Big Sky Standings 2010 Predictions?

[weberwildcat]

my guess:

1. Montana
2. Weber State
3. Montana State
4. Eastern Washington
5. Northern Arizona
6. Sacramento State
7. Northern Colorado
8. Portland State
9. Idaho State Potatoes

Weber has many unknowns, most fans are picking my team to finish between 5th-7th even after the last 2 yrs finishing 1st and 3rd. Based on what I know about the 2010 team, finishing 4th would be a failed season.

Will MSU have the O to match their usual great D?
UNC has never finished higher than 8th.
Sac is supposed to be better this year.
Can EWU's red turf help them win a title?
Can NAU play a complete season after the last few yrs?
Will PSU struggle to not finish last after Glanville resigning after 3 seasons?
Will ISU win 2+ games?

[BigSkyBears]

I think this has been done before on this board.

[Griz Growler]

1. Montana
2.Eastern Washington
3.Northern Arizona
4.Montana State
5. Weber State
6. Sacramento State
7. Northern Colorado
8. Portland State
9. Idaho State Potatoes

[weberwildcat]

I don't think it has. I checked back through the last 102 pages of threads but there are 106 pages so could hav been...

[cats2506]

1. Montana - If there is a year UM could have a down year this is it, a new untested head coach with a new system, a lot of losses to graduation. Do they have the right players in place for Plu’s wide open passing game and a blitz heavy defense?

2. Montana State – Can the offensive upgrades provide enough to get the Cats over the hump and into the playoffs? Depth at LB could be an issue on Defense.

3. Eastern Washington – How good was Nicols really and can they replace him with a transfer that easily. Can Taiwan carry the load?

4. Northern Arizona – Hendricks is probably the best QB in the BSC, does he have the rest of the players needed to make it into November?

5. Sacramento State – Good recruiting years have not shown on the field, is this the year they become a contender?

6. Weber State – A lot of losses to graduation and mission, can Higgins handle the pressure? Coach Mac will make them a tough opponent.

7. Northern Colorado – Continually improving in both talent and play, can they win more than one conference game this year?

8. Portland State – New coach, rebuilding

9. Idaho State – Very young last year, could be dangerous if anybody overlooks them.

[EWURanger]

1. Montana (10-1): New coach, new system - but probably the same old Montana as far as the "w" column is concerned. Will we see a return to the pass-happy offense that existed before Hauck-ball?

Key Wins: Montana State, Cal Poly
Key Losses: Eastern Washington

2. MSU (T) (8-3): Solid defense and improved offense should help MSU challenge for the title this year. Can MSU end the nightmare losing streak against Eastern Washington? Can MSU win in Missoula or challenge a sub-par Washington State?

Key Wins: Eastern Washington, NAU
Key Losses: Montana, Sac State, Washington State

2. EWU (T) (8-3): There's no replacing Nichols, but BL Mitchell and Taiwan Jones could lead another electrifying Eagle offense if it gels early on. Buchanan Award contender LB JC Sherritt's numbers could be down with the return of LB Zach Johnson, but DL Renard Williams and DB Matt Johnson will continue to impress. A good showing against Nevada the first game of the year could do wonders for the Eagle's confidence, but they will need to ensure they don't overlook Central Washington at Qwest Field in Seattle the following week. A win this year against Montana on the first game on the red turf seems possible, but slip-ups against MSU and one other BSC team also seem likely.

Key Wins: Montana, Sac State
Key Losses: Montana State, NAU, Nevada

3. NAU (T) (7-4): Best returning QB in the conference could propel NAU into the play-offs this year if he has a good enough surrounding cast.

Key Wins: Eastern Washington, Sacramento State, Weber State
Key Losses: Montana, Montana State, Portland State

3. Sac State (T) (7-4): A lot of reasons to believe Sac is on the rise - will they deliver the goods, or is it just hype? Could Sac State raise some eye-brows against in-state Stanford? Hmmm.....

Key Wins: Montana State, Cal-Davis, Portland State
Key Losses: Montana, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona

4. Portland State (5-6): Can a new coach help PSU rise out of the wake of the Glanville debacle? Will PSU benefit from two solid recruiting classes, or will it be more of the same in Portland? Two Pac-10 games and a game against Cal-Davis could spell trouble for PSU early on.

Key Wins: UC-Davis, Northern Arizona, Weber State
Key Losses: Sac State, Eastern Washington, Montana State

5. UNC (3-8): Should boast a decent defense, but may lack the offensive firepower to put up points in an offense-oriented Big Sky Conference.

Key Wins: Idaho State, South Dakota
Key Losses: Weber State, Portland State

6. Weber State (2-9): Despite the return of Higgins, too many question marks and a difficult schedule including Boston College and Texas Tech may spell "re-building year" for the Wildcats.

Key Wins: Northern Colorado, Idaho State
Key Losses: Montana State, Northern Arizona, Sac State

7. ISU (1-10): Two or three wins this year would be a huge improvement for ISU, a program in serious risk of becoming perennial cellar-dwellars in the BSC. The Bengals' defense will need to make huge improvements over last year's if this is going to happen. ISU may struggle again this year to win a Division I game, with non-conference games against Georgia and Utah State.

Key Wins: Montana-Western
Key Losses: UNC, Portland State, Weber State

[EWURanger]

Weber has many unknowns, most fans are picking my team to finish between 5th-7th even after the last 2 yrs finishing 1st and 3rd.

Sorry, but after looking at your schedule, and with all the questions marks, I suppose I am one of them. Games against Boston College, Texas Tech.....@ MSU, @ NAU.....Right now I am really struggling to find where Weber is going to scrape out more than 4 or 5 wins this year. Of course, I could be wrong.

Not being a hater, but how, in all objectivity, can you seriously see Weber finishing second in the league? Based off of tangibles, please......

[SDHornet]

Weber has many unknowns, most fans are picking my team to finish between 5th-7th even after the last 2 yrs finishing 1st and 3rd.

Sorry, but after looking at your schedule, and with all the questions marks, I suppose I am one of them. Games against Boston College, Texas Tech.....@ MSU, @ NAU.....Right now I am really struggling to find where Weber is going to scrape out more than 4 or 5 wins this year. Of course, I could be wrong.

They also play at Sac State this year to open up BSC play. One of the many reasons I am leaning towards a Sac State win over WSU.

[EWURanger]

Sorry, but after looking at your schedule, and with all the questions marks, I suppose I am one of them. Games against Boston College, Texas Tech.....@ MSU, @ NAU.....Right now I am really struggling to find where Weber is going to scrape out more than 4 or 5 wins this year. Of course, I could be wrong.

They also play at Sac State this year to open up BSC play. One of the many reasons I am leaning towards a Sac State win over WSU.

Yeah, them too. See my predictions post above.

[SDHornet]

They also play at Sac State this year to open up BSC play. One of the many reasons I am leaning towards a Sac State win over WSU.

Yeah, them too. See my predictions post above.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

1. Montana (10-1): New coach, new system - but probably the same old Montana as far as the "w" column is concerned. Will we see a return to the pass-happy offense that existed before Hauck-ball?

Key Wins: Montana State, Cal Poly
Key Losses: Eastern Washington

2. MSU (T) (8-3): Solid defense and improved offense should help MSU challenge for the title this year. Can MSU end the nightmare losing streak against Eastern Washington? Can MSU win in Missoula or challenge a sub-par Washington State?

Key Wins: Eastern Washington, NAU
Key Losses: Montana, Sac State, Washington State

2. EWU (T) (8-3): There's no replacing Nichols, but BL Mitchell and Taiwan Jones could lead another electrifying Eagle offense if it gels early on. Buchanan Award contender LB JC Sherritt's numbers could be down with the return of LB Zach Johnson, but DL Renard Williams and DB Matt Johnson will continue to impress. A good showing against Nevada the first game of the year could do wonders for the Eagle's confidence, but they will need to ensure they don't overlook Central Washington at Qwest Field in Seattle the following week. A win this year against Montana on the first game on the red turf seems possible, but slip-ups against MSU and one other BSC team also seem likely.

Key Wins: Montana, Sac State
Key Losses: Montana State, NAU, Nevada

3. NAU (T) (7-4): Best returning QB in the conference could propel NAU into the play-offs this year if he has a good enough surrounding cast.

Key Wins: Eastern Washington, Sacramento State, Weber State
Key Losses: Montana, Montana State, Portland State

3. Sac State (T) (7-4): A lot of reasons to believe Sac is on the rise - will they deliver the goods, or is it just hype? Could Sac State raise some eye-brows against in-state Stanford? Hmmm.....

Key Wins: Montana State, Cal-Davis, Portland State
Key Losses: Montana, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona

4. Portland State (5-6): Can a new coach help PSU rise out of the wake of the Glanville debacle? Will PSU benefit from two solid recruiting classes, or will it be more of the same in Portland? Two Pac-10 games and a game against Cal-Davis could spell trouble for PSU early on.

Key Wins: UC-Davis, Northern Arizona, Weber State
Key Losses: Sac State, Eastern Washington, Montana State

5. UNC (3-8): Should boast a decent defense, but may lack the offensive firepower to put up points in an offense-oriented Big Sky Conference.

Key Wins: Idaho State, South Dakota
Key Losses: Weber State, Portland State

6. Weber State (2-9): Despite the return of Higgins, too many question marks and a difficult schedule including Boston College and Texas Tech may spell "re-building year" for the Wildcats.

Key Wins: Northern Colorado, Idaho State
Key Losses: Montana State, Northern Arizona, Sac State

7. ISU (1-10): Two or three wins this year would be a huge improvement for ISU, a program in serious risk of becoming perennial cellar-dwellars in the BSC. The Bengals' defense will need to make huge improvements over last year's if this is going to happen. ISU may struggle again this year to win a Division I game, with non-conference games against Georgia and Utah State.

Key Wins: Montana-Western
Key Losses: UNC, Portland State, Weber State

Well as much as I like to go back & forth with you EWU guys...that looks a pretty solid analysis. Same with Cat2506. Things just look so even across the top 4 or so teams this year and there is always one unexpected team that is in a position to take a seat in the top 3. As always, it's gonna be real interesting. I think Sac St. may that team and could lay a couple of costly losses on the top 4 and even become one of the top 4 this year as you pointed out..

[Silenoz]

I don't think it has. I checked back through the last 102 pages of threads but there are 106 pages so could hav been...

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[JALMOND]

I'm still working on them. All the teams have questions that is making these predictions quite difficult for me. I've given myself until August to get the final product out. The wife has been very patient, too.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

1. Montana (10-1): New coach, new system - but probably the same old Montana as far as the "w" column is concerned. Will we see a return to the pass-happy offense that existed before Hauck-ball?

Key Wins: Montana State, Cal Poly
Key Losses: Eastern Washington

2. MSU (T) (8-3): Solid defense and improved offense should help MSU challenge for the title this year. Can MSU end the nightmare losing streak against Eastern Washington? Can MSU win in Missoula or challenge a sub-par Washington State?

Key Wins: Eastern Washington, NAU
Key Losses: Montana, Sac State, Washington State

2. EWU (T) (8-3): There's no replacing Nichols, but BL Mitchell and Taiwan Jones could lead another electrifying Eagle offense if it gels early on. Buchanan Award contender LB JC Sherritt's numbers could be down with the return of LB Zach Johnson, but DL Renard Williams and DB Matt Johnson will continue to impress. A good showing against Nevada the first game of the year could do wonders for the Eagle's confidence, but they will need to ensure they don't overlook Central Washington at Qwest Field in Seattle the following week. A win this year against Montana on the first game on the red turf seems possible, but slip-ups against MSU and one other BSC team also seem likely.

Key Wins: Montana, Sac State
Key Losses: Montana State, NAU, Nevada

3. NAU (T) (7-4): Best returning QB in the conference could propel NAU into the play-offs this year if he has a good enough surrounding cast.

Key Wins: Eastern Washington, Sacramento State, Weber State
Key Losses: Montana, Montana State, Portland State

3. Sac State (T) (7-4): A lot of reasons to believe Sac is on the rise - will they deliver the goods, or is it just hype? Could Sac State raise some eye-brows against in-state Stanford? Hmmm.....

Key Wins: Montana State, Cal-Davis, Portland State
Key Losses: Montana, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona

4. Portland State (5-6): Can a new coach help PSU rise out of the wake of the Glanville debacle? Will PSU benefit from two solid recruiting classes, or will it be more of the same in Portland? Two Pac-10 games and a game against Cal-Davis could spell trouble for PSU early on.

Key Wins: UC-Davis, Northern Arizona, Weber State
Key Losses: Sac State, Eastern Washington, Montana State

5. UNC (3-8): Should boast a decent defense, but may lack the offensive firepower to put up points in an offense-oriented Big Sky Conference.

Key Wins: Idaho State, South Dakota
Key Losses: Weber State, Portland State

6. Weber State (2-9): Despite the return of Higgins, too many question marks and a difficult schedule including Boston College and Texas Tech may spell "re-building year" for the Wildcats.

Key Wins: Northern Colorado, Idaho State
Key Losses: Montana State, Northern Arizona, Sac State

7. ISU (1-10): Two or three wins this year would be a huge improvement for ISU, a program in serious risk of becoming perennial cellar-dwellars in the BSC. The Bengals' defense will need to make huge improvements over last year's if this is going to happen. ISU may struggle again this year to win a Division I game, with non-conference games against Georgia and Utah State.

Key Wins: Montana-Western
Key Losses: UNC, Portland State, Weber State

Well as much as I like to go back & forth with you EWU guys...that looks a pretty solid analysis. Same with Cat2506. Things just look so even across the top 4 or so teams this year and there is always one unexpected team that is in a position to take a seat in the top 3. As always, it's gonna be real interesting. I think Sac St. may that team and could lay a couple of costly losses on the top 4 and even become one of the top 4 this year as you pointed out..

Yeah, I'll echo that, I could definitely see the Sky playing out like that. Great analyses by both.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

my guess:

1. Montana
2. Weber State
3. Montana State
4. Eastern Washington
5. Northern Arizona
6. Sacramento State
7. Northern Colorado
8. Portland State
9. Idaho State Potatoes

What do you add to your purple water to make it so potent?

[BigSkyBears]

my guess:

1. Montana
2. Weber State
3. Montana State
4. Eastern Washington
5. Northern Arizona
6. Sacramento State
7. Northern Colorado
8. Portland State
9. Idaho State Potatoes

What do you add to your purple water to make it so potent?

I don't see Weber finishing that high. Not after all you've lost.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

What do you add to your purple water to make it so potent?

I don't see Weber finishing that high. Not after all you've lost.

As far as the BSC ranking goes it's not out of the question though. I mean look at how much better UNC would have done the last couple of years with just a FG or a TD going their way. It is a highly competitive conference that is much closer than it looks at the end of the year in many cases. A lucky break here and there or an unlucky one can move you up or down a couple of spots.

It's a guessing game and since his team is Weber I can't fault him for guessing that way.

[kemajic]

EWU has neither an established QB nor a strong defense. They will not beat Montana. Second in the BSC will be a total tossup among MSU, EWU, Weber and NAU. There is nothing unusual about this coming year. SacSt, PSU, ISU and UNC will still be out of it.

[EWURanger]

EWU has neither an established QB nor a strong defense. They will not beat Montana. Second in the BSC will be a total tossup among MSU, EWU, Weber and NAU. There is nothing unusual about this coming year. SacSt, PSU, ISU and UNC will still be out of it.

Appreciated, but I imagine most people said the same thing every other year EWU has beaten Montana.

I think our situation at QB and the quality of our defense this year will be much greater than most folks will give us credit for early on.

[89Hen]

1. Montana

Does the rest really matter?

[Screamin_Eagle174]

1. Montana

Does the rest really matter?

In terms of playoff participants, yes. And a lot more than UD.

[Herky]

EWU has neither an established QB nor a strong defense. They will not beat Montana. Second in the BSC will be a total tossup among MSU, EWU, Weber and NAU. There is nothing unusual about this coming year. SacSt, PSU, ISU and UNC will still be out of it.

[weberwildcat]

What do you add to your purple water to make it so potent?

I don't see Weber finishing that high. Not after all you've lost.

Other than the past 2 seasons my confidence in the 2010 team is of course having Higgins back and hoping he has a better year than last year. He most likely will break all Nichols records. Most importantly though, Weber's Offensive Line.

The consistently top notch Oline will keep us contending. Mac's best quality is recruiting Oline. Under Mac in his 5 yrs at WSU we've had 4 Oline go to the NFL, 3 drafted. This year we should have another possible draftee in JC Oram. Our Oline will be one of the best in the Big Sky.

[89Hen]

1. Montana

Does the rest really matter?

In terms of playoff participants, yes. And a lot more than UD.

The Patriot and MEAC have playoff participants.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Other than the past 2 seasons my confidence in the 2010 team is of course having Higgins back and hoping he has a better year than last year. He most likely will break all Nichols records.

Maybe the interceptions record.