SEP. 10 at South Dakota - I don't know too much about the Yotes other than they beat a weak Minnesota team last year and then shit the bed against the rest of their schedule, going 3-7. Playing on the road always brings a challenge, but USD will be overmatched. EWU 35, USD 17. (1-1)
SEP. 17 at Montana - EWU vs. Montana in Missoula has been an epic battle this last decade, excluding 2003. The last two meetings the Griz have come away with the game winning score in the final minute or two of the game. In 2005, EWU won 34-20. The Griz will be breaking in an inexperienced QB no matter who it is, a new full time starter at RB, and still have plenty of OL issues. Regardless, they return loads of talent and always play inspired with 25,000 rabid, maroon-clad fans behind them. Should be another epic battle, but Bo Levi Mitchell is unflappable in high pressure situations when he needs to deliver. EWU 24, UM 20. (2-1, 1-0 BSC).
SEP. 24 Montana St. - The Bobcats finally broke EWU's 7-game win streak over them last year, but they did it in Bozeman. What happens when they come to red Roos Field where EWU is 8-0? Like EWU, MSU returns a load of starters from a very talented co-Big Sky Champions team. EWU lost their top back to the NFL, MSU lost their top back to grades. They will try to run the ball anyway, but likely not find much luck against the likes of Renard Williams and Andru Pulu. BLM won't be coming off an emotional first win on the red turf and still trying to get in sync with his receivers... or overly relying on Taiwan. Eagles in a shootout. EWU 45, MSU 40. (3-1, 2-0 BSC)
OCT. 1 Weber St. - From one set of Cats on to the next. The Wild ones will be without QB Higgins, RB Bo Bolen and most of their WRs, but return the best OL in the BSC. But can they hold against the best DL? Something has to give, and on the red turf, it'll likely be WSU. EWU 35, WSU 20. (4-1, 3-0 BSC).
OCT. 8 at Northern Ariz. - NAU lost a lot from last year's team, but at least they return a talented RB in Bauman. QB Chase Stengel isn't too bad himself. Too bad it won't matter. EWU 28 - NAU 17. (5-1, 4-0 BSC).
OCT. 15 Northern Colo. - New coaching staff, new system, but the Bears bring back a fair amount of talent that gave EWU fits in Greeley last year. Welcome to the red turf anyway. EWU 38 - UNC 17. (6-1, 5-0 BSC).
OCT. 22 at Sacramento St. - Another team that gave us fits last year and return a lot of talent. Sac will be a darkhorse to win the conference, but it seems they've been in that role for the last 3 years and never finished better than 6-5. They will have home field advantage, but is it really an advantage when they've never beaten EWU in Sacramento? EWU 33, SAC 28. (7-1, 6-0 BSC).
OCT. 29 Portland St. - This will be an important year for PSU in their second year under new coach Burton and the Pistol offense. They should expect to take a step up now that they've gotten a season of experience working out the major kinks. The Vikings will be visiting Cheney for the first time since 2007, where they won 28-21. A little bit has changed since then... we have turf, it's red, and the last two meetings have been shellackings... 47-10 and 50-17. EWU 45, PSU 24. (8-1, 7-0 BSC).
NOV. 7 BYE - A great time to rest and get healthy before the playoffs.
NOV. 12 at Cal Poly - Last year we had our bye at the same time, and struggled at home against a good SUU team with a NFL-caliber QB. CP's QB might not be as good, but their team is, and could give us fits away from the cozy confines of the Inferno. If we don't come out focused, the Mustangs could catch us off guard with their deceptive hybrid Triple Option/Spread offense. CP 31, EWU 28. (8-2, 7-0 BSC).
NOV. 19 at Idaho St. - On the road for the 7th time of the year, we should be used to it by now. At least ISU replaced their concrete field. There will be a familiar face on the other sideline for Beau Baldwin as former EWU coach Mike Kramer has been tasked with raising the Bengals off the jungle floor. He will be aggressive and come at every opponent with guns blazing. No longer a pushover, but not a contender either... at least not yet. EWU 34, ISU 24. (9-2, 8-0 BSC)
Big Sky Champions, #2 seed in the playoffs with 3 more games on the red before we defend our title in Frisco.
Greatest to Least chances for a loss: UW, CP, MSU, UM, SAC, WSU, NAU, USD, ISU, PSU, UNC.
Then there'd be a return to the top of the conference championship pile as well...
