Spiders playoff hopes
hanging in the balance

If the University of Richmond wants to make the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, a victory over Massachusetts (2-1, 4-2) on Saturday is almost a necessity. The Spiders will be in Amherst, Mass., in the biggest game of the weekend.
UR (2-2, 4-3) has already dropped two conference games and a third one could put the Spiders in a precarious position for the playoffs. Getting in with three league losses has happened before, but it’s a relatively rare occurence.
Richmond’s appearance in postseason play could hinge on how many other CAA teams are invited to the 16-team tournament. Last year, five CAA teams crashed the party.
The last time UR suffered a last-second loss —bowing to Towson on the final play of the game last year—the Spiders rebounded with eight straight victories and reached the FCS semifinals.

Tribe back on track
for winning season

When William and Mary lost to Villanova two weeks ago, it appeared their chances of having a winning season might have disappeared. But last week’s 38-34 stunner over then No. 4 New Hampshire put the Tribe back in a favorable position.
That depends, to some degree, on how W&M (1-1, 3-2) fares against Delaware (0-2, 2-4). The Blue Hens come into this game as a desparate team. They’re already in a bad spot and another loss will elimnate them from any chance at making the playoffs.
A loss to Delaware wouldn’t neccessarily end the Tribe’s chances of a winning campaign, since their next three games are against lower-level CAA clubs, Rhode Island, Towson and Northeastern, with two of them at home.
W&M will likely need another stellar performance from QB Jake Phillips (12 TD passes) to beat the Hens, who have one of the stingiest defenses in the country. A win by the Tribe would have them talking playoffs.

Victory by Villanova
would set up showdown

If Villanova (2-0, 4-1), coming off a bye week, can get past Rhode Island (0-3, 2-5) at home—an excellent possibility—it would lead to a huge game the following weekend at Villanova.
Top-ranked James Madison (4-0, 6-1), riding a six-game winning streak and the only other unbeaten league team, visits the Wildcats in what appears to be the Dukes last real chance at a conference loss.
JMU’s final three games are against Delaware and William and Mary at home, followed by a visit to Towson. Winning out would make the Dukes the top seed in the playoffs and likely give them home field for the first three rounds of the playoffs. The final is in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Posted by John Packett in • College Sports • FCS
(0) Comments | Permalink