PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 5--One-Platoon football and its two earlier defeats to the contrary, Princeton's football team ruled a solid one-touchdown favorite be beat in improving Harvard team in Palmer Stadium tomorrow.

If Princeton was at a premium, then so were tailbacks as both teams went through last minute preparations. The Tigers were without their all-American candidate Royce Flippin, who was favoring a bad wrist, and his understudy Dick Frye will probably see only limited action.

Even Dick Emery, a dangerous passer who beat Harvard with one fell flip last season, is injured, so Coach Charley Caldwell will start Sid Pinch, a small, slow runner who turned in a surprisingly fine game against Colgate.

The Crimson, too, is without a star tailback. Sophomore Matt Botsford, the team's leading ground gainer and second in rushing yardage in the Ivy League, injured his arm last week and probably will watch the game from the sidelines. But his replacement sophomore Jim Joslin, like the rest of this team, is no man to underrate. Joslin weighs 195 pounds, he can run very hard, he can pass, he can punt, and he can play defense. Joslin's only trouble this season stems from his own nervousness, not from opposing linemen. Botsford is a very poised football player who gets the most out of an opening: Joslin is a very powerful player who gets an opening out of most anything.

Both Lines Strong

The oddsmakers base their choice of Princeton on two things--the Tigers' surprising tie game with Colgate Saturday, and the Crimson's 2-3 record. The former shows that Princeton has depth and a good line; the latter is apt to be very deceiving. This is a good Harvard football team, and the feeling among its followers is, that starting Saturday the balance of power in the Big Three will start to shift north. Whether it stops in Connecticut or Massachusetts would be decided November 20.

Behind a very strong lien Jordan will start a backfield which has stumbled at times, but which last Saturday started playing well-coordinated football. Wingbacks Bob Cowles and Babe Simourian ran well in a backfield with sophomore fullback Tony Gianelly, Joslin, and blocking back Jerry Marsh. Against Ohio last week, the lowest rushing average was Simourian's 4.5.

The Crimson put in a long week of intensive scrimmages as it prepared for this game. Harvard hasn't beaten the Tigers since 1946, and barring Caldwell, no one is more conscious of it than the Harvard football players.

The Harvard line, built around a superlative guard, Bill Meigs, has not been outplayed all year, despite the three defeats. With Meigs, who plays aggressive alert football both ways, are Captain Tim Anderson, tackles John Maher, Orville Tice and Bill Frate, and centers Dave Bodiker and Art Painter. Last year the Crimson line outplayed Princeton, this year no one expects any less. Considering the fine quality of the Tiger line play, tomorrow's game is likely to be decided on top of and around the line of play, tomorrow's game is likely to be decided on top of and around the line of scrimmage.

With is tailbacks in bad physical shops, Caldwell tomorrow will probably depend to a great extent on the running of wingback Frank Agnew, Agnew gained extremely well on weak side reverses and and sweeps against Colgate and may test the right side of the Crimson line.

Princeton received a break from the doctor this week when it was announced that Dick Martin, first string fullback who separated a shoulder against Browns, would be ready for part time action.

Harvard Coach Jordan will probably spell Joshin with reserve tailbacks Sam Fyock and Bing Crosby. Crosby is a fine defensive player, while Fyock throws a very accurate short pass, and is an outstanding defensive back. If Jordan shifts into an A-formation with the quarterback under center, sophomore Phil Hanghey, who passed the Crimson up the field for its touchdown against Dartmouth, will go in at quarterback