FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

Bantamsdad69, I know as well as anyone that it's hard to not fall into Nescacman's trap, but I've learned over the years that it's exactly what he's looking for. He knows as well as the rest of the board that there's no real case to be made for Wesleyan in the top spot after their narrow escape in Clinton. Best to just roll your eyes and realize that despite his very meaning full addition to the board he can't help himself when it comes to his complete lack of objectivity about Wesleyan.

Combined record of opponents of 1st Place NESCAC teams (through 3 games):

Amherst: 0-9

Hartford State: 2-7

Wesleyan: 4-5
 

[Trin9-0]

It's your ranking bud, do what's in your heart.

All I know is that Wes needed a miracle to beat a team who hasn't had a winning season since 1996. Meanwhile Trinity completely obliterated the team YOU had ranked as the third best in the NESCAC.

[Nescacman]

We stumbled across a site that literally blows the SP+ ratings away. Here you go:

https://hansenratings.com/projections/2026/matchup/

Had some fun with it. FWIW...The Hansen model has North Central beating Hartford State in the Coop by 17. HaHa

[Nescacman]

Knowing Hs7-2 like we do, we'll beat him to the punch:

North Central 42 Wes 16 (North Central -26) @Andrus..

Hansen has HS giving 30 this Saturday to the Continentals btw...

[Nescacman]

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast

Available Soon! Available wherever you get your podcasts!

9 Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast S.3 Ep.4 (Special Guests: Wesleyan University QB Matt Fitzsimons, Tufts University Head Coach Jay Civetti, and D3Football.com's Executive Editor Patrick Coleman).

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]

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast

Available Now! Available wherever you get your podcasts!

9 Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast S.3 Ep.4 (Special Guests: Wesleyan University QB Matt Fitzsimons, Tufts University Head Coach Jay Civetti, and D3Football.com's Executive Editor Patrick Coleman).

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.

[JEFFFAN]

Very sad story - Williams College recruit.

https://www.boston.com/community/local-news/2026/10/07/marblehead-football-captain-owen-coyne-remembered-as-a-quiet-leader-who-made-others-feel-seen/

[Nescacman]

Very sad story - Williams College recruit.

https://www.boston.com/community/local-news/2026/10/07/marblehead-football-captain-owen-coyne-remembered-as-a-quiet-leader-who-made-others-feel-seen/

Yes, it is. Nescac1 previously shared this with us last week. Obviously, our condolences and thoughts go out to his family and friends.

[Nescacman]

2026 Week 4 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome NESCAC 2026 Week #4 "in the league where they pay to play".

Our NESCAC game of the week is in Amherst, Mass where the Amherst Lord Mammoths host the Middlebury Panthers. This is the only battle in Week #4 that pits two winning teams against one another.

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

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

University of Bates (Lewiston Campus) at Williams College: The Kitties travel to Williamstown to face the Ephs. Both teams are coming off disappointing losses. UBates has not done well in recent years against Williams losing the last 8 contests. Playing without their stars and emotional leaders, Ryan Lynskey and Ryan Rosich, the Kitties have been playing gritty football, despite coming into this game 0-3. There is a scenario where UBates could be 2-1 even with tons of injuries to key starters, losing close games to both Amherst and Tufts. Williams will look to regroup after getting absolutely crushed at Hartford State last week. As near as we can tell, it was the largest loss ever for Williams against Hartford State. Williams has struggled throwing the ball 9last in the NESCAC in passing offense, 6 interceptions and only 1 passing TD). Prior to last week, they were running the ball well, however. Meanwhile, UBates has offense seemed to figure some things out against Tufts last week. We'll see if that continues. UBates wins if: They stop the Ephs ground game and force them to throw. Williams wins if: The offense is a bit more balanced and they get star receiver Zach Falls more involved. We think this game will be a close, low scoring affair. The Ephs pull away in the 4th quarter at home for their 3rd win. Would not be surprised in UBates covers the spread

Williams 20 UBates 10
Point Spread: Williams -10
Weather: Partly cloudy skies. High 61F. Winds light and variable.

Colby College at Wesleyan University: Mules continue to struggle. The Colby offense has scored exactly 3 touchdowns in 3 games and is yet to demonstrate the ability to run the ball consistently. Colby is last in the NESCAC in total offense and 8th in total defense. Meanwhile, Wesleyan is coming off an emotional last second win against the plucky Conts. They are a close second in the NESCAC in scoring and total offense. They have scored at least 35 points in every game and 40+ points the last two games. Wesleyan has won 14 of their last 15 meetings with Colby and has won the last 7 times these teams have played in Middletown. Colby played a freshman QB last week instead of the transfer Stephen Gil. We're not sure if that was injury related or coaches' decision. Colby wins if: They get the running game going, control the clock and force Wes to turn the ball over. They will need hold Wesleyan to under 20 points, which is a tall task. Wesleyan wins if: They keep the petal to the metal and play better defense against the Mules. We think Wes has too much offense and we think the defense bounces back against the Mules offense. The Cards get win #4 at home on the new Andrus turf.

Wesleyan 35 Colby 13
Point Spread: Wesleyan -17
Weather: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 66F. Winds light and variable.

Hamilton College at Hartford State: Two tough games in a row for the Continentals. Hamilton is coming off a 38-point performance against Wesleyan. As unbelievable as it sounds, and as well as their offense played against Wes, they will have to play even better against Hartford State to have a shot at a win (or to even make this game competitive). QB Luke Kurzum could make this game interesting. Hamilton is last in the NESCAC in defense (226th in country out of 243 D3 teams, as well) and their offense is facing the top defense in the country in D3. We expect the Conts to throw early and often. Hartford State wins if: Their defense continues to play at a high-level, they run the ball effectively chewing up the clock and the keep the ball away from the Hamilton offense. Hamilton wins if: They will need to play one of the greatest games in Hamilton College history to shock the world and come away with the upset in the Coop. The Bants haven't lost to HAM since 1994 (that's 30 straight games) and it's not going to happen this year.

Hartford State 49 Hamilton 21
Point Spread: Hartford State -28
Weather: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 66F. Winds light and variable.

Bowdoin College at Tufts University: Tufts returns home after a thrilling win against the Kitties last week in Lewiston. Kudos to the Polars who have played valiantly while dealing with off-the field, non-football related issues. Kudos to the student-athletes and coaches for staying focused. Bowdoin has played solid defense while their offense has struggled to get the ball into the end zone. Bowdoin needs to do a better job protecting the ball (7 turnovers-6 interceptions, 1 fumble lost), converting on third down (26%), running the ball (1.6 yards per carry and no rushing TDs), and scoring in the red zone (2 of 5). Christian Shapiro has been a bright spot for Tufts running the ball (2nd in the league in rushing). The Tufts defense has struggled at times and will have to pick up against BOW. Bowdoin wins if: The defense continues to play well and shuts down the Tufts offense. They get some production out of their offense. Tufts wins if: They score 17 points.  We think Tufts's scores just enough to come away with the win.

Tufts 27 Bowdoin 13
Point Spread:  Tufts -10
Weather (courtesy of The Weather Channel): Partly cloudy. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Middlebury College at Amherst College: Intriguing battle in our NESCAC game of the week. MID's only loss was to unbeaten Wesleyan and Amherst comes in at 3-0. Amherst is yet to beat a team with a win. This series has been very even over the years. However, MID has won the last 3 games overall and the last 4 at Amherst. Big question is what is the status of Amherst QB Marek Hill? He did not play last week, despite being the NESCAC OPOTW the week before. MID wins if: They can run the ball against the stout Lord Mammoth run defense. Getting Connor McClelland going is key. AMH wins if: If their pass defense keeps up with their run defense. Tough not to make Amherst the favorite at home in this one but we have a feeling that MID is poised for the mild upset to give the Lord Mammoths their first loss of 2026. It's Fall break at Amherst...over/under on crowd size if 500. We'll take the under.

Middlebury 17 Amherst 13
Point Spread: Amherst -1
Weather: Partly cloudy. High 64F. Winds light and variable.

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

NESCACMAN's Career Picks:
2026 Season: 14-1 (.933 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: 407-128 (.761 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.4 (Special Guests: Wesleyan University QB Matt Fitzsimons, Tufts University Head Coach Jay Civetti, and D3Football.com's Executive Editor Patrick Coleman).

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.