College Lacrosse is back and couldn’t come at a better time. The week between the super bowl is the Sunday scaries of the football season. A long long look into meaningless Sundays until August. We get started with a really good slate of games this year. Somebody must have read the blog last year bitching about the first game of the year being Bellarmine vs. Mercer. 14 games featuring some of the best of the best in the country.
Bucknell Vs. Mercer
These two kicked off Becknell’s season last year which ended in a 2 goal victory for Bucknell. This time the Bison are home and I think take the dub again. I love the over in this one (24.5). First game of the year we can expect some miscommunication on defense. Bucknell was held under 10 a few times against good competition last year. Going against an inferior team they seem to light up the board. I think Mercer is good enough to get to 9-10 goals here as well.
Navy vs. Mount. St. Mary’s
Navy came on pretty strong last year and had no business losing to MSM in their matchup last year. Both these teams don’t score a ton of goals and for that reason I think it will make it hard for Navy to cover this spread. Navy wins this game but MSM covers.
Ohio State vs. Air Force
Air Force is so boring it almost hurts. They always beat who they’re supposed to and always lose to who they’re supposed to. The Buckeyes also did this last year. They started off hot and then basically went win loss down the stretch of the season. If not for that Lightning Delay at Cornell last year the Buckeyes might still be playing. I think the addition of my boy Richie LaCalandra will help spark this offense early. I’m taking Ohio state with the spread.
Duke vs. Bellarmine
Thanks for coming out Bellarmine. Duke with the spread.
Marquette vs. Lindenwood
You would probably initially think a division 2 team coming and playing a division 1 team should have a spread of 10.5. LIU and Merrimack have shown us these teams can come in and be competitive pretty early on. Lindenwood was not a powerhouse like Merrimack was when they made the jump but they are still a solid team. Marquette STINKS, for that reason I’m taking the new kids on the block to cover.
Detroit Mercy vs. VMI
These two teams help round out the bottom of some of the worst teams in Division 1. I got cooked while coaching high school lacrosse 8 years ago too a couple of kids going to Detroit Mercy and for that reason I will always think they can score goals. I like them to win with the spread.
Rutgers vs. Marist
These two played a tight one last year in Marist’s first game. Rutgers went on to be one of the better teams in the country, Marist went on to a 1-6 in their next seven game record. They then went on a run and switched it and went 6-1 in their next 7 after that. Rutgers is by far the better team here but I don’t think my Comsewogue boy let them cover that 7.5 spread.
Hofstra vs. Merrimack
Maybe the worst game of the weekend? I think Merrimack wins outright. Watch this Hofstra team go out and beat Syracuse at home in a few weeks though.
Penn State vs. Lafayette
I’m still trying to figure out what the hell happened to Penn State in the last few years. The only thing that makes sense is that Covid claimed another victim and killed Penn State. Lafayette is another loveable loser at the bottom of the ranking in division 1. I think Penn State gets started on the right track and takes this one with the spread.
Maryland vs. Richmond
The defending national champs open up at home after losing idk like 100 first round draft picks? It doesn’t matter the Alabama equivalent isn’t about a rebuild there about the reload. As good as they are they did lose a ton of fire power. Richmond has proven year after year to have a top 10 defense under Coach Richards. For this reason I think Richmond covers and I love the under in this one.
Syracuse vs. Vermont
EVERYBODY seems to love Cuse in this game. Do people not remember last year? One of these teams won a playoff game last year, the other went on an 0-6 run down the stretch. I’m very excited to see 22 and 77 to play together but I’m taking the Catamounts to cover in this one.
Providence vs. Holy Cross
Coach Reppert is one of the best people you could ever hope to meet. He is also one of the best coaches in the country. Holy Cross has been horrible but I believe he is making strides. Providence also stinks but have proven to be a much better team then HC. Providence will win but HC will cover.
Denver vs. Utah
Coach T begins his last ride at home against the Utes. I think the team will be fired up all year and play better than their talent if that makes any sense. They are not the 90s tigers but I think this team will give it all and send Coach T out the right way (by playing as hard as they can). I think Denver wins this one but after the last few matchups I think it’s another close one. Utah covers.
Jacksonville vs. Hopkins
This is the game of the weekend for me. Jacksonville is on the rise after an incredible 2022 season. The Hopkins loss in their opener set them on fire and helped edge them over #2 Duke last year. The Dolphins have the Blue jays at their place this year under the lights. Give me Jacksonville all day in this one, 1.5 was way too low of a spread.
Any body looking to collect for taking my advice and losing this weekend can contact Ryan Stern. 631-655-7716
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