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Good thing I'm not picking point spreads this year, because Southern Utah would've been a nightmare. The T-Birds either win close or lose big, & virtually nothing in-between—this means there's a good chance I'll be way off either way. SUU's offense is nearly nonexistent, but SHSU's defense is much weaker than in prior years. I think this game is more likely to be a comfortable Bearkat win just because the T-Birds just aren't potent enough to expose their weak pass defense.

Here's my assessment of the matchups & my pick for the game:

• • • Quarterbacks -- Sam Houston St.
      
      Running Backs - Sam Houston St.
      
      Receivers/TEs - Sam Houston St.
      
      Offensive Line - Sam Houston St.
      
      
      Defensive Line - Southern Utah
      
      Linebackers --- Southern Utah
      
      Secondary ---- Southern Utah
      
      
      Kicking ------ Southern Utah
      
      Punting ------ (push)
      
      Return Teams - Sam Houston St.
      
      Kickoffs ------ Sam Houston St.
      
      
      
      
      
      • Southern Utah 17-35 Sam Houston St.

I agree with the outcome - especially since it appears that Bell and Flanders are healing up.

But keep in mind that SUU shut down PSU's #3 rushing attack. I'm not saying anyone does what Sam's offense does, but at least there's some similarities between the bearcats and the Vikings. We've also seen Southland teams in general have more success against the this year so there might be some good tape on a blueprint to have success against it.

I think SUU needs to be at least +2 in t.o. margin to win it.

In my AGS picks I took SHSU 28-13.

If Bell/Flanders are healthy then Kats should win at home.

I haven't watched SUU play but from Big Sky fans it sounds like they have a good defense. Cal Poly took it to SHSU last year.

SHSU has a chance to take out 3 Big Sky teams this year if the cards fall right.

If the trend is your friend then you have to pick the Bearkats

20 game home winning streak and 6 in a row vs. the Big Sky.

24-20 Bearkats

Suu lays an egg and shsu thinks they still dominate the bigsky.

htownbearkat wrote:If the trend is your friend then you have to pick the Bearkats

20 game home winning streak and 6 in a row vs. the Big Sky.

24-20 Bearkats

I want those orange fags to lose so bad!!!! SUU better pull off the miracle. This is gonna be one interesting Saturday

Unfortunately, this is a tough draw for SUU in their first playoff appearance. While SUU has a good defense, if Bell and Flanders are healthy I'm not sure they'll be able to stop the Bearkats. Would be awesome to see, but with SHSU at home I don't see it happening.


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EWURanger wrote:Unfortunately, this is a tough draw for SUU in their first playoff appearance. While SUU has a good defense, if Bell and Flanders are healthy I'm not sure they'll be able to stop the Bearkats. Would be awesome to see, but with SHSU at home I don't see it happening.


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What if they do? Gonna ditch the smug sense of respectfully knowing all?

Southern Utah is just plain bad on offense. Therefore, they'll have to absolutely shut down Sam Houston's normally high-powered offense to stay in it. While this is a bad style matchup for the Bearkats, I'd have to think they have more than enough talent to win.

The only way I see Southern Utah sticking around is if they get a random couple of big play for TDs; something like a blown coverage or tipped pass that miraculously falls into someone's arms. Eastern darn near kept Southern Utah from scoring a single TD, and I'd consider the Eagle D to be mediocre.

LDopaPDX wrote:Southern Utah is just plain bad on offense. Therefore, they'll have to absolutely shut down Sam Houston's normally high-powered offense to stay in it. While this is a bad style matchup for the Bearkats, I'd have to think they have more than enough talent to win.

The only way I see Southern Utah sticking around is if they get a random couple of big play for TDs; something like a blown coverage or tipped pass that miraculously falls into someone's arms. Eastern darn near kept Southern Utah from scoring a single TD, and I'd consider the Eagle D to be mediocre.

Hopefully Sam Houston finds a way to lose.

BlackFalkin wrote:

LDopaPDX wrote:Southern Utah is just plain bad on offense. Therefore, they'll have to absolutely shut down Sam Houston's normally high-powered offense to stay in it. While this is a bad style matchup for the Bearkats, I'd have to think they have more than enough talent to win.

The only way I see Southern Utah sticking around is if they get a random couple of big play for TDs; something like a blown coverage or tipped pass that miraculously falls into someone's arms. Eastern darn near kept Southern Utah from scoring a single TD, and I'd consider the Eagle D to be mediocre.

Hopefully Sam Houston finds a way to lose.

Totally agree.

LDopaPDX wrote:The only way I see Southern Utah sticking around is if they get a random couple of big play for TDs; something like a blown coverage…

That's how they beat South Alabama.

or tipped pass that miraculously falls into someone's arms.

And that's how they beat Sac State.

EWURanger wrote:Unfortunately, this is a tough draw for SUU in their first playoff appearance. While SUU has a good defense, if Bell and Flanders are healthy I'm not sure they'll be able to stop the Bearkats. Would be awesome to see, but with SHSU at home I don't see it happening.


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I don't know about Flanders but Bell is not going to be healthy. He will play but he's not going to be able to take hits on that shoulder. It's going to affect his game and it's going to affect the play selection.

Game on! Go Thunderbirds!!!


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T-birds doing a great job of containing Sam's offense so far.

T-Birds up 3 zip

I would think that EWU would want nothing to do with SHSU

Bronco wrote:I would think that EWU would want nothing to do with SHSU

You can throw Montana, MSU, and Cal Poly in there as well.

SUU's defense is laying the smack down!

TD T-Birds!!!

You know, Flanders is a great player but if you had to pick one player that Sam Houston State cannot afford to lose it's Bell.

13-10 Sam now

Where are the fans?

-
Worst pants in football go up 20-10

Bell looks like he feels much better. I'm kind of surprised. He looked really hurt in the Southeastern game and he looked like he was still hurting during the Central Arkansas game. But now he looks like he was never injured. Flanders looks very healthy too.

Well after a pretty good start, SUU now shitting the bed.


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I'm going to blame the porn stash on the SUU QB for the poor showing

Bronco wrote:I'm going to blame the porn stash on the SUU QB for the poor showing

From the pre game info I think the problem is that Southern Utah is supposed to be a defensive team and they're defense is getting gashed. And in particular Sam Houston is running the ball very effectively on them. They averaged 5.2 per rush in the first half. If they keep it up they're on pace to get something on the order of 250 yards rushing and 500 total yards.