If you are a dedicated reader of this column, you know that we love to pile on Yale and New Haven in general, but there really isn’t anything to critique as long as Yale remains unbeaten. As Morrison would say, Strange Days indeed.

Pick: Yale 30, Dartmouth 27

COLUMBIA AT MARIST

Legendary Columbia coach Al Bagnoli has finally returned to his former glory. Bagnoli came out of retirement in 2014 to retake the reins at Columbia, and the Lions returned the favor by going a perfect 0-10. They earned two victories in 2015 and bumped their win mark up to three in 2016. This week, they have a chance to eclipse three wins, and we just finished up September.

The Lions have gotten off to an unexpected 3-0 start, including a 28-24 upset victory over Ancient Eight co-favorite Princeton. The matchup with the Tigers went down to the wire, as Anders Hill connected with Ronald Smith for the go-ahead touchdown with just 1:12 left to play.

Not only will Columbia look forward to extending its winning streak this weekend, but the Lions will also relish a chance to get out of New York City. It’s a given that Ithaca, New Haven, and the like will draw our ire, but for one of the world’s premier cities, New York is very underwhelming. It’s packed. There are rats. Seas of garbage dot the sidewalks. You get the picture.

Away from the smog of the city, the Lions should devour the Red Foxes with ease.

Pick: Columbia 41, Marist 17

PENN AT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE

How’s this for hard-hitting journalism? The Daily Pennsylvanian reported on a Wharton class in which students designed Buzzfeed quizzes—and some went viral! The most popular quiz asked readers to choose from a list of fall things, and it promised to determine which version of Taylor Swift the reader is most like. Just a hunch, but I don’t think Quakers football was on the list of fall favorites.

In the Buzzfeed spirit, here are three reasons why Penn won’t beat Central Connecticut State on Saturday. You won’t believe No. 3!

First, Central Connecticut thinks it can hang with the best of them. It actually can’t, as evidenced by a 50-7 loss to Syracuse and a 59-9 defeat at Youngstown State, but the confidence is what really matters.

Second, Penn has shown a tendency for barn-burners in 2017, but over the last two weeks, Central Connecticut has outscored its opponents, 83-21.

Third (and most importantly), Penn doesn’t get to play in its winter-weather terrordome. When the Quakers beat Harvard last year at Franklin Field, I nearly froze to death in the outdoor press box, which was actually just two rows of bleachers with caution tape around them.

Pick: Central Connecticut 30, Penn 24