Competing the Z: Riding the Bomb
by Jac Coyne | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff | Coyne Archive | Twitter
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| Coyne will be doing his best Slim Pickens routine if this last resort ploy doesn't at least halve Zazzaro's lead. |
'Competing the Z' is a Men's Division III pick 'em
competition between LMO's Jac Coyne and Dave Zazzaro, a D-III coach
for 17 years and a former member of the NCAA regional committee.
They will be picking five games every week during the course of the
season. Scroll to the bottom for past picks.
Another 5-0 week for Zazzaro. Another 1-4 week for Coyne.
That puts me nine games back of Z’s record of 20-10.
This, unfortunately, calls for me to dig into the briefcase and
grab the launch codes.
It’s time to use the nuclear option.
In this case, ‘going nuclear’ means not only increasing
the choices to 10 games, but also inserting a pair of Colorado
College contests. In deference to Zazzaro’s former coaching
position at CC, I’ve steered away from selecting Tiger games,
but now I’ve got to find an edge.
If that means putting Z through the emotional wringer, so be
it.
It took him about three weeks, but Zazzaro also figured out that I
was looking at his picks prior to making my own. I think a
chimpanzee would have figured it out in just two considering we
were differing on about 90 percent of our choices. I didn't
think it was that big of a deal, but apparently he feels it's
a breach of pick ‘em etiquette.
“I'm already inside his head as he waits for my picks to come
in and then picks off of my picks,” he said. “He needs
big-time help, so hopefully he has a little more success this
week."
Whatever.
“Honestly, I have no idea what Jac is doing. He gets crushed
when we pick five games a week; making it ten games is only going
to make matters worse. I know he thinks he can work himself back
into striking distance by adding more games, but the bleeding won't
stop this week for him. He's done!”
If my nuclear strike ends up landing on me instead, I may just post
Z’s picks on Twitter from now on and save LMO the cyberspace.
On to the games…(records as of Wednesday morning)
Wesleyan (5-4) at Colby (5-3), 1
p.m., Saturday
COYNE: Both of these teams appear to be bested
suited to play the role of spoiler this year. Colby because they
are still a year away from being a true contender in the conference
and Wesleyan due to their obvious rebuilding struggles. I would
typically tend to go with the more experienced team in this
instance, but I think the home field will be the key for the White
Mules. Colby in a nailbiter.
ZAZZARO: Colby is rolling pretty good and Wesleyan has
trouble scoring. This all equals a win for the Mules. Colby 9,
Wesleyan 6.
Union (6-1) at St. Lawrence
(4-3), 1 p.m., Saturday
COYNE: After having its 32-game Liberty League
winning streak snapped against Skidmore last week, St. Lawrence
tries to right the ship against a very good Union team. The Saints
will have the benefit of home field, but I’m just not sure
how good they are right now. I’ll take the Dutchmen by a
couple.
ZAZZARO: Big Liberty match-up, but, I see the home team
pulling it out. St. Lawrence, 10-8.
Stevens (6-3) at St. No. 13 John Fisher (10-0),
1 p.m., Saturday
COYNE: I love the run Fisher has made to start
this season, but let’s be honest: they haven’t played
the stiffest of schedules. Only two of the 10 teams – York
(6-5) and Brockport (6-2) – are over the .500 plateau. They
now head into the make-or-break part of their schedule with
Stevens, RIT and Naz in the next three. That’s a pretty
daunting proposition, and I think they’ll struggle. Stevens,
8-6.
ZAZZARO: I think St. John Fisher is playing with a little
chip on its shoulder and have something to prove (they are for
real!). SJF over Stevens, 9-8 in overtime.
Lycoming (4-4) at FDU-Florham (4-4), 1
p.m., Saturday
COYNE: Not much to see here; maybe a preview of a
MAC semifinal game. Wanted to find a couple of even teams and
I’ve been keeping my eye on Lyco since I put together a piece on them in the preseason. The Devils’ loss
to Manhattanville is still fresh in my mind. Lycoming, 11-7.
ZAZZARO: I have no idea in this one, so I'm going with the
home team. FDU-Florham, 10-8.
Catholic (7-1) at Drew (4-3), 1
p.m., Saturday
COYNE: I was burned when I took Scranton against
Zazzaro’s alma mater, Drew, earlier in the season but I think
the Cardinals have a better shot in this Landmark clash. The
Rangers are still favored, but I’m going to bank on a huge
game out of Catholic goalie Sean McKenna.
ZAZZARO: Drew at home in an 11-6 game.
Babson (5-4) at Wheaton
(3-3), 1 p.m.,
Saturday
COYNE: This a strength of schedule game. Babson
hasn’t won any of its marquee games – Skidmore, Union,
Eastern Conn., Tufts – but they’ve gained a lot of
experience that should pay off against Wheaton. The Lyons, on the
hand, have only played one team that has more wins than losses. The
Beavers will grind this one out, 9-5.
ZAZZARO: A big game out of the Boston area, which will be
won by Wheaton, 9-7
Colorado College (7-1) at
Kenyon (5-4), 1:30 p.m.,
Saturday
COYNE: Kenyon has five wins, but four of those
have come against programs that have started in the last three
years. The Tigers are a little more polished, and will take this
one by three.
ZAZZARO: A big Pool B match-up. Kenyon has graduated a lot
of offense, so I’m not sure how they'll score. Colorado
College, 11-7
Colorado College (7-1)
at Wooster (5-4),
12 p.m., Sunday
COYNE: Wooster has that big win over the Big Red
in its pocket. I think Colorado College could definitely beat the
Scots on a level playing field, but there are a couple of things
tipping against the Tigers in this second game of the weekend.
Gimme the Scots by a deuce.
ZAZZARO: CC will need to go 3-1 in Ohio to have a good
chance at making the postseason. Wooster had a big win against
Dension to strengthen their Pool B resume. At this point in the
season, it is just about getting a ‘W.’ I see CC in a
squeaker, 8-7 in overtime.
Zazzaro's pick
Ponderosa High School
(4-4) at Chaparral High
School (5-3), 6 p.m.
MDT, Friday
ZAZZARO: Taking it to the high school ranks for
two cross-town rivals as Ponderosa H.S. vs. Chaparral H.S –
both from Parker, Colo. – square off on Friday
night. I believe my Ponderosa Mustangs will prevail in this one
8-6. We play great defense and are starting to click on offense.
Chaparral is well-balanced and will pose many challenges. It won't
be easy for either team.
COYNE: I feel bad enough for the Ponderosa players that
they have to listen to Zazzaro every day, and now I have to pick
against them. I’ll take the Wolverines in a defensive tussle,
5-4.
Jac's Pick
Johnson State (0-3)
at Maine-Farmington (2-1), 1
p.m., Saturday
COYNE: Are you ready for the NAC! There’s
been so much interest in this game that they’ve taken it off
the board in Vegas. Don’t be fooled by Johnson State’s
record; they’ll give the Beavers all they can handle on
Saturday. Will the Badgers be able to pull of the victory even with
a long trip from Vermont to Central Maine? I think they will.
Johnson State, 13-11.
ZAZZARO: Jac is bring me back to my Maine days with UMF on
the board. I'm going with the Maniacs. UMF, 14-9
Previous installments of ‘Competing the
Z’
Weekend of Feb.
27
Weekend of March
6
Weekend of March
13
Weekend of March
20
Weekend of March
27
Weekend of April 3
