Big Sky Ridiculously Early Predictions Thread

[kalm]

Eastern also plays Oregon State. So 7-5?

[AZGrizFan]

Cal Poly
San Diego=W > Good start up.
@Fresno State=L > They'll put up a fight for the first half.
@Colorado State=W >This one could go either way, but based on their performance against Wyoming last year, and the fact that CSU is awful, I'm predicting Cal Poly handles them.
@Portland State=W > Going to be rough for PSU.
Yale=W > Interesting to see how well the Ivy Leagues do.
Weber State=W > Weber will be much improved this year, but not solid like CP.
@Montana=L > Kind of a toss up so I left the tie breaker to home field. WaGriz is a difficult place to play.
Northern Arizona=W > Good solid Win
@UC Davis=W > Rivalry game, anything can happen. But I don't think UC has what it needs quite yet.
Sac State=W > This one is going to be incredibly close. I really want to catch this game.
Eastern Washington=W > Revenge for last year.
@Northern Colorado=W > Could be closer than many might think.
Overall record 10-2 I believe CP fans have a lot to look forward to this year.

Cal Poly was a paper tiger last year. Fluffy record without a single difficult game on the schedule that they actually WON. Their FCS OOC schedule is fluffy again THIS year with non-scholly USD and an Ivy league school. Jim McElwain has Colorado State headed in the right direction and I'd be SHOCKED if they lost to Cal Poly...and ain't no way CP is beating Eastern. I predict 8-4 at best...I could see them losing to Sac State and even UNC as well.

[Wildcat Ryan]

One weird thing, (call me nitpicky) but In Eastern's schedule you say Weber always gives Eastern a run for thier money, but in Weber's schedule you say Eastern wins handily at home?

[uofmman1122]

Cal Poly was a paper tiger last year. Fluffy record without a single difficult game on the schedule that they actually WON. Their FCS OOC schedule is fluffy again THIS year with non-scholly USD and an Ivy league school. Jim McElwain has Colorado State headed in the right direction and I'd be SHOCKED if they lost to Cal Poly...and ain't no way CP is beating Eastern. I predict 8-4 at best...I could see them losing to Sac State and even UNC as well.

I suppose I can KIND of see where you're coming from. But they took SHSU to the wire at home. That's a good team.

They also lose like their top 3 skill players, including their QB, and their new QBs have almost zero experience.

They're taking a tumble this year. I could legitimately see them losing 5 games: Fresno, CSU, Montana, EWU, and either Sac or NAU.

[Brock Landers]

Will this be the year that Sac finally makes the playoffs? Or Northern Arizona doesn't blow it?

[Mvemjsunpx]

Will this be the year that Sac finally makes the playoffs? Or Northern Arizona doesn't blow it?

What do you think?

[grizzaholic]

Will this be the year that Sac finally makes the playoffs? Or Northern Arizona doesn't blow it?

What do you think?

The last couple of years Sac State has been so hot and cold it is incredible.

[CatMan]

With the loss of so Many Top teams eligibility, The Big sky is poised for a huge showing in the playoffs this year.

[grizzaholic]

With the loss of so Many Top teams eligibility, The Big sky is poised for a huge showing in the playoffs this year.

The Big Fluffy Sky will have 2 TOPS this year.

GO CAA...

Spoiler: show

odu will still miss the playoffs due to some crazy 4th and 28 play in their last regular season game

[uofmman1122]

With the loss of so Many Top teams eligibility, The Big sky is poised for a huge showing in the playoffs this year.

Could very well happen. I feel like doing some in depth stuff, so let's look at the most likely projected "top teams" and who they play out of the other "top teams".

I'll add my thoughts for wins and losses for the most likely scenario (feel free to argue because I'm sure you will ).

Cal Poly
@ Montana L
EWU L
NAU W
Sac W

As I said earlier, I think Poly loses too much to be at the level they were at last year. They'll beat Sac and NAU, but won't beat a JJ-led Montana or EWU. With those two FBS games, will 8-4 be enough to make the playoffs? Maybe.

Eastern Washington
@ Cal Poly W
@ Montana L
MSU L

Losing their top WRs is gonna hurt, I think. Adams is damn good, but I still think JJ and McGhee are better overall. I think the Montana game will be another barn burner, though. Home field gets it done. I honestly don't have a reason for picking MSU over EWU other than McGhee, so that's more of a toss up. Assuming they lose both FBS games, but beat SHSU, I can see them getting in on reputation at 8-4 in an expanded field.

Montana
Cal Poly W
EWU W
@ NAU L
@ Sac W
@ MSU W

Go ahead and sling back that haterade, but the Grizzlies are going to come roaring back this year. You can't even argue that our offensive backfield isn't miles improved with the addition of JJ and Travon Van. If Poole comes back, we'll have one of, if not the best offensive line in FCS. Defense will be a huge mixed bag. We have easily the best front 7 in the Big Sky, and arguably the worst DBs, but with an improved O that doesn't completely die for 2 quarters, they'll look much better.

Anyways, on to the games: I don't think we lose in conference at home this year. Poly won't be able to match up, and EWU won't have Kaufman to bail them out this time. I think we lose one away game, and I think NAU is a more complete team than Sac is, so I gave it to them, as it's our first big road trip of the year. We also get Sac and EWU later in the year when JJ and the O will be clicking. With a capable QB in JJ, and once again dominating them at the line of scrimmage, I don't see us losing at MSU this year.

10-2 and playoff bound.



Montana State
@ EWU W
NAU W
Montana L

Denarius "Black Jesus" McGhee is entering his senior season, and I think he'll continue to play very well. Their O-line might not be atrocious anymore, which will help. At EWU will be a tough game, but I don't see them losing again. Again, though, toss up.
Their D is well-rounded enough to stop Bauman and get the W. And finally they'll probably enter the Cat/Griz game with 2 or maybe even 1 loss, and be all full of themselves like they were last time. Ash's team barely got out of Missoula last year against a horrible Griz team, and I don't see them beating a competent one, even at home.

10-2 with a mostly soft OOC schedule, but playoff bound nonetheless.

Northern Arizona
Montana W
@ MSU L
Sac W
@ Cal Poly L

NAU has who's widely considered the best back in the Big Sky in Bauman, and they'll do well in most games. I think they give one up to a team like UND, though. A Souers team is still a Souers team.

8-4 and maybe not getting in.

Sac State
NAU L
Montana L
@Cal Poly L

I don't believe the hype. We hear it every year, and it usually doesn't happen. They also lose over half their defense and O-line. Plus they're the most erratic team in the Big Sky year in and year out.

7-5 and no playoffs.

Montana certainly has the hardest conference schedule, playing all the other "top teams". EWU, MSU and Sac all have only three games, and I'd say Sac has the easiest schedule in that regard, without playing MSU or EWU, and getting NAU and Montana at home.

I've got MSU and UM in at 10-2, three teams at 8-4 with a shot, and Sac at 7-5 on the outside looking in for sure.

[SloStang]

I suppose I can KIND of see where you're coming from. But they took SHSU to the wire at home. That's a good team.

They also lose like their top 3 skill players, including their QB, and their new QBs have almost zero experience.

They're taking a tumble this year. I could legitimately see them losing 5 games: Fresno, CSU, Montana, EWU, and either Sac or NAU.

We do lose our QB Andre Broadous, but have a former MaxPrep Nationl POY competing against the CA state record holder for most passing yards in a season (over 5,000 yards - while also rushing for 1,179 yards) competing to replace him so I think we will be ok there. We also lose SB Deonte Williams, but return his back up Kristaan Ivory who ran for 728 yards and 8 TDs last season and he averaged 6.7 yards per carry compared to the 6.5 Deonte averaged so we should be ok there.

As for defense we return 9 starters from 2012 plus 3 year starter Bejon Sammodi who redshirted in 2012 due to injury. We also return all of our 3 deep at each d-line position including a Wisconsin and UCLA transfers. I think we will be ok on that side of the all.

[SuperHornet]

Sac has the ability to win it all this year. Will we? Given the likely continued success of EWU and MSU and rebounding UM, probably not. But we'll DEFINITELY make some noise this year....

[uofmman1122]

Sac has the ability to win it all this year. Will we? Given the likely continued success of EWU and MSU and rebounding UM, probably not. But we'll DEFINITELY make some noise this year....

Based on what?

You didn't even make the playoffs last year.

[grizzaholic]

With the loss of so Many Top teams eligibility, The Big sky is poised for a huge showing in the playoffs this year.

Could very well happen. I feel like doing some in depth stuff, so let's look at the most likely projected "top teams" and who they play out of the other "top teams".

I'll add my thoughts for wins and losses for the most likely scenario (feel free to argue because I'm sure you will ).


Montana
Cal Poly W
EWU W
@ NAU L
@ Sac W
@ MSU W

Go ahead and sling back that haterade, but the Grizzlies are going to come roaring back this year. You can't even argue that our offensive backfield isn't miles improved with the addition of JJ and Travon Van. If Poole comes back, we'll have one of, if not the best offensive line in FCS. Defense will be a huge mixed bag. We have easily the best front 7 in the Big Sky, and arguably the worst DBs, but with an improved O that doesn't completely die for 2 quarters, they'll look much better.

Anyways, on to the games: I don't think we lose in conference at home this year. Poly won't be able to match up, and EWU won't have Kaufman to bail them out this time. I think we lose one away game, and I think NAU is a more complete team than Sac is, so I gave it to them, as it's our first big road trip of the year. We also get Sac and EWU later in the year when JJ and the O will be clicking. With a capable QB in JJ, and once again dominating them at the line of scrimmage, I don't see us losing at MSU this year.

10-2 and playoff bound.

Montana loses to either MSU or Sac State.

[kalm]

Could very well happen. I feel like doing some in depth stuff, so let's look at the most likely projected "top teams" and who they play out of the other "top teams".

I'll add my thoughts for wins and losses for the most likely scenario (feel free to argue because I'm sure you will ).


Montana
Cal Poly W
EWU W
@ NAU L
@ Sac W
@ MSU W

Go ahead and sling back that haterade, but the Grizzlies are going to come roaring back this year. You can't even argue that our offensive backfield isn't miles improved with the addition of JJ and Travon Van. If Poole comes back, we'll have one of, if not the best offensive line in FCS. Defense will be a huge mixed bag. We have easily the best front 7 in the Big Sky, and arguably the worst DBs, but with an improved O that doesn't completely die for 2 quarters, they'll look much better.

Anyways, on to the games: I don't think we lose in conference at home this year. Poly won't be able to match up, and EWU won't have Kaufman to bail them out this time. I think we lose one away game, and I think NAU is a more complete team than Sac is, so I gave it to them, as it's our first big road trip of the year. We also get Sac and EWU later in the year when JJ and the O will be clicking. With a capable QB in JJ, and once again dominating them at the line of scrimmage, I don't see us losing at MSU this year.

10-2 and playoff bound.

Montana loses to either MSU or Sac State.

Lucky they escape having to play the Tbirds if you ask me.

[kalm]

Eastern Washington
@ Cal Poly W
@ Montana L
MSU L

Losing their top WRs is gonna hurt, I think. Adams is damn good, but I still think JJ and McGhee are better overall. I think the Montana game will be another barn burner, though. Home field gets it done. I honestly don't have a reason for picking MSU over EWU other than McGhee, so that's more of a toss up. Assuming they lose both FBS games, but beat SHSU, I can see them getting in on reputation at 8-4 in an expanded field.

@OSU
@Toledo
@SHSU
@Montana
@Poly
MSU

5 out of those 6 on the road .

We still have some talent at WR with Ashton Clark, Cory Mitchell (BLM's brother), Shaq Hill, and some younger up and comers. Clark caught 34 balls in 2011 when Kaufmann went down and had 48 receptions and 5 TD's last year even while playing behind the big 3. Mitchell and Hill have decent size, have both seen significant playing time and are both very fast. We may never see a trio of tall WR's like Kauf, Edwards, and Herd again, but we've done ok in the past with conventional sized WR's like Eric Kimble and Aaron Boyce.

Our O-line is extremely talented and experienced and we have a stable of capable RB's. We should be able to run the ball more effectively.

Defensively, with the addition of the UCLA transfer at safety, we might see some improvement. We have all conference talent at all three levels. The question mark would be depth at LB and experience at DE.

I actually think we're good enough to go 8-4. If we can go win two out of the above 6, the margin for error is nil, but the rest of the schedule is very favorable (although @ UND makes me nervous). If we get in the playoffs we will be a tough out. If we finish better than 8-4...look out.

[CatMan]

With the loss of so Many Top teams eligibility, The Big sky is poised for a huge showing in the playoffs this year.

Could very well happen. I feel like doing some in depth stuff, so let's look at the most likely projected "top teams" and who they play out of the other "top teams".

I'll add my thoughts for wins and losses for the most likely scenario (feel free to argue because I'm sure you will ).

Cal Poly
@ Montana L
EWU L
NAU W
Sac W

As I said earlier, I think Poly loses too much to be at the level they were at last year. They'll beat Sac and NAU, but won't beat a JJ-led Montana or EWU. With those two FBS games, will 8-4 be enough to make the playoffs? Maybe.

Eastern Washington
@ Cal Poly W
@ Montana L
MSU L

Losing their top WRs is gonna hurt, I think. Adams is damn good, but I still think JJ and McGhee are better overall. I think the Montana game will be another barn burner, though. Home field gets it done. I honestly don't have a reason for picking MSU over EWU other than McGhee, so that's more of a toss up. Assuming they lose both FBS games, but beat SHSU, I can see them getting in on reputation at 8-4 in an expanded field.

Montana
Cal Poly W
EWU W
@ NAU L
@ Sac W
@ MSU W

Go ahead and sling back that haterade, but the Grizzlies are going to come roaring back this year. You can't even argue that our offensive backfield isn't miles improved with the addition of JJ and Travon Van. If Poole comes back, we'll have one of, if not the best offensive line in FCS. Defense will be a huge mixed bag. We have easily the best front 7 in the Big Sky, and arguably the worst DBs, but with an improved O that doesn't completely die for 2 quarters, they'll look much better.

Anyways, on to the games: I don't think we lose in conference at home this year. Poly won't be able to match up, and EWU won't have Kaufman to bail them out this time. I think we lose one away game, and I think NAU is a more complete team than Sac is, so I gave it to them, as it's our first big road trip of the year. We also get Sac and EWU later in the year when JJ and the O will be clicking. With a capable QB in JJ, and once again dominating them at the line of scrimmage, I don't see us losing at MSU this year.

10-2 and playoff bound.



Montana State
@ EWU W
NAU W
Montana L

Denarius "Black Jesus" McGhee is entering his senior season, and I think he'll continue to play very well. Their O-line might not be atrocious anymore, which will help. At EWU will be a tough game, but I don't see them losing again. Again, though, toss up.
Their D is well-rounded enough to stop Bauman and get the W. And finally they'll probably enter the Cat/Griz game with 2 or maybe even 1 loss, and be all full of themselves like they were last time. Ash's team barely got out of Missoula last year against a horrible Griz team, and I don't see them beating a competent one, even at home.

10-2 with a mostly soft OOC schedule, but playoff bound nonetheless.

Northern Arizona
Montana W
@ MSU L
Sac W
@ Cal Poly L

NAU has who's widely considered the best back in the Big Sky in Bauman, and they'll do well in most games. I think they give one up to a team like UND, though. A Souers team is still a Souers team.

8-4 and maybe not getting in.

Sac State
NAU L
Montana L
@Cal Poly L

I don't believe the hype. We hear it every year, and it usually doesn't happen. They also lose over half their defense and O-line. Plus they're the most erratic team in the Big Sky year in and year out.

7-5 and no playoffs.

Montana certainly has the hardest conference schedule, playing all the other "top teams". EWU, MSU and Sac all have only three games, and I'd say Sac has the easiest schedule in that regard, without playing MSU or EWU, and getting NAU and Montana at home.

I've got MSU and UM in at 10-2, three teams at 8-4 with a shot, and Sac at 7-5 on the outside looking in for sure.

I mostly agree with a couple obvious objections,
1. I'll take MSU @home vs a hungry grizzly team, but its going to be the game of the year.
2. I think EWU has basically scheduled themselves out of the playoffs, maybe a bit of over-confidence by their coach/ad, but their schedule is rough. they'll be a good team... a dangerous team... but no 2010 team.

MSU 11-1 UM 9-3 Sac 8-4 CP 8-4 NAU 8-4 I could see all 5 in.
... and hopefully thanks to black jesus MSU goes to Frisco.

[uofmman1122]

I just don't see that happening. After five years of watching Ash-coached Bobcat teams, I've come to the conclusion that, for the most part, they're soft finesse teams that struggle competing with strong, physical teams.

Honestly, you're gonna need a huge improvement in that area to even dream about going to Frisco.

[canyoncat]

I agree that the Bobcats have to improve on the offensive front. While we have had some good O-Lines during this run, we haven’t had that dominate line from top to bottom. We have had some very good individual players such as Mike Person and Jeff Hanson (both 1st team All-Americans), just not that entire dominate unit that NDSU, SHSU and UM have had that can physically dominate game in game out. Remember the Cats started a converted TE at tackle an undersized center (while very good) a sophomore at guard and three redshirt freshmen throughout the season. They played their guts out, but they just were not ready last season.

However, I think we are getting closer to that style of line with this year’s group and what we have been recruiting the last three years. No question this year’s line will be better because they will be bigger, stronger and more experienced than last year’s line. This year’s line will more than likely be three sophomores, one junior and one redshirt freshmen that should average 290 instead of about 275, 280 last year. Probably not quite there yet, but a hell of a lot closer to that truly dominate unit.

[Brock Landers]

Cal Poly
San Diego W
@Fresno State L
@Colorado State L
@Portland State W
Yale W
Weber State W
@Montana L
Northern Arizona L
@UC Davis W
Sac State W
Eastern Washington L
@Northern Colorado W
7-5

Eastern Washington
Oregon State L
Western Oregon W
@Toledo L
@Sam Houston State L
Weber State W
@UND W
Southern Utah W
@ Montana L
@Idaho State W
Montana State W
@Cal Poly W
Portland State W
8-4

Idaho State
Dixie State University W
Western State Colorado University W
@University of Washington L
@UC Davis L
North Dakota L
Northern Colorado L
@Northern Arizona L
@Southern Utah L
Eastern Washington L
Portland State L
@BYU L
@Weber State L
2-10

University of Montana
Appalachian State L
@North Dakota W
Oklahoma Panhandle State W
@Northern Arizona W
Portland State W
@UC Davis L
Cal Poly W
Eastern Washington W
@Sacramento State L
@South Dakota W
Weber State W
Montana State W
9-3. Struggles in CA continue

Montana State
Monmouth W
@SMU L
Colorado Mesa W
@Stephen F. Austin L
@North Dakota W
Northern Arizona W
@Weber State W
UC Davis W
@Northern Colorado W
@Eastern Washington L
Southern Utah W
Montana L
8-4

University of North Dakota
Valparaiso W
South Dakota State L
Montana L
Montana State L
@Idaho State W
Eastern Washington L
Sacramento State W
@Portland State W
@Northern Arizona L
Northern Colorado W
UC Davis W
6-6

Northern Arizona University
@Arizona L
@UC Davis W
South Dakota W
Montana L
@Montana State L
Sacramento State L
Idaho State W
@Cal Poly W
North Dakota W
Northern Colorado W
@Southern Utah L
6-5


University of Northern Colorado
Langston W
Colorado-State Pueblo L
@Wyoming L
Northern Iowa L
Southern Utah W
@Sac State L
@Idaho State W
UC Davis W
Montana State L
@North Dakota L
@Northern Arizona L
Cal Poly L
4-7

Portland State
Eastern Oregon W
@Cal L
Humboldt State W
@UC Davis L
Cal Poly L
@Montana L
@Southern Utah W
North Dakota L
Weber State W
@Idaho State L
Sacrament State W
@Eastern Washington L
5-7

Sacramento State
@San Jose State L
@Arizona State L
Southern Oregon W
Southern Utah W
@Weber State W
Northern Colorado W
Northern Arizona W
@North Dakota L
Montana L
@Cal Poly L
@Portland State L
UC Davis W
6-6

Southern Utah
@South Alabama L
Fort Lewis W
@Washington State L
@Sac State L
@Northern Colorado L
UC Davis W
@Eastern Washington L
Idaho State W
@Weber State W
@Montana State L
Northern Arizona L
4-8

UC Davis
@South Dakota L
@Nevada L
Northern Arizona L
Portland State W
Idaho State W
@Southern Utah L
Montana W
@Northern Colorado L
@Montana State L
Cal Poly L
North Dakota L
@Sac State L
3-9

Weber State University
SFA L
@Utah L
@Utah State L
@Mcneese State L
@Eastern Washington L
@Cal Poly L
Montana State L
@Portland State L
Southern Utah L
@Montana L
@Idaho State W
1-11. Possibly the worst schedule I've ever seen

No Big Sky team makes it past the quarter-finals

Did I f#$k something up with contradicting picks? Very possibly

[AZGrizFan]

University of Montana
Appalachian State L
@North Dakota W
Oklahoma Panhandle State W
@Northern Arizona W
Portland State W
@UC Davis L
Cal Poly W
Eastern Washington W
@Sacramento State L
@South Dakota W
Weber State W
Montana State W
9-3. Struggles in CA continue

There is no fucking way we lose to UCDavis AND Sac State. In fact, I'd wager that we win BOTH of those games.

And isn't the MSU game in Bozo this year?

[Brock Landers]

Griz in California => play like shit
Griz in Bozeman => play like world beaters

[uofmman1122]

University of Montana
Appalachian State L
@North Dakota W
Oklahoma Panhandle State W
@Northern Arizona W
Portland State W
@UC Davis L
Cal Poly W
Eastern Washington W
@Sacramento State L
@South Dakota W
Weber State W
Montana State W
9-3. Struggles in CA continue

There is no fucking way we lose to UCDavis AND Sac State. In fact, I'd wager that we win BOTH of those games.

And isn't the MSU game in Bozo this year?

This. I mean, I get how people could think we'd lose at Sac, but there's no way we lose at UCD. They are just not good. I think we have a better chance of losing to EWU, Cal Poly, NAU, MSU, and UND before we lose to UCD.

[Brock Landers]

Well they were good enough to play the three playoff teams on their schedule tough. All on the road

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=323150331" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=322660013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=322592571" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If we can lose to SUU and implode against NAU, both at home, I'm certainly not putting it past us

I (obviously) hope you're both right, and that I'm not bumping this next fall

[AZGrizFan]

Well they were good enough to play the three playoff teams on their schedule tough. All on the road

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=323150331" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=322660013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=322592571" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If we can lose to SUU and implode against NAU, both at home, I'm certainly not putting it past us

I (obviously) hope you're both right, and that I'm not bumping this next fall

And they were 0-3. Moral victories don't count. We had a rookie head coach and no QB. This year's a TAD different...