FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast

Available Now! Available wherever you get your podcasts!

9 Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast S.3 Ep.3 (Special Guests: Williams College RB Jack Fabiano and Wesleyan University Head Coach Dan DiCenzo).

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast is the first podcast of its kind in NESCAC history. Hosted by Chris Grace (play-by-play announcer for Wesleyan) and Dave Bagatelle (Wesleyan Alum and former player), our weekly show features coach and player interviews, game analysis, rankings, previews, and predictions.

The podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts including YouTube, Facebook, Apple and Spotify. Search for "9 Weeks NESCAC"...the first and only podcast of its kind.
 
Thank you to our sponsors Sloane and Walsh, LLP, Gameday Sports, and Noank Village Boatyard.
 
If you have questions, feedback, ideas or are a player or a coach and would like to appear on our show, please email us at: 9weeksnescac@gmail.com

Follow us on X (aka Twitter): @nineweeksnescac
Follow us on Instagram: @nineweeksnescac
Facebook: Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EbgGxDZRd/)
YouTube: 9 Weeks Nescac (https://www.youtube.com/@nineweeksnescac)
Spotify Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac
Apple Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac

Look for NESCACMAN's weekly predictions and point spreads at nescacfootballreport.com. The NESCAC Football report is a website dedicated to all things NESCAC football, including team previews, weekly game previews and power rankings and game recaps.  The site now provides its followers with NESCACMAN's weekly game lines and predicted scores.

[Nescacman]

2026 Week 3 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome NESCAC 2026 Week #3 "in the league where they pay to play".

Our NESCAC game of the week is in Hartford, CT where the Hartford State Bantams host the Williams Purple Cows. This is the only battle in Week #3 that pits two undefeated teams against one another.

We went 5-0 picking winners last week and we stand at 9-1 on the year.

Let's get to this week's games...

Bowdoin College at Amherst College: Undefeated  against winless. Both teams play solid defense. The Lord Mammoths a defense is more traditional and as we all know, the Polars defense is much more "all gas, no brakes". Bowdoin's offense has not been very good (1 TD in 2026), while Amherst's offense has been on a roller coaster; bad in week 1 and decent last week (might be a function of the Hamilton defense last week). Lord Mammoth QB Marek Hill is the reigning NESCAC OPOTW and is the X-factor in this one. Amherst wins if: Marek Hill plays well and their offense scores more than 10 points. Bowdoin wins if: Their offense shows up. We think Amherst's defense keeps the Polars offense in check and their offense does just enough to win.

Amherst 17 Bowdoin 7
Point Spread:  Amherst -10
Weather (courtesy of The Weather Channel): Mainly sunny. High around 70F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.

Colby College at Middlebury College: Tough, long road trip for the Colby Mules, as noted by Coach Cosgrove on our podcast. This is not the 2025 version of the Mules. Middlebury should be able to put up some points on Colby, while holding down the Colby offense that is yet to demonstrate the ability to run the ball with some consistency.  Middlebury wins if: They establish the run, led by Connor McClelland, and limit the turnovers. Colby wins if: They need to get the running game going. We don't think the Mules have enough offense. The Panthers get win #1 at home.

Middlebury 24 Colby 14
Point Spread: Middlebury -10
Weather: Mainly sunny. High 62F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.

Wesleyan University at Hamilton College: On paper, this one looks like a complete mismatch. Wesleyan comes in on a roll. Hamilton has showed that they can throw the ball but they have not been able to establish the run and they are last in the NESCAC in defense. We expect the Conts to throw early and often. Not sure they can contain the Wesleyan offense. Wesleyan wins if: They play the game they have played all year and they win. Run the ball effectively, set-up the play action pass and protect the QB. Fitzsimons had a career day last year for the Cards (20 of 23 throwing with 5 TDS; he does anything close to that and Wes wins going away). Show a killer instinct; something they have not always done in the past. Can't look past HAM; Kurzum is dangerous. Hamilton wins if: They somehow outscore Wesleyan. We think Wes has way too much firepower and weapons. Not sure they win by 40 but should be a win for Wes.

Wesleyan 49 Hamilton 14
Point Spread: Wesleyan -24
Weather: Sunny. High near 65F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tufts University at University of Bates (Lewiston Campus): The Bants host the Jumbo's in a night game in Lewistown. Both teams are coming off disappointing loses and will try to regroup. This has not been the start to the season that UBates was expecting or hoping for. They've lost their best offensive player and emotional leader, have scored 14 points in 2 games, and are still looking for their new starting QB to play as expected. Meanwhile, Tufts was stymied by Wes last week and will look to get back on track. If there was ever a must-win for two teams, this game is it. Tufts wins if: They establish the run with Shapiro and Weidman leading the way and complete some opportune passes. UBates wins if: Their defense keeps the game low scoring and the offense shakes-off the loss of Lynskey and finally produces. We think the nightmare season continues for the Kitties and Tufts gets back in the win column on the road.

Tufts 31 UBates 13
Point Spread: Tufts -14
Weather: Clear skies. Low 39F. Winds light and variable.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Williams College at Hartford State: Battle of 2 of the 4 remaining unbeatens in the NESCAC. Strength against strength. Williams running game against the Hartford State run defense. Hartford State has gotten there by beating up on the State of Maine. Meanwhile, the Ephs are 2-0 despite playing without Owen Johansen, Matt Bott and Luke Manghini for all or most of the first 2 weeks. Fortunately for them, their replacements, led by FY RB Jack Fabiano and Owen McHugh, have played well. The Bantams have won the last 4 in this series including the last 2 in the Coop. Williams wins if: They are able to run the ball effectively against the stout HS defense allowing them to control the clock and keep the game low scoring. Hartford State wins if: They score 3 touchdowns and stop the Williams running game forcing them to throw. The one-dimensional nature of the Williams offense is the difference here. Very hard to beat the Bants in the Coop. Hartford State runs their record to 3-0.

Hartford State 34 Williams 17
Point Spread: Hartford State -17
Weather: Sunny. High around 70F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.

Good luck to all the student-athletes and coaches this Saturday!

NESCACMAN's Career Picks:
2026 Season: 9-1 (.900 winning percentage)
2025 Season: 32-13
2024 Season: 38-7
2023 Season: 31-14
2022 Season: 31-14
2021 Season: 33-12
2020 Season: 0-0 (COVID)
2019 Season: 33-12
2018 Season: 36-9
2017 Season: 35-10
2016 Season: 32-8
2015 Season: 30-10
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8
Career: 402-128 (.759 winning percentage, 13 seasons)

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Follow NESCACMAN on X: @realnescacman

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Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast

Available Now! Available wherever you get your podcasts!

9 Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast S.3 Ep.3 (Special Guests: Williams College RB Jack Fabiano and Wesleyan University Head Coach Dan DiCenzo).

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast is the first podcast of its kind in NESCAC history. Hosted by Chris Grace (play-by-play announcer for Wesleyan) and Dave Bagatelle (Wesleyan Alum and former player), our weekly show features coach and player interviews, game analysis, rankings, previews, and predictions.

The podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts including YouTube, Facebook, Apple and Spotify. Search for "9 Weeks NESCAC"...the first and only podcast of its kind.
 
Thank you to our sponsors Sloane and Walsh, LLP, Gameday Sports, and Noank Village Boatyard.
 
If you have questions, feedback, ideas or are a player or a coach and would like to appear on our show, please email us at: 9weeksnescac@gmail.com

Follow us on X (aka Twitter): @nineweeksnescac
Follow us on Instagram: @nineweeksnescac
Facebook: Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EbgGxDZRd/)
YouTube: 9 Weeks Nescac (https://www.youtube.com/@nineweeksnescac)
Spotify Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac
Apple Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac

Look for NESCACMAN's weekly predictions and point spreads at nescacfootballreport.com. The NESCAC Football report is a website dedicated to all things NESCAC football, including team previews, weekly game previews and power rankings and game recaps.  The site now provides its followers with NESCACMAN's weekly game lines and predicted scores.