YALE AT HARVARD

This column was so hard to write because I don’t know what Saturday’s game will mean. The storylines are overwhelming. The Game could solidify Yale’s resurgence or ensure Harvard’s continued dominance.

I’ve waffled on this pick. At first I felt the Bulldogs had the talent and motivation to finally turn the tide. But the more I thought about it, the more I trusted the Crimson’s defense to stand tough and its offensive line to make a difference. At the end of the day, I have more faith in Murphy and his team to win another big game.  In a big spot against Princeton last week, the Bulldogs dug themselves a hole. Harvard will make them pay if they are not ready for the stage again.

Prepare for a great game. The history is there, the stakes are there, and the talent is there. But also get ready for perfection. The Crimson is close to achieving it.

Prediction: Harvard 35, Yale 31

COLUMBIA AT BROWN

If anybody should be celebrating Saturday, it’s Columbia (0-9, 0-6). Another wretched season is finally over. Brown (4-5, 2-4) will win this to get back to .500 after beating every team it was supposed to beat and losing to the rest, as average as it gets.

Prediction: Brown 34, Columbia 6

PENNSYLVANIA AT CORNELL

Shout out to the Big Red in advance for helping send Bagnoli out with a win on Saturday. The Quakers (1-9, 1-6) came to life last week in a 34-24 loss to Harvard, and I expect them to continue building momentum towards the post-Bagnoli era by rolling through the Big Red (1-9, 1-6).

Prediction: Penn 30, Cornell 10

DARTMOUTH AT PRINCETON

While GameDay is coming to Cambridge, this is the game on ESPN3, and with good reason. If Yale can beat Harvard, a Dartmouth (8-1, 6-1) win would earn the Big Green a share of the crown and give three out of eight Ancient Eight teams a title. Princeton (5-4, 4-2) will not make it easy though, especially after the Big Green knocked the Tigers off in last season’s finale. Still, I think Princeton is not quite the team it was last year, and that will show Saturday.

Prediction: Dartmouth 28, Princeton 20