Big Sky Predictions 8-31
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 7:08 pm
Opening weekend for football and everyone in the Big Sky plays at some point. Some good games on the docket highlighted by Montana and Northern Arizona meeting up with teams from the Missouri Valley Conference. As it is the start of season, I am at 0-0. Those who don't know, the Big Sky schools will be represented by their scoreboard abbreviations while those teams outside of the conference will be spelled out. For example, WSU will be Weber State, and Washington State will be spelled out. Here is my attempt at perfection right out of the gate. Have at it.
San Diego at CP---The Mustangs welcome the Toreros to their home for a tussle. Quite an ambitious attempt to get a good season off and running, welcoming a good Pioneer League team to your house. Can the Mustangs get this one...San Diego 28, CP 25.
EWU at Washington---The Eagles are hoping for great things this year and they have drawn one of the big hitters of the Pac-12 right off the bat. The Eagles have been giant killers before, but this may be a tall order to fill, even if it turns into a shootout...Washington 41, EWU 31.
UI at Penn State---Fulfilling an obligation from when the Vandals were FBS, they head in to Happy Valley. Can they break through and get a big win at the start of the year? It would be something, but Penn State does not lose these games often...Penn State 35, UI 14.
Western Colorado at ISU---The Bengals just need to find an important cog to fill and they could be dangerous. What a better way than to schedule a lower division school and get a good practice in. At least that is how it should go, anyway...ISU 38, Western Colorado 7.
UM at South Dakota---The Grizzlies make a trip into hostile Missouri Valley country as they meet up with a good South Dakota team. We should know early on if they are trending up or down. This will be a good win for them...UM 29, South Dakota 27.
MSU at Texas Tech---The Bobcats venture into Big 12 country as they step up a level. They have a great team back and only need a good reliable quarterback. The defense is strong, but strong enough to hold off a Big 12 team?...Texas Tech 35, MSU 17.
Missouri State at NAU---New coaching staff, new philosophy but an old face at quarterback to lead the Lumberjacks. Whether that leads to good things this year remains to be seen but for now a good game against the Missouri Valley squad...NAU 38, Missouri State 14.
UNC at San Jose State---Not much is expected out the Bears this season as they look to get back on track. Not much is expected out of their first opponent either. Can the Bears get an upset out of the gate? Can they keep it close?...San Jose State 38, UNC 7.
PSU at Arkansas---The Vikings are game enough to go into hallowed SEC country and try their luck. No Big Sky team has beaten an SEC team. Could this be the time? Actually, the Vikings may just hope to get out of there alive...Arkansas 48, PSU 10.
Southern Oregon at SAC---The Hornets would like to turn the ship around from last season and join those at the top, but that means not stubbing their toes against a lower division foe. Still, they should have enough for a win...SAC 27, Southern Oregon 17.
SUU at Nevada-Las Vegas---The Thunderbirds usually follow up a down year with a good year so this year should be a good one. So they should get this game against a bottom feeder, even if it is from the FBS. Or they shouldn't...Nevada-Las Vegas 38, SUU 10.
UCD at California---Was last year a fluke or do the Aggies have enough to stay at the top? if they do, they should be able to stay with a bottom tier Pac-12 school. Especially if that school is looking forward to Washington...California 27, UCD 22.
WSU at San Diego State---Are the Wildcats legit enough to stay near the top of the standings? Can they throw a bit of a scare into a good Mountain West team? They can win this game, but it will be a tough one...San Diego State 31, WSU 14.
San Diego at CP---The Mustangs welcome the Toreros to their home for a tussle. Quite an ambitious attempt to get a good season off and running, welcoming a good Pioneer League team to your house. Can the Mustangs get this one...San Diego 28, CP 25.
EWU at Washington---The Eagles are hoping for great things this year and they have drawn one of the big hitters of the Pac-12 right off the bat. The Eagles have been giant killers before, but this may be a tall order to fill, even if it turns into a shootout...Washington 41, EWU 31.
UI at Penn State---Fulfilling an obligation from when the Vandals were FBS, they head in to Happy Valley. Can they break through and get a big win at the start of the year? It would be something, but Penn State does not lose these games often...Penn State 35, UI 14.
Western Colorado at ISU---The Bengals just need to find an important cog to fill and they could be dangerous. What a better way than to schedule a lower division school and get a good practice in. At least that is how it should go, anyway...ISU 38, Western Colorado 7.
UM at South Dakota---The Grizzlies make a trip into hostile Missouri Valley country as they meet up with a good South Dakota team. We should know early on if they are trending up or down. This will be a good win for them...UM 29, South Dakota 27.
MSU at Texas Tech---The Bobcats venture into Big 12 country as they step up a level. They have a great team back and only need a good reliable quarterback. The defense is strong, but strong enough to hold off a Big 12 team?...Texas Tech 35, MSU 17.
Missouri State at NAU---New coaching staff, new philosophy but an old face at quarterback to lead the Lumberjacks. Whether that leads to good things this year remains to be seen but for now a good game against the Missouri Valley squad...NAU 38, Missouri State 14.
UNC at San Jose State---Not much is expected out the Bears this season as they look to get back on track. Not much is expected out of their first opponent either. Can the Bears get an upset out of the gate? Can they keep it close?...San Jose State 38, UNC 7.
PSU at Arkansas---The Vikings are game enough to go into hallowed SEC country and try their luck. No Big Sky team has beaten an SEC team. Could this be the time? Actually, the Vikings may just hope to get out of there alive...Arkansas 48, PSU 10.
Southern Oregon at SAC---The Hornets would like to turn the ship around from last season and join those at the top, but that means not stubbing their toes against a lower division foe. Still, they should have enough for a win...SAC 27, Southern Oregon 17.
SUU at Nevada-Las Vegas---The Thunderbirds usually follow up a down year with a good year so this year should be a good one. So they should get this game against a bottom feeder, even if it is from the FBS. Or they shouldn't...Nevada-Las Vegas 38, SUU 10.
UCD at California---Was last year a fluke or do the Aggies have enough to stay at the top? if they do, they should be able to stay with a bottom tier Pac-12 school. Especially if that school is looking forward to Washington...California 27, UCD 22.
WSU at San Diego State---Are the Wildcats legit enough to stay near the top of the standings? Can they throw a bit of a scare into a good Mountain West team? They can win this game, but it will be a tough one...San Diego State 31, WSU 14.
