Collegiate D1A Rugby lays in various stages right now. Yes, it is a bit more expansive than Texas rugby, but it has the Allied Rugby Conference in it (and I made a couple of very good picks last week, and some completely crappy ones) Complete D1A Rugby standings can be found here. However, allow me to summarize:
The Big 10 Conferences (East & West) finished up their play in the fall with Ohio and Wisconsin taking the top spots, respectively. St Mary's clinched the #1 position in the California Conference with a 48-24 win over San Diego State on Saturday. My previous article on the Allied Rugby Conference showed that while Oklahoma sits in the driver's seat, it is a tenuous position, at best. The West kicked off their season with Colorado defeating Northern Colorado, 42-20. The East started with a Kutztown drubbing of Delaware, 59-5. Central Washington (Independent) has big plans this season and has already won three in fine fashion, but must remain dominant to vie for a playoff position. Finally, the MidSouth has shown us in only two weeks what level of rugby must be played to get to the D1A Final - Arkansas State is on top, but Coach Houser's Red Wolves know this spot must be earned on the road to be kept.
Here are my picks for this week's D1A matches:
Friday, March 22nd:
Not-So-Friendly
Michigan at Davenport. This meeting of the MidSouth and the Big Ten East is an intra-state rivalry in the making. Davenport is at home on the turf where they proved victorious over the Chicago Lions two weeks ago. The Wolverines may have fielded a big, physical squad in the fall, but that will not be enough to stop the Panthers' speed and cohesiveness. Davenport in a try-fest.
Saturday, March 23rd:
Allied
Texas at Sam Houston. The Longhorns are smarting from a hard loss at the hands of their rivals and they must win out the next two games to earn a chance at redemption. Sam has the speed to pressure the Longhorn backline, but it's a question of whether they will or not. The Bearkats' inconsistency plagues them. The Longhorns need their #8, Danny Cotton, to play 80 minutes like he did for the last 20 against the Aggies and FH Worsnop needs clean ball to deliver to Talley and Hayes. When Texas has those two areas clicking, they are VERY hard to stop. Texas returns to Austin the winner in this clash.
Texas Tech at Texas A&M. This match has all the hallmarks of being a beaut (and yours truly will be there to call the play-by-play on the webstream). Tech's Kulka and Sule are simply brilliant outside when Wes Mitchell delivers clean ball from the pivot. However, Mitchell has yet to encounter a high pressure defense like the Aggies present. A&M's pack of flyhalf hunters - Demblon , Frazier, and Deao - need to sound the same footsteps into Mitchell's ears that Texas' Worsnop heard. A&M's flaw against the Horns was that they got off the gas late. The Aggies cannot let up on the gas for the rest of the season, not even for a minute. A&M wins this one by two tries.
East
Delaware at Penn State. Both teams are coming off of tough losses. Penn State is a storied program that is looking to lead the way as a Rugby Team. Delaware is re-vamped and re-purposed with a vision to move ahead of the pack in collegiate rugby. The East is the second toughest conference to win in D1A Rugby. My guess is that Penn State will win this by less than a try.
Army at Kutztown. When I say Army & Kutztown are the favorites in the East, it's by a slim margin. These teams should be evenly matched. My gut says Army by 8, but my brain says this one will be decided in the final minutes of the match. This should be the D1A Rugby Game of The Week.
West
Colorado State at New Mexico. Both teams have proven tough in the past, but with the re-alignment of D1A, they are unknowns this year. My pick is the Lobos by two tries.
Colorado at Central Washington. CWU possesses a really tough schedule for an independent this year even though most of their games are at home. Colorado dotted down 6 against UNC last week. CWU's defense is a bit stingy (Two shut-out in a row). CWU's forwards secure possession really well. CWU's backline creates and distributes even better. CWU wins this one running away.
The Big 10 Conferences (East & West) finished up their play in the fall with Ohio and Wisconsin taking the top spots, respectively. St Mary's clinched the #1 position in the California Conference with a 48-24 win over San Diego State on Saturday. My previous article on the Allied Rugby Conference showed that while Oklahoma sits in the driver's seat, it is a tenuous position, at best. The West kicked off their season with Colorado defeating Northern Colorado, 42-20. The East started with a Kutztown drubbing of Delaware, 59-5. Central Washington (Independent) has big plans this season and has already won three in fine fashion, but must remain dominant to vie for a playoff position. Finally, the MidSouth has shown us in only two weeks what level of rugby must be played to get to the D1A Final - Arkansas State is on top, but Coach Houser's Red Wolves know this spot must be earned on the road to be kept.
Here are my picks for this week's D1A matches:
Friday, March 22nd:
Not-So-Friendly
Michigan at Davenport. This meeting of the MidSouth and the Big Ten East is an intra-state rivalry in the making. Davenport is at home on the turf where they proved victorious over the Chicago Lions two weeks ago. The Wolverines may have fielded a big, physical squad in the fall, but that will not be enough to stop the Panthers' speed and cohesiveness. Davenport in a try-fest.
Saturday, March 23rd:
Allied
Texas at Sam Houston. The Longhorns are smarting from a hard loss at the hands of their rivals and they must win out the next two games to earn a chance at redemption. Sam has the speed to pressure the Longhorn backline, but it's a question of whether they will or not. The Bearkats' inconsistency plagues them. The Longhorns need their #8, Danny Cotton, to play 80 minutes like he did for the last 20 against the Aggies and FH Worsnop needs clean ball to deliver to Talley and Hayes. When Texas has those two areas clicking, they are VERY hard to stop. Texas returns to Austin the winner in this clash.
Texas Tech at Texas A&M. This match has all the hallmarks of being a beaut (and yours truly will be there to call the play-by-play on the webstream). Tech's Kulka and Sule are simply brilliant outside when Wes Mitchell delivers clean ball from the pivot. However, Mitchell has yet to encounter a high pressure defense like the Aggies present. A&M's pack of flyhalf hunters - Demblon , Frazier, and Deao - need to sound the same footsteps into Mitchell's ears that Texas' Worsnop heard. A&M's flaw against the Horns was that they got off the gas late. The Aggies cannot let up on the gas for the rest of the season, not even for a minute. A&M wins this one by two tries.
East
Delaware at Penn State. Both teams are coming off of tough losses. Penn State is a storied program that is looking to lead the way as a Rugby Team. Delaware is re-vamped and re-purposed with a vision to move ahead of the pack in collegiate rugby. The East is the second toughest conference to win in D1A Rugby. My guess is that Penn State will win this by less than a try.
Army at Kutztown. When I say Army & Kutztown are the favorites in the East, it's by a slim margin. These teams should be evenly matched. My gut says Army by 8, but my brain says this one will be decided in the final minutes of the match. This should be the D1A Rugby Game of The Week.
West
Colorado State at New Mexico. Both teams have proven tough in the past, but with the re-alignment of D1A, they are unknowns this year. My pick is the Lobos by two tries.
Colorado at Central Washington. CWU possesses a really tough schedule for an independent this year even though most of their games are at home. Colorado dotted down 6 against UNC last week. CWU's defense is a bit stingy (Two shut-out in a row). CWU's forwards secure possession really well. CWU's backline creates and distributes even better. CWU wins this one running away.