Things over in the Ivy League just got a whole lot more interesting after the dust had settled from Week 6 of the 2015 college football season, as the Yale Bulldogs failed their first true test of the year by being blown out by the Dartmouth Big Green.
Can Morgan Roberts and co. recover from the brutal loss by defeating the Maine Black Bears this coming Saturday? Read on as we take a closer look at this pivotal matchup involving one of the Ivy League’s most coveted programs. And to see what lies ahead for the preppy conference’s top dog, check out our preview for Harvard vs. Lafayette right after this.
Many critics had the Yale Bulldogs pegged as the Ivy League’s best shot at upending the Harvard Crimson’s long-running reign entering this season, but the team’s weaknesses were certainly exposed by the only other true challenger in the conference in the Dartmouth Big Green this past Saturday.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]After putting up over 457 yards and nearly 30 points per game this season, Yale’s once prolific offense crashed head first into Dartmouth’s imposing defense en route to the 35-3 rout.
Morgan Roberts completed just half of the 58 passes he threw on Saturday, finishing with 229 yards and three costly interceptions. Roberts could not find any groove to get to the end zone, turning wideout Michael Siragusa Jr.’s stellar afternoon into a lost cause (12 receptions for 132 yards).
The Bulldogs’ offense does not look as competent now as it did against the three middling teams that they have faced from this campaign, especially with the rest of the Ivy League cranking out points in bunches. The lack of a dependable running game hurts as well. The team is third-worst in the Ivy in points per game (23.0) and rushing yards per game (122.5). Roberts himself had four carries for a total loss of 25 yards and the team finished with just 32 rushing yards on 26 carries in the loss to Dartmouth.
Apart from having to regain and balance out the firepower that was found in each of the first three games of their season, the Bulldogs’ secondary also needs to step up big-time. The unit allowed the Big Green’s Dalyn Williams to throw for a career-high 435 yards on Saturday, and have now allowed the second-most passing yards allowed among their peers within the conference while only generating two picks so far this season.
Betting on the Maine Black Bears (2-3, 2-1 Colonial)
After losing to two non-conference teams, the Maine Black Bears kept their early season in high spirits with a solid 39-7 victory over the Albany Great Danes on Saturday for the team’s second win over a Colonial rival.
Two of Maine’s quarterbacks had stellar outings, but there should be no QB controversies stemming from the win. Rather, having two solid playmakers ready for the showdown with Yale this coming Saturday will have the team adapt much better in any scenario against the Bulldogs’ leaky pass defense.
Starting QB Dan Collins (21-for-28, 208 yards) had one passing and one rushing touchdown against Albany before making way for backup Drew Belcher in garbage time. Belcher then made the most out of his snaps by going 7-for-8 for 75 yards and a pair of TDs through the air to keep the Great Danes in the doghouse.
Both Collins and Belcher found plenty to love from a pair of their receivers, and both will be instrumental in dissecting the Bulldogs’ secondary this weekend. Micah Wright caught five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, while Jordan Dunn hauled in 11 for 97 more yards and a trip to the end zone of his own. The Black Bears’ running game was in full force as well against the Great Danes, racking up 186 yards on the ground with five rushers each gaining 20 or more yards.
Even better for Maine is that their outstanding run defense is still looking to be in great form, limiting Albany to just six first downs and six pitiful rushing yards on 22 carries. The team is currently the best in the Colonial League in run defense, allowing just 114.2 yards per contest. However, the Black Bears’ secondary is what the team needs the most against Yale’s dangerous passing game.
Forcing takeaways will be crucial to the team’s success against Roberts, who is coming off of a three-pick outing. Maine managed to intercept Albany on two occasions this past weekend, so their defensive backs appear primed to take on the challenge of guarding the Bulldogs’ streaky receivers.
Writer’s Prediction
Yale bounces back with a close 28-24 win.
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