Championship Subdivision Football | FCS Football | Stadiums | Blogs | Forums

Unlike our counterparts in the east, distances between the FCS schools in the west are pretty far. Non conference games are interesting for the Big Sky as we have just our brethren in the Great West to choose from for "close" FCS games. Therefore, we schedule money games with the western FBS conferences (Pac-10, Mountain West, WAC), both for the distance, the money and the competition. Some of us do head east for FCS non conference games (and some FBS non conference games). Here is a list of non conference FBS games the Big Sky schools are playing and how I think they will do. The breakdown is such: NONE---Big Sky loses by at least 28 points. SLIM---Big Sky loses by 14-27 points. POSSIBLE---Big Sky loses by 1-13 points. PROBABLE---Big Sky wins by 1-13 points. DEFINITE---Big Sky wins by 14-27 points. SURE---Big Sky wins by 28 points or over.

EASTERN WASHINGTON (1)
9/2 at Nevada (WAC)---SLIM. Eagles will have Jones ready, who should relish the chance to run against a WAC type defense. But the game is too early for the quarterback situation to be fully resolved. Nevada has the firepower to challenge Boise State for the WAC title this year. They won't run and hide against the Eagles, but they have too much.

IDAHO STATE (2)
9-11 at Utah State (WAC)---SLIM. Hard to say if the Bengals will have their questions answered in the first game against NAIA Montana-Western enough to stay with Utah State. The Aggies return a bunch, but have never had much tradition in football. Thinking the Aggies may slowly pull away during the game.

11-6 at Georgia (SEC)---NONE. Even if the Bengals are a surprise team this year, the Bulldogs should be rolling along at this point. The Bengals will just be a small pothole on that journey.

MONTANA (0)

MONTANA STATE (1)
9-11 at Washington State (Pac-10)---POSSIBLE. The Bobcats have a ton returning and the Cougars are a step below most Pac-10 teams. If they "Coug it" in this game, Wulff may not last the season.

NORTHERN ARIZONA (1)
9-11 at Arizona State (Pac-10)---SLIM. Last year the Jacks watched Arizona slowly pull away during the course of the game. The Jacks should have good moments but not enough to pull the upset.

NORTHERN COLORADO (1)
9-25 at Michigan State (Big 10)---NONE. The Spartans are not the powerhouse they once were in the Big 10, but they are still a pretty good football team. Last year they dismantled Montana State. This year should be no trouble with Northern Colorado.

PORTLAND STATE (2)
9-4 at Arizona State (Pac-10)---NONE. First game for coach Burton in the midst of a rebuilding project for the Vikings. The Sun Devils are not the Sun Devils of old, but they should have no problem with the Vikings.

9-18 at Oregon (Pac-10)---NONE. The Ducks are not only in the upper reaches of the Pac-10, but also up near the top of the FBS. Duck fans want roses this year and Portland State should be but a small blip on the radar.

SACRAMENTO STATE (1)
9-4 at Stanford (Pac-10)---SLIM. The Hornets want to think this is their year and for what is coming back, it may be. Stanford lost a bunch but still fill the holes pretty quickly. The Hornets may surprise with staying close to the Cardinal.

WEBER STATE (2)
9-4 at Boston College (ACC)---NONE. Not much coverage on the west coast about Boston College (does Flutie still quarterback there) but the Eagles should make some noise in the ACC this year. The Wildcats are trying to recoup some major losses from last year.

11-20 at Texas Tech (Big-12)---SLIM. Hard to say as this game is being played at the end of the season. A couple years back, the Wildcats played Wisconsin the last game and should have won it so they do a great job of bouncing back as the season goes on. Whether it happens this year remains to be seen.

Corrected my glaring mistake...

JALMOND wrote:

Corrected my glaring mistake...

You must have done so before I even saw it or I didn't even notice it.

Can't really argue a whole lot with your breakdown. I'd bump Sac down to none vs. Stanford. EWU's chances are definitely slim, and perhaps this is just my homerism aided by what I've seen of BLM in the Spring, but I'd say were going to be on the cusp of possible, probably losing by 14-20.

Wait. What?

You mean Montana isn't manning up and playing an FBS team AGAIN this year?

WTF? Buncha pussies...

That's a fair enough assessment. I think- well, i hope, anyway- that the best chance out west this season will be from Cal against Cal... Davis vs. Berkeley. I hope that arrogance finally goes away for a season...

I know we have some myopic EWU fans on this board, but I'll say this about their team: they've got a MUCH better chance at taking down NV than the Bungles have at USU. That's just a comparison of the quality of the two teams. I give EWU a decent chance, though they will likely lose a close one. The Bungles will get trashed in both of their FBS games.

The Kitties get trashed, though it won't be the ugliest BSC vs FBS game on the docket.

I give NAU a bit mroe credit than this. Based on your criteria, JALMOND, I'd have to call this POSSIBLE.

I agree with you about UNC.

I don't know that I wanna call PSU that much of a lost cause, though a coaching change is always rough. I trust Mr. Tiger. Between the two, PSU probably has a better chance at beating ASU, though.

You already know my feelings about the Sac-Tree game. You actually give us more credit than many here would. I'd have to call a Sac win probable, though.

Weber may run into the same thing with BC that I anticipate Sac to see in Tree-ville, though I have nothing to base that on as I do with Stanford. I would actually give Weber a bit more of a chance there because the season is so early. BC may well be trying to figure out their chemistry at that point. TX Tech? You might well have that one nailed.

SuperHornet wrote:I know we have some myopic EWU fans on this board, but I'll say this about their team: they've got a MUCH better chance at taking down NV than the Bungles have at USU. That's just a comparison of the quality of the two teams. I give EWU a decent chance, though they will likely lose a close one. The Bungles will get trashed in both of their FBS games.

The Kitties get trashed, though it won't be the ugliest BSC vs FBS game on the docket.

I give NAU a bit mroe credit than this. Based on your criteria, JALMOND, I'd have to call this POSSIBLE.

I agree with you about UNC.

I don't know that I wanna call PSU that much of a lost cause, though a coaching change is always rough. I trust Mr. Tiger. Between the two, PSU probably has a better chance at beating ASU, though.

You already know my feelings about the Sac-Tree game. You actually give us more credit than many here would. I'd have to call a Sac win probable, though.

Weber may run into the same thing with BC that I anticipate Sac to see in Tree-ville, though I have nothing to base that on as I do with Stanford. I would actually give Weber a bit more of a chance there because the season is so early. BC may well be trying to figure out their chemistry at that point. TX Tech? You might well have that one nailed.

How about a friendly bet, Super? You think the Cats will lose big and Sac. will win. I'll bet that if the Cats lose by more points than Sac. does to Stanford or if Sac. beats Stanford, I will not post here for the remainder of the 2010 season. If the Cats win or Sac. loses by more than the Cats do, you cannot post for the remainder of the 2010 season.
What say you, kitty hater.

Catattack wrote:

SuperHornet wrote:I know we have some myopic EWU fans on this board, but I'll say this about their team: they've got a MUCH better chance at taking down NV than the Bungles have at USU. That's just a comparison of the quality of the two teams. I give EWU a decent chance, though they will likely lose a close one. The Bungles will get trashed in both of their FBS games.

The Kitties get trashed, though it won't be the ugliest BSC vs FBS game on the docket.

I give NAU a bit mroe credit than this. Based on your criteria, JALMOND, I'd have to call this POSSIBLE.

I agree with you about UNC.

I don't know that I wanna call PSU that much of a lost cause, though a coaching change is always rough. I trust Mr. Tiger. Between the two, PSU probably has a better chance at beating ASU, though.

You already know my feelings about the Sac-Tree game. You actually give us more credit than many here would. I'd have to call a Sac win probable, though.

Weber may run into the same thing with BC that I anticipate Sac to see in Tree-ville, though I have nothing to base that on as I do with Stanford. I would actually give Weber a bit more of a chance there because the season is so early. BC may well be trying to figure out their chemistry at that point. TX Tech? You might well have that one nailed.

How about a friendly bet, Super? You think the Cats will lose big and Sac. will win. I'll bet that if the Cats lose by more points than Sac. does to Stanford or if Sac. beats Stanford, I will not post here for the remainder of the 2010 season. If the Cats win or Sac. loses by more than the Cats do, you cannot post for the remainder of the 2010 season.
What say you, kitty hater.

I pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster that they take the bet.

How the fuck could you possibly think Sac State will beat Stanford?

Willie wrote:How the **** could you possibly think Sac State will beat Stanford?

Indeed. They might not have Gerhart anymore, but Luck is one of, if not the best college QB I've ever seen in person. Owusu will be open all day against Sac State, I wouldn't be surprised if Luck isn't playing anymore by mid-way through the third quarter. As I said in the other thread, I don't think MSU will beat the Cougs, but that game will be much closer than the Sac State/Stanford game.

As far as some of the other games, I just can't see EWU beating Nevada. As much as I would enjoy seeing it happen I agree with most of the sentiment here, there is no way Eastern is going to slow down that offense. I imagine they'll put some points on the board too, but it won't be enough, Kaepernickis a stud. NAU vs ASU might be a fun game if good ol' Denny can't fix that offense yet again this season, but even with their woes on offense the Sun Devil defense should be able to hold Herrick and company in check. I don't really see any other games being that close for Big Sky teams this year though. Higgins is probably good for 7 INTs in Weber's two FBS games and none of the other teams in the conference have the talent to even keep things respectable against their FBS opponents in my opinion.

JALMOND wrote:

Corrected my glaring mistake...

You missed another one… Cal Poly nearly beat Wisconsin 2 years ago, not Weber (then Weber beat CP in the first round).

JALMOND wrote: MONTANA (0)

So you're saying there's a chance!

SuperHornet wrote:I know we have some myopic EWU fans on this board..

I'd have to call a Sac win probable, though.

Willie wrote:How the **** could you possibly think Sac State will beat Stanford?

I've laid my logic out almost daily for almost two weeks now. How the **** could you possibly have missed it?

Catattack wrote:

SuperHornet wrote:I know we have some myopic EWU fans on this board, but I'll say this about their team: they've got a MUCH better chance at taking down NV than the Bungles have at USU. That's just a comparison of the quality of the two teams. I give EWU a decent chance, though they will likely lose a close one. The Bungles will get trashed in both of their FBS games.

The Kitties get trashed, though it won't be the ugliest BSC vs FBS game on the docket.

I give NAU a bit mroe credit than this. Based on your criteria, JALMOND, I'd have to call this POSSIBLE.

I agree with you about UNC.

I don't know that I wanna call PSU that much of a lost cause, though a coaching change is always rough. I trust Mr. Tiger. Between the two, PSU probably has a better chance at beating ASU, though.

You already know my feelings about the Sac-Tree game. You actually give us more credit than many here would. I'd have to call a Sac win probable, though.

Weber may run into the same thing with BC that I anticipate Sac to see in Tree-ville, though I have nothing to base that on as I do with Stanford. I would actually give Weber a bit more of a chance there because the season is so early. BC may well be trying to figure out their chemistry at that point. TX Tech? You might well have that one nailed.

How about a friendly bet, Super? You think the Cats will lose big and Sac. will win. I'll bet that if the Cats lose by more points than Sac. does to Stanford or if Sac. beats Stanford, I will not post here for the remainder of the 2010 season. If the Cats win or Sac. loses by more than the Cats do, you cannot post for the remainder of the 2010 season.
What say you, kitty hater.

Kitty hater? Have you already forgotten the Griz on my tail for predicting Kitty wins over the Griz on the hardwood?

SuperHornet wrote:

Willie wrote:How the **** could you possibly think Sac State will beat Stanford?

I've laid my logic out almost daily for almost two weeks now. How the **** could you possibly have missed it?

Being a religious s/he, one would think you would understand the difference between logic and blind faith.

I guess not.

SuperHornet wrote:

Willie wrote:How the **** could you possibly think Sac State will beat Stanford?

I've laid my logic out almost daily for almost two weeks now. How the **** could you possibly have missed it?

Believe me, you're throwing up one helluva prayer, and it won't be answered. Seriously. You saying they'll win is like the conversation I had with a former high school teammate on Friday. He plays for UM-Western (NAIA) and they play Idaho State this year. He claims they will win. ISU may not be that good but they will stomp the life out of Western. As will Stanford with Sac.

S F State Gaters wrote:That's a fair enough assessment. I think- well, i hope, anyway- that the best chance out west this season will be from Cal against Cal... Davis vs. Berkeley. I hope that arrogance finally goes away for a season...

No way in hell Cal loses this game. "the farm extension" might hang with them for a quarter, two at the most...if that.

Sac State having a slim chance at Stanford is a stretch. Stanford returns Luck and return a lot of the receivers.

SDHornet wrote:

S F State Gaters wrote:That's a fair enough assessment. I think- well, i hope, anyway- that the best chance out west this season will be from Cal against Cal... Davis vs. Berkeley. I hope that arrogance finally goes away for a season...

No way in hell Cal loses this game. "the farm extension" might hang with them for a quarter, two at the most...if that.

which one? i'll assume you're giving into UC Berkeley's nominational arrogance, but i disagree. Cal Davis beat stanford a few years back, when hey were only a year removed from D-II, fielding a team made up largely of D-II players. The 2010 UC Berkeley team is good, but not great. I'm not convinced they're a bowl team, but senior leadership under center will probably be enough for 6 wins.

Catattack wrote:

SuperHornet wrote:I know we have some myopic EWU fans on this board, but I'll say this about their team: they've got a MUCH better chance at taking down NV than the Bungles have at USU. That's just a comparison of the quality of the two teams. I give EWU a decent chance, though they will likely lose a close one. The Bungles will get trashed in both of their FBS games.

The Kitties get trashed, though it won't be the ugliest BSC vs FBS game on the docket.

I give NAU a bit mroe credit than this. Based on your criteria, JALMOND, I'd have to call this POSSIBLE.

I agree with you about UNC.

I don't know that I wanna call PSU that much of a lost cause, though a coaching change is always rough. I trust Mr. Tiger. Between the two, PSU probably has a better chance at beating ASU, though.

You already know my feelings about the Sac-Tree game. You actually give us more credit than many here would. I'd have to call a Sac win probable, though.

Weber may run into the same thing with BC that I anticipate Sac to see in Tree-ville, though I have nothing to base that on as I do with Stanford. I would actually give Weber a bit more of a chance there because the season is so early. BC may well be trying to figure out their chemistry at that point. TX Tech? You might well have that one nailed.

How about a friendly bet, Super? You think the Cats will lose big and Sac. will win. I'll bet that if the Cats lose by more points than Sac. does to Stanford or if Sac. beats Stanford, I will not post here for the remainder of the 2010 season. If the Cats win or Sac. loses by more than the Cats do, you cannot post for the remainder of the 2010 season.
What say you, kitty hater.

I like that bet! Hey Catattack, include Sac Buzz as well in the bet, we could use a break from the nonsense.

EASTERN WASHINGTON - 9/2 at Nevada (WAC) - Eastern hangs early, loses by 21, 38-17
IDAHO STATE - 9-11 at Utah State (WAC) - Might be Utah State's only win of the year, USU by 24, 38-14
IDAHO STATE - 11-6 at Georgia (SEC) - WILL be ISU's worst loss of the year, Bulldogs, 44-0
MONTANA STATE - 9-11 at Washington State (Pac-10) - Best chance for the Sky...but Cougs in a squeaker, 28-21
NORTHERN ARIZONA - 9-11 at Arizona State (Pac-10) - NAU gets pummeled late, Devils win 44-10
NORTHERN COLORADO - 9-25 at Michigan State (Big 10) - Might be the Sky's worst loss of the year, State wins 48-0
PORTLAND STATE - 9-4 at Arizona State (Pac-10) - PSU gets pummeled early and late, Devils win 41-3
PORTLAND STATE - 9-18 at Oregon (Pac-10) - State still reeling from ASU debacle, loses 44-7
SACRAMENTO STATE - 9-4 at Stanford (Pac-10) - Suck State doesn't stand a chance, the Tree wins going away 41-14
WEBER STATE - 9-4 at Boston College (ACC) - Ugh. Its gonna be a LOOOOONG flight home....51-17
WEBER STATE - 11-20 at Texas Tech (Big-12) - Well, at least it'll be a shorter flight home! Tech wins 48-10.

In other words, the Big Sky goes O-fer and most games will NOT be competitive. This isn't Navy, UConn, etc these folks are playing (well, excluding Utah State and Wazzu )

It's just my opinion, but I think MSU could handle the Cougars. I was impressed last year with Kempt's performance in Cheney, and he should only be better.

AZGrizFan wrote:EASTERN WASHINGTON - 9/2 at Nevada (WAC) - Eastern hangs early, loses by 21, 38-17
IDAHO STATE - 9-11 at Utah State (WAC) - Might be Utah State's only win of the year, USU by 24, 38-14IDAHO STATE - 11-6 at Georgia (SEC) - WILL be ISU's worst loss of the year, Bulldogs, 44-0
MONTANA STATE - 9-11 at Washington State (Pac-10) - Best chance for the Sky...but Cougs in a squeaker, 28-21
NORTHERN ARIZONA - 9-11 at Arizona State (Pac-10) - NAU gets pummeled late, Devils win 44-10
NORTHERN COLORADO - 9-25 at Michigan State (Big 10) - Might be the Sky's worst loss of the year, State wins 48-0
PORTLAND STATE - 9-4 at Arizona State (Pac-10) - PSU gets pummeled early and late, Devils win 41-3
PORTLAND STATE - 9-18 at Oregon (Pac-10) - State still reeling from ASU debacle, loses 44-7
SACRAMENTO STATE - 9-4 at Stanford (Pac-10) - Suck State doesn't stand a chance, the Tree wins going away 41-14
WEBER STATE - 9-4 at Boston College (ACC) - Ugh. Its gonna be a LOOOOONG flight home....51-17
WEBER STATE - 11-20 at Texas Tech (Big-12) - Well, at least it'll be a shorter flight home! Tech wins 48-10.

In other words, the Big Sky goes O-fer and most games will NOT be competitive. This isn't Navy, UConn, etc these folks are playing (well, excluding Utah State and Wazzu )

Utah St was picked 4th in the WAC preseason poll. Ill go with 49-7 for the score against ISU.

I think Weber will be better than alot of people think, however having said that Im NOT looking forward to any of Weber's FBS games


Bring on Northern Colorado.