"Harvard 27, Yale 21," Brown said. "It will be an emotional high. Harvard will be riding with the closing out of Joe Restic."

Lynch foresees an even wider point spread between the two rivals. "Joe cruises out on top and into retirement with a 31 to 14 win," he said.

No stranger to controversy, Kenan Professor of Government Harvey Mansfield '53 pulled no punches in his prediction for the weekend.

"I think Harvard will win 20 to 7," he said. "The reason is that Yale is weak in brawn this year. Of course, they are always weak in brains."

Jones Professor of Classical Greek Literature Gregory Nagy made the most pessimistic prediction--only a six point Harvard win. And why will Harvard win?

"Karma," says Nagy, who teaches Literature and Arts C-14, affectionately known as "Heroes for Zeroes." "No, not karma. Maybe charisma."

And, of course, at least one notable Harvard alumnus confessed ignorance of the 120th Harvard-Yale game.

U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, a 1963 Harvard Law School graduate, had her assistant tell The Crimson that "Ms. Reno has not followed the games closely enough to make a prediction."

Some people must have better things to do with their time.