Venue, Date & Time
Matchup: Sacred Heart Pioneers (1‑0) vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks (1‑0)
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Goodman Stadium, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Surface: Natural Grass
Broadcast: ESPN+
Weather Forecast (Bethlehem, PA – Kickoff)
Conditions: Mostly sunny
Temperature: ~77°F (25°C) at kickoff, cooling into the low 70s by the 4th quarter
Wind: 4–6 mph from the northwest
Precipitation:
Impact: Ideal early‑season conditions; minimal effect on passing or kicking
Injury Report
(As of mid‑week; subject to change)
Sacred Heart
No major injuries reported after Week 1 win over Stonehill.
Lehigh
No significant injuries reported; full roster expected for home opener.
Early Season Notes:
Both teams opened with low‑scoring, defense‑driven wins.
Sacred Heart leaned heavily on the run (169 yards) and defense (2 INTs forced).
Lehigh balanced 163 rushing yards with 135 passing yards, controlling possession.
Recent Team Form (Last 5 Games, incl. 2024)
Sacred Heart
W 12‑7 vs. Stonehill (2025)
W 31‑20 @ Merrimack (2024)
L 7‑28 vs. LIU (2024)
W 31‑14 vs. Mercyhurst (2024)
L 17‑31 @ Lafayette (2024)
Lehigh
W 21‑12 @ Merrimack (2025)
W 38‑35 vs. Georgetown (2024)
W 27‑24 @ Bucknell (2024)
L 14‑28 vs. Fordham (2024)
W 31‑28 vs. Colgate (2024)
Key Player Matchups
Sacred Heart Offense vs. Lehigh Defense
QB play is still settling for SHU, but RB rotation led by a physical ground game is the focal point.
Lehigh’s front seven, anchored by experienced linebackers, will aim to force 3rd‑and‑long situations.
Lehigh Offense vs. Sacred Heart Defense
QB Brayten Silbor (LEH) showed efficiency in Week 1, spreading the ball to multiple receivers.
Sacred Heart’s secondary, which grabbed 2 INTs vs. Stonehill, will be tested by Lehigh’s balanced attack.
Trench Battle
Both teams averaged exactly 4.0 yards per rush in Week 1 — whoever wins the line of scrimmage likely controls the tempo.
Series History
All‑Time: Lehigh leads 3‑0
Last Meeting: Sept. 9, 2023 – Lehigh 21, Sacred Heart 14 (in Fairfield, CT)
Trend: All three meetings have been decided by 10 points or fewer, with defensive intensity a common theme.
Betting Trends
Sacred Heart
4‑6 ATS in last 10 games (dating back to 2024).
Under has hit in 7 of last 10 games.
1‑4 SU in last 5 road games.
Lehigh
6‑4 ATS in last 10 games.
4‑1 SU in last 5 home games.
Under has hit in 3 of last 4 games vs. NEC opponents.
Head‑to‑Head
Under has hit in 2 of last 3 meetings.
Average combined score in series: 36.3 PPG.
Suggested Wagering Model
Model Inputs:
Both teams opened 2025 with strong defensive showings and modest offensive outputs.
Historical series trend toward low‑scoring, one‑sided Lehigh wins.
Lehigh’s home‑field advantage and more balanced offense vs. SHU’s run‑heavy approach.
Game Odds
Sacred Heart Pioneers 40.5
Lehigh Mountain Hawks – 19.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
