On paper, Harvard's football team is clearly better than Yale's.
But what's on paper doesn't always dictate what happens on the field.
There is no question that the Crimson will line up superior players on both sides of the ball this Saturday. In a game between two rivals, anything can happen, but the line on this game is that Harvard simply outmatches the Elis position by position.
Offense Quarterbacks
Rose has led Harvard's offense to a modern-day scoring record with 303 points so far this season. Rose and the rest of the offense have also tied the Harvard record for total offensive production with 4,237 yards through nine games.
Rose has been the catalyst of an offense that has terrorized Ivy League defenses. With an accurate arm and the ability to scramble out of the pocket when pressured, Rose might be the best player on the field tomorrow.
Yale junior quarterback Peter Lee has also enjoyed success this year. Lee has passed for 1,917 yards this season and has completed 166 passes.
He stepped in to replace Joe Walland, who was lost to graduation after last season. Lee has passed for 400 fewer yards than Rose and averages two yards less per completion.
Advantage: Harvard
Running Backs
But Leiszler and Palazzo have been a two-headed monster for Harvard out of the backfield, helping the team gain an Ivy League-leading average of 184.5 yards per game on the ground. The Crimson averages 4.37 yards per rush, partly because both Leiszler and Palazzo combine a tough running style with the ability to break for long runs. Listed at 5'8 but not close to that size in actuality, the sophomores are power runners with speed who complement the Crimson's high-powered passing attack.
Yale senior running back Rashad Bartholomew is the featured back in the Elis' offense. He leads the league in yards per game with 139 and has 1,114 yards on the season. Bartholomew has not been as productive around the end-zone as his yardage statistics would lead you to believe. He has scored just nine touchdowns while Palazzo and Leiszler have combined for 12.
Though it's a close call here, Leiszler and Palazzo have the edge over Bartholomew.
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