Venue & Logistics
Location: Pratt Field at Lehrman Stadium, Amherst, Massachusetts (home of Amherst College Mammoths)
Kickoff Time: 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT)
Conference: New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) – both teams are long-time rivals
Weather Forecast (Amherst, MA)
Temperature: High 70s (~77°F / 25°C) at kickoff
Conditions: Sunny with scattered clouds
Winds: WNW 5–10 mph
Precipitation: ~10% chance of rain
Impact: Ideal early fall football weather, no major disruptions expected
Injury Report (as of latest updates)
Tufts Jumbos: No major reported injuries; special teams unit fully healthy after a standout performance vs. Wesleyan.
Amherst Mammoths: No confirmed long-term absences; defensive backfield rotation expected after giving up multiple explosive plays in Week 2.
(Note: NESCAC programs often release limited injury details, so official confirmations may be sparse.)
Key Player Matchups
Quarterback Play:
Tufts QB has been efficient, managing the game in a 22–20 win over Wesleyan (Sept 20, 2025).
Amherst QB struggled in a 25–0 loss to Tufts last year, throwing 3 interceptions.
Running Game:
Tufts RB Christian Shapiro rushed for 65 yards and a TD vs. Wesleyan, providing balance.
Amherst’s ground game was limited to just 25 yards in last year’s meeting.
Special Teams:
Tufts kicker Vaughn Seelicke hit two field goals vs. Wesleyan, while Keller Rogers had two long kickoff returns and Dazer van Leeuwen blocked a punt for a safety.
Amherst’s special teams must improve to avoid giving Tufts hidden-yardage advantages.
Defensive Edge:
Tufts defense held Amherst to just 119 total yards in 2024, one of the stingiest performances in program history.
Amherst’s defense will need to contain Tufts’ balanced attack and avoid third-down breakdowns.
Recent Team Form
Tufts Jumbos (2–0 in 2025)
W 30–13 @ Bowdoin (Sept 13, 2025)
W 22–20 vs. Wesleyan (Sept 20, 2025)
Momentum: First 2–0 start since 2018; riding a 7-game win streak dating back to 2024
Amherst Mammoths (1–1 in 2025)
L 13–23 vs. Hamilton (Sept 13, 2025)
W 31–20 @ Hamilton (Sept 20, 2025)
Mixed form: Rebounded in Week 2, but still inconsistent offensively
Series History
All-time head-to-head (since 1954): Amherst leads 45–22–2
Recent results:
2024: Tufts 25 – 0 Amherst (in Medford)
2023: Tufts 34 – 14 Amherst (in Amherst)
Trend: Tufts has won 2 straight; seeking first 3-game win streak in the series since 1989–1992
Betting Trends
Tufts is 2–0 ATS (against the spread) in 2025
Amherst is 1–1 ATS this season
The Under has hit in 3 of Tufts’ last 5 games
Tufts has covered in 5 of its last 6 NESCAC games
Amherst has failed to cover in 4 of its last 6 NESCAC games
Historical Betting Results
2024: Tufts (-6.5) covered in a 25–0 win (Total: Under 47.5)
2023: Tufts (+3.5) covered and won outright 34–14 (Total: Over 49.5)
Totals: Split results – one Over, one Under in the last two years
Game Odds
Tufts Jumbos – 7.5
Amherst Mammoths 44.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
