Lehigh fans not wanting to make the trip to the Bronx today can -- depending on their cable package -- see the game on the CBS Sports Network.
To some it may seem like just another Patriot League game, but it is one of the most attractive FCS-level matchups in the country considering both are unbeaten and ranked in the top 15.
For Fordham, the game is slightly more important in the sense that the Rams must receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament since they are ineligible for the automatic berth that goes to the Patriot League champion. Lehigh, even it loses today, still has all of its Patriot League games that will count in the standings ahead of them, starting with Georgetown in two weeks.
So, some things to look for:
1. The great quarterback play. Fordham's Mike Nebrich and Lehigh's Brandon Bialkowski have been as good as it gets at this level. Most impressive about Nebrich is that he has just one interception in 175 throws. Bialkowski has five picks in 177 attempts, but has been more careful in recent weeks. Nebrich is also much more of a running threat with a net-286 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.
2. The turnover battle. The Rams thrive off of turnovers with a plus nine. Their opponents have fumbled the ball 12 times, losing nine. That indicates this is an aggressive, ball-hawking defense. Lehigh has got to worry about ball security and not give the potent Fordham offense any freebies or short fields to work with.
3. Quarterback protection: This kind of goes together with No. 2, but Lehigh's offensive line, which played well against New Hampshire, must do a good job against Fordham. The Rams have 14 sacks in five games. Watch out in particular for No. 99, DeAndre Slate, a defensive tackle who has 4.5 sacks.
4. Treat Fordham like it's a CAA school: Because with four scholarship classes building the roster, the Rams are just like Villanova, UNH, Delaware, Towson or any of the CAA big boys. The Rams knocking off Villanova and Temple clearly shows that this is not your father's Fordham. Lehigh has dominated this series with 23 wins in 25 games and the Mountain Hawks have won the last five. Last time they were here in 2011, Lehigh rolled 34-12 behind Chris Lum and Co. But this is the best Fordham team Lehigh has ever seen.
5. If the game is close at the end, watch out excited CBS Sports Network analyst Tom Bradley gets. He was really pumped up for this game when I interviewed him earlier in the week. Bradley is the former Penn State coach who loves talking Xs and Os. You can tell he misses being on the sidelines. He seems thrilled to be doing these games and doesn't mind that Coffey Field is nothing, and I mean nothing, like Beaver Stadium. I would be surprised if that passion isn't evident in his voice today as he works this game.
And here is the preview capsule that ran in the print editions of today's Morning Call:
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No. 13/10 LEHIGH (4-0) AT No. 12/13 FORDHAM (5-0)
When/where: 12 p.m. today at Jack Coffey Field, New York, N.Y.
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: ESPN of LV, AM 1230 and 1320.
Series: Lehigh 23-2. Last meeting: Lehigh 34-31 in Bethlehem on Sept. 29, 2012.
Lehigh stat leaders: Brandon Bialkowski 115-177, 1,530 yds, 11 TDs, 5 INTs; Keith Sherman 60 car., 278 yds, 4.6 ypc, 2 TDs; Lee Kurfis 41 rec., 702 yds, 4 TDs; Sergio Fernandez-Soto 22 rec., 296 yds, TD; Tyler Ward 42 TT, 2 TFL; 2 INT; Noah Robb 25 TT, 2 TFL, Sack, INT.
Fordham stat leaders: Mike Nebrich 129-175, 1,377 yds, 12 TDs, INT; Carlton Koonce 113 car., 625 yds, 5.5 ypc, 5 TDs; Tebucky Jones 33 rec., 361 yds, 2 TDs; Stephen Hodge 41 TT, 4.0 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 pass breakups.
The skinny: You can’t ask for anything more than two unbeaten and nationally-ranked teams going head-to-head on national television. Lehigh continues to amaze with its comebacks and the win over New Hampshire figures to give the Mountain Hawks extra confidence entering this one. Lehigh has made remarkable improvements in the second halves of games, but you wonder whether that can continue. Fordham, bolstered by four scholarship classes, is the most explosive offense that Lehigh has faced and Nebrich is the best quarterback. The Rams are a plus-9 in turnover ratio. So, Lehigh must take care of the ball and have the defense play its best game just to keep this one close and give the amazing offense a chance to do its late-game magic.
Keith Groller's pick: Fordham 38-28.
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