CAA Football Preview Week 5: Who's for real?

With the Villanova Wildcats back in the win column, they'll take a break from CAA play this weekend when they take on local rivals Penn.

8 CAA teams do battle this week. It should be a good week to see who is going to be a part of the upper-echelon of the conference in 2013.

Saturday, September 28

New Hampshire (1-1, 0-0 CAA) vs. Lehigh (3-0, 0-0 Patriot League) -- 12:30 pm ET

The other Wildcats started the season a week after everyone else, played a terrible Central Michigan team close, and then curb-stomped Colgate before taking another bye week. They'll be well rested for Lehigh, who despite their impressive football facilities, won't have the firepower to match UNH.

Central Connecticut St. (1-3, 0-0 NEC) vs. Rhode Island (1-2, 1-2 CAA) -- 1:00 pm ET

Did CCSU secretly join the CAA in the offseason and it hasn't been announced yet? This will be their third CAA opponent in the first five games of the seasons. After losing 20-0 to a solid Tribe team last week, I'm starting to think Rhody is going to be the trap game of the year for everyone.

Maine (3-1, 0-0 CAA) vs. Richmond (2-2, 0-0 CAA) -- 4:00 pm ET

Maine played Northwestern extremely well, but was undone by not one, but two pick-sixes before falling 35-21 at the #18 Wildcats. Richmond pulled out a big win at home behind a surprise rushing performance from Jacobi Green. Their defense also forced two turnovers and blocked a field goal to secure the win in the second half.

Towson (4-0, 0-0 CAA) vs. Stony Brook (1-2, 1-1 CAA) -- 6:00 pm ET

Despite a new QB at the helm this season, Towson look like the favorites to win the conference so far behind RB Terrance West. Stony Brook look like they may be headed for a rough season after RB Marcus Coker was announced out for the remainder of the year.

Albany (1-3, 0-1 CAA) vs. Old Dominion (2-2) -- 6:00 pm ET

Brian was lamenting earlier this week that Villanova doesn't get to face the Danes this season. For their next beatdown, they get to face Taylor "The Machine" Heinecke and the Monarchs. For as bad as Albany has been, they also haven't truly gotten blown out yet. That changes this week.

James Madison (3-1, 0-0 CAA) vs. Delaware (3-1, 0-0 CAA) -- 7:00 pm ET

Both teams are coming off cakewalk wins, over Charlotte and Wagner respectively. Both teams have played an extremely soft schedule thus far, so this should be an interesting matchup to see which traditional power might be closer to returning to their dominant ways.

*William & Mary is off this week