The Big Red enters this weekend with a 3-0 record, fresh off a dramatic upset over No. 25 Colgate. No Ithaca team under coach David Archer has experienced such early success.
Even so, the crucial fact remains that Cornell football typically loses to Harvard football. Per usual it’ll be a long ride back to Ithaca.
Prediction: Harvard 24, Cornell 20
COLUMBIA AT WAGNER
First fact: Wagner College has graduated more Miss New Jerseys (three) than NFL players (two).
Second fact: When you search “Miss America arrested” on Google, the first three distinct results detail how: a former Miss Pennsylvania faked cancer; a former Miss America shoplifted nail polish and flashlight batteries, among other items; and a former Miss Kansas illegally killed a grizzly bear.
Synthesis of facts: Wagner contains beauty. But beauty can be dangerous.
It’s tempting to look at the Seahawks’ ranking just outside the FCS top 25 and predict a blowout victory. Lest we forget, Columbia is Columbia, meaning 0-3.
However, the Lions have grown from dysfunctional baby cubs into semi-functional preteens. We’re about 10 minutes into The Lion King.
Wagner will win, make no doubt, but the going will be tough. Slowly the Lions from Morningside Heights are climbing the rock.
Prediction: Wagner 17, Columbia 10
PRINCETON AT GEORGETOWN
RIP to the lost dogs. That headline accurately describes the scene at Texas A&M last year, when the Aggies re-interred seven canines who had served as mascots. Now fans can pay their respects before watching SEC football.
RIP to the lost dogs also foreshadows the outcome of this week’s Princeton-Georgetown mascot. Last Saturday the Tigers steamrolled over Columbia, rebounding from a high-scoring loss to Lehigh.
The Hoyas, meanwhile, were undefeated before a 31-17 defeat to the Harvard that sounded closer than it actually was. Besides two long scores, Georgetown totaled 116 yards and generally inspired pity.
Let me tell a final story to illustrate my point. Early this year, Harvard water polo coach Ted Minnis traveled to New Jersey for the Princeton Invitational. He rose to the occasion, flashing great ability throughout the weekend. The Crimson played three games and won all three - a truly happy ending.
Magical things happen at Princeton. That magic will stay with the Tigers when they trek to the nation’s capital.
Prediction: Princeton 34, Georgetown 13
—Staff writer Sam Danello can be reached at sam.danello@thecrimson.com