Big Sky football week 9

WeberAlum02 · Post by **WeberAlum02** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:32 pm

Word is that Mike Hoke will not play Saturday vs Montana due to a bad shoulder.

Northcoast · Post by **Northcoast** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:53 pm

WeberAlum02 wrote:Word is that Mike Hoke will not play Saturday vs Montana due to a bad shoulder.

How nice for the griz

Post by **EWURanger** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:28 am

WeberAlum02 wrote:Word is that Mike Hoke will not play Saturday vs Montana due to a bad shoulder.

Wonder if this is enough to offset UM losing Kemp and Johnson.......oh wait, that probably won't happen.

Wildcat Ryan · Post by **Wildcat Ryan** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:07 am

WeberAlum02 wrote:Word is that Mike Hoke will not play Saturday vs Montana due to a bad shoulder.

Post by **kalm** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:32 am

PSU is 4th in the nation in rushing, and running QB's have killed us all year. I fully expect another shootout.

Post by **Grizalltheway** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:26 am

EWURanger wrote:
WeberAlum02 wrote:Word is that Mike Hoke will not play Saturday vs Montana due to a bad shoulder.

Wonder if this is enough to offset UM losing Kemp and Johnson.......oh wait, that probably won't happen.

Post by **grizzaholic** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 9:52 am

kalm wrote:PSU is 4th in the nation in rushing, and running QB's have killed us all year. I fully expect another shootout.

Like I said before, hope playing Sac St. gave you some insight on running QB's. But, yeah, BLM will have to be on once again because it could turn into a who has the ball last type of scenario.

CrunchGriz · Post by **CrunchGriz** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:45 am

grizzaholic wrote:
kalm wrote:PSU is 4th in the nation in rushing, and running QB's have killed us all year. I fully expect another shootout.
Like I said before, hope playing Sac St. gave you some insight on running QB's. But, yeah, BLM will have to be on once again because it could turn into a who has the ball last type of scenario.

Except that PSU has lost McCaffery, who made that PSU running game so tough, for the season. None of the other running backs on their roster has shown the kind of explosiveness he has.

Post by **SACCAT** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 11:16 am

CrunchGriz wrote:
grizzaholic wrote:
Like I said before, hope playing Sac St. gave you some insight on running QB's. But, yeah, BLM will have to be on once again because it could turn into a who has the ball last type of scenario.
Except that PSU has lost McCaffery, who made that PSU running game so tough, for the season. None of the other running backs on their roster has shown the kind of explosiveness he has.

That is the major downfall when it comes to this type of offense. If one of the two players goes down, your offense can't work the same.

Post by **EWURanger** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:09 pm

True about McCaffrey, but I think losing 7 starters for the season, plus another All-American defensive tackle out for this game offsets any advantage EWU may have had in that regard. PSU will still get plenty of yards on the ground, I'm afraid. If EWU wins this game it will be because of solid QB play, but the defense will need to play disciplined and put PSU in some 3rd down situations for us to have a chance. They will run the ball as much as possible to keep our offense off the field. Sac did a great job of that up until the end of the game. This wont be any 50-17 game like last year; I see whoever wins doing so by 3-10 points.

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frinq · Post by **frinq** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:26 pm

Richards (freshman) and Lilley did pretty well on the ground last week, but that was against Willamette; remains to be seen what they can do against the Eags. Mitchell and Edwards could kill us in the air. I agree; a very tight game.

JALMOND · Post by **JALMOND** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:35 pm

Whatever advantage we may have on the ground (and I think Richards will do fine) will be offset by Mitchell having his way against our corners. Both offensive strengths go against both defensive weaknesses. I expect quite the shootout.

JALMOND · Post by **JALMOND** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:30 pm

As October comes to a close and we approach the end of the season, things do seem to come together. The best teams rise up, the bad teams fall and the pretenders seem to fade away. So far I am at 36-9 for the year (not one of my best) but I can start another streak. Here are this weekend's predictions in the Big Sky. All are my opinion only and all are of course open for discussion.

ISU at MSU---If there was one game all year in an otherwise massive rebuilding year that the Bengals wanted, it is this one and they will be ready. The Bobcats are coming off a game that was tougher than expected against Northern Colorado. The Bengals will be ready, this will be their season, will they be able to pull off the upset? One thing for sure is that this may get interesting. Or not...MSU 34, ISU 10.

NAU at Sac State---Last week the Lumberjacks showed that, even though the season may not have gone the way they wanted it, they are not dead yet. The Hornets, however, had a massive blow dealt to their dreams of a great season, letting Eastern Washington steal the win. Now they have to regroup as they are still in the race, kind of. Can they snap out of it or will there still be a hangover from last week...NAU 28, Sac State 26.

PSU at EWU---In the quest for the Dam(n) Cup, both teams come in with a fair amount of injuries. For the Eagles, that is nothing new as the list reads like a Whos Who of those players from last year. Yet they still keep on winning and still keep their season alive, like last week's performance at Sacramento State. For the Vikings the injuries are not quite as many, but key personnel are getting dinged up. This week, the Vikings potent running game against the Eagles questionable run defense and the Eagles vaunted passing attack against the Vikings weak secondary. What do you expect...EWU 48, PSU 42.

North Dakota at UNC---For those who have withstood the Bears season, last week's performance may offer a glimmer of hope as they never let Montana State get comfortable in the lead. It is true that the Bears now are different than the Bears at the beginning of the year and their showing against the Bobcats was no fluke. But can they get a win somehow? This weekend may not be easy, but it may be their best shot...UNC 21, North Dakota 17.

WSU at UM---What is going on with the Wildcats? Are they a good team still in the hunt or are they just a team that seems to do good. Last week, their halftime adjustments against Southern Utah went for naught and they lost a game they thought they had. Now they have to go to unfriendly territory and play at the Grizzlies home field. The Grizzlies have had their share of an interesting week, but they should not have any problem with the Wildcats, as long as it is at their house...UM 27, WSU 14.

Another quest for perfection.

SuperHornet · Post by **SuperHornet** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:50 pm

I see two losses in there....

I anticipate that Sac will beat NAU in a close one and UND will beat UNC rather handily.

JALMOND · Post by **JALMOND** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 12:18 am

SuperHornet wrote:I anticipate that Sac will beat NAU in a close one

I went back and forth on this one. The thing that made me go the way I did was the Hornets should not have lost last week and not only was it how they lost the game, but what they lost. Now, a promising season is on the brink of being wiped out. And they have to play Northern Arizona, a team that has to be brimming with confidence with their performance against Montana and wants that one impressive win in an otherwise rebuilding year. I'd say this game, based on how the Hornets finished last week, may be the best chance for the Lumberjacks. There is a good chance for the Lumberjacks to come out on fire and the Hornets to be flat. My opinion, edge to the Lumberjacks.

Mvemjsunpx · Post by **Mvemjsunpx** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 12:32 am

JALMOND wrote:
SuperHornet wrote:I anticipate that Sac will beat NAU in a close one
I went back and forth on this one. The thing that made me go the way I did was the Hornets should not have lost last week and not only was it how they lost the game, but what they lost. Now, a promising season is on the brink of being wiped out. And they have to play Northern Arizona, a team that has to be brimming with confidence with their performance against Montana and wants that one impressive win in an otherwise rebuilding year. I'd say this game, based on how the Hornets finished last week, may be the best chance for the Lumberjacks. There is a good chance for the Lumberjacks to come out on fire and the Hornets to be flat. My opinion, edge to the Lumberjacks.

I doubt NAU is brimming with confidence after that one. The 'Jacks have now lost 14 straight to Montana and have often displayed a hangover effect following that loss. They appear to put a lot of their identity into that one game.

talon38 · Post by **talon38** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 2:57 am

Picking all the home teams is somewhat easy, and will agree with your picks. However, If ANY one of the away teams some how capitalizes on TURNOVERS ,like Weber comes to mind, I see an upset. The grizz are 90% at home, but maybe this is Webers weekend. They can beat anyone, but can they beat UM on the road??

Post by **EWURanger** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:35 am

talon38 wrote:The grizz are 90% at home, but maybe this is Webers weekend. They can beat anyone, but can they beat UM on the road??

With Hoke, I'd say they'd have a good shot. Without him, meh, not so much.

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Darell1976 · Post by **Darell1976** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:36 am

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/a ... id/219458/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In 1991, Northern Colorado was scheduled to play at UND. But an early November blizzard roared through the region, forcing the game to be canceled. The Sioux were 6-1 at the time and the canceled game may have been a factor in keeping UND out of the 1991 Division II playoffs.

“We got up there and it was like 25 below with 30-foot snowdrifts,” Collins said. “They canceled the game. I’m happy they have domes up there now that they’re coming into the conference.”

Of note: A foot of snow fell in Greeley on Tuesday but Saturday’s forecast calls for a high temperature of 64 degrees

.

Should be a good game as long as it doesn't snow.

Mvemjsunpx · Post by **Mvemjsunpx** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:40 pm

Portland St. 17-34 EWU — No McCaffrey means no realistic chance for the Vikings

NAU 28-42 Sac State — Both teams could be hungover, but the Hornets are the better team

Weber 24-35 Montana — A few key players are questionable for both sides, so side with WaGriz

Idaho St. 14-41 Montana St. — The Bengal O-Line can't block anyone

NoDak 24-21 NoCo — Bears return to the Downing-era theme of tragically close losses

Post by **SDHornet** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:47 pm

PSU @ EWU 42-20 EWU continues to roll behind BLM & the passing game.

NAU @ Sac State 35-17 Hornets finally finish a game...I hope.

WSU @ UM 34-14 UM rolls at home. No Hoke = no chance.

ISU @ MSU 38-10 MSU rolls in an easy one.

UND @ UNC 21-13 UNC finally gets a win and the fans rush the field.

BigSkyBears · Post by **BigSkyBears** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:28 pm

EWURanger wrote:
BigSkyBears wrote:Winners: Montana, Eastern Washington, NAU, Montana State, UNC
No offense to our new conference mates, but I actually agree that if UNC is going to pull out a win this year, this is the weekend to do it. UNC has a good QB and decent receivers and if that line can provide a little better protection that they have been doing then UNC has a shot. Labato is a good QB that has been really hampered by poor pass protection. Of course, I have only watched UNC play EWU. MSU, and UM so I'm basing my opinion from just those games.

Yeah, Lobato is getting more and more comfortable in the pocket. Something he needed to improve on. He has no protection though.

He did have a pretty good game against a very good MSU defense. I think he will be the difference in this game. Bears win by 10.

Hambone · Post by **Hambone** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:21 am

As it relates to the UND - UNC matchup, this game scares me quite a bit. UND is favored to win by a couple scores I believe, but I think it will be close with UNC having a good shot at winning. FIrst, it's a road game for UND which we have had trouble with in the past couple years (SUU was a good road win earlier this year), and UNC is a place that UND hasn't had the most success. Second, UNC is a passing team and the UND pass defense is very inconsistent. Third, UNC is gaining confidence as the year goes on, and last weeks game really should energize them and let them think that they can take it to the Sioux. Fourth, UND may be overconfident since UNC is 0-8, and UND is expected to win. So, while I think that UND may be the better team, I could see this game going either way.

As for other Big Sky games, my thoughts are:

MSU over ISU - too much talent on the MSU squad
Sac St over NAU - home team gets the W
EWU takes down PSU to continue their march to the playoffs
Griz take WSU down, although it should be a close game

On a side note - I can't wait until next year where I can be a bigger part of the Big Sky discussions, and the Sioux are get to play all of these teams! I think I'm really goinng to enjoy being a fan of Big Sky football and the great contests every year. I'd like to try to get to one out of town game every year, so who knows - I might get a chance to tailgate with some of you in the future

clawman · Post by **clawman** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:54 am

weberwildcat wrote:
Grizalltheway wrote:
Now this we can agree on.

ww doesn't seem to have much faith in his squad.
weber winning at wa-griz is like psu, sac, nau or unc winning in the dee events center. it just never happens.

February 11, 2012. Mark it!!

frinq · Post by **frinq** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:28 pm

Nice to see you lose on PSU this time, Jalmond:-) Rushing strength vs passing defense weakness? Actually, our pass defense isn't all that bad - something like 4th in the BSC. It showed it today, though our line rushing Mitchell all night played a big role -he over-threw quite a few. Our rushing strength - almost 350 yards, much of it on the ground. Over 150 yards from Kavanaugh alone. And for a change, we played very well in the second half.

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