Northeastern will be the Crimson’s first test in the 2003 season, and a mighty big test at that. The Huskies present a formidable rushing offense, as five different backs gained at least 47 yards in the team’s opener, and each of those players averaged over five yards a carry. Navy had plenty of success shutting down the Huskies’ rush, but Northeastern’s success through the air took the focus off the ground game.

Last year, the Crimson shut down that potent rushing offense in a soggy contest and left Harvard Stadium with 28-20 victory. Harvard will need the same performance against the rush this year, because scoring 28 points on the Husky defense—led by Buchanan Award nominee Liam Ezekiel—will be a tall task.

PREDICTION: The last two years this game has been close, and there’s no reason to believe this one will be any different. Since it’ll be tight, I have to take the Crimson at home.

PRINCETON

2003 record: 2-8 (2-5 Ivy)

ANALYSIS: The Tigers nearly shocked the Ivy world last year by taking the then-undefeated Crimson to overtime in Cambridge before falling 43-40.

Princeton boasts a young, talented defense that should go a long way toward curbing Harvard’s offensive explosion of last season. The Tiger offense, however, lost its top wide-reciever, B.J. Szymanski, to the MLB draft. It’s top returning running back, Jon Veach, had a field day against the Crimson, gaining 205 yards, but struggled against everyone else, posting just 437 yards in the other nine contests. Quarterback Matt Verbit had a strong 2003, but is no where near the Alvin Cowan or Ryan Fitzpatrick echelon.

The Tigers will be able to stay in games with their defense. But they won’t be able to win games with their offense, a fact which should once again relegate Princeton to the lower half of the Ivy League standings.

PREDICTION: Harvard has won eight straight against Princeton, and it’s safe to pencil in a ninth. Expect the Crimson to flirt with breaking its largest margin of victory against the Tigers (28).

DARTMOUTH

2003 record: 3-7 (2-5 Ivy)

ANALYSIS: Call this one Grudge Match I. No one will ever forget Andrew Hall’s leaping one-handed catch that essentially broke Harvard’s back in the 30-16 Big Green win last year.

Hall was at best the third option in the passing game that day, behind All-Ivy wideout Jay Barnard and All-Ivy tight end Casey Cramer. With Barnard and Cramer lost to graduation along with their combined 1,556 receiving yards, now it is Hall’s turn to steal the show, just as he did last year against the Crimson. Dartmouth does return last year’s starting quarterback Charlie Rittgers, so the passing game shouldn’t take too much of a step backward. That’s good news, because running back Chris Little is not a gamebreaker.