Harvard also has a favorable schedule. This weekend’s home game against Princeton shouldn’t be a problem. Harvard has had Princeton’s number in recent years, and the No. 1 weapon for the Tigers, quarterback Dave Splithoff, will have his hands full.

Harvard hosts Dartmouth the next week. The Big Green has been the Ivy’s most surprising team this year, losing to Penn by one and then defeating Yale. But if anyone’s going to stop Dartmouth’s passing attack, it’s Tim Murphy. He has embarrassed more Dartmouth teams than the Big Green cares to remember.

A week later, Harvard travels to New York for another softie, Columbia.

Where Murphy’s going to really have to earn his salary is in the final two weeks, when Harvard hosts Penn and then finishes off at Yale. The last time the Quakers were at the Stadium, they escaped with a last-second victory in 1999. They repeated the last-second heroics last year.

I predict this pattern will stop. In an offensive shootout, led by Neil Rose for Harvard and Gavin Hoffman for Penn, the Quakers have the advantage. Right now, Penn has the higher-rated defense. But by the time the squad rolls into Cambridge in November, Penn will have faced some of the tougher teams in the league. Barring any new injuries, the Crimson ought to be in better shape. For once, Harvard ought to escape with a last-second victory.

That game will probably decide the Ivy title, because—listen up, seniors—Yale doesn’t stand a chance in The Game if Harvard rolls into town with eight straight victories. For the first time in four years, the Crimson ought to exorcise the Bulldog demon.

Coach Murphy, I completely understood what you were trying to intimate this weekend. Harvard is 4-0 and ready to roll. You don’t want to say it now, but in a month that title ought to be yours. Then you can stop talking about 1997, and start talking about 2001. Probably.