Who Let The Dogs Out: The Crease Dive's College Lacrosse Weekend Preview And PLL Expansion Draft Recap
There are two things in this world that I would hate to be right now. The first of those being a beer, considering that a zillion of them are getting deleted all across North America tonight. The 2nd would be a goalie in college lacrosse because the back of every net in the nation has been stuffed with rubber so far this season. Goals on top of goals on top of goals on top of goals. And leading the charge of ruining goalies' lives is Chase Scanlan after he put up 7 goals in his Syracuse debut.
On this week's episode we talk about Scanlan's debut, recap everything else you might have missed over the last week in college lacrosse, we talk about the Waterdogs PLL Expansion Draft now that their roster is set, and finally we wrap things up with our college lacrosse weekend preview.
Listen here on Spotify:
College Lacrosse Weekend Preview [2.14 - 2.15]
#6 Penn @ #4 Maryland // Saturday, 12pm // Line: Maryland -1.5, O/u 26
The Ivy League always gets a later start on the season since they're not officially allowed to start practicing until February 1. So having to start off the year against Maryland after they've already put together 2 wins is a tough order. But this Penn team is coming into the season absolutely loaded.
They bring back Sam Handley who is a first team preseason All American as a sophomore. They bring back Adam Goldner who had over 50 goals last season. And then they also got to add Patrick Burkinshaw in cage who transferred over from Virginia after last year. So it might be a slower start for Penn in this game but this could be the year of the Quaker. The fact that it's their season opener on the road against a program like Maryland and the line is only 1.5 reeks of an "upset".
Jordie's Pick: Penn +1.5 to be safe but leaning ML.
#19 Rutgers @ #13 Army // Saturday, 12pm // Line: Army -2, O/u 21.5
I have an apology to issue to everybody. Last week I said I thought Army vs UMass would be one of the best games of the weekend. Good news is that Army lived up to the hype, bad news is that UMass ended up making me look like a total asshole. But what do you do when you fall off the horse, Derek? You get back on, even if you're not a gymnast. So we'll try this again.
I think Army and Rutgers will be one of the best games this weekend. Rutgers is a team that I'll never be fully sold on as a legitimate contender in May, but they're always going to be a competitive team. Army, on the other hand, have the ability to be full blown shit kickers. Brendan Nichtern already has 7 goals and 8 assists this season. In two games, this defense has only given up a total of 5 goals. So it'll be good to see them finally play some real competition, but I think the Troops are way too hot to drop a home game to Rutgers.
Jordie's Pick: Troops -2
Villanova @ #3 Yale // Saturday, 1pm // Line: Yale -4, O/u 24.5
Here's the thing--it's not even really worth trying to discuss this game. Because in each of the past 2 seasons, Yale has started off their season with an overtime loss to Villanova. They lost in OT to the Wildcats to start the 2018 and look at where that got them. They were National Champions. Then they lost in OT to Villanova again last year and look at where that got them. They were playing in the National Championship again. So each time Yale loses their season opener to Villanova in OT, their season ends on Memorial Day.
I think these nerds are way too smart to try to deviate from that plan. Yale is without a doubt better than Villanova. If this game were in March, it would be 15-7 at minimum. But since it's a February 15th game, this has OT dagger written all over it.
Jordie's Pick: Villanova +4
#11 Duke @ #8 Denver // Saturday, 2pm // Line: Denver -2, O/u 22
I could be wrong here but I'm pretty sure that since 2011, the home team in this matchup has won every year besides 2013. Soooo yeah. Tough break for February Duke having to travel out to the Rockies to take on Denver this weekend. I think between the travel and then having to deal with a couple of weapons like Ethan Walker and freshman JJ Sillstrop shooting the piss out of the ball, this will be another L early on for Duke. But after this week they're going to go on a run so in all honesty, it's probably for the best that they lose this game anyway.
But yeah. JJ Sillstrop had 5 goals in his Denver debut last week against Air Force. Ethan Walker 2. Alex Simmons and Ellis Geis still have to get themselves going a little. So if Denver's offense gets rolling before Duke even gets their legs going, the Pios should be able to be in control here the whole 4 quarters.
Jordie's Pick: Denver -2
#10 Johns Hopkins @ #16 Loyola // Saturday, 3:30pm // Line: Hopkins -1.5, O/u 24.5
This is where we need a big time statement game out of Hop. Over the last few years this team has been consistently inconsistent. They've shown flashes of being the best team in the nation, and then a week later it looks like they've never picked up a lacrosse stick before. So after bullying Towson last week with a 15-7 win, they need to do the same thing this week to a Loyola team that'll still be struggling to figure out their identity in the post-Pat Spencer era.
I'm still not sure what the status is for Joey Epstein in this game but the Blue Jays offense looked deep as heck last week even without Epstein on the field. So I think even if he's out again tomorrow, Hopkins should have too much fire power for Loyola to keep up with. Really all this game comes down to is if Hopkins can consistently kick the shit out of teams this year or if it'll be more of the same up and down.
Jordie's Pick: Hop -1.5.
Now go out there and have yourselves a weekend, boys and girls.
DOWNLOAD AND SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES HERE
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM: @thecreasedive