UNH Football 2007 Schedule

Here it is:

9/8 @ James Madison
9/15 @ Marshall
9/22 Dartmouth
9/29 @ Richmond
10/6 Delaware
10/13 Iona
10/20 @ Hofstra
10/27 Rhode Island
11/3 Northeastern
11/10 @ UMass
11/17 Maine

I'm willing to tentatively slate Dartmouth and Iona as gimme, as I've seen both recently and neither are very good. I'm not sure there is a single gimme other than those two. Here is a very concise effort at breaking the schedule down:

9/8 @ JMU--While I hate having to travel to James Madison (we've been annihilated the last two times we've played them), I think this is the best time to play them. They are a pretty young (albeit talented) team, and their quarterback just graduated, meaning this will be the first game for the new guy. I think this is a game we win, and you're going to have a hard time talking me out of it. It'll be tough being away, but we're more experienced, and at that juncture, I think we're a better team.

9/15 @ Marshall--Could it happen three years in a row? Rutgers, Northwestern and now Marshall? I don't know if I believe that. I'm chalking this up to a no until I see otherwise. I just can't believe we can do it three years in a row, and I think Marshall isn't likely to underestimate us like Rutgers and Northwestern did.

9/22 Dartmouth-Gimme.

9/29 @ Richmond--This team almost beat us last year, and I'm concerned about the matchup. This is really a critical game, because a win here makes us 3-1 and a likely favorite to win all but one or two games. A loss here puts almost every game in must win territory, unless we knock off Marshall. Plus, they wear purple, and UNH is just 1-3 versus teams in purple over the last 2 seasons.

Ultimately, UNH needs to find a way to start the season 3-1. I think they'll get that win over Richmond and do it.

10/6 Delaware--Delaware is loaded with talent. Omar Cuff is a beast, and Joe Flacco is no slouch. They should really be coming into their own, and they're going to score a ton of points. One of the best individual performances I've ever seen from Ricky Santos to beat the Blue Hens last season. This is going to be a tough game, but I think UNH can take it at home.

10/13 @ Iona-Gimme.

10/20 @ Hofstra--They always seem to hang around. This is a real trap game. They keep the games close constantly and I really hate the way they play. They almost snuck in and beat us last season in the pouring rain.

10/27 Rhode Island--I don't like this game, either. I like that it's at home, but Rhode Island can really put the ball in the endzone. They're young and talented on the offensive end, and while I don't think that they can stop UNH, this team can win anyday if their offense has it going. Here's hoping for bad weather in this one.

11/3 Northeastern--Revenge. This team beat us on an idiot play from our coach, and I really want it to be 70-0 at the end of the first quarter. I see no way we lose this game, but I wanted to upgrade it from gimme to make the point.

11/10 @ UMass--Revenge, Part II and III. We owe UMass, twice. And it sucks we get them in Amherst, again. This game could very well decide the season for UNH. If they go 2-1 in their first three, then this game won't be as huge. But if they enter this game with 2 or 3 losses, it's an enormous game. It could decide the conference, and it could decide who makes the playoff. The schedule makers had to enjoy this one. I suspect I will be there, along with my only reader (Jason). I hope they take it.

11/17 Maine--Maine is a good team. They dink and dunk, don't make mistakes, and have a defense that held BC to just 22 points. I hate playing this team, and it seems we always get them when it matters. If Maine is still in it, this is going to be a tough, tough game. The bad weather in New Hampshire favors Maine.

I'm not sure how I feel about this schedule. UNH has a chance to win every game, but I see 6 or 7 games they could lose, too (see UMass, Marshall, Delaware, Maine, JMU, Richmond).

My prediction: 8-3, losses to one of Delaware or Richmond, UMass and Marshall. We make the playoffs.