#15 Central Connecticut St @ #20 Albany

[Professor Chaos]

Interesting matchup in Albany this weekend. Here's how they stack up statistically:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49119972992_98a7cc9329_o.jpg

The numbers obviously favor CCSU but they've played a Charmin soft schedule with their toughest FCS game to date, according to the Massey ratings, against #70 Columbia. Is CCSU's defense as good as they've looked or is it a product of the teams they've played? That +17 turnover margin is an impressive number in any case and, even if Albany is the better team, if CCSU can be +2 or better in turnovers they stand a great chance to win.

5dimes currently has Albany as a 6.5 point favorite, Massey predicts a 35-31 final in favor of Albany, and Sagarin favors Albany by about 3 at home.

I think CCSU has been conditioned to win this year and they'll be mentally tough because of it. I like them to pull the upset in a close one where their defense seals the win. Who do you have winning and why?

[Bisonator]

I'd expect the #2 CAA team to roll. xcoffeex

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Haven't watched either team. Going with the home team.

[caribbeanhen]

I'd expect the #2 CAA team to roll. xcoffeex

expect to be surprised

[UAalum72]

I'd expect a one-score margin either way.

[knit35]

Let’s go Albany

[UAalum72]

Forecast sunny, 35, light wind - about as good as you can expect at the end of November. Lucky it's not Sunday or Monday.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I'll take Central Connecticut in a close one. Albany is good and absolutely deserved a bid but I really believe the Blue Devil a legit Top 10 type team.

This should be a real fun game between old conference mates. It's definitely going to be good playoff football weather in the Capital District!

[UNHWildcat18]

I’ll take Albany by a score. CCSU top 20 team for sure and much above the rest of the NEC this year

[aceinthehole]

CCSU Game Notes - http://ccsubluedevils.com/sports/fball/2019-20/Albany.11.30.19.pdf

New Britain Hearld:
Playoff Preview: No. 17 CCSU football looks for program's first-ever FCS tournament win as it gets set to take on No. 25 Albany
http://www.newbritainherald.com/article/view/article_id/362529/headline/playoff-preview-no-17-ccsu-football-looks-for-programs-firstever-fcs-tournament-win-as-it-gets-set-to-take-on-no-25-albany/section/

Albany Times Union:
Passed over for job, McCarthy returns to face UAlbany football
https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Passed-over-for-job-McCarthy-returns-to-face-14867464.php

[Schism55]

Seen very little of both of these teams, excited for this one. Let's go!

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Crowd looks small.

[Schism55]

CC has got some funky looking plays, I like it

[BisonFan02]

CCSU looks like they have a pulse. QB is a gamer.

[aceinthehole]

CCSU looks like they have a pulse. QB is a gamer.

FBS Graduate transfer from Georgia State. Was team captain at Georgia State as a backup QB. Dual threat - great leadership. NEC Offensive POY and Payton Award watch list.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Missed a 20 yard FG.....xsmhx

[BisonFan02]

Karma miss for trying to kick that instead of going for the juggular. Worst case you pin Albany back.

[aceinthehole]

Well that was our biggest weakness - We have the worst special teams in the country.

Mistake not going for the TD on 4th. :(

What an opening drive, converted two 4th downs and eat tons of clock.

[aceinthehole]

UAlbany 3 and out.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU looks good!

[aceinthehole]

Winchester is a baller!

37-yrd TD pass

CCSU 7
UA - 0

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Poor decision by Albany QB....INT

[aceinthehole]

Central has out gained Albany 158-13 in Q1

Time of Possession
CCSU 11:23
UA 3:18

That being said, we are up just 7-0 and lots of football to be played. Central needs to keep up the intensity for 3 more quarters and convert drives into points!

[BisonFan02]

UAlbany cocking off while getting manhandled. That's a bad look.

EDIT: Check that.....boner play by CCSU RB. wow

[POD Knows]

Albany looks like dog****. Go CCSU.

[KPSUL]

UAlbany 3 and out.Your team looks great! Are you at the game?

[aceinthehole]

Your team looks great! Are you at the game?

I'm not local and had family over for the holiday. :)

[Schism55]

Any Albany fans on here? These have to be alternate helmets for Albany right? They are terribad xsmhx

[aceinthehole]

Albany shows signs of life in their last drive.

CCSU - 7
Albany - 7

0:17 Q2

[knit35]

Quick strike for Albany

[KPSUL]

Albany has finally woke up!

[Professor Chaos]

Special teams shows up more in the playoffs than in the regular season... CCSU finding that out today.

They may as well just not even try to kick any more FGs the rest of the way.

[Prime Power]

C Conn FG kicker is pretty bad.....lol

[knit35]

The undercuffler

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU had their chances in the first half. The Albany QB is excellent!

[aceinthehole]

This is what I was afraid of. Special teams is so bad it sucks the life from the offense and defense.

Albany has 3 scores in the last 5 minutes.

This CCSU team has been resilient all year. Let’s see if the respond to adversity.

[aceinthehole]

Embarrassing. CCSU is folding like a cheap tent.

[aceinthehole]

CCSU hasn’t come out of the locker room. Embarrassing 2nd half. I’m at a loss of words for how poorly we collapsed.

CCSU - 7
Albany - 35

End of Q3

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I got to eat some crow on CCSU. They look outclassed! NEC and PL still have a long way to go to have an sort of consistent presence nationally.

[Professor Chaos]

Wow was I wrong about this game. I guess it's a good thing the committee didn't give CCSU that seed some thought they deserved.

[aceinthehole]

This is an awful performance for CCSU and the NEC.

Central was as much outclassed as out played. CCSU dominated early and showed it had the potential to move on. Mistakes, penalties, lack of focus and FCS worst special teams lost this game. Central still held a very potent rushing game in check and showed it could move the ball at will and control the clock. The fact is we didn’t convert and don’t deserve to win this game. Still thing this is a Top-25 team. Likely #25 now.

Give UA credit. This isn’t a great team, but they are peaking at the right time. QB has broken out and they can surprise Montana State next week.

[Dane96]

Albany looked like dog poop for 27 minutes. Then the Albany for the second half of the year showed up. Maybe we can get the respect we’ve earned at this point. We took CCSUs best shot to start the game. I think we made a mistake in not taking the ball to start the game to settle Undercuffler down who was clearly full of nerves.

mcCarthy will have CCSU back next year. Winchester is just a scary kid to play against and it is a shame he won’t be back with graduation.

[aceinthehole]

Dane - totally agree. Once your QB settled in, he took over. Great arm, good reads.

CCSU defense played well early and I think did a good job stopping theUA running game. Undercuff started 0-7 with an INT. Really learned to play under pressure today. Albany is peaking and playing with a chip on their shoulder. Good for them.

You got a good one. Good luck in Bozeman next week.

McCarthy made a mistake in that first drive going for the FG, but otherwise he coached well. We had some momentum killing penalties and were undisciplined. Winchester is a stud, he will be missed for what he brought to the field and in the locker room. We bring a lot back and will be the NEC favorites next season.

[UNHWildcat18]

Good win for the CAA. Ualbany please don’t get blown out at MSU next week!

[clickclack]

When Albany showed up around half time... It was lights out for ccsu. Ccsu lost this when they didn't put foot on their Albanys throat.

That was amazing...

- - - Updated - - -


This is an awful performance for CCSU and the NEC.

Central was as much outclassed as out played. CCSU dominated early and showed it had the potential to move on. Mistakes, penalties, lack of focus and FCS worst special teams lost this game. Central still held a very potent rushing game in check and showed it could move the ball at will and control the clock. The fact is we didn’t convert and don’t deserve to win this game. Still thing this is a Top-25 team. Likely #25 now.

Give UA credit. This isn’t a great team, but they are peaking at the right time. QB has broken out and they can surprise Montana State next week.

Albany has been pretty great Imo...

[smilo]

I am so thankful that I did not cave to the masses and give the #25 spot on my ballot to CCSU over Albany. I was very close to ranking an NEC team for the first time ever.

[Bisonator]

Congrats to the Great Danes!

[knit35]

Good win Albany

[KnightoftheRedFlash]

This is an awful performance for CCSU and the NEC.

Central was as much outclassed as out played. CCSU dominated early and showed it had the potential to move on. Mistakes, penalties, lack of focus and FCS worst special teams lost this game. Central still held a very potent rushing game in check and showed it could move the ball at will and control the clock. The fact is we didn’t convert and don’t deserve to win this game. Still thing this is a Top-25 team. Likely #25 now.

Give UA credit. This isn’t a great team, but they are peaking at the right time. QB has broken out and they can surprise Montana State next week.

No. This is an awful performance for CCSU. The NEC didn't take the field. You did.

[KnightoftheRedFlash]

Congratulations Albany on the big win! You guys finished off what we started.

I miss playing the Great Danes. Solid school and a good test. Shorter trip too than the NE schools.

[KnightoftheRedFlash]

CCSU looks like they have a pulse. QB is a gamer.

2nd best QB in the conference behind Jason Brown.