pretty much "are you bringing your starting QB back?"
Hence, everyone thinks Yale will be the team to beat this year--just like everyone thought Princeton was the team to beat at this time last year. It's also why people think Dartmouth will take a step backwards, even though we're bringing back plenty of quality experience at the other 21 positions (ok, 20 positions given that our projected starting TE tore his ACL in spring practice).
Ahhhh....thanks...got it...So, “Bears are more ferocious then Bulldogs; hence, we can expect a Mercer victory,” may also be considered thoughtful analysis among the Ivy Faithful. I feel ya. That’s the same logic I use to pick Western Illinois & Ave Maria U. to win their games if I haven’t done my homework.
BTW - I’m pulling for Cole Douglas to emerge as that triggerman for The Big Green. I don’t think that’s the way folks are thinking it’s gonna go right now, but I’m hoping for it nonetheless...he comes from good stock; despite the proclivity of that ‘stock’ to become bellhops. Cole proved he’s a cut above by making a sane & rational decision regarding his choice of a higher education institution. Love to see it work out for him on the field as well!
Re: 2018 Yale Schedule and Analysis
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FUBeAR
BTW - I’m pulling for Cole Douglas to emerge as that triggerman for The Big Green. I don’t think that’s the way folks are thinking it’s gonna go right now, but I’m hoping for it nonetheless...he comes from good stock; despite the proclivity of that ‘stock’ to become bellhops. Cole proved he’s a cut above by making a sane & rational decision regarding his choice of a higher education institution. Love to see it work out for him on the field as well!
It's anyone's guess as to who Dartmouth will start at QB. Unfortunately for Douglas, Dartmouth has some pretty good options. They are (in no particular order)--
1) The incumbent #2
2) The Wildcat QB who did plenty of damage with his legs last season and is trying to turn himself into a Tim Tebow-like QB
3) The athlete
4) The three-star transfer from the U. of Florida
5) The hotshot incoming freshman who had a couple of FBS offers
If Douglas can beat the above guys out, all power to him. We will see how training camp goes!