2013 Big Sky Predictions

[Mvemjsunpx]

And to think, as bad as we were (by our standards) last year, we still managed to hang 70 on the Bungles.

And we did not have a rape scandal, NCAA investigations, sanctions and we posted a perfect 1000 APR. Recruited a bunch of kids from IDAHO no gang bangers or rapist how many do you have?????? I will take that losing by 70 any day !!!!!!!!!

Um… none?

Methinks this guy's projections weren't exactly based on objective rationality…

[Sapper]

No my decision making was made on rational observation of the data. I don't think UM is going to win more than 6 games. Not with the scheduled that they have and the fact that other teams in the BSC have improved faster than UM has. Unless UM has found away to fix the worst pass defense in the BSC (according to last years stats) it is going to be ruff playing the best pass teams in the BSC.

[uofmman1122]

I'd be willing to bet just about anything we win more than 6 games next year.

Just like all the UM fans said you would win 6 games last year. You might have JJ back but he has not played in a year and is playing for a new head coach. With all the other distractions and NCAA penaltys and sanctions. I don't think so!!! They could but probably not. UM has a difficult scheduled and I see the other teams improving more than UM did in the off season.

JJ is All-American talent.
We'll have the best defensive front 7 in the Big Sky by far.
We'll have the best O-line in the Big Sky.
The sanctions are now completely behind us, and last year we only used the amount of scholarships they limited us to this year.
Unrelated, but EWU has a harder schedule and lost more than we did from last year.

Once again, care to put your money (or in this case, Avatar) where your mouth is?

[Mvemjsunpx]

Not with the scheduled that they have

What's the issue with the schedule? It's not that tough—certainly nothing like EWU's.

and the fact that other teams in the BSC have improved faster than UM has.

They have? Based on what?

Unless UM has found away to fix the worst pass defense in the BSC (according to last years stats) it is going to be ruff playing the best pass teams in the BSC

The Griz were last in yards, but not in efficiency. They were also 2nd. in the nation in sacks-per-game and return 10 of 11 starters on defense.

[SloStang]

Just like all the UM fans said you would win 6 games last year. You might have JJ back but he has not played in a year and is playing for a new head coach. With all the other distractions and NCAA penaltys and sanctions. I don't think so!!! They could but probably not. UM has a difficult scheduled and I see the other teams improving more than UM did in the off season.

JJ is All-American talent.
We'll have the best defensive front 7 in the Big Sky by far.
We'll have the best O-line in the Big Sky.
The sanctions are now completely behind us, and last year we only used the amount of scholarships they limited us to this year.
Unrelated, but EWU has a harder schedule and lost more than we did from last year.

Once again, care to put your money (or in this case, Avatar) where your mouth is?

Montana's defensive front 7 is certainly impressive and may be the best in the Big Sky, but Cal Poly's is also impressive and may give the Griz a run for their money. The Mustang's return their entire three deep on the defensive line and have 3 outstanding LBs. It will be fun to see how they compare when Cal Poly visits Missoula this season. I hope to be there to see it in person.

[kalm]

I kind of like NAU as another dark horse this year. Bauman is back behind 4 returning starters on the o-line so we know they'll run the ball well. They finished with the #2 ranked D in the conference last year and return Wilkinson at DL, Battle at corner, and Dozier at safety who are potential first team all BSC players.

The schedule isn't great playing at MSU and Poly but they at least get the Griz at home, should win the rest of their home games, and could easily pick off Sac, SUU, and Davis on the road to finish 8-4 ish.

[Brock Landers]

[...]or rapist how many do you have??????

Uh, one. Two seasons ago...

[S F State Gaters]

Some thoughts after looking at the schedules for a bit:

NAU and North Dakota only play 11 games. What's up with that?

Cal Poly and Montana State don't play eachother, giving both a leg up.

Montana has a pretty tough conference schedule, but the OOC is nice.

UC Davis has a good schedule to do well, but aren't as good as they've been in previous seasons.

Going to do the full prediction later

[mtjack]

I kind of like NAU as another dark horse this year. Bauman is back behind 4 returning starters on the o-line so we know they'll run the ball well. They finished with the #2 ranked D in the conference last year and return Wilkinson at DL, Battle at corner, and Dozier at safety who are potential first team all BSC players.

The schedule isn't great playing at MSU and Poly but they at least get the Griz at home, should win the rest of their home games, and could easily pick off Sac, SUU, and Davis on the road to finish 8-4 ish.

Kalm - I'm thinking NAU's in for a successful season this year. Replacing their starting quarterback with (likely) a young guy who led led the Jacks to a win on the road @ UNLV. The bulk of the offense returns. Quite a bit of talent in the secondary and d-line. Quality kicker and punter. No Division II or NAIA teams on the schedule. I can see 8-3 though I can also see 7-4 or the dreaded 6-5.

There won't be a repeat of the UNLV game in Tucson this year. Just not going to happen as much as I'd love that. Not sure why NAU only scheduled 11 games this year? Maybe the coaching staff wasn't keen on another road game as pretty much no teams want to travel that far and play at altitude unless they absolutely have to. I was really hoping NAU would have worked out a home and home with NDSU when the Bison had that open date. I'm predicting losses @ Cal Poly and @ MSU. The other games are a toss up.

The end of last season was sad for me with the double OT loss to The Brad Sorensen, err...SUU Thunderbirds and a season ending 8 point loss to a clearly better Cal Poly team. Needed to find a way to win just one of those and they couldn't. College football fans (Jacks and other FCS'ers) who call an 8-3 season an utter failure are due a 10 year sentence rooting for Prairie View A&M as penance. The Jacks football program outlook improved last year. Long ways to go to become what EWU/MSU/UM have but I see signs of life.

Now I'm going to cue the "Jerome Souers chokes, NAU can't win a game after Halloween" hate-fest/talk in 3, 2, 1.....

[mtjack]

It will be fun to see how they compare when Cal Poly visits Missoula this season. I hope to be there to see it in person.

Fun college town and great college football environment, SloStang. Go if you can.

[SloStang]

It will be fun to see how they compare when Cal Poly visits Missoula this season. I hope to be there to see it in person.

Fun college town and great college football environment, SloStang. Go if you can.

Thanks for the heads up. I agree whole heartily. I been to four Cal Poly/Montana game in Missoula and had a blast every time.

[kalm]

North Dakota is another interesting/possible dark horse candidate...

Six out of their first seven games are in Grand Forks including Montana, MSU, and Eastern. MIght be too early to use the...to be the best you've got to beat the best saw...but they get three out of the four conference elites at home and don't have to play Poly. They may or may not be ready to contend for conference titles yet but they can definitely be a factor this year.

With the exception of a projected sophomore starter at O right guard, they seem to have quite a bit of experience on the o-line and front seven on D with all upper class men in starting rolls. Three seniors anchor down the o-line and another 3 seniors are projected to start at LB. We'll have to see about depth and a young QB but they should be competitive in most of their games.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Well, unless you have another Kaufmann waiting in the wings, there's inevitably going to be some sort of drop off from last season. Doesn't mean you'll be bad, but I don't see the same kind of comebacks like the UM and SHSU games happening.

We won't be needing to come back, we'll be holding leads.




The offense won't look the same as last year not just because of not having Kauf, Edwards and Herd, but because there have been some scheme tweaks. An even more improved running game, a dual threat QB, and smaller, faster WRs... I'll leave you to fill in the blanks.

In his first year at EWU last year, running backs coach Kiel McDonald almost doubled our rushing yardage from 2011 (from 869 yards to 1,729) while improving our yards-per-rush from 3.0 to 3.7, and 100 first downs converted via the run, vs. 53 in 2011. We return all of our RBs, plus Mario Brown who redshirted last year, and return 4/5 on the OL.

Forgot to mention, not only do we return 4/5 on the OL, but we added 6'6 320lb OL Jake Rodgers, a 12 game starter for WSU last year. He will probably win the starting RT spot vacated by Will Post. We'll have a very big and experienced OL, and I think all of our RBs that will see time are now upperclassmen with plenty of experience as well. Combined with a running QB who proved he can throw plenty, and some scheme tweaks akin to the 2012 Seahawks... I think you're going to see a surprisingly effective run game.

[SuperHornet]

I didn't know you were a fan of the Nature Boy, kalm.

[kalm]

I didn't know you were a fan of the Nature Boy, kalm.

Huh?

[SuperHornet]

One of Ric Flair's catch phrases was, "To be the man, you gotta beat the man."

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjW9UXoKU2s[/youtube]

[Screamin_Eagle174]

One of Ric Flair's catch phrases was, "To be the man, you gotta beat the man."

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjW9UXoKU2s[/youtube]

Yeah kalm, you dummy.

[kalm]

One of Ric Flair's catch phrases was, "To be the man, you gotta beat the man."

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjW9UXoKU2s[/youtube]

Yeah kalm, you dummy.

[Keeper]

I could see a tie amongst MSU, EWU, CP, UM, CSUS, NAU.

Really, I do.

[SuperHornet]

I could see a tie amongst MSU, EWU, CP, UM, CSUS, NAU.

Really, I do.

As much as I like that idea, I don't see it. NAU won't sniff it, and Sac will make noise but ultimately fall short.

THIS time, anyway. Next year is a different story....

[eaglesfootball]

My predictions:

• 1. Montana State _______8-0____11-1_____ One last chance for the Bobcats to not waste McGhee's ability in the playoffs
  2. Cal Poly ______________7-1____10-2_____ CP won't be flashy, but they should win the vast majority of their games
  3. Montana _____________6-2____10-2_____ Not making the postseason would be a disappointment for the 2013 Griz
  4. Northern Arizona ____5-3_____7-4_____ It may not be a late-season swoon this time, but the lack of a 12th. game
  5. Sacramento State ___ 5-3_____7-5 _____ Will Sac actually beat Davis if a playoff berth is on the line?
  6. North Dakota ________5-3_____6-5_____ Can the No-Nick defense actually stop someone this year?
  7. Eastern Washington__4-4_____5-7_____ EWU's better than 5-7, but their schedule is like sticking your face in a jet engine
  8. Portland State_______ 3-5_____6-6_____ The Viks should be better, but the defense is still weak
  9. Northern Colorado___3-5_____5-7_____ Can Lobato actually play well for an entire season?
  10.Weber State__________2-6_____2-10____ If there's any team that desperately needed a non-DI game…
  11.Southern Utah _______2-6_____3-9_____ SUU goes from good QB & questionable WRs to solid WRs but no QB
  12.UC Davis ____________ 2-6_____2-10____ The Aggies are just too mediocre all-around
  13. Idaho State _________0-8_____2-10____ Two non-DIs still can't mask the Bengal awfulness

Top 3 will make the playoffs. Others may have a shot if they win some coin flips.

lots of wishful thinking going on here.

[kalm]

EWU rode the fact that virtually no-one could stop their receiving corps last year and that unbeatable advantage is gone (the newbies may be talented—I don't really know—but I don't see much chance they'll be like what we saw the last few years overnight). Eastern's running game has been quite weak since Jones left, and though it should probably be improved this year, I doubt it'll be good. I do like Adams, but most everything around him is questionable.

Rushing: 37 for 177, 4.8 ypc

Receiving:
Ashton Clark 9 for 155 1 TD
Kupp 5 for 119 2 TD

Our defense is suspect...but it was a ranked FBS PAC 12 team.

It's only one game but...bump!

[EWURanger]

Looks like Grizalltheway deleted his "you're going to get btfo - bank it" quote. Kinda weak.


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[Screamin_Eagle174]

Looks like Grizalltheway deleted his "you're going to get btfo - bank it" quote. Kinda weak.


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[Screamin_Eagle174]

Looks like Grizalltheway deleted his "you're going to get btfo - bank it" quote. Kinda weak.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He didn't.