CRC Men's Premier Preview and Predictions
CRC Men's Premier Preview and Predictions
The CRC 7s is set for this weekend and the Men’s Premier Division is back with 32 teams.
The teams come from four divisions: D3, D1AA, NCR D1, and D1A. Interestingly, no D2 teams are there. But we do have Loyola of Maryland and Babson, both D3 teams.
The format is, once again, a straight knockout format. The first game for all 32 is a win or you’re into the consolations. Not everyone loves this format, but it does carry drama for each round.
Here’s a look at the teams in groups of four games.
Wheeling vs Babson
Virginia Tech vs Mary Washington
Notre Dame vs Harvard
Brown vs Texas A&M
While Babson has enjoyed plenty of success as a D3 team and won the (then-called) Small College title at the CRC last year, they did lose to Kutztown 36-0 at the Stag 7s. Similarly, they were shut out vs Brown a week before at the Monumental 7s.
Defending CRC Premier champs Wheeling haven’t looked like they have lost any 7s momentum. going 17-1-1 this spring. Their one loss was in the final of the Fighting Irish 7s (21-17) and they had already qualified for the CRC. Wheeling is a favorite to win again.
UMW is in the CRAA Challenger Cup final a week later, so who they field in this CRC tournament remains to be seen. They looked good in the tournaments they played but Wheeling looks very dangerous.
While new Texas A&M Head Coach Tui Osborne is an excellent 7s coach, he hasn’t been there long. Brown would be favored here. Yes Brown stumbled against St. Bonaventure in the Stag 7s but they are Ivy League champs and won the Brown 7s, beating AIC in the final. Notre Dame? They won Big 10, so, yes, they could come through. But we think Brown vs Wheeling will probably the quarterfinal coming out of here.
Kutztown vs Iona
Siena vs Aquinas
AIC vs Rio Grande
Queens vs Fordham
Kutztown target this tournament as one they need to win and they have looked very good so far; not perfect, but very good. They took 3rd at Fighting Irish, losing only to Wheeling. they went 3-1 at Stag 7s, losing only to St. Bonaventure. They did beat AIC, but only by a try. This bracket looks like it might be between Kutztown, AIC, and Queens.
Iowa Central vs Nazareth
Walsh vs Adrian
Clemson vs Purdue
St. Bonaventure vs Delaware
Iowa Central won the Fighting Irish Invitational and beat Wheeling 21-17 in the final. They should probably be favored in that group of four. But Clemson and St. Bonaventure on the other side could well emerge as winners. St. Bonaventure lost the Stag 7s final 7-5 to Dartmouth, and beat Babson, Kutztown, and Brown. Walsh, 2nd in Ruck the Rock, and Clemson, 3rd in Ruck the Rock, could well find their moment this weekend.
Dartmouth vs Loyola Md.
Indiana vs Fairfield
Marian vs Michigan
Belmont Abbey vs Drury
This will potentially be the closes group of eight teams. Several could emerge group winners, but keep an eye on Indiana (4th in Fighting Irish and semifinalists in Big 10) and Marian. For their part, Marian came second in the Big Rivers 7s behind Wheeling, although it's worth pointing out that Iowa Central sent a younger group than you'll see in the CRC. Still, the Knights have some ability and, if their defense holds, they will be difficult to play against.
Belmont Abby won Ruck the Rock over Walsh and if form holds we might see them face Marian in the Round of 16.
So here's are our picks (keep in mind that GRR enters CRC's Bracket Challenge every year and never wins):
Favorite to win: Wheeling
Main Challengers: May Washington, Iowa Central, Brown, Kutztown
Dark Horse: Clemson, Indiana
Most Likely to Finish 17th (lose first round, run the table after): Texas A&M
Most Likely to Finish 9th (win first round, lose second round, and win thereafter): AIC, Mary Washington
Most Likely to Finish 5th (lose quarterfinals but win after that): Brown
