NDSU BISON* @ Illinois State University

[JBB]

This is another week where the stats can throw you for a loop. In most MVFC statistics, conference only, NDSU is near the bottom. In all major polls NDSU is the highest ranked MVFC team. It’s a sign we are the #1 nationally known program even though we aren’t #1 in the standings. The task at hand is to make the standings match the obvious respect the BISON have. They are bad. They are nationwide.

Illinois State looks very good in the conference statistics. They have scored over 40 three times including two over 50. They have a potent offense. They are a passing team. They score and move the ball through the air. They don’t rush the ball well. They seem to use it for short yards.

Statistically they seem to dominate opponents but you have to consider strength of schedule. They do dominate weaker opponents but struggle with the stronger teams. The results against Northwestern and SIU are very good indicators of what to expect.

The NDSU statistics are deceiving. In fact, from what Ive seen, you might call them a suckers bet. NDSU rushing game near the bottom? NDSU passing near the top? NDSU defense near the bottom? This is all, when taken on average, very misleading.

NDSU is the opposite of ISU Redbirds. We played well against our stronger opponents, breaking even on the FCS ranked teams 1-1 and beating the Big 12 powerhouse Kansas Jayhawks.

Look for a cross between the Morgan State and South Dakota games. NDSU will win say by 10.

[DJH]

[Willie]

I watched the Bison get torn apart by this team in the FargoDome last season. Will it happen again? Probably not but who knows.

[Thumper 76]

Dude gotta love JBB playing the arrogant Bison fan schtick to the max. Just absolute hilarity in every post

[JBB]

Willie, last year ISU got its first win over The BISON in a 27-24 thriller that saw both teams put up well over 400 yds in offense. The series stands at 3-1 in favor of the BISON.

The Redbirds do most of their scoring in the first half with the second qtr by far the best. They fade in the second half and opponents have outscored them every qtr except the Overtime which they won.

This is a big game for The NDSU BISON. "The Program" is obviously making its statement: NDSU is the #1 program in the MVFC. NDSU is about ready to dominate.

[Willie]

I don't care what the score was. ISU's QB raped your secondary all day. Your running back was the only reason you were even in the same building that day.

[Gil Dobie]

I don't care what the score was. ISU's QB raped your secondary all day. Your running back was the only reason you were even in the same building that day.

I hope our secondary coach from last year is doing better at Montana this year.

[mgbison]

Last time I checked, in football you have a running back and a QB. So, you're saying ISU's qb raped us and the only reason we were in the game was because of our running back.

I'm gonna say our running back raped ISU, and the only reason they were in the game was because of their QB.

We can stop the pass this year. I'm not too worried about their QB. Last year all he did was throw 5 yard slants and the receivers would run for 10 yards after the catch. We actually have a d-coordinator who knows something about football and our d-backs don't play 10 yards off the ball every snap. Let me know how our old d-coordinator is doing this year

If ISU can't stop the run, this game will be a blowout.

[OSBF]

If ISU can't stop the run, this game will be a blowout.

I'll say NDSU by 3 scores

but them I might be a little jaded by the debacle I was witness to in Terre Haute last weekend.

[SloStang]

Dude gotta love JBB playing the arrogant Bison fan schtick to the max. Just absolute hilarity in every post

Didn't he say that the Bison were going to dominate the MVFC when they joined 3 seasons ago? I am still waiting for this dominance.

[clenz]

Dude gotta love JBB playing the arrogant Bison fan schtick to the max. Just absolute hilarity in every post

Didn't he say that the Bison were going to dominate the MVFC when they joined 3 seasons ago? I am still waiting for this dominance.

Hey, they have like 5 conference wins since joining the conference.

They PWN the conference hard core

[Gil Dobie]

Keep up the good work JBB

[DBlue]

I don't care what the score was. ISU's QB raped your secondary all day. Your running back was the only reason you were even in the same building that day.

Matt Brown, jailed in 2009 for raping THE BISON secondary, confronts his accuser again this week.

[Silenoz]

I don't care what the score was. ISU's QB raped your secondary all day. Your running back was the only reason you were even in the same building that day.

I hope our secondary coach from last year is doing better at Montana this year.

[JBB]

Last time I checked, in football you have a running back and a QB. So, you're saying ISU's qb raped us and the only reason we were in the game was because of our running back.

I'm gonna say our running back raped ISU, and the only reason they were in the game was because of their QB.

We can stop the pass this year. I'm not too worried about their QB. Last year all he did was throw 5 yard slants and the receivers would run for 10 yards after the catch. We actually have a d-coordinator who knows something about football and our d-backs don't play 10 yards off the ball every snap. Let me know how our old d-coordinator is doing this year

If ISU can't stop the run, this game will be a blowout.

I agree mgbison. The big difference between this year and last: We can stop the pass. DJ is a big play back, ie Adrian Peterson, if he gets loose this game could be a blow-out. Remember the official "sanctioned" definition of a route is victory by 21 pts or more.

Last year they had over 300 yds passing. Dont expect that this year Willie. NDSU has to stop Tyron Walker.

Tyrone Walker WR 131 yds last week vs. indiana state, 2TDs. He has had over 100 yds twice this season

The Redbirds are riding a 2 game losing streak.

The NDSU BISON are indeed standing on the threshold of their season. If they lose the blossom fades and the anticipation of the bye week will be gone. There will be only 1 thing left, SIU.

If they win the bye week becomes full of anticipation. Injuries will heal. The Harvest Bowl becomes the set-up game, NDSU football will start to gain momentum toward the playoffs, the nation will be waiting to see what the situation is when SIU rolls into Fargo.

But dont let me digress....We are begining to receive reports from the field on the NDSU itinerary.

Im having visions of a retractable roof 30,000 seat stadium..no wait, we need a sketch.

[dgreenwell3]

Uhhhhh Yeah I love the bison defense as much as anyone but A I wouldn't call Kansas a Big 12 powerhouse by any estimation...to be honest there's a reason they lost to the Bison but granted I do think Zie Bison will win this game...

[JBB]

True, dgreenwell3, it's all subjective, but the stat the sticks out in my mind is the number of FBS wins the MVFC has this season and who has them? Answer that first, then we can get on with the Kansas/Big 12/Powerhouse discussion. Say what you will NDSU won.

Game time is 2 PM CST.

A look back at BISON Football tells us all something about the game. The NDSU BISON have faced and defeated the finest teams ever to take the field against the Thundering Herd. These were powerful football teams not to be taken lightly. The Mighty Kansas Jayhawks were no different!

Looking back we see a forward wall, plenty of vigor and fight, showing the spirit, strength and knowledge of the game that only the finest coached teams can exhibit. It was this indomitable strength and character of the Thundering Herd that gave the "Old AC" it's finest hours and brought us to this point in history. The NDSU BISON are poised on the threshold of greatness.

Things seem to be settled "under the stands". There is no activity at the back door to the Fabulous Fargo Dome leading to the tunnels that take the knowledable to the archives of "BISON LORE" and home offices of BISON Football. Its the College of Football. It houses the essence of the game in it's on-site and satellite libraries. Allied experts are found across the nation, even "back east". It's not surprising Saturday's game is fully understood and the game plan in place. The Herd is preparing for victory.

GO BISON!!!

ONE MORE TIME FOR THE OLD AC!!!

GO BISON!!!

[dgreenwell3]

I never said they weren't the only FCS victory BUT Kansas isn't a Big 12 power house...they are getting beat by Kansas State right now 52-0...not a great help for your case of them being a powerhouse but we will see when saturday happens!

[JBB]

The NDSU BISON "Knocked the Stuffing out of Them"*. Their season is ruined. The BISON VIctory over the Powerful Kansas Jayhawks may have ruined Gills career. I hope their program recovers and they schedules The NDSU BISON again. It would be nice to play Iowa State and Wyoming again too. Cant wait for Illinois State either.

* see the UNI season results

[Willie]

The NDSU BISON "Knocked the Stuffing out of Them"*. Their season is ruined. The BISON VIctory over the Powerful Kansas Jayhawks may have ruined Gills career. I hope their program recovers and they schedules The NDSU BISON again. It would be nice to play Iowa State and Wyoming again too. Cant wait for Illinois State either.

* see the UNI season results

Meth is a helluva drug.

[JBB]

Thats quite a statement for someone of your character to make willie.

Im not sure what the attendance will be. No more than 8,000. If its more its all BISON. Hancock Stadium seats 15,000 (think a nice Caughlin Alumni )

I wouldnt be surprised to see The BISON have the largest crowd of the year at Hancock.

[dgreenwell3]

??????????????????????? You do know that North Dakota and Illinois are nowhere near each other right???? I would say that the largest visiting crowd at hancock will be one of their in-state rivals...

[Willie]

Thats quite a statement for someone of your character to make willie.

Im not sure what the attendance will be. No more than 8,000. If its more its all BISON. Hancock Stadium seats 15,000 (think a nice Caughlin Alumni )

I wouldnt be surprised to see The BISON have the largest crowd of the year at Hancock.

I'm not the one doing it, you seem to be. Your statements are a joke to your program. And you people wonder why we all bash most NDSU posters. Most of you are delusional.

[dgreenwell3]

That Kansas Powerhouse just lost to a just ok Kansas State team 59-7

[JBB]

??????????????????????? You do know that North Dakota and Illinois are nowhere near each other right???? I would say that the largest visiting crowd at hancock will be one of their in-state rivals...

. You really dont understand do you?

The crowd at Hancock may be the largest of the year because The NDSU BISON are coming to town. The BISON, as you may know, are not only the largest drawing football team in the MVFC, but also one of the largest drawing teams nationally. Its a big game when The BISON roll into town so expect the largest crowd of the year, not necessarily all NDSU fans, simply the largest crowd.

Some of you may disagree about the Jayhawks, but they are a big 12 team. We could of course be like other programs. There is one program in the state that touts a "Moral Victory" over a Big 12 team because they only lost by 25! The NDSU BISON won. No excuses. What were some of the other MVFC vs. FBS scores this year and what were the reasons for all the losses? When you are done we can talk about the NDSU BISON win over the Kansas Jayhawks and their resulting bad fortune because they got the stuffing knocked out of them. No other FBS team that faced a MVFC team had the stuffing knocked out of them either. UNI did though.

Delusion is fans drawing sketches for 30,000 seat retractable roof stadiums or trying to tear away at the National Reputation for excellence at the highest levels of football knowledge and practice earned by the NDSU BISON. Dont be delusional. It doesnt matter how good the Jayhawks were the day they fell to The Herd or how far they have fallen since that fateful day. What matters is the game on Saturday at ISU.

Give them their passing game, which is their only real threat, and they still lose. The NDSU running game is going to control the clock. The victory will come from key passes and long drives with a stifling defense preventing the RedBirds from achieving self-actualization on the Football Field. When the dust clears expect the NDSU BISON to be one more step down the road in their quest for MVFC domination.