Big Sky Predictions 8-29

[JALMOND]

Another season is starting and, in a highly unusual quirk, the first week is actually Week 0 and the games are all conference games except for one. With nothing to go on previously, it makes picking the winners a really tough one off the bat. But here is my attempt at the Week 0 conference games in the Big Sky. As in years past, the Big Sky schools are listed in scoreboard format, while those teams out of the Big Sky are spelled out. Therefore, WSU would be Weber State, while Washington State would be spelled out. Here are the predictions. First game is Friday. Good luck everyone!

UI at CP---Friday's game and it could be a good one. The Vandals are trying to reclaim their old spot in the upper echelon of the conference, and the Mustangs took a small step forward last season. The loser here will have a long road to go to make up ground...UI 30, CP 27.

UCD at PSU---The Aggies are loaded except in the area of quarterback where their young buck from last year transferred. The Vikings are starting a new era with new faces all over the place. The Aggies should be able to find someone to throw the ball all over the place...UCD 31, PSU 14.

EWU at NAU---Do the Eagles have enough to get back to relevancy in the conference this season? The Lumberjacks have been getting a lot of love in the polls. Can it translate on to the field? They are at home for this game so they should get the win to start...NAU 31, EWU 20.

Virginia Military Institute (FCS Southern ) at ISU---The only non-conference game this week. The Bengals are hoping for huge things to come their way this year. They bring in what usually is one of the cellar dwellers in the Southern Conference for a start to the year...ISU 38, Virginia Military Institute 7.

SUU at UM---The Thunderbirds return to the conference after a brief foray into the WAC, having just missed the playoffs last year. The Grizzlies will still be tough this year, even with bringing in a new coach. The Thunderbirds could serve notice to the conference with a win. But...UM 31, SUU 24.

WSU at UNC---The Wildcats ended up replacing their coaching staff after some lean years. The Bears made noise last year, even if they didn't get the wins. This would be a good win for either team, but the Bears may be just a little bit ahead of the Wildcats at this point...UNC 24, WSU 21.

MSU at UTU---The Bobcats come in to the season not only at the top of the conference, but also the top of the nation. So it is quite the introduction to the conference for the Trailblazers to host such a strong program right at the start. Welcome to the conference, Trailblazers...MSU 45, UTU 7.

[canyoncat]

I was waiting for Jal to start the prediction thread. Looking forward to yet another fun season of FCS football!

Weber State @ Northern Colorado, Northern Colorado. Always liked Ed Lamb as an HC, UNC is at home and WSU is breaking in a new coach
Idaho @ Cal Poly, Idaho. Just think the Vandals are the better team, but Cal Poly is getting better, should be a very close game.
UC Davis @ Portland State, UC Davis. I think UCD is just a much better team. Hoping for PSU to start putting things together and get better.
Eastern Washington @ Northern Arizona, Northern Arizona. Home and in the dome
Southern Utah @ Montana, Montana. This might be really close. Will be interesting to see how the Griz respond with a new coach and new defensive scheme. Looking at the 2-deep the front seven still looks a little small.
VMI @ Idaho State, Idaho State. Watch out for the Bengals
Montana State @ Utah Tech, Montana State. MSU starts off with what appears to be an easy win on the road with a new Big Sky member. However last time MSU played down at Tech it took a while to get going due to what I thought was the extreme heat. Might be close for a half but expect MSU to pull away.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Friday

Idaho 30-22 Cal Poly — The Vandals are 5-0 all-time against the 'Stangs

Weber 13-27 NoCo — The Bears probably aren't good, but Weber's rebuilding from scratch


Saturday

Davis 38-14 Portland St. — I like PSU's coaching hire, but their defense & passing game have a long way to go to even be respectable

Montana St. 41-7 Utah Tech — Even a post-championship hangover won't be enough to make this game competitive

EWUlol 24-34 NAU — The loser of this one will likely have a very difficult path to the playoffs

Suutah 22-40 Montana — With Dye gone, the T-Bird defense is gonna have to be much better than last year to pull this upset

VMI 14-55 Idaho St. — The SoCon doormats get horse-whipped in The Barn

[SuperHornet]

Idalol d. Cow Poly 45-13

BBQ d. N. Colorado 55-6

Manure Pile d. Portland State 35-3

MT State d. UT Tech 75-0

E. Washington d. N. Arizona 31-28

Montana d. S. Utah 45-10

VA Military d. ID State 10-0

[JALMOND]

Another season is starting and, in a highly unusual quirk, the first week is actually Week 0 and the games are all conference games except for one. With nothing to go on previously, it makes picking the winners a really tough one off the bat. But here is my attempt at the Week 0 conference games in the Big Sky. As in years past, the Big Sky schools are listed in scoreboard format, while those teams out of the Big Sky are spelled out. Therefore, WSU would be Weber State, while Washington State would be spelled out. Here are the predictions. First game is Friday. Good luck everyone!

UI at CP---Friday's game and it could be a good one. The Vandals are trying to reclaim their old spot in the upper echelon of the conference, and the Mustangs took a small step forward last season. The loser here will have a long road to go to make up ground...UI 30, CP 27.

UCD at PSU---The Aggies are loaded except in the area of quarterback where their young buck from last year transferred. The Vikings are starting a new era with new faces all over the place. The Aggies should be able to find someone to throw the ball all over the place...UCD 31, PSU 14.

EWU at NAU---Do the Eagles have enough to get back to relevancy in the conference this season? The Lumberjacks have been getting a lot of love in the polls. Can it translate on to the field? They are at home for this game so they should get the win to start...NAU 31, EWU 20.

Virginia Military Institute (FCS Southern ) at ISU---The only non-conference game this week. The Bengals are hoping for huge things to come their way this year. They bring in what usually is one of the cellar dwellers in the Southern Conference for a start to the year...ISU 38, Virginia Military Institute 7.

SUU at UM---The Thunderbirds return to the conference after a brief foray into the WAC, having just missed the playoffs last year. The Grizzlies will still be tough this year, even with bringing in a new coach. The Thunderbirds could serve notice to the conference with a win. But...UM 31, SUU 24.

WSU at UNC---The Wildcats ended up replacing their coaching staff after some lean years. The Bears made noise last year, even if they didn't get the wins. This would be a good win for either team, but the Bears may be just a little bit ahead of the Wildcats at this point...UNC 24, WSU 21.

MSU at UTU---The Bobcats come in to the season not only at the top of the conference, but also the top of the nation. So it is quite the introduction to the conference for the Trailblazers to host such a strong program right at the start. Welcome to the conference, Trailblazers...MSU 45, UTU 7.

5-2 to start the year. One of my worst starts to the season.