Big Sky Predictions 9-5

[JALMOND]

No Big Sky teams play on Thursday so everyone except Northern Arizona will play on Saturday. I need a perfect week to start the year off well and improve on the 15 games I missed last year. The slate does not look too difficult, but the games still need to be played. So, time to play. Some clarity...the Big Sky schools are shown as scoreboard abbreviations and non conference opponents are spelled out. Hence, MSU is Montana State, not their opponent Michigan State.

Western Oregon @ EWU---The Eagles are literaly thrown to the Wolves in their first game while on probation. Western Oregon is a good DII program, but it is still DII. They played Portland State last year and will also play UC-Davis later this year. Primed for an upset? Hardly...EWU 38, Western Oregon 14.

ISU @ Arizona State---This Bengal era will start the year going to the desert and play Arizona State. Even if they are improved (hard to go anywhere else but up after last year) the Sun Devils are still a good Pac-10 team, capable of giving anyone fits. They should not have much problem with the Bengals...Arizona State 49, ISU 10.

Western State @ UM---OK, it has been established that Western State is a bad DII team. It is also well known that the Griz have been one of the top teams in all of FCS (and should be again this year). I'm trying to give some idea that Western State has a chance, but in the end...UM 55, Western State 3.

MSU @ Michigan State---Bobcats beginning with another trip to Big 10 country (they played at Minnesota last year). The quarterback situation settled for now, they are hoping for a chance to upset the Spartans. The problem is this Spartan team is better than Minnesota...Michigan State 35, MSU 10.

UNC @ Kansas---A lot of experience coming back for the Bears and a lot of thinking that they are ready to make some noise. Playing against a Jayhawk team looking to return to their recent glory and not a return to past years of mediocroty. Bears just not enough for Big 12 competition...Kansas 48, UNC 17.

PSU @ Oregon State---Glanville gets his wish and a chance to play against one of the state's Pac-10 schools. Beavers do have some inexperience in the defensive secondary which should play into the hands of the Vikings run and shoot. However, the Beavers offense is just deadly...Oregon State 52, PSU 17.

Sac State @ Nev-Las Vegas---Last year 6-6 for the Hornets and great thoughts of how this year was going to be. Then Hilliard goes down and those expectations are tampered somewhat. Still, Hilliard was not the sole participant and the Hornets should be fine, especially going against the Rebels, a team somewhat similar to Colorado State last year, a team the Hornets gave a bunch of fits the first game last year. Hornets close, but no enough...Nev-Las Vegas 27, Sac State 21.

WSU @ Wyoming---The Wildcats are dangerous this year. Higgins is poised for a breakout year and Smith is set to run wild. They are set to head to Wyoming and a game against the Cowboys, a team near the bottom of the FBS rankings. This game is ripe for an upset, but look for the Cowboys to make this ugly. As a result...Wyoming 20, WSU 10.

[AZGrizFan]

EWU 38, Western Oregon 3.
Arizona State 52, ISU 0.
UM 55, Western State 3.
Michigan State 42, MSU 10.
Kansas 48, UNC 0
Oregon State 52, PSU 7.
Nev-Las Vegas 27, Sac State 10.
Wyoming 35, WSU 13

There's my predictions. I don't see any WAY ISU or PSU score 17 points....and I don't think UNC even SNIFFS the end zone against Kansas.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I'll go with:

EWU 51, Western Oregon 13.
Arizona State 52, ISU 0.
UM 55, Western State 3.
Michigan State 42, MSU 17.
Kansas 48, UNC 7
Oregon State 52, PSU 14.
UNLV 27, Sac State 21.
Wyoming 31, WSU 28

[JALMOND]

EWU 38, Western Oregon 3.
Arizona State 52, ISU 0.
UM 55, Western State 3.
Michigan State 42, MSU 10.
Kansas 48, UNC 0
Oregon State 52, PSU 7.
Nev-Las Vegas 27, Sac State 10.
Wyoming 35, WSU 13

There's my predictions. I don't see any WAY ISU or PSU score 17 points....and I don't think UNC even SNIFFS the end zone against Kansas.

Oregon State lost their entire starting defensive secondary to graduation. 17 points from Portland State is certainly doable. Containing the Rodgers brothers is another story.

[frinq]

You seem to think the Rodgers brothers are unstopable. Well, maybe. But other than that OSU's offense is just ordinary. Me, I'm worried about their defense on the line, and sacks. If we can't get off passes and the much vaunted "new look" run is just smoke, we're in for a long afternoon. I won't guess at the score - too much uncertainty on both sides.

[JALMOND]

You seem to think the Rodgers brothers are unstopable. Well, maybe. But other than that OSU's offense is just ordinary. Me, I'm worried about their defense on the line, and sacks. If we can't get off passes and the much vaunted "new look" run is just smoke, we're in for a long afternoon. I won't guess at the score - too much uncertainty on both sides.

Pretty much all they needed to beat USC was little Rodgers running up the middle and big Rodgers on the fly sweep. Basic, yes, but pretty much unstoppable. I can't see us running against the interior Beaver d-line, yet I see Glanville too stubborn to pass the ball 60 times, which is maybe what we need to do. I just hope we come through with no major injuries.

[AnAlum]

Look for Weber to give the Cowboys a run for 3 quarters. Aside from that, there's no Appy vs. UM spoiler game.

EWU 41, Western Oregon 9.
Arizona State 38, ISU 3.
UM 62, Western State 0.
Michigan State 50, MSU 7.
Kansas 66, UNC 0
Oregon State 38, PSU 13.
Nev-Las Vegas 31, Sac State 14.
Wyoming 27, WSU 17

[DuckDuckGriz]

I like those picks - and I am really hoping the Vikings shock Corvallis Saturday.

EWU beats WOU 49-13
Ariz. St beats ISU 28-10
UM beats Western St. 54-0
Michigan St. beats MSU 17-7
Kansas beats UNC 59-14
Oregon State beats PSU 33-13
UNLV beats Sac 45-21
Weber St. beats Wyoming 27-24

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Plain: My picks
Bold: Actual score

EWU 51, Western Oregon 13.
EWU 35, Western Oregon 14.
Arizona State 52, ISU 0.
Arizona State 50, ISU 3.
UM 55, Western State 3.
UM 38, Western State 0.
Michigan State 42, MSU 17.
Michigan State 44, MSU 3.
Kansas 48, UNC 3
Kansas 49, UNC 3
Oregon State 52, PSU 14.
Oregon State 34, PSU 7.
UNLV 27, Sac State 21.
UNLV 38, Sac State 3.
Wyoming 31, WSU 28
Wyoming 29, WSU 22

Pretty damn close, I'd say. 8-0

[JALMOND]

No Big Sky teams play on Thursday so everyone except Northern Arizona will play on Saturday. I need a perfect week to start the year off well and improve on the 15 games I missed last year. The slate does not look too difficult, but the games still need to be played. So, time to play. Some clarity...the Big Sky schools are shown as scoreboard abbreviations and non conference opponents are spelled out. Hence, MSU is Montana State, not their opponent Michigan State.

Western Oregon @ EWU---The Eagles are literaly thrown to the Wolves in their first game while on probation. Western Oregon is a good DII program, but it is still DII. They played Portland State last year and will also play UC-Davis later this year. Primed for an upset? Hardly...EWU 38, Western Oregon 14.

ISU @ Arizona State---This Bengal era will start the year going to the desert and play Arizona State. Even if they are improved (hard to go anywhere else but up after last year) the Sun Devils are still a good Pac-10 team, capable of giving anyone fits. They should not have much problem with the Bengals...Arizona State 49, ISU 10.

Western State @ UM---OK, it has been established that Western State is a bad DII team. It is also well known that the Griz have been one of the top teams in all of FCS (and should be again this year). I'm trying to give some idea that Western State has a chance, but in the end...UM 55, Western State 3.

MSU @ Michigan State---Bobcats beginning with another trip to Big 10 country (they played at Minnesota last year). The quarterback situation settled for now, they are hoping for a chance to upset the Spartans. The problem is this Spartan team is better than Minnesota...Michigan State 35, MSU 10.

UNC @ Kansas---A lot of experience coming back for the Bears and a lot of thinking that they are ready to make some noise. Playing against a Jayhawk team looking to return to their recent glory and not a return to past years of mediocroty. Bears just not enough for Big 12 competition...Kansas 48, UNC 17.

PSU @ Oregon State---Glanville gets his wish and a chance to play against one of the state's Pac-10 schools. Beavers do have some inexperience in the defensive secondary which should play into the hands of the Vikings run and shoot. However, the Beavers offense is just deadly...Oregon State 52, PSU 17.

Sac State @ Nev-Las Vegas---Last year 6-6 for the Hornets and great thoughts of how this year was going to be. Then Hilliard goes down and those expectations are tampered somewhat. Still, Hilliard was not the sole participant and the Hornets should be fine, especially going against the Rebels, a team somewhat similar to Colorado State last year, a team the Hornets gave a bunch of fits the first game last year. Hornets close, but no enough...Nev-Las Vegas 27, Sac State 21.

WSU @ Wyoming---The Wildcats are dangerous this year. Higgins is poised for a breakout year and Smith is set to run wild. They are set to head to Wyoming and a game against the Cowboys, a team near the bottom of the FBS rankings. This game is ripe for an upset, but look for the Cowboys to make this ugly. As a result...Wyoming 20, WSU 10.

A great start (8-0) but my point spreads were off (my point spreads short by 55 points ). Took a big hit on the Sac State/UNLV game, and some minor hits on the UNC/Kansas and MSU/Michigan State games. Still, I'll take perfection.