Villanova Football Preview: ‘Cats Try to Rebound Against New-Look Bucknell

Villanova Football will travel to Bucknell at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, trying to get to .500 in Patriot League play against the Bison. The Wildcats (0-1, 0-1 Patriot League) lost a stunner to William & Mary in their season opener, allowing 13 points in the final 54 seconds on the way to a 35-32 loss. Bucknell endured a 35-14 loss at Richmond, one of the teams expected to finish toward the top of the conference. ESPN+ holds the broadcasting rights for this matchup.

FanDuel Sportsbook has No. 17/18 ranked Villanova as a -27.5 point favorite on the road, setting the money line at an overwhelming -6000 and the over/under at 57.5. Bucknell fired their previous head coach after a 5-7 finish last season, leading longtime Division III head coach Jeff Behrman to take the helm. As such, they face muted expectations this season.

Scouting the Bison

The Bison struggled to generate rushing offense against Richmond. Junior running back and Phoenixville, Pa. native Michael Cadden led the way with 12 carries for 24 yards; the rest of Bucknell’s backfield amassed 29 yards on nine attempts. Passing wasn’t much better, as junior quarterback Christopher Dietrich got sacked four times and completed 16 of 30 passes for 155 yards. Both of his passing touchdowns came in the second half, at which point the Bison already trailed 28-0. Dietrich’s top target was 6-foot-3, 220 pound Sam Milligan, who hauled in six passes for 70 yards and a score. Cadden added a 51-yard receiving touchdown.

Players like Dietrich, Cadden and Milligan all played with the Bison last season and give them a high degree of continuity.

Defensively, Bucknell managed four tackles for loss; three of them came from senior cornerback Takai Whitmore, a player to watch on blitzes and on horizontal plays like bubble screens. Inside linebacker Nick Hoying broke up two passes, while fellow linebacker Deuce Geter forced a fumble. 

Scouting the Wildcats

Villanova committed four turnovers in their loss to William & Mary, three of them interceptions from quarterback Pat McQuaide. One of those picks was on a tipped pass and thus not his fault; on the day, McQuaide completed 17 of 30 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown.

His top target was transfer receiver Jake Hilton, who hauled in four passes for 132 yards along with a two-point conversion; Brandon Binkowski added four catches for 56 yards and a score. Isaiah Ragland powered the ground game with 14 carries for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Ja’briel Mace finished his day with 11 carries, 57 yards and a touchdown, but he also committed a late fumble.

Omari Bursey made eight solo stops and assisted on seven more; he also made four tackles for loss and managed a quarterback sack. The Wildcats’ secondary struggled at times, giving up a series of chunk plays, but sophomore defensive back Jamie Tyson forced a fumble and hauled in an interception. Villanova also got a bloody nose on special teams, where they allowed an onside kick conversion, something to watch if they end up playing another close game.