Maine wide receiver Earnest Edwards celebrates a touchdown last Saturday in Orono in a 45-23 loss to #8 Towson at Alfond Stadium. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco
After a disappointing 45-23 home loss to #8 Towson last Saturday in the CAA opener, the now #12/#16 Maine football team slides back into non-conference action this Saturday with a trip to Hamilton, New York to face Colgate out of the Patriot League.
The home loss Saturday ended the Bears six game home win streak, and also ended my unblemished start to picking the games so far this season (2-1). Maine didn’t have a solid enough running game, and also quarterback Chris Ferguson threw four interceptions. Visiting Towson outscored Maine 21-0 in points off turnovers and scored six touchdowns in seven trips to the redzone.
The Black Bears, now 1-2, will face a Colgate Red Raiders (0-3) team that is only averaging 10 points a game over their first three contests. Maine averages double the amount of offense and also double the amount of passing yards. Colgate also allows 305 yards per game rushing, and have allowed 11 rushing scores so far in 2019. A point of interest by Black Bears coach Nick Charlton is to get the running game going.
Prediction- Offensively Maine will be too much for Colgate. Expect a steady dose of Emmanuel Reed and Joe Fitzpatrick out of the Bears backfield, and for Ferguson again to spread the ball around to get everyone involved. Maine should have no problem Saturday in Hamilton and square their record up at 2-2 before a huge trip to Villanova next week for another conference game- Maine 31, Colgate 13
