Top D1A Games to Look Forward to in the Next Two Months
Top D1A Games to Look Forward to in the Next Two Months
Well that was quick, wasn't it.
We were on a break, right? Seemed like it was just a month ago ... OK it was a month ago ... still ... the break between the CRAA Fall Classic and ... umm ... now seems to have gone quickly.
Now we're looking ahead to the second half of the D1A season, with some conferences having finished their regular seasons (Rugby East, Navy were champs; Big 10, Indiana were champs; Rocky Mountain, BYU were champs), some are just starting (PAC, California, Red River), and one just keeps going (Mid-South).
There are also two teams, Central Washington and Grand Canyon, playing an independent schedule.
Coming up this month Saint Mary's College will take on British Columbia-based Trinity Western and then UC Davis. The Gaels start relatively early in the late fall/early winter and have already logged wins over Long Beach State and Life West, and a close loss to the American Raptors.
UCLA hosts the Storer Classic, which is a key warmup event for several teams. But here at GRR we are looking at the next couple of months and the games that might carry the most weight.
Cal Poly at Saint Mary's
Every year the Gaels are the favorites in the California Conference. And in this expanded and revamped California Conference they still are. But Cal Poly is on an improving run and this game will potentially give us an idea of where they might be.
The D1A playoffs lean on their rankings and often Cal Poly is right on the cusp of being in or out. We think there will be a tight competition within the California for 2nd (if form holds true and Saint Mary's takes 1st), and that was shown in December with San Diego State pushing Arizona 24-12 in a non-conference clash. We also think UC Santa Cruz could provide a bit of a scare for teams.
Two for Grand Canyon
The independent teams have a lot to prove each time they play. There are no soft games as an independent, as there might be when you're in a conference. If you win a conference and lose a non-conference game the reaction can be "oh well, they rested some players in that non-conference game and that doesn't really count." Not so for independent teams. They have to put their best showing forward every time.
January 23 Grand Canyon hosts UCLA, which will be a key indicator of where they stand. Then on February 4 the 'Lopes travel to Berkeley to play Cal. Win or lose, how they do in those games will make an important early impression.
Two For Central Washington
Also an independent, the Wildcats will be looking at games in January and February to establish their reputation within the rankings. February 4, a week after UCLA hosts GCU, UCLA hosts CWU. So then we will know (possibly) how Central compares to Grand Canyon.
After that, Saint Mary's will come home from the tour of the British Isles that they had to postpone because of COVID just in time to host Central Washington.
Mid-South
As we've pointed out in earlier articles, the Mid-South splits its schedule to ensure Davenport can fit their games in and not get snowed out. Jokes on them as the snow came piling on November 19 when they hosted Lindenwood. Still, they played the game in a blizzard.
Davenport comes into the second half with a 2-1 record and three road games to play. Meanwhile, Lindenwood is the only team to have beaten Davenport, with Life and Arkansas State having lost.
So ... February 18 Lindenwood visits Life, and this game could well be the big game in the conference. If Life wins this, it's all on. Lindenwood would be 1-1, Life 1-1, and there will be a massive run for a conference title among teams that have all lost a game.
