A busy slate of games starts the unofficial opening weekend of the 2014 season. It’s the unofficial opening weekend, because while you were on the checkout isle buying guacamole for the Super Bowl last Saturday, Delaware defeated High Point 10-3 and Lehigh beat Furman 13-6 to start the 2014 season.
My game of the weekend will be on TV Sunday on ESPNU, as Johns Hopkins attempts to rebound from not making the NCAA tourney in 2013 versus an Ohio State team led by junior Jesse King. The matchup to watch is between King and Johns Hopkins longstick midfielder Michael Pellegrino. Pellegrino is a difference maker in transition for the Blue Jays, while King is a great finisher who will fight through checks to score. Outside of this individual matchup, I want to see how improved Johns Hopkins offense will be versus a very good Ohio State close defense. In a close game, I’m calling the Buckeyes by two between these soon to be BIG TEN rivals.
Outside of this game, there are some interesting matchups. If you’re looking for the next best three games to watch, I will be keeping my eye out on the Denver vs. Air Force, Bucknell vs. Delaware and Army vs. UMASS games. Below are a list of this weekend’s games and my predictions.
Saturday February 8
Air Force vs Denver
Bucknell vs Delaware
Colgate vs Bryant
Lehigh vs Marquette
Maryland vs Mount Saint Mary’s
Mercer vs Boston
Navy vs VMI
Penn State vs Michigan
Richmond vs Virginia
Rutgers vs Manhattan
Saint Joseph’s vs Lafayette
Towson vs High Point
Bucknell vs Delaware
Colgate vs Bryant
Lehigh vs Marquette
Maryland vs Mount Saint Mary’s
Mercer vs Boston
Navy vs VMI
Penn State vs Michigan
Richmond vs Virginia
Rutgers vs Manhattan
Saint Joseph’s vs Lafayette
Towson vs High Point
Sunday February 9
Army vs Umass
Duke vs Jacksonville
Furman vs North Carolina
Johns Hopkins vs Ohio State
Duke vs Jacksonville
Furman vs North Carolina
Johns Hopkins vs Ohio State
Scrimmage Results:
For my over four decades in this sport, yes I’m getting old. It’s important to remember that scrimmages mean nothing in the standings. In my opinion, scrimmages are for evaluating talent, working out your lineup, getting in game shape and hitting someone else other than your roommate. In my years of coaching, I take scrimmage results with caution. Don’t get too excited with what happens in January, be excited about what you do in March, April and May when it counts in the standings.
Ron “Papa Bear” Chamberlain
It’s going to be a great night on Saturday for my brothers and I, as my father Ron gets honored by the Long Island Lacrosse Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation for the “Harold Whitey Henrickson” Lifetime Achievement Award. Dad, whether we are playing, coaching or officiating and now writing, you are always there for us, and we appreciate it.
Follow me on Twitter: bchambeaux15
