Big Sky is the best conference in FCS

[formerEag]

Suck it CAA.

MSU, EWU, CP, NAU, UND and UM (best 0-2 team in BSC history)

The level of competition in this conference is ridiculous. Aside from 2 or 3 teams, there are no guaranteed wins.

[Gil Dobie]

Sagarin FCS ranking - 9/30
Link

Rank Overall Team
1 50 North Dakota State
2 79 Youngstown State
3 83 Cal Poly-SLO
4 88 Harvard
5 92 Northern Iowa
6 94 Georgia Southern
7 95 Wofford
8 99 Illinois State
9 101 James Madison
11 102 Eastern Washington
12 106 Old Dominion
13 108 South Dakota State
14 111 Albany
15 112 Delaware
16 113 New Hampshire
17 115 Appalachian State
18 116 Sam Houston State
19 117 Montana
20 118 Northern Arizona
21 120 Villanova
22 121 Montana State
23 124 Central Arkansas
24 127 McNeese State
25 130 Stony Brook

Conference Rank
Link
13 MISSOURI VALLEY
14 COLONIAL
15 BIG SKY
16 SOUTHERN
17 SOUTHLAND
18 OHIO VALLEY
19 IVY LEAGUE
20 PATRIOT LEAGUE
21 NORTHEAST
22 BIG SOUTH
23 MID-EASTERN
24 SOUTHWESTERN
25 PIONEER

[formerEag]

ECB

Computers aren't good describers of football. That's why we're FCS fans.

[Gil Dobie]

ECB

When the Missouri Valley teams move to the West Coast.

All that being said, the Big Sky could have 4-5 teams in the playoffs.

[formerEag]

ECB

When the Missouri Valley teams move to the West Coast.

All that being said, the Big Sky could have 4-5 teams in the playoffs.

I truly hope so.

[Gil Dobie]

When the Missouri Valley teams move to the West Coast.

All that being said, the Big Sky could have 4-5 teams in the playoffs.

I truly hope so.

The Valley could also have 4 - 8 wins schools with NDSU, YSU, ILSU and SDSU.

[formerEag]

I will admit, MVC is stacked. Mostly due to NDSU though. I hope we end up on opposite sides of the bracket come playoffs.

[Gil Dobie]

I will admit, MVC is stacked. Mostly due to NDSU though. I hope we end up on opposite sides of the bracket come playoffs.

That could happen again, NDSU was in a mostly eastern bracket last year. Playing GSU, Lehigh and JMU to get to the championship game.

[JohnStOnge]

ECB

Computers aren't good describers of football. That's why we're FCS fans.

It's not computers. It's models designed by human beings. The computers are just the tolls used to do the number crunching.

And they do do a good job of describing what happens in football. Of course right now at least some of them don't have enough information to be completely objective. Sagarin's system is still incorporating "bayseian" aspects. That's statistics speak for "subjective." Once it gets to the point where you look at their page and it says the ratings are "unbiased" I think it'll have more credibility.

All that said I do think it looks like the MVC is the toughest league this year.

[Grizalltheway]

ECB

Computers aren't good describers of football. That's why we're FCS fans.

It's not computers. It's models designed by human beings. The computers are just the tolls used to do the number crunching.

And they do do a good job of describing what happens in football. Of course right now at least some of them don't have enough information to be completely objective. Sagarin's system is still incorporating "bayseian" aspects. That's statistics speak for "subjective." Once it gets to the point where you look at their page and it says the ratings are "Iunbiased" I think it'll have more credibility.

All that said I do think it looks like the MVC is the toughest league this year.

They probably have the two beat teams, but I'd still give the Sky a slight edge overall. Thankfully we have the playoffs to settle it on the field.

[formerEag]

Thankfully we have the playoffs to settle it on the field.

[LDopaPDX]

It's not computers. It's models designed by human beings. The computers are just the tolls used to do the number crunching.

And they do do a good job of describing what happens in football. Of course right now at least some of them don't have enough information to be completely objective. Sagarin's system is still incorporating "bayseian" aspects. That's statistics speak for "subjective." Once it gets to the point where you look at their page and it says the ratings are "Iunbiased" I think it'll have more credibility.

All that said I do think it looks like the MVC is the toughest league this year.

They probably have the two beat teams, but I'd still give the Sky a slight edge overall. Thankfully we have the playoffs to settle it on the field.

My thoughts exactly. North Dakota State would probably get my #1 vote and Youngstown #2, but I'm not really sold on anyone else in that conference being outstanding. Northern Iowa is scored as #5 by the computers, but haven't exactly proven they know how to win... therefore, I find that a little dubious. Out of 13 teams in the Big Sky, only two would be considered pushovers.

[ming01]

gotta go with mvc so far this season. ndsu ysu better than anybody the big sky has to offer. montana st has not looked like a top 5 team thus far. montana isnt as strong as some thought they would be. the middle is pretty good with und, nau uc davis and suu. the bottom is horrid with psu, unc, and idaho st

[kalm]

gotta go with mvc so far this season. ndsu ysu better than anybody the big sky has to offer. montana st has not looked like a top 5 team thus far. montana isnt as strong as some thought they would be. the middle is pretty good with und, nau uc davis and suu. the bottom is horrid with psu, unc, and idaho st

Too early to tell. The only head to head between the conferences was a Davis loss on the road to SDSU, 12-8. Davis is middle to lower level BSC and SDSU in one of your top 4. I do think NDSU has looked better than anyone in the Big Sky so far, but in general the top 4 from each conference are pretty damn similar. Some have an FBS win, some have blow out wins over weak teams, etc.

Totally a push at this point.

[89Hen]

We'll wait until the playoffs to call this one.

[Darell1976]

ECB

When the Missouri Valley teams move to the West Coast.

All that being said, the Big Sky could have 4-5 teams in the playoffs.

Cal Poly
MSU
EWU
for sure

NAU
UM
UND

I think one of those three will be the other team going. UND's only shot would be to run the table including upsetting EWU. I had Cal Poly as a win and EWU and MSU as losses so if UND can beat EWU then run the table (minus a loss at MSU) I can see UND getting in. A lot of ifs. and it starts on Saturday with how well UND's defense plays.

[kalm]

When the Missouri Valley teams move to the West Coast.

All that being said, the Big Sky could have 4-5 teams in the playoffs.

Cal Poly
MSU
EWU
for sure

NAU
UM
UND

I think one of those three will be the other team going. UND's only shot would be to run the table including upsetting EWU. I had Cal Poly as a win and EWU and MSU as losses so if UND can beat EWU then run the table (minus a loss at MSU) I can see UND getting in. A lot of ifs. and it starts on Saturday with how well UND's defense plays.

I think you need to move NAU to the top group. The only top tier team they have left on their schedule is Poly.

[cats2506]

gotta go with mvc so far this season. ndsu ysu better than anybody the big sky has to offer. montana st has not looked like a top 5 team thus far. montana isnt as strong as some thought they would be. the middle is pretty good with und, nau uc davis and suu. the bottom is horrid with psu, unc, and idaho st

Too early to tell. The only head to head between the conferences was a Davis loss on the road to SDSU, 12-8. Davis is middle to lower level BSC and SDSU in one of your top 4. I do think NDSU has looked better than anyone in the Big Sky so far, but in general the top 4 from each conference are pretty damn similar. Some have an FBS win, some have blow out wins over weak teams, etc.

Totally a push at this point.

Um beat USD

So I would say that the 2 inter-conference games are a wash

[Aho Old Guy]

You must all bow down to your masters in the SoCon.

[89Hen]

If you want to have this contest during the season, just line the teams up and pick who you think wins. Tough call...

Montana State - NDSU
EWU - YSU
Cal Poly - Illinois State
NAU - SDSU
Montana - UNI
UND - Indiana St
SacSt - WIU
SUU - USD
UCD - SIU
PSU - MSU

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Talk about slapping your own backs................there is noway the BSC is the best conference in the FCS.

There are no stand out teams, very bad football being played from every team "at the top" and just because somebody is 5-0 doesnt mean they are good or play in "the best conference in the FCS".

Seriously what are you people watching? Most teams in this conference act like they are playing to NOT win games. There has been some really really bad football this last month.


Sorry but you guys are smoking some crack that would make a crack ho take notice.

[dbackjon]

Alohie is all butt hurt now that other teams have caught up to and passed the Griz.

The conference must suck, because the Griz are not on top...

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

If you want to have this contest during the season, just line the teams up and pick who you think wins. Tough call...

Montana State - NDSU
EWU - YSU
Cal Poly - Illinois State
NAU - SDSU
Montana - UNI
UND - Indiana St
SacSt - WIU
SUU - USD
UCD - SIU
PSU - MSU

NDSU by 3+ TDs
YSU by 24+
Push
NAU
UNI and not because they are good we are that bad
Indiana St
WIU
SUU
SIU
MSU

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Alohie is all butt hurt now that other teams have caught up to and passed the Griz.

The conference must suck, because the Griz are not on top...

Nobody has caught us, most of you guys are playing the same crap ball that you are used to. We have slid back to the pack, I told you Hauck would haunt us, he left the cupboard bare and GOD sent us an angel in Pflu to recruit us back to dominance.

Legal troubles, Hauck thug culture and turnovers have sucked us back to mediocrity. Don't fool yourself, you know I am right.

[JackParty]

Funny how your perspective changes from where you are sitting.