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.

[Nescacman]

NESCACMAN is proud to present a new weekly feature...weekly NESCAC Prop Bets. We will start this feature, with a 4-way parlay for Week3:

-Donte Kelly-One or more TDs against vs. HAM.
-2+ coaching changes in the NESCAC for 2027.
-Jaxon Caroll-300 or more yards passing vs. WIL.
-Bowdoin 3 or more sacks against AMH.

We'd set this parlay at +1200.

[The #802]

NESCACMAN is proud to present a new weekly feature...weekly NESCAC Prop Bets. We will start this feature, with a 4-way parlay for Week3:

-Donte Kelly-One or more TDs against vs. HAM.
-2+ coaching changes in the NESCAC for 2027.
-Jaxon Caroll-300 or more yards passing vs. WIL.
-Bowdoin 3 or more sacks against AMH.

We'd set this parlay at +1200.

The coaching change one doesn't seem to fit as a Week 3 bet...

Seeing that Bowdoin is missing their head coach for the third straight game this week, I'm assuming that would be one of the two.

[Nescacman]

NESCACMAN is proud to present a new weekly feature...weekly NESCAC Prop Bets. We will start this feature, with a 4-way parlay for Week3:

-Donte Kelly-One or more TDs against vs. HAM.
-2+ coaching changes in the NESCAC for 2027.
-Jaxon Caroll-300 or more yards passing vs. WIL.
-Bowdoin 3 or more sacks against AMH.

We'd set this parlay at +1200.

The coaching change one doesn't seem to fit as a Week 3 bet...

Seeing that Bowdoin is missing their head coach for the third straight game this week, I'm assuming that would be one of the two.

Yes, we will periodically throw in a season long event into the weekly parlay...

[lumbercat]

Since the cat is evidently now out of the bag can anyone disclose who the interim Head Coach is at Bowdoin.

[Nescacman]

Since the cat is evidently now out of the bag can anyone disclose who the interim Head Coach is at Bowdoin.

Since the cat is evidently now out of the bag can anyone disclose who the interim Head Coach is at Bowdoin.

Since the cat is evidently now out of the bag can anyone disclose who the interim Head Coach is at Bowdoin.

Not yet confirmed but word is that it is the DC.

[Nescacman]

Beautiful day for football in the NESCAC. Good luck everyone!

[Nescacguymaine]

Ferris Collins, Mayor of Amherst.

[nescac1]

Welp, Williams just had no chance against Trinity and this game was over from the beginning. About as outclassed as I've seen a Williams team since the Kelton era, Williams getting murdered in all four phases of the game (the fourth being coaching).  Williams can't cover the Bantams receivers (especially McCaffrey, who has been stellar) downfield, Trinity has made numerous huge plays on special teams, but the biggest issue is that the Eph passing game is an utter disaster.  There have been a few bad drops by receivers and the offensive line has provided very poor protection but also, you simply can't have QB play like that, two awful interceptions, one for an easy pick six, and also several passes that missed pretty open guys be several yards, meanwhile the Trinity QB zings it deep down the field almost perfectly on target every play. 

I think the Ephs are going to have to see what they have with the other QBs in the second half and going forward, and use McHugh more as a change-of-pace wildcard option, because this is just not a recipe for competing against any team you can't run the ball down the gut on. Through three games, despite going 2-1, this is the most incompetent passing attack I've seen from a Williams team that never exactly lights it through the air.   

I see Livitano is in at QB at Amherst, I assume Hill may be hurt?  He threw it for a pick six on his very first play, and then there was a strip sack on his next possession, but seems to have settled in since that time.

Sounds like an utterly crazy first half in the Wesleyan-Hamilton game with both teams' lighting up the other's defense.  That has to be a record for points in a half in a NESCAC game, right? 

Oh, and what's the story with the Bowdoin coach?  Was he fired??

[CardiacEphs]

At the Williams trinity game. Great play by trinity, Williams totally outmatched and out coached but a weird takeaway from the sideline is the large amount of audible and visual infighting on the trinity sideline. Not something I'd expect to see in such a blowout, wonder what the issue is...

[Trin9-0]

Looks like there might only be one team who's a cut above... 

Wesleyan was about to pull another Wesleyan and Hamilton, who had moved the ball at will all day long, punted the ball away on a 4th & 2 near midfield with less than 2:00 to play. Just an absolutely brutal loss for the Continentals but the Cards somehow find a way to win another one.

[MapleBBQChicken]

Looks like there might only be one team who's a cut above... 

Wesleyan was about to pull another Wesleyan and Hamilton, who had moved the ball at will all day long, punted the ball away on a 4th & 2 near midfield with less than 2:00 to play. Just an absolutely brutal loss for the Continentals but the Cards somehow find a way to win another one.

We'll call it a draw on this week's debate

I was about to tell you to take your victory lap until I saw that box score from Clinton. So close to a great 'any given Saturday' game.

On another note, I was happy to be wrong about a close game in Middlebury. Blowout from start to finish. Not sure I've ever seen a 32-2 scoreline before.

[CardiacEphs]

Hearing rumors that the trinity football lockeroom got robbed during the game by a coalition of locals led by Williams captain Michael Sheskey who did not play today with a minor injury. Nothing serious and he held himself out by personal preference.