Big Sky Bests & Worsts (& Sum-up) - 2013 Edition

[Mvemjsunpx]

• Best Rushing Offense (preseason) - Cal Poly
  Best Rushing Offense (reality) - Cal Poly
  
  Worst Rushing Offense (preseason) - Idaho St.
  Worst Rushing Offense (reality) - Idaho St.
  
  
  Best Passing Offense (preseason) - Montana St.
  Best Passing Offense (reality) - Eastern Washington
  
  Worst Passing Offense (preseason) - Cal Poly
  Worst Passing Offense (reality) - Weber St.
  
  
  Best Overall Offense (preseason) - Portland St.
  Best Overall Offense (reality) - Eastern Washington
  
  Worst Overall Offense (preseason) - Idaho St.
  Worst Overall Offense (reality) - Weber St.
  
  
  Best Run Defense (preseason) - Montana
  Best Run Defense (reality) - Southern Utah
  
  Worst Run Defense (preseason) - Idaho St.
  Worst Run Defense (reality) - Idaho St.
  
  
  Best Pass Defense (preseason) - Northern Arizona
  Best Pass Defense (reality) - Northern Arizona
  
  Worst Pass Defense (preseason) - Idaho St.
  Worst Pass Defense (reality) - Weber St.
  
  
  Best Overall Defense (preseason) - Northern Arizona
  Best Overall Defense (reality) - Northern Arizona
  
  Worst Overall Defense (preseason) - Idaho St.
  Worst Overall Defense (reality) - Weber St.
  
  
  Best Special Teams (preseason) - Southern Utah
  Best Special Teams (reality) - Northern Arizona
  
  Worst Special Teams (preseason) - Portland St.
  Worst Special Teams (reality) - Northern Colorado
  
  
  
  Best Quarterback (preseason) - Denarius McGhee (MSU)
  Best Quarterback (reality) - Vernon Adams (EWU)
  
  Best Running Back (preseason) - Zach Bauman (NAU)
  Best Running Back (reality) - Zach Bauman (NAU)
  
  Best Wide Receiver (preseason) - Greg Hardin (UND)
  Best Wide Receiver (reality) - Cooper Kupp (EWU)
  
  Best Tight End (preseason) - Dejzon Walker (NAU)
  Best Tight End (reality) - Austin Wilbers (UNC)
  
  Best WR/TE Corps (preseason) - North Dakota
  Best WR/TE Corps (reality) - Eastern Washington
  
  Best Offensive Lineman (preseason) - Danny Kistler, Jr. (UMT)
  Best Offensive Lineman (reality) - Danny Kistler, Jr. (UMT)
  
  Best Offensive Line (preseason) - Montana
  Best Offensive Line (reality) - Portland St.
  
  
  Best Defensive Lineman (preseason) - Zack Wagenmann (UMT)
  Best Defensive Lineman (reality) - Sullivan Grosz (CP)
  
  Best Defensive Line (preseason) - Montana
  Best Defensive Line (reality) - Montana
  
  Best Linebacker (preseason) - Jordan Tripp (UMT)
  Best Linebacker (reality) - Brock Coyle (UMT)
  
  Best LB Corps (preseason) - Montana
  Best LB Corps (reality) - Cal Poly
  
  Best Defensive Back (preseason) - T.J. Lee III (EWU)
  Best Defensive Back (reality) - Lucky Dozier (NAU)
  
  Best Secondary (preseason) - Northern Arizona
  Best Secondary (reality) - Northern Arizona
  
  
  Best Kicker (preseason) - Zeb Miller (UND)
  Best Kicker (reality) - Colton Cook (SUU)
  
  Best Punter (preseason) - Tony Epperson (WEB)
  Best Punter (reality) - Kyle Loomis (PSU)
  
  Best Ret. Specialist (preseason) - Shaquille Hill (EWU)
  Best Ret. Specialist (reality) - Shawn Johnson (MSU)
  
  Best Return Teams (preseason) - UC Davis
  Best Return Teams (reality) - Montana St.
  
  Best Cover Teams (preseason) - (none)
  Best Cover Teams (reality) - Portland St.
  
  
  Best Coaching Job (preseason) - (none)
  Best Coaching Job (reality) - Ed Lamb (SUU)

[EWURanger]

Nice list. I guess I'd make a bit of an argument for the coach that won a conference championship with a perfect 8-0 record. But considering EWU was a semi-finalist and won a share of the championship last season, perhaps they did not have as steep a hill to climb. SUU has had a good season and their coach deserves consideration. Anyone know if this is SUU's first trip to the playoffs?


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[Mvemjsunpx]

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.

Here's the actual results:

• 1. Eastern Washington__8-0____10-2_____ +4/+5 vs. my predictions
  2. Northern Arizona ____7-1_____9-2_____ +2/+2 vs. my predictions
  3. Montana _____________6-2____10-2_____ Spot on vs. my predictions
  4. Cal Poly ______________5-3____6-6_____ -2/-4 vs. my predictions
  5. Southern Utah _______5-3_____8-4_____ +3/+5 vs. my predictions
  6. Montana State _______5-3__ __7-5_____ -3/-4 vs. my predictions
  7. UC Davis ____________ 5-3_____5-7_____ +3/+3 vs. my predictions
  8. Sacramento State ___ 4-4_____5-7 _____ -1/-2 vs. my predictions
  9. Portland State_______ 3-5_____6-6_____ Spot on vs. my predictions
  10.North Dakota ________2-6_____3-8_____ -3/-3 vs. my predictions
  11.Weber State__________1-7_____2-10____ -1/0 vs. my predictions
  12. Idaho State _________1-7_____3-9_____ +1/+1 vs. my predictions
  13.Northern Colorado___0-8_____1-11____ -3/-4 vs. my predictions

I obviously will eat my crow for picking EWU to look more like their 2011 team.
I nailed PSU & nearly nailed Weber.
Davis having a winning conference record is a bit surprising.
SUU being a playoff team was completely out of left field.
NoDak was a bit disappointing.
I wasn't as high on NoCo as some, but I didn't see them being anywhere near this bad.


And I was right that the Griz would be a playoff team,
so all you haters can go fxck yourselves.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Nice list. I guess I'd make a bit of an argument for the coach that won a conference championship with a perfect 8-0 record. But considering EWU was a semi-finalist and won a share of the championship last season, perhaps they did not have as steep a hill to climb. SUU has had a good season and their coach deserves consideration. Anyone know if this is SUU's first trip to the playoffs?

Yes, it is. That's why I went with Lamb: the T-Birds lose their NFL-caliber QB (who was easily the best player on their team last year), then somehow find a way to make the playoffs for the first time ever.

[EWURanger]

The 5-7 prediction was a bit of a head-scratcher considering everyone we had coming back and the fact that we've only had one losing season in the past 10-15 years or so.


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[uofmman1122]

Nice list. I guess I'd make a bit of an argument for the coach that won a conference championship with a perfect 8-0 record. But considering EWU was a semi-finalist and won a share of the championship last season, perhaps they did not have as steep a hill to climb. SUU has had a good season and their coach deserves consideration. Anyone know if this is SUU's first trip to the playoffs?

Yes, it is. That's why I went with Lamb: the T-Birds lose their NFL-caliber QB (who was easily the best player on their team last year), then somehow find a way to make the playoffs for the first time ever.

Classic Ewing Theory.

http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?pag ... ns/010509a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[grizzaholic]

Nice list. I guess I'd make a bit of an argument for the coach that won a conference championship with a perfect 8-0 record. But considering EWU was a semi-finalist and won a share of the championship last season, perhaps they did not have as steep a hill to climb. SUU has had a good season and their coach deserves consideration. Anyone know if this is SUU's first trip to the playoffs?


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Yes.