Harvard Will Share Ivy Title Only with Dartmouth

The Ivy League football season closes today with virtually the same question on which the season began: Can Princeton or Harvard force Dartmouth to share the League title?

The other two pre-season contenders, Cornell and Yale, are out of the race and must settle for the role of spoilers today. Dartmouth has not won a part of the championship yet, but there is little doubt that it is only a matter of time, no matter how worked up Penn is today.

Dartmouth, 28-13

Last year the Quakers, despite an abismal overall record, gave Dartmouth its stiffest challenge of the season before bowing, 24-19. This year, behind the passing of Bill Creeden and the running of Cabot Knowlton, Penn has the number two offense in the League statistically. Dartmouth's quick defensive line should be able to contain Knowlton; its secondary, however, may have trouble with Creeden's passing, especially if safety-man Wynn Mabry misses the game because of an injury last week against Cornell.

Penn, with several injured players back in the lineup, may put up its best performance. Nevertheless, Dartmouth will claim part of the Ivy title, by about 28-13.

Cornell, 17-14

Princeton is a touchdown favorite over Cornell today, but the time is right for an upset. Princeton is riding just a bit too high, especially after defeating a far superior Yale squad on a fluke blocked punt.

Cornell may be down after its narrow loss to Dartmouth. The oversized Big Red defensive line, however, should stop Princeton's running game as it did Dartmouth's. That means that tailback Dick Bracken, who was injured last week, will be forced to pass more than Princeton has all year.

Although Cornell's offense is slower, it is better balanced than Princeton. The top Ivy gains of Pete Larson, coupled with the passing combination of Bill Abel and John Gervase, should be too much for the stout Tiger defense. Here's Cornell, 17-14.

Columbia, 27-19

Brown, winless in the League, will be trying to pull Columbia and Penn in the cellar. It won't work, however.

Columbia demonstrated a potent ground attack for the first time last Saturday, and it already has an able quarterback in Marty Domres. Brown's Jack McMahon is an admirable quarterback, and Joe Randall is unquestionably the best punter in the League. Two players will not change an outcome, however, and Columbia will gain its second victory, in the vicinity of 27-19.

Harvard, 21-16

For the Harvard-Yale game, sages say you can throw out all record books and logical favorites. Logically, Princeton outplayed Harvard, and Yale outplayed Princeton. Therefore Harvard will win today, 21-16.

OVERALL RECORD: 22-4

LAST WEEK: 3-1