Defensively, Harvard has the advantage. The entire defense has battled injuries, but recently key performers such as Charlie Walker, DJ Bailey, and Stone Hart have returned and have solidified the Crimson’s pass rush and run prevention, especially following a difficult loss to Cornell.

Offensively, look for Princeton to gain the edge. Quarterback Chad Kanoff is one of the best, if not the best, signal caller in the Ivy League, and he boasts a whopping 73.9 completion percentage. Running back Charlie Volker averages 94.8 yards per game on the ground.

Making this game all the more interesting, each team sits at 1-1 in conference play. Who will move up to 2-1, and who will suffer a crucial second defeat?

Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey, has an affinity for shutting things down. For instance, in 2013 in a scandal known as “Bridgegate,” his staff was suspected to have shut down lanes on the George Washington Bridge to intentionally create traffic problems. Will Christie attempt to shut down Harvard’s running lanes in a similar fashion this weekend? Since the contest is in Massachusetts, far out of his grasp, I’ll bet on the Crimson.

Pick: Harvard 35, Princeton 34

—Staff writer Jack Stockless can be reached at jack.stockless@thecrimson.com.