UMass Minutemen (5-4, 3-3) vs. JMU Dukes (4-5, 2-4)
Nov. 14, 2009 - 12:00pm - Amherst, MA
Watch the game The Comcast Network
Weather Report
| Tailgating | 8am | 47° | 90% (precip) |
| Mid-tailgate | 10am | 51° | 70% |
| Getting into the stadium | 11am | 52° | 70% |
| Kickoff | 12pm | 53° | 70% |
| Game over | 3pm | 53° | 80% |
Line for the game
UMass by 4.5
Injuries
TB Griff Yancey (foot) and TB Lee Reynolds (ankle) are all out this week. LB Jamie Veney will be back this week. CB Taveion Cuffee (ankle) and LB Chase Williams will play, but not start.
The Numbers (game averages)
JMU Sagarin Strength of Schedule: 60.87 (124)
JMU Rushing Offense: 173 yds - UMass Rushing Defense: 112 yds
JMU Passing Offense: 150 yds - UMass Passing Defense: 173 yds
JMU Total Offense: 324 yds - UMass Total Defense: 285 yds
JMU Scoring Offense: 20 - UMass Scoring Defense: 19
JMU Sacks Allowed: 1.78 - UMass Sacks: 1.33
UMass Sagarin Strength of Schedule: 55.57 (148)
UMass Rushing Offense: 144 yds - JMU Rushing Defense: 132 yds
UMass Passing Offense: 240 yds - JMU Passing Defense: 162 yds
UMass Total Offense: 383 yds - JMU Total Defense: 295 yds
UMass Scoring Offense: 27 - JMU Scoring Defense: 20
UMass Sacks Allowed: 1.22 - JMU Sacks: 2.67
What to watch
Last week, JMU look decent, but not outstanding. They got by with turnovers, and that's about it. We obviously pulled back in the second half, but we still just couldn't get a consistent rhythm on offense. Also, after coming off an 8 sack performance against Delaware, the JMU defensive line got very little penetration against Maine.
On offense, the Dukes will have to try to make some passes. Bubble screens to Noble and Randolph, seam and slant passes to Caussin, and long passes where Rockeed can go up for the ball will be key tomorrow. The rain will make us hesitant to pass, but we really need to open up the running game and that won't happen if we stick on the ground. Thorpe has been building some confidence, so now it's time for him to go out and prove he can keep producing.
On defense, we're gonna need to put the pressure on. Havens, the UMass QB, has a bad habit of throwing to the other team, so it'll be the defense line's job to force him to throw it quick. The defensive backs will also have to be watching the ball and catch it if they get an opportunity. They're pretty solid in run and pass, but they are more likely to turn it over in the air, so make them pass it.
We're on an two-game win streak after losing against a few very good teams. UMass hasn't really beaten anyone other than an upset over UNH a few weeks ago. They looked great at the start of the year, sticking with Kansas State, soundly beating a few mid-tier FCS teams, but then got handled by Delaware and Richmond. It looks like this one will come down to who comes to play tomorrow.
The Series
The teams first met in 1986 with Massachusetts winning 16-14 at JMU on a late field goal. JMU won for the only time at Massachusetts in 1987 (21-15), and the teams tied 28-28 in Amherst in 1989. The 1989 tie is the last tied game in JMU history.
My Thoughts
This is a tough one to call. JMU hasn't won up there in a long time, and this just doesn't seem like this would be the year to do it. By why not? We broke the streak of losing at Delaware. The cold rain could mess us up, but if we throw the ball some and focus on winning the turnover battle, we might be able to pull off the win. UMass will be fighting to stay on the playoff bubble with only Hofstra left. We're fighting for a winning record (and maybe a long shot to be in playoff talks if you're really drinking the kool-aid).
Windbreaker prediction: JMU - 20, UMass - 17
Game Notes
JMU Game Notes
Score Updates
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And as always...
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