Semifinals prediction

Rob Weiss, FCS Update

Sorry for the delay. It’s been a crazy week filled with travel, blizzards, and all kinds of other stuff.

In 30 minutes William and Mary will take the field against Villanova. When the teams faced off earlier this year it was a fantastic game. The Tribe’s costly redzone turnovers really made the game.

Tonight the Tribe’s defense and running game will take them to the championship.

William and Mary 24  Villanova 21

App St-Montana has been 9 years in the making. The teams last faced off in the 2000 semifinals. The Griz won that game in OT 19-16.

I expect a great game in this one. I’ll say that I expect a lot of Armanti’s typical heroics, but the last drive comes up just short.

Montana 27  Appalachian State 21

17 Responses to Semifinals prediction

  1. Montana Mark December 11, 2009 at 8:28 pm #

    I just watched the first 3 quarters of W&M vs NOVA. neither team would hold up to the Griz, I can’t talk for Appy but if the Griz win tomorrow they will have a Turkey shoot at Chatanooga!

    • Rob Weiss December 12, 2009 at 9:19 am #

      I think you’re crazy, Mark. 🙂 Both of those teams play great defense and would provide the Griz with a great match-up. I wouldn’t get too arrogant after what happened to the Griz in Chatty last year. I don’t think a Hauck coached Griz team has ever faced a 3-3-5 defense, and they are tricky.

      That said, I think the championship game should be a good one no matter who wins today.

      • Zach December 12, 2009 at 6:19 pm #

        Go griz they r gonna thump nova

      • Montana Mark December 12, 2009 at 6:53 pm #

        Well….Now we will get to find out. And I’m saying right now, if the GRIZ play at their normal level (not the inspired ball of the last 2 1/2 games) GRIZ win!
        If the GRIZ come in hot it will be a blowout.
        I am eagerly waiting to see of I am crazy.
        GO GRIZ!!!

  2. Zach December 12, 2009 at 6:21 pm #

    Ya mark dont know where or what kind of football u ben watchin nova and william and mary are both really good football clubs. they both will give the griz a challenge. but its nova so GO GRIZ

  3. Montana Mark December 13, 2009 at 2:04 pm #

    Also, I don’t think anybody would have dared putting a 3-3-5 defense in front of the Griz, they are built to eat up that type of defense. Between the two running backs picking up 4-5 yards per carry against that set the WR’s will break free over the top when they start coming up to defend against the run, besides I don’t think I could handle another close game. My dogs are still hiding because of all the yelling during the game.
    However, your prediction of the game was right on! good call.

    • Josh December 15, 2009 at 8:51 am #

      What defenses has the griz faced this year? They are up against a top 3 CAA tested run D – I have no doubt it will be an awesome game, but nobody is getting blown out in Chatty. I respect your commitment to being a homer though!

  4. Grizman December 15, 2009 at 8:13 pm #

    Rob are you a firtune teller. You sure called the Griz vs Mountaineer game. What is your call for the championship game. I expect a good game and will root for the home team Griz as always.

  5. Grizman December 15, 2009 at 8:14 pm #

    Rob are you a fortune teller. You sure called the Griz vs Mountaineer game. What is your call for the championship game. I expect a good game and will root for the home team Griz as always.

  6. Montana Mark December 15, 2009 at 8:39 pm #

    OK, so maybe Nova won’t be a pushover. They looked fairly weak when I watched the W&M vs Nova semifinals. I spoke with others who agreed that they seemed to be lacking any spark. They obviously have some or they wouldn’t be here.
    As far as “what defenses has the griz faced?” Every team in the Big Sky comes out gunning for the Griz, a couple of these teams (besides the Griz) are darn good teams i.e. Weber, Eastern Wash. & NAU are dynamic and dangerous teams and they play their best against the Griz. I was surprised to see Weber get drummed out by W&M and yes I know…Nova beat W&M. Three more days and the talking is over.

    • Josh December 16, 2009 at 7:37 am #

      Weber was drummed out because W&M had an elite defense this year – not unlike Nova. I wasn’t saying you guys didn’t play good teams (obvious playoff contenders), I was simply stating that Montana will face its first elite defense on Friday. Can’t wait!!

  7. Montana Mark December 16, 2009 at 5:34 am #

    OMG…how dare I forget. The Bobcats!

    • Montana Mark December 16, 2009 at 4:30 pm #

      Josh! If you want to see something inspiring go to the MT Griz homepage http://www.montanagrizzlies.com/football.htm
      and watch the highlights of the SFA game. The SD state highlights are gone (Youtube maybe). These boys can light it up! I would guess that SD State or SFA could hold their own with, if not beat Nova. When the Griz woke up neither team was in the same league. They just flat smoked-em. They were tight and conservative against APPY. (which is smart). If these boys are fired up…. (watch the highlights!)…..well, I said it before.
      GO GRIZ!!

      • Josh December 17, 2009 at 9:33 am #

        Thanks for the link and for completely avoiding my point. I won’t take away from Montana or their great performance thus far in the playoffs. They are clearly a very good team and are able to play on a level with the best in the country. PLEASE don’t compare western and central conferences with the CAA. THERE IS NO COMPARISON! Montana has lost two NC’s to teams that finished THIRD in the CAA this decade. The CAA is deep and strong year after year. SD State had an epic meltdown (Montana also played possesed) and SFA had TEN turnovers – hard to compare with the way that Nova has played this year. I respect the program that Montana has built and that Monatana could compete and be successful in the CAA. There are few others.

        • Montana Mark December 17, 2009 at 5:41 pm #

          Hey Josh. I think your point is that Nova has a great defense?….point taken. I agree they do or they wouldn’t be 13-1. The record proves out what you say. But, having followed griz football closely for nearly 20 years I never looked at the CAA as near the power house as the southern conferences. I have watched the Griz lose to CAA teams but I never felt like they were beaten, i.e. had the Griz been playing to potential they would have won. Sour grapes? Maybe. On the other hand I have seen the Griz beaten by some of the teams from the Southern conference’s.
          I am ready for a great game and hope that no one gets hurt. All of these boys, Nova & Griz, are winners and I admire them for that.
          GO GRIZ!!

  8. Montana Mark December 16, 2009 at 5:51 pm #

    Check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz_opg3JR3M

    You never saw anything like this from a CAA team!
    It chokes me up every time I see it.

  9. Charles December 17, 2009 at 3:15 pm #

    I’m a rabbid Griz fan and think this years team is one of the best ever but I think a lot of people are coming to the wrong conclusion about Nova based on what they saw in their game with W&M. When two great defenses play each other both teams usually look pretty bad. I think Montana’s offensive balance wins the day but I don’t expect a cake walk.
    Now Alabama and Texas; that’s a different deal altogether – the Tide by 14.

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