The first round of the Varsity Cup opens up this weekend with eight games, of which few are seriously in doubt. Here's our take:

BYU v Arizona State. BYU's forwards are punishing in defense and their backline can run, can tackle, and can invent something on the fly. Arizona State can break open a try or two, but against the Cougars, that's all. BYU wins.

Coach Quote: "Many players stepped up to the challenge this season and we will need them to do it again against ASU," said BYU rugby head coach David Smyth of BYU's undefeated record. "We were able to develop more players this year and those who received those opportunities played well."

Penn State v Dartmouth. Like Arizona State, Dartmouth has some players who can score from anywhere, but they don't have a lot of them. Penn State is very strong up front, kicks their goals, and has performed well in tough games. Penn State wins. 

Clemson v Arkansas State. While this game ended up going to Clemson last year, this is a more experienced, healthier, and stronger Arkansas State team this season. The Red Wolves might be a little undercooked, and Clemson certainly has enjoyed more games than they, but it won't be enough. Arkansas State wins.

Notre Dame v Navy. Despite Navy's loss to Army a couple of weeks ago, the Midshipmen have been enjoying a series of impressive results going all the way back to the fall. There is no reason to think they will falter against a Notre Dame team that has some work to do. Navy wins.

Texas v Cal. Texas hasn't won a conference game. Cal hasn't lost one. This will be a lopsided victory for Cal. Cal wins.

Coach Quote: “The lineup plan is to field an underclassmen team against Santa Clara and a mixed team versus the Longhorns,” said Cal Head Coach Jack Clark. “This is going to be a challenging month of competition and we are going to need to manage the wear and tear on our players.”

Oklahoma v Army. The Sooners have been working their way back from some turmoil a year or so ago, and Army knows what that's like - they've had to bounce back, too. Right now, with their decent phase play and ability to break open a try from long range, Army is the stronger. Army wins.

Coach Quote: "I thought we showed great composure to rebound from a rough patch in the first half and regain momentum before grinding the game down in the second half," said Army Matt Sherman of his team's 27-22 win over Navy. "As thrilled as we are with this victory, I firmly believe our best rugby is ahead of us. We will need to remain humble and hungry in advance of our first round playoff fixture with a good Oklahoma squad."

UCLA v Central Washington. CWU, like Arkansas State, hasn't really played enough leading into this weekend, but UCLA has had some time off, too. CWU is bigger up front, and boasts some very impressive open-field talent. Remember, they've got Eagles Aladdin Schirmer and Seth Halliman in the lineup - players who can score quickly. They scored 27 against BYU, which is something few teams can do.CWU Wins.

Coach Quote:  "With Sharpe and Barry we need to put pressure on them and tackle them," CWU Head Coach Tony Pacheco said.  "They are quality ball handlers and we can't let them break our line or allow them to make plays for others.  We need to make them use their bench and utilize our bench, the team with the better bench wins."

Air Force v Utah. Utah won this matchup in October, and the Utes have been improving throughout the spring. They hung 50 on St. Mary's, and battled BYU tough in a performance that would have beaten most teams. Air Force is a little more structured at their best, but Utah just makes some things happen. Utah wins.