Big Sky Predictions 9-13

[JALMOND]

After a perfect week last week I am at 23-2 for the year so far. It is early and we are still making our way through the non-conference games, but I am off to a good start. Wish I could say the same about Portland State. UC Davis and Idaho State are sitting this week out, but everyone else is playing non-conference. Some good matchups as well, this weekend. Here are my predictions for the games this Saturday.

PSU at Hawaii (FBS Mountain West)---The Vikings finally got on the scoreboard last weekend, but they still have not looked competitive in any of the games so far. They are still trying to sort some things out and find out what they have. A trip to the islands could be a blessing, but they still can't get the win...Hawaii 41, PSU 14.

Utah Tech (FCS United) at UI---The Vandals kind of went through the motions last week with a Pioneer League team, and if they try to do that this weekend, a win could be in doubt. Still, if they play their game, this should be an easy home win for them. But not if they let them hang around...UI 37, Utah Tech 22.

San Diego (FCS Pioneer) at MSU---The Bobcats did not shy away from anyone with this non-conference slate, but they finally get a bit of a breather this week with a Pioneer League team coming to town. This should be a great opportunity to get a good win and take a step closer to conference play...MSU 45, San Diego 7.

UNC at South Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley)---In typical Bears fashion, they let a lower division team stick around and almost steal a win. But unlike typical Bears fashion, they then moved up to the FBS and almost stole a game themselves. What does it mean here? Not much, but maybe closer...South Dakota 24, UNC 14.

Mercyhurst (FCS Northeast) at SAC---Maybe the Hornets could have played better in the first week. Maybe they should have got a scalp in the second week. But this week, they should get the easy win, with a team coming across the country to their hive, if they want to make some noise...SAC 38, Mercyhurst 14.

North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) at UM---The Grizzlies were taking some heat for their non-conference scheduling but this will be a tough early test for them. This will be only their second game so do they really know what they have in a game like this? Hopefully they know enough...UM 30, North Dakota 28.

EWU at Northern Iowa (FCS Missouri Valley)---A couple of early non-conference road games have the Eagles wondering who they are as they search for their first win. A trip into hostile territory in the Missouri Valley does not bode well this early. But it should give them a good idea of where to go...Northern Iowa 38, EWU 21.

WSU at McNeese (FCS Southland)---The Wildcats have flat out not looked good this season, but two straight games against FBS competition can do that. How will they do in the FCS remains to be seen, but they get a good test on the road this weekend, heading in to the Southland for a tussle...McNeese 35, WSU 17.

Western Oregon (DII) at CP---The Mustangs may have taken one on the chin last week, stepping up a level, but they have played like an FCS team should play. Their win in the first week can attest to that. This week, they bring in a lower division foe for a game that should not be much trouble...CP 45, Western Oregon 17.

NAU at Southern Utah (FCS United)---The Lumberjacks have looked good this young season, holding their own against a good FBS team then taking care of business in their return to the FCS last week. They go on the road and play a team that has already knocked off a Big Sky team. This could be close...NAU 35, Southern Utah 28.

[SuperHornet]

Hawai'i d. Portland State 49-10
Idalol d. UT Tech 42-12
MT State d. U of San Diego 56-3
South Dakota d. N. Colorado 27-7
Sac State d. Mercyhurst 42-6
Montana d. North Dakota 24-21
N. Iowa d. E. Washington 35-17
McNeese State d. BBQ 45-24
W. Oregon d. Cow Poly 31-20
N. Arizona d. S. Utah 49-34

[Mvemjsunpx]

EWU 27-38 UNI — A subpar Big Sky team takes on a subpar Missouri Valley team

Portland St. 14-51 Hawai'i — A Hawaiian vacation could end up being these Viking players' only positive memories

Woe-regon 10-34 Calol Poly — Could the 'Stangs actually be good? We won't find out this week

Mercymercymehurst 6-28 Sac State — The Lakers did play Youngstown pretty close, but this is a much longer road trip

Utah Tech 21-34 Fightin' Taters — The Blazers have got some nice golden-brown seasoning so far, but they're still gonna get mashed, baked, & fried in Moscow

Weber 24-28 McNeese — My gut feeling is that Weber is the slightly better team here, but it's gonna be 93º in humid Lake Charles

NAU 35-31 Suutah — I have no flippin' clue what to make of Southern Utah at this point

North Dakota 24-27 Montana — NoDak looks better than I figured they would, but they haven't won in Missoula since 1963

San Dileggomyeggo 6-34 Montana St. — Beating Southern Utah at home was certainly good, but this is a much taller mountain

NoCo 6-27 SoDak — Last week's results suggest this one might be interesting, but in the Dakota Dome… I doubt it

[kalm]

Jared Taylor is out this week (neck injury) so Nate Bell will make his first start at QB. He’s only seen action as a RB until last week but looks like he has a bigger and more accurate arm than Taylor.

[canyoncat]

double post

[canyoncat]

UNC at USD USD
UND at UM UND if the Griz fall behind UND I don't think they will be able to catch them like they did against Central Washington
USD at MSU MSU Cats have few things to iron out before conference and this will be a good start
UT at Idaho IDAHO
EWU at UNI UNI
WSU at McNeese MCNEESE
Western Oregon at Cal Poly CAL POLY
Mercyhurst at SAC SAC Mercyhust looks better than last year but SAC will be a bit too much for them
PSU at Hawaii HAWAII

11-1 last week, damn SDSU, but what a great game!
20-3 over all

[JALMOND]

After a perfect week last week I am at 23-2 for the year so far. It is early and we are still making our way through the non-conference games, but I am off to a good start. Wish I could say the same about Portland State. UC Davis and Idaho State are sitting this week out, but everyone else is playing non-conference. Some good matchups as well, this weekend. Here are my predictions for the games this Saturday.

PSU at Hawaii (FBS Mountain West)---The Vikings finally got on the scoreboard last weekend, but they still have not looked competitive in any of the games so far. They are still trying to sort some things out and find out what they have. A trip to the islands could be a blessing, but they still can't get the win...Hawaii 41, PSU 14.

Utah Tech (FCS United) at UI---The Vandals kind of went through the motions last week with a Pioneer League team, and if they try to do that this weekend, a win could be in doubt. Still, if they play their game, this should be an easy home win for them. But not if they let them hang around...UI 37, Utah Tech 22.

San Diego (FCS Pioneer) at MSU---The Bobcats did not shy away from anyone with this non-conference slate, but they finally get a bit of a breather this week with a Pioneer League team coming to town. This should be a great opportunity to get a good win and take a step closer to conference play...MSU 45, San Diego 7.

UNC at South Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley)---In typical Bears fashion, they let a lower division team stick around and almost steal a win. But unlike typical Bears fashion, they then moved up to the FBS and almost stole a game themselves. What does it mean here? Not much, but maybe closer...South Dakota 24, UNC 14.

Mercyhurst (FCS Northeast) at SAC---Maybe the Hornets could have played better in the first week. Maybe they should have got a scalp in the second week. But this week, they should get the easy win, with a team coming across the country to their hive, if they want to make some noise...SAC 38, Mercyhurst 14.

North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) at UM---The Grizzlies were taking some heat for their non-conference scheduling but this will be a tough early test for them. This will be only their second game so do they really know what they have in a game like this? Hopefully they know enough...UM 30, North Dakota 28.

EWU at Northern Iowa (FCS Missouri Valley)---A couple of early non-conference road games have the Eagles wondering who they are as they search for their first win. A trip into hostile territory in the Missouri Valley does not bode well this early. But it should give them a good idea of where to go...Northern Iowa 38, EWU 21.

WSU at McNeese (FCS Southland)---The Wildcats have flat out not looked good this season, but two straight games against FBS competition can do that. How will they do in the FCS remains to be seen, but they get a good test on the road this weekend, heading in to the Southland for a tussle...McNeese 35, WSU 17.

Western Oregon (DII) at CP---The Mustangs may have taken one on the chin last week, stepping up a level, but they have played like an FCS team should play. Their win in the first week can attest to that. This week, they bring in a lower division foe for a game that should not be much trouble...CP 45, Western Oregon 17.

NAU at Southern Utah (FCS United)---The Lumberjacks have looked good this young season, holding their own against a good FBS team then taking care of business in their return to the FCS last week. They go on the road and play a team that has already knocked off a Big Sky team. This could be close...NAU 35, Southern Utah 28.

1 point away in the Weber game from being perfect this week. 32-3 overall.

[SuperHornet]

Wow, JAL. You weren't all that far off in most of the games. In fact, in a handful, you were surprisingly close on the score.

You are awesome....