MCLA Picks: Schooling Schooler
by Jac Coyne | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff | Coyne Archive | Twitter
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| Nick Schooler had a lot of success with UC Santa Barbara, winning a pair of national titles. Unfortunately for Nick, he'll find the pick 'em industry to be a whole lot more difficult than playing Gaucho lacrosse. |
I've been covering the MCLA for a couple of years now, so it was
time to put my unmatched lacrosse knowledge to the test. Instead of
picking against thin air as I've done in the past, this year I'll
be competing against Nick Schooler for bragging rights.
A former All-American for UC Santa Barbara, Schooler won national
championships in 2004 and 2005 with the Gauchos. While his current
day job is pursuing a Master's degree in Marine Science with a
focus on coastal ecology at UCSB (hence the crab photo), he keeps a
keen eye on events in the MCLA. Born and bred in Berkeley, Calif.,
Schooler is a bit of a know-it-all, so he'll have that dogged
determination to continue even when he's out of the running and I'm
flirting with a perfect 55-0 record.
Nick and I will be picking five games every weekend. There will be
three baseline games - the biggest contests of the weekend - and
then we'll each add one game we find especially compelling that was
not included in the top three. We'll give our thoughts on the
contests each week and keep a running tab of the score.
Onto the games...
The Picks - Weekend of Feb. 13
No. 2 Brigham Young at No. 3 Chapman,
7 p.m. PT - Saturday
COYNE: It was two years ago that Chapman officially put
itself on the map when it defeated defending champion BYU in Orange
County. It only makes sense that the Cougars commence their '10
title quest by downing the Panthers. BYU 14, Chapman 10. (And yes,
I know BYU officially starts on Thursday against SDSU).
SCHOOLER: The first nationally televised game of the year on FOX
College Sports! It's like opening a birthday present when you watch
BYU's first game. It's never clear who will be playing for BYU at
the start of the season, and this will be the first big test for
BYU's new head coach Matt Schneck.
But sandwiching Chapman between San Diego State on Thursday and UC
Santa Barbara on Monday will be too much for the Cougars. Chapman
is just too strong on their home turf in the OC. Especially after
the romping that they laid down on Charlie Weis [Schooler's
nickname for San Diego head coach and former UCSB-er Mike DeWan]
and USD last weekend. Seven points from Maryland transfer Madison
Fiore in his first game! Watch out BYU, Chapman will win this game
easily.
COYNE: Just a reminder that this game will be broadcast live at 7
p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET) on Fox College Sports channel. Check it
out.
No. 16 Oregon
vs. California,
2 p.m. PT - Saturday (at
Washington)
COYNE: It's not that I don't think Oregon is a good team,
but despite earning a berth in Denver last year I wasn't overly
impressed with the Ducks (getting trounced in the first round
didn't help). Granted, they have a ‘new' coach, however I'm
going to need more convincing before I can pick them with any
confidence. I'll take Schooler's hometown team, Cal, 11-9.
SCHOOLER: An epic Pac 10 match-up. Cal is coming off their first
victory over UCSB since I was a high schooler rooting for the Bears
a decade ago. Unfortunately for the Ducks, the second coming of
Coach Kerwin will not be enough to boost Oregon past Berkeley. The
Bears will come out with an early lead and hold on to it for the
duration of the game.
No. 14 Cal Poly at No. 11 UC Santa Barbara,
2 p.m. PT - Saturday
COYNE: If you go back into the MCLA annals, Cal Poly's
biggest tormentor has been UCSB. Even last year, when the Mustangs
were having a banner season, winning the WCLL, and the Gauchos
finished with a .500 record, the Santa Barbarians still managed to
knock off CP, 6-3 on the road. I think the trend breaks. Cal Poly
9, UCSB 7.
SCHOOLER: The battle of the Central Coast. I'm going to go out on a
limb here and pick the Gauchos. Cal Poly is looking to avenge a
loss from last season in which the Gauchos held the Mustangs to
three goals, their lowest output of the season. With the loss of
UCSB's top two defenders from last year, look for an up and coming
rookie class to lead UCSB to victory.
Coyne's Game Pick
Arizona at
Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
MT - Saturday
COYNE: The conclusion of the 2009 season saw several of
the coaches responsible for the ascendancy of the MCLA step down in
Jason Lamb, Flip Naumburg and Gary Podesta. In College Station this
weekend, there will be a couple of card-carrying members of the Old
Guard roaming the sidelines. Tony Scazzero, the head coach at Texas
A&M and current MCLA president, and the newly reinstated
Mickey-Miles Felton at Arizona. Which old dog has the magic touch?
I think it's M-MF by a hair. Arizona 12, Texas A&M 11.
SCHOOLER: The Lone Star Alliance versus the SLC/WCLL. Enough said.
Arizona with an easy victory.
Schooler's Game Pick
Santa Clara at Loyola
Marymount, 1 p.m. PT -
Saturday
SCHOOLER: Just like BYU, Santa Clara has lost a coach
synonymous with their program. Gary Podesta started with the
program back in the 80's, but they parted ways during the summer.
The Broncos have some size 14 shoes to fill and will have to rally
if they want to defeat LMU.
Every season, the Lions look like they will break into the Top 15,
but seem to come up a little short. This year will be no different.
With 60 percent of the student population being women, it might be
tough for those guys to focus on lacrosse. However, I don't see
Santa Clara doing much with the loss of their coach so late in the
year, so I am going with LMU in this one.
COYNE: This is good first pick for Nick because it'll be tough to
call. I think if this game happened last week I would have quickly
picked Loyola Marymount, but the opening loss to San Diego State is
forcing me to hesitate. A lot of factors - Santa Clara getting it's
opener against UC Davis postponed, new coach for the Broncos, etc.
- are pointing me to pick the Lions, but I'm going to tab Santa
Clara in a narrow one, 12-10.
