This next week of NCAA
NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Predictions: Feb 23
This Saturday, February 23rd, has 29 division one men’s college lacrosse games being played. This is a huge day of games, and you can bet there will be some shifting of the landscape after Saturday. Some of these games are also part of the Faceoff Classic going down in Denver. The other 14 games we’re covering from Saturday are also supposed to be great lacrosse games you can bet will be entertaining. Let’s check in on what should be another great day of men’s college lacrosse.
Air Force Forces Cleveland State to Surrender
Air Force just bounced back when they took down Marist by doubling their score. The 12-6 victory was highlighted by Trey Lervick’s four goals as the Foxes could’t fight off the Force. This puts Air Force at 1-1, and they’re in a great position to go positive against Cleveland State in the Faceoff Classic.
Cleveland State is making the long trip out to Colorado, and the elevation might bring their game down below sea level. The Vikings just notched their first win over Bellarmine on February 16th after losses to Michigan and Ohio State. CSU is a scrappy young team but they might not be able to outwork the Air Force this high up in Colorado. After all, the Falcons are used to being way up in the sky and Vikings never perfected the art of aviation.
Out of the two games CSU is playing in Colorado, this matchup is the one they have the best chance of walking away with. That being said, I still don’t know if they’ll be able to out-muscle the well-disciplined Falcons. Prediction: Air Force +3 goals. Result: Air Force +3 goals.
Denver Demolishes Utah
Hopes for Utah were high and mighty before the season began, but they have dropped two of their first three games so far. They began with a disappointing showing against Vermont were they suffered a 15 goal beat-down. Their lone win over Mercer doesn’t do much to impress, and they’re looking like they’re about to catch another L this Saturday.
Denver just dropped a heart-breaker against Duke that was decided by one goal that was scored in the last ten seconds. No one wants to be their next game on the schedule after that type of loss. Expect Denver to play big brother with Utah and abuse them a little in this one. Prediction: Denver +10 goals. Result: Denver +9 goals.
Brown Buries Stony Brook in A Shallow Grave
Brown really put on a show when they hung 20 on Quinnipiac and they’re looking to do the same this Saturday. The Bears have had a full week of rest and they should be ready to pump up the score. Luke McCaleb was the star of the show when Brown took down Quinnipiac as he totaled 8 points in the contest. There was no coming back from the onslaught, and Brown is primed for another win.
The Sea Wolves of Stony Brook took a serious loos at the hands of Penn State last week, and Brown has a similarly potent offense. Don’t expect this to be a low scoring affair, but expect the Sea Wolves to be on the receiving end of the punishment. Penn State shut out Stony Brook in the first half of their game even though Stony Brook kept it competitive in the ground ball category. This should be a long day for Stony Brook if they can’t possess the ball and keep this one under 15 goals. Prediction: Brown +9 goals. Result: Stony Brook +1.
Albany Bounces Back Against Drexel
The Danes had a lackluster debut against Syracuse, and it wasn’t a pretty site for the purple people of Albany. Even Tehoka Nanticoke couldn’t impose his will on the Orange men. There was no chance for Albany to win that match, but they have a great chance against Drexel.
Both of Drexel’s first two games have gone to OT, and Drexel is sitting at 1-1. They’ve had these two nail-biters, but this weekend might not be able to be extending into extra time. Albany still has a very strong squad, and Drexel hasn’t had great success against the Danes. Last year, Albany dominated the Dragons by 13. I don’t think Albany will blow out Drexel, but this game should be a W for the Danes after three competitive quarters. Prediction: Albany +4 goals. Result: Albany +1.
Duke Puts Penn In Their Place
Duke was able to score in the last ten seconds of their game with Denver to solidify the win. This was right after a devastating loss to High Point. Duke really showed the rest of Division 1 men’s lacrosse, and me, that they’re still for real. The Devils are a force to be reckoned with; and, despite a slip up to a talented HPU, the Devils should be seeing themselves with another victory Saturday.
Penn is looking to do exactly what Duke just did, but they’ll likely get a different result. Penn is fresh off a loss to Maryland that went into OT and the Quakers with a sour taste after the game. Penn is talented and tough, they wouldn’t have taken the Terps to OT if they weren’t. This doesn’t mean that Penn is going to get blown out, but this one should go to the Devils. Don’t expect Duke to drop another easy one this season. Prediction: Duke +4. Result: Duke +10.
Towson Takes the Fight to Georgetown
Both of these two teams are sitting at 2-0, but Towson has the more impressive resume at the moment. Also, Towson is really just shooting the lights out of the ball this season. It’s very difficult to keep the Tigers under ten goals in a game, and Georgetown will need to slow down the Towson O if they want to win. Towson will be looking to keep the pace of the game up and run Georgetown ragged by the fourth quarter.
Georgetown has taken down both Sacred Heart and Robert Morris this season in games that showed the Hoyas can ball. There’s a lot to be said about their potential, but every great team will have speed bumps. I expect this game to be a loss for the Hoyas before they show off for a great season. This should be one of the more competitive games of the weekend though, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes to OT. I still feel that Towson has the
Maryland Makes Navy Negative For Once
Another battle of the unbeaten. Maryland vs Navy is a great Maryland match up for Saturday. Maryland has been sneaking away with some close victories and pushing the envelope a lot. That being said, they’re not towing the line enough to lose. The Terps are always the smart bet in the regular season; you normally only have to worry in the tournament. They clearly disproved that with their 2017 championship and now are fighting for another chance at the trophy.
Navy has also been a solid team in the past, but not quite the same caliber as Maryland. This year is nothing different. Navy has been showing off some impressive talents on their team, and they are a young squad; but, Maryland finds a way to win. The grit of Navy may not be enough to surpass the unstoppable skill of Maryland. Expect the Terps to do what they do. Prediction: Terps +2. Terps: +5 goals.
Princeton Pops UVA in the Kisser
Princeton really schooled Monmouth in their opener, and Virginia isn’t looking like the normal Virginia we all know and love. Princeton should be playing the big brother role this year against UVA, and this Saturday should be wedgies and noogies all day long. Princeton’s dominant offense should put up at least 18 on Virginia this Saturday. Trust me, it’s gonna be a busy day at the X after all these goals.
Virginia just isn’t the regular Virginia to be fearing. Teams aren’t writing them off as a joke, but Virginia is now looking like a possible win to a lot more teams. Their recent loss to High Point isn’t anything to discredit them with, but that didn’t put them back in good graces. The Tigers are gonna be striping up the goal column till the clock hits 0. Prediction: Princeton +6. Result: UVA +1.
Penn State Puts Yale Behind By Two
Penn State has really shown their dominance so far this year, and I can’t bet against them in this one. Even though Yale is the defending champs, Penn State just isn’t going to be stopped. They also rocked Villanova after the Wildcats took down Yale. Not much to say about this one really. If Yale can manage to actually win this one, expect it to be because of TD Ierlan dominating the X and keeping the ball in Bulldog sticks. If possession is even close to even, Penn State will run away with it. Prediction: Penn State +7. Result: Yale +1 goal.
Loyola Launches Rutgers into the Red
Loyola is deservedly the #1 team in the country and will be winning this weekend. That right there is a fact. Take it to the bank and cash it if you’d like. Pat Spencer isn’t going to be letting the Scarlet Knights get an easy victory, and Loyola isn’t going to let Rutgers even get a victory. Loyola should win this one if they can keep the ground ball game even in the same galaxy.
Rutgers has been showing a strong display of promise. but their loss to Army showed some weaknesses in their armor. The Scarlet Knights are looking to prove themselves as a real competitor with a win or competitive loss, but Loyola is a wagon this year. There’s no getting past the Hounds if you don’t just strangle the ball away from them from the very beginning. Don’t expect the Hounds to let this one get close. Prediction: Loyola +5 goals. Result: Loyola +6 goals.
Tar Heels Tap Out the Hopkins Hope
UNC is putting on an impressive show this season with lots of promise for another run at the title. There’s a lot of opportunity for them to really make a splash this season, and they’re been putting that out there for everyone to see. Their win over Harvard was their most impressive so far, and they’ll have an easy chance to go to 4-0 against Hopkins.
I don’t want to bet against an 0-2 Hopkins because that makes them look more likely for a win, but they look like they’ll be dropping this one this weekend. Baby blue on baby blue doesn’t mix, and Hopkins just hasn’t been a complete team this year. They’ve been losing to great teams so far, but UNC really is on their game. I don’t like having to pick UNC over Hopkins; but, unless Hopkins can really start firing on all cylinders, they’ll fall behind. Prediction: UNC + 3 goals. Result: Hopkins +1.
