UPIA1968
PhD Student
Posts: 1122
Loc: Cornwall, PA
Reg: 11-20-06
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01-14-24 07:08 PM - Post#361677
Cornell provides and interesting challenge to the Clark-less Quakers. As a 252 ranked defense Cornell is not likely to shut down Penn even without Clark. The issue is obviously defense, a very strong Cornell 2 Point offense (No 1 rank) against Penn's ordinary defense.
Fortunately Clark's absence does not weaken Penn. The two games since the injury suggest that the defense is stronger without him.
Because of these matchups, this game will tell us something about Penn's ability to play against the top three. Over the last four years Penn has averaged two wins against other teams in Ivy Madness. That indicates that an upset of two is likely. However, in those same years Penn has also usually lost two games to the rest of the league. This year KP predicts one loss.
After Cornell, Penn gets three also-rans, probably without Clark. Harvard is balanced O and D. Columbia is weak on D, while Brown is weak on O. That suggests to me that the Harvard game is the key to a good start against the 'others'. That game is on the road. A win there would be very important.
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