One of Gregg Easterbrook’s criticisms of modern football that's been on my mind is how most universities that field national championship-caliber teams are failing to hold athletes academically accountable. Instead, colleges make Herculean efforts to ensure that their star players are eligible Saturday.
Two conferences that do not reward athletic scholarships are the Ivy and Patriot Leagues. Schools like Cornell and Colgate don't offer financial aid for athletes, and try to emphasize academics.
This week, allow me to dabble with the smartypants.
(Sidenote: my Google searches for betting lines for either conference were in vain. I will be making my picks with random and asinine factoids that I've accumulated in my travels. And you wonder why I didn't get into Lehigh.)
Let's get to work!
The Ivy League
Columbia @ Yale
I went to school in Kansas with a kid actually named "Yale." Also Columbia got blanked last week and lost by 56.
Penn @ Brown
Brown is the third-highest scoring team in the Ivy League this season. I also hate Penn because America thinks Penn and Penn State are the same school. Losers.
Cornell @ Princeton
Princeton's helmets look like Michigan's.
Dartmouth @ Harvard
Harvard lost in triple overtime last week and will be experiencing a post-game hangover. Plus, Boston has won enough this week.
The Patriot League
Bucknell @ Colgate
Buckneezy upset undefeated Lehigh last week and will keep it rolling.
Holy Cross @ Fordham
Fordham is 8-0, yet sixth in the Patriot League. Because this conference makes no sense.
Lafayette @ Georgetown
The inverse of Fordham, Lafayette is 2-5 and first in the Patriot League. I'll take the Leopards because Lafayette is pretty much in Jersey and Chris Christie is going to cruise to reelection.
