Big Sky Predictions

[JALMOND]

So far I am sitting at 32-4 for the year. Pretty good, but the games still have not been all that tough. This week is interesting in that the three top teams are all on the road and one thing that is true is that you are not a good team until you win on the road. The top three should be favored but will they be on top when the game is over? This week's predictions (all my opinion only), and all have been added to all the other prediction threads. Sacramento State is off this week so the matrix is set up with initials only.

EWU @ UNC---Last week the Eagles got a well played win at home against Northern Arizona while the Bears went down big time at Sacramento State. The Eagles are slowly emerging as a pretty good team without Jones, but no question they would like to have him playing full time. The Bears hopes for a good season took a big hit as the victim of a rout to the Hornets. No Jones (or a little bit), no problem for the Eagles...EWU 29, UNC 17.

MSU @ NAU---An interesting game with big implications toward the Big Sky conference race, which makes this the conference game of the week. The Jacks hopes for a conference title took a big hit last week as they came home from Eastern Washington fresh from a putdown. The Bobcats once again took a quarter off before rallying at home against Portland State. The Jacks need this game for any hope for consideration for the top conference spot. The Bobcats would like to have this game to keep the momentum going and get a big conference road win...MSU 27, NAU 25.

UM @ PSU---Another interesting game here. The Grizzlies are improving every week since starting 1-2 and, after last week's cakewalk at home against Idaho State, hope to continue their march back to the top. The Vikings, however, have showed that, at least against the FCS, they have improved significantly since Burton took over as coach and actually led at the end of the first quarter against Montana State last week. This game being played at Hillsboro Stadium will be cozy as Grizzly fans usually flock to this game in droves. The size may prevent some Griz fans from coming which may push the balance to the Vikings favor. Not as if that would help...UM 31, PSU 26.

WSU @ISU---The Wildcats are coming off a bye and make the short trip up the road to face the Bengals, who are coming off an uninspiring performance at Montana last week. Late scores made the Montana game look closer than it was as they were a few scores too late. The Wildcats arrive rested and relaxed and ready to make a push back to the top of the conference. They cannot afford a letdown to a team like the Bengals...WSU 20, ISU 10.

32-4. Looking to be perfect again

[weberwildcat]

WSU @ISU---The Wildcats are coming off a bye and make the short trip up the road to face the Bengals, who are coming off an uninspiring performance at Montana last week. Late scores made the Montana game look closer than it was as they were a few scores too late. The Wildcats arrive rested and relaxed and ready to make a push back to the top of the conference. They cannot afford a letdown to a team like the Bengals...WSU 20, ISU 10.

32-4. Looking to be perfect again

32-4

Weber's 50 pt game was the only one this yr over 30 points. I'm hoping for 40 at ISU since it is our rival. Every team has scored over 30 on ISU this year so we better.

Last decade vs Idaho St:
2009 W 44-17
2008 W 59-27
2007 W 52-37
2006 W 30-27
2005 W 30-21
2004 W 26-14 (our only win that yr )
2003 W 38-21
2002 L 34-0
2001 W 42-17
2000 W 16-13

We're averaging 34 ppg against them over the last 10 years even including the goose egg of '04. Maybe that was why our coach got fired...

[SUUTbird]

UM @ PSU---Another interesting game here. The Grizzlies are improving every week since starting 1-2 and, after last week's cakewalk at home against Idaho State, hope to continue their march back to the top. The Vikings, however, have showed that, at least against the FCS, they have improved significantly since Burton took over as coach and actually led at the end of the first quarter against Montana State last week. This game being played at Hillsboro Stadium will be cozy as Grizzly fans usually flock to this game in droves. The size may prevent some Griz fans from coming which may push the balance to the Vikings favor. Not as if that would help...UM 31, PSU 26.

I really am keen to see this game as i can see the Viks getting a win if the Griz dont come out and play from the get go. Burton has done one hell of a job so far i think at PSU and this is just his first year. Give him some time and he eventually with all the players he had has recruited should have an even better team. Still think the Griz will win this one but this easily could be classified as a trap game. i expect alot of points and am looking forward to the offensive fireworks .

[webfan]

I hope Weber St isn't overlooking Idaho St. Remember, Weber barely beat Northern Co!!!

[BigSkyFootball]

Montana at Portland State: Montana, which actually got better offensively with Justin Roper at QB, will beat the Vikings. In the Big Sky, there are two tiers: upper - Montana, Montana State, Eastern Washington, Weber State & Northern Arizona; lower - Portland State, Sacramento State, Idaho State & Northern Colorado. Generally, the lower tier does not beat the upper tier very often. This will be the case in this one.
MONTANA 42 PORTLAND STATE 28

Montana State at Northern Arizona: Both QBs are dinged up; NAU's Herrick has an issue in his non-throwing arm and the MSU QB has a high ankle sprain. Both will play. This game will either show that MSU is a legit playoff team or NAU has shaken off that .500 tag every year. Look for Herrick to finally have a big game at home in the Dome. The Jack defense will step up and close the door on the Bobcat offense.
NORTHERN ARIZONA 35 MONTANA STATE 24

Favorites win the rest of the games

[Silenoz]

Weber is not upper-tier, and NAU is borderline. Based on body-of-work this decade it would be exclusively UM,MSU, and EWU


EWU 35 UNC 14

MSU 27 NAU 28

UM 35, PSU 21

WSU 24 ISU 17

[Catattack]

D McGhee has a sprained foot

McGhee took the microphone next. When asked if he could play tomorrow - meaning Wednesday - he said, "I would play, without a doubt."

[webfan]

I agree with you Big... NAU will win this one. They played AZ ST straight-up for over 3 quaters. They're a tough team at home too. NAU's passing attack is underrated. And their defence too.

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

EWU @ UNC
EWU by 14

MSU @ NAU
MSU by 3

UM @ PSU
UM by 10

WSU @ISU
WSU by 13

[Screamin_Eagle174]

EWU 35 @ 10 UNC - EWU should roll.

MSU 27 @ 30 NAU - Could go either way, I want NAU to win, don't know if they will. Elevation and injuries might catch up to MSU.

UM 38 @ 31 PSU - If the Unforced Mistakes continue, I see a close game.

WSU 31 @ 17 ISU - Tavoy Moore will make this game look closer than it was. Kid is unreal.

[EWURanger]

EWU 28 @ UNC 17 - Without TJ, look for more production from EWU's #2 and #3 backs. BLM and the receivers should make some plays in this one, and the defense will continue to look tough.

MSU 35 @ NAU 38 - MSU should be the favorite, but with NAU at home and an abysmal performance @ EWU last week, look for NAU to play spoiler and MSU's run might come to an end this weekend.

UM 35 @ PSU 21 - The Vikings will play well enough to make this one interesting, but the Griz are improving every week and should win this one by 2 TD's.

WSU 31 @ ISU 21 - Not much to say here. As disappointing as Weber has been this year, they're not going to lose to ISU. Moore should make a couple sensational plays, but it won't be enough for ISU.

[bpcats]

Wish the games were starting now..

Weber should roll,
EWU should roll..although next year with some depth on offensive and defensive lines UNC could create some havoc.

UM should roll with blitz package but PSU might give them some fight.

Right after MSU beat PSU and looking over stats of EWU vs NAU stats, I thought for sure MSU would roll up NAU 48 to 20.

However, Herrick hardly ever throws 3 picks in a game and their defense stuffing the run and may have the best pressure package beside UM (who has better corners), NAU first home game in 5 weeks, our beat up offensive line, defense...thinking that MSU will struggle to score.

First one to 30 points probably wins. Game will hinge on turnovers and be within 3 points.

[EWURanger]

However, Herrick hardly ever throws 3 picks in a game and their defense stuffing the run and may have the best pressure package beside UM (who has better corners), NAU first home game in 5 weeks, our beat up offensive line, defense...thinking that MSU will struggle to score.

I agree. That's going to be an interesting one. It's going to depend on which NAU team shows up - is it going to be the one that played ASU tough, or the one that got shut down by EWU last week?

Either way, there's no chance Herrick plays as poorly as he did last week. NAU at home with the elevation - might be a close one.

[EWURanger]

EWU 28 @ UNC 17 - Without TJ, look for more production from EWU's #2 and #3 backs. BLM and the receivers should make some plays in this one, and the defense will continue to look tough.

MSU 35 @ NAU 38 - MSU should be the favorite, but with NAU at home and an abysmal performance @ EWU last week, look for NAU to play spoiler and MSU's run might come to an end this weekend.

UM 35 @ PSU 21 - The Vikings will play well enough to make this one interesting, but the Griz are improving every week and should win this one by 2 TD's.

WSU 31 @ ISU 21 - Not much to say here. As disappointing as Weber has been this year, they're not going to lose to ISU. Moore should make a couple sensational plays, but it won't be enough for ISU.

Scores weren't really close, but 4-4 this week!

[dbackjon]

The way everyone was talking in this thread, you would have thought NAU lost to EWU by 40...instead of one touchdown.

[JALMOND]

So far I am sitting at 32-4 for the year. Pretty good, but the games still have not been all that tough. This week is interesting in that the three top teams are all on the road and one thing that is true is that you are not a good team until you win on the road. The top three should be favored but will they be on top when the game is over? This week's predictions (all my opinion only), and all have been added to all the other prediction threads. Sacramento State is off this week so the matrix is set up with initials only.

EWU @ UNC---Last week the Eagles got a well played win at home against Northern Arizona while the Bears went down big time at Sacramento State. The Eagles are slowly emerging as a pretty good team without Jones, but no question they would like to have him playing full time. The Bears hopes for a good season took a big hit as the victim of a rout to the Hornets. No Jones (or a little bit), no problem for the Eagles...EWU 29, UNC 17.

MSU @ NAU---An interesting game with big implications toward the Big Sky conference race, which makes this the conference game of the week. The Jacks hopes for a conference title took a big hit last week as they came home from Eastern Washington fresh from a putdown. The Bobcats once again took a quarter off before rallying at home against Portland State. The Jacks need this game for any hope for consideration for the top conference spot. The Bobcats would like to have this game to keep the momentum going and get a big conference road win...MSU 27, NAU 25.

UM @ PSU---Another interesting game here. The Grizzlies are improving every week since starting 1-2 and, after last week's cakewalk at home against Idaho State, hope to continue their march back to the top. The Vikings, however, have showed that, at least against the FCS, they have improved significantly since Burton took over as coach and actually led at the end of the first quarter against Montana State last week. This game being played at Hillsboro Stadium will be cozy as Grizzly fans usually flock to this game in droves. The size may prevent some Griz fans from coming which may push the balance to the Vikings favor. Not as if that would help...UM 31, PSU 26.

WSU @ISU---The Wildcats are coming off a bye and make the short trip up the road to face the Bengals, who are coming off an uninspiring performance at Montana last week. Late scores made the Montana game look closer than it was as they were a few scores too late. The Wildcats arrive rested and relaxed and ready to make a push back to the top of the conference. They cannot afford a letdown to a team like the Bengals...WSU 20, ISU 10.

32-4. Looking to be perfect again

3-1 this week, only missed the MSU game. Brings me to 35-5 for the year.

[webfan]

Weber State's 16 to 13 win over Idaho State was ugly. Weber tried to give it to the Bengals but they wouldn't take it. Higgins had 4 INT's one for a TD. But ISU couldn't take advantage missing 4 FG's. There has been nothing said on this game's outcome.It was just one ugly football game.

[weberwildcat]

Weber State's 16 to 13 win over Idaho State was ugly. Weber tried to give it to the Bengals but they wouldn't take it. Higgins had 4 INT's one for a TD. But ISU couldn't take advantage missing 4 FG's. There has been nothing said on this game's outcome.It was just one ugly football game.

it was more sad to see isu not win, they have struggled so badly over the years lately and to miss 3 fg's in the 4th quarter all in range and then lose by 3. i still can't believe we were down in the 4th quarter to idaho state in football.

[EWURanger]

The way everyone was talking in this thread, you would have thought NAU lost to EWU by 40...instead of one touchdown.

To be fair, NAU offense only scored 1 TD in that game. I think people traditionally think of NAU as an offensive-oriented team......so in that sense, EWU shut them down.

And besides, I did pick NAU to beat MSU.

[native]

Boy howdy, this week's results make the rest of the season even more interesting!

[native]

How many Big Sky teams will participate in the expanded post season this year? Two? Three?

Which BSC teams will make it?

Which ones will miss out?

[webfan]

The BSC is crazy! No way anyone could guess let alone Know.

[SuperHornet]

I hope Weber St isn't overlooking Idaho St. Remember, Weber barely beat Northern Co!!!

How prescient was this? I was one that had ISU counted out of this game, and Weber barely won.

Wow.

[webfan]

I'll take that as a compliment, thank you.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Correct Pick
Incorrect Pick
Actual Score
(-123) = Difference between predicted and actual point spread
__________________________________________________

EWU 35 @ 10 UNC
EWU 35 @ 28 UNC (-18)

MSU 27 @ 30 NAU
MSU 7 @ 34 NAU (-24)

UM 38 @ 31 PSU
UM 23 @ 21 PSU (-5)

WSU 31 @ 17 ISU
WSU 16 @ 13 ISU (-11)
__________________________________________________

This week: 4-0
Last week: 4-0
Overall: 34-6

Perfect 4-0 this week moves me to only one game back from Jalmond. Crazy scores and outcomes not only in the BSC this week, but across the country. UNC gave us quite the scare. Hopefully that will light a fire under our players asses so we don't ease up on anyone... if we do, we'll lose.