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Coming up this saturday is probably the biggest Great West Conference games to take place this year as it has (in my opinion) the top two teams in the Great West this year facing off. Due to scheduling changes the Thunderbirds will travel to Cal Poly for the second year in a row with a very healthy team while Cal Poly will have to deal with their starting QB injured. Here is my outlook for the game:

Last Meeting (2008):

Cal Poly 69, SUU 41: Game was a back and forth shootout until the Mustangs were able to pull away in the third quarter thanks to several interceptions thrown by QB Cody Stone, a non existent run game and poor defense against a certain WR name Ramses Barden.

Last Game Played (2009):

Cal Poly 23, Montana 35: The Mustangs give up an early lead and fall to FCS power Montana in Missoula even though their defense forced a whopping 5 turnovers. The Mustangs D gave up several big plays through the air (Marc Mariani had 200 yds on 6 catches ) and allowed the Griz O-line to manhandle and wear them down in the second half with their run game. The Mustangs offense played very well however with FB Yocum getting 119 Yds on the ground and a TD. Cal Polys Passing game was once again somewhat sketchy as they complete only half their passes and get a TD, will be interesting to see what happens with their starting QB Smith and star WR Dominique Johnson being injured and out for this game.

SUU 38, Texas State 16: This game was supposed to be a shootout with two teams great Offenses taking on some suspect Defenses, it didnt turn out that way. Southern Utahs defense stepped up and forced 3 turnovers in the Red Zone including one fumble that was returned 99 yards for a touchdown (a new school record) and showed the SUU D is starting to step up and get on the same level as the Thunderbird offense, and the bye week giving us two weeks to prepare for Cal Poly is a huge asset to our defense. But Speaking of offense, well we are very very good. Cade Cooper threw for over 256 yds and 3 touchdown passes as SUU's WR core shredded the Bobcat secondary led by Poots with 11 receptions for 120 yards. We also are boasting a great rushing attack in players like Major Gray (21 Att. 91 yds, 1 TD vs Texas State) and Austin Minifee (Back this week after injury).

Outlook:

Plain and simple this game will be a shootout with both teams Offenses doing what they do best and their teams Defense battling to keep it close. I think that thanks to two weeks to prepare for them, the lack of injuries, a powerful offense and an improving defense will allow the Thunderbirds to win this game on the road .

SUU: 45
Cal Poly: 35

I don't know about that score....

Cal Poly - 34
SUU - 28

Should be a great game - SUU wins in a squeaker

I think this one will be a little less of a shootout than most people think. Poly likes to control the ball so I am going to say SUU 27 poly 20. We have always played well out there and I think this is the year we get the W!

By the way, gotta admit I am a little disappointed with the crowd for the game 2 weeks ago against TX st. The team is better than it has been in years but the crowd was nothing more than a glorified high school crowd. People in SO Utah would rather do anything else than come to Cedar to see an exciting team play. I dont get it all. We are the only draw in the region. You would think St George, Richfield, Kanab, and Beaver would all be sending tons of people to the games. I can't imagine what kind of homefield advantage we would have if we could draw 12K or so. Maybe if the attendance would increase we could get that new stadium (hopefully a replica of Davis').

The announcers from TXST said it felt like about 30 people were there and that it was the weirdest sensation they had even experienced for a college football game. That being..............nothing, as in silence. He said all he could hear when he went down on the sidelines with the team was the wind howling. (and one lady behind him yelling "Go De-Fense.")

Believe me, we understand the plight. Not to the same degree but it is similar. Except we are contending with the problem of disloyalty and disinheriting ones alma mater (ie: whorns wannabes)

I doubt it will be anything that will be resolved soon, for either SUU or TXST.

TBirdz wrote:I think this one will be a little less of a shootout than most people think. Poly likes to control the ball so I am going to say SUU 27 poly 20. We have always played well out there and I think this is the year we get the W!

By the way, gotta admit I am a little disappointed with the crowd for the game 2 weeks ago against TX st. The team is better than it has been in years but the crowd was nothing more than a glorified high school crowd. People in SO Utah would rather do anything else than come to Cedar to see an exciting team play. I dont get it all. We are the only draw in the region. You would think St George, Richfield, Kanab, and Beaver would all be sending tons of people to the games. I can't imagine what kind of homefield advantage we would have if we could draw 12K or so. Maybe if the attendance would increase we could get that new stadium (hopefully a replica of Davis').

Start winning consistently.

The game is critical for both teams. Cal Poly and SUU both need to win out the rest of their FCS schedules to meet the minimum seven DI wins to be eligible for the playoffs.

I'm not sure why you think this will be a shootout. Cal Poly's offense isn't good enough & their defense is too good to allow that.

Good chance this will be close, but I'm not at all sold on Southern Utah so I think the Stangs will win.

This is when we find out how good SUU really is. They put up 30+ against FBS Utah State. Beat ranked Texas State. Beating CP would be SUU's second consecutive win over a top 25 team. Beating CP should land the Tbirds in the top 25.

9/03 Dixie State 1-0 (0-0) W 36-7
9/12 @ San Diego State 1-1 (0-0) L 35-19
9/19 @ Northern Arizona 1-2 (0-0) L 42-39
9/26 @ Utah State 1-3 (0-0) L 53-34
10/03 Texas State 2-3 (0-0) W 38-16
10/17 @ Cal Poly 9:05 PM

Their only FCS loss is to a team that most likely will be in the CS top 25 tomorrow. NAU is 29th in the TSN Poll which is starting to lose credit as a poll altogether.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:I'm not sure why you think this will be a shootout. Cal Poly's offense isn't good enough & their defense is too good to allow that.

Good chance this will be close, but I'm not at all sold on Southern Utah so I think the Stangs will win.

SUU's offense is pretty dang good. I watched them a few weeks back march up and down the field against an FBS. Minus a few turnovers and a better defense and SUU might have won the game.

SUU/USU box score:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292690328

Seems to me that this game might be the biggest game for the T-Birds in a long time. Unlike years past, there is actually something on the line when we play at SLO this weekend. Can't wait for kickoff already. If we can get a few stops and manage to move the ball like we have against quality competition, I like our chances. Hoping like crazy we can pull the big upset and keep the ball rolling for (I can't believe I am even saying this) a potential at-large bid. Go T-Birds!!!!!!!!!!!

Mvemjsunpx wrote:I'm not sure why you think this will be a shootout. Cal Poly's offense isn't good enough & their defense is too good to allow that.

Good chance this will be close, but I'm not at all sold on Southern Utah so I think the Stangs will win.

Not to mention Cal Poly EATS clock time with that triple option.

Cal Poly at home is favored by 6.68 points using this week's Sagarin predictor ratings.

I can understand why you guys are saying it will be a close game with not alot of offense, i just think it will largely based on last years performance as even with the same offense's over 100 points were scored in the game.
But we do have an advantage over the Mustangs in terms of injuries as it appears that Cal Polys starting QB and Star WR will be out for this contest meaning if we shut down Yocum we shut down the Mustangs offense

tied 7-7 in the first quarter, they are really battling back and forth now, turning into a good game, 9:57 in the second quarter

Dammit fumble by Cade Cooper, Cal Poly ball on the Thunderbird 19!

TD cal Poly, 14-7 with 4:50 in the second, fumble hurt us but were okay, been driving on them all day

Is there a way to watch the game? (other than actually being there of course)

Still 14-7 at the half

Turnovers are hurting us, had a fumble and a interception in the endzone, we get rid of the turnovers this will be our game

SUUTbird wrote:Turnovers are hurting us, had a fumble and a interception in the endzone, we get rid of the turnovers this will be our game

Opposite of the Texas St game

21-14 Cal Poly going into the 4th quarter.

SUU gets a field goal....

21-17 Cal Poly, about 9:30 left in the game.

24 to 17 CP with 1:51 to go...SUU ball

WE SCORE with 9 seconds to go!!!!!! Going for 2........