Southern Utah @ Sam Houston

[Gil Dobie]

Some conference champs do play home games. PSU got a seed and a home game. Montana made strong bid and got a home game. Either win more games or pay more money. If you can't afford FCS football, well, there's always DII or DIII.

Like the old saying goes, Money Talks Bullshit walks.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Despite the fact that SUU is the outright champion of a better conference than Sam Houston's, I think the Bearkats are rightly the favorite here. The Thunderbirds' league title kinda deserves an asterisk given the teams they dodged on the way there (Montana, EWU, NoDak), plus the Bearkats are at home. It won't be the blowout we saw when these two teams played in 2013, but SHSU will still come away with the win.

Here's my assessment of the matchups & my pick for the game:

• • • Quarterbacks -- Sam Houston St.
      
      Running Backs - Sam Houston St.
      
      Receivers/TEs - (push)
      
      Offensive Line - Sam Houston St.
      
      
      Defensive Line - Southern Utah
      
      Linebackers --- Southern Utah
      
      Secondary ---- Sam Houston St.
      
      
      Kicking ------ Sam Houston St.
      
      Punting ------ Sam Houston St.
      
      Return Teams - Sam Houston St.
      
      Kickoffs ------ (push)
      
      
      
      
      
      • Southern Utah 23-31 Sam Houston St.

[SUUTbird]

I really don't think the teams we dodged would have affected the schedule as much as you think, especially with how the Big Sky played out this year:

-EWU: Collapsed down the stretch and had 0 defense, would have been identical to the MSU game.

-Montana: I actually feel we would have beaten Montana this season, especially since your one lucky play away from losing to ISU and missing the playoffs. Unlike MSU or EWU we have a defense with 2 NFL caliber players in the secondary.

-North Dakota: Kind of a question mark since they played really well or bad depending on the game. Still confident we could beat them.

-Idaho State: We would win, simple.

[YoUDeeMan]

Big Sky Champs SUU go on the road to SHSU.

Really wish the NCAA would guarantee one home playoff game for conference champs as long as they make a minimum bid.

Dback...typical Liberal clown. Entitlement...as long as it is someone you like.

Yeah, the Patriot champ deserves a home game every year...or a 5-6 Meac or Pioneer champ deserves a home game.

Why should a team that hasn't beaten anyone worthwhile host a football game? SHSU apparently cared enough about their football team to post a winning bid. Instead of congratulating them and praising them for supporting their football team - real support, not just cheerleader fake praise support, you whine that a Bif Fuffy team DESERVES a home game.

Weak sauce, sister.

Football isn't a charity, feel good sport. Put up or shut up.

Big Fluffy teams are irrelavent anyway. They are generally food for CAA and MVFC teams.

They deserve nothing.

Want a home game? Win the games against your defensively challenged conference mates and make a splash once you get into the playoffs. Produce money and support your gawdamned football team instead of expecting others to give more shits about your team than your own administration.

[kalm]

Big Sky Champs SUU go on the road to SHSU.

Really wish the NCAA would guarantee one home playoff game for conference champs as long as they make a minimum bid.

Dback...typical Liberal clown. Entitlement...as long as it is someone you like.

Yeah, the Patriot champ deserves a home game every year...or a 5-6 Meac or Pioneer champ deserves a home game.

Why should a team that hasn't beaten anyone worthwhile host a football game? SHSU apparently cared enough about their football team to post a winning bid. Instead of congratulating them and praising them for supporting their football team - real support, not just cheerleader fake praise support, you whine that a Bif Fuffy team DESERVES a home game.

Weak sauce, sister.

Football isn't a charity, feel good sport. Put up or shut up.

Big Fluffy teams are irrelavent anyway. They are generally food for CAA and MVFC teams.

They deserve nothing.

Want a home game? Win the games against your defensively challenged conference mates and make a splash once you get into the playoffs. Produce money and support your gawdamned football team instead of expecting others to give more shits about your team than your own administration.

Nice troll, Clucky!

CAA's best OOC wins:

SMU
Colgate
St. Francis PA

[Grizalltheway]

Big Sky Champs SUU go on the road to SHSU.

Really wish the NCAA would guarantee one home playoff game for conference champs as long as they make a minimum bid.

Dback...typical Liberal clown. Entitlement...as long as it is someone you like.

Yeah, the Patriot champ deserves a home game every year...or a 5-6 Meac or Pioneer champ deserves a home game.

Why should a team that hasn't beaten anyone worthwhile host a football game? SHSU apparently cared enough about their football team to post a winning bid. Instead of congratulating them and praising them for supporting their football team - real support, not just cheerleader fake praise support, you whine that a Bif Fuffy team DESERVES a home game.

Weak sauce, sister.

Football isn't a charity, feel good sport. Put up or shut up.

Big Fluffy teams are irrelavent anyway. They are generally food for CAA and MVFC teams.

They deserve nothing.

Want a home game? Win the games against your defensively challenged conference mates and make a splash once you get into the playoffs. Produce money and support your gawdamned football team instead of expecting others to give more shits about your team than your own administration.

A UD fan talking about the playoffs?

Oh sorry, I forgot you've officially put on your CAA jersey now that your own team is done sucking for the year.

[kalm]

Dback...typical Liberal clown. Entitlement...as long as it is someone you like.

Yeah, the Patriot champ deserves a home game every year...or a 5-6 Meac or Pioneer champ deserves a home game.

Why should a team that hasn't beaten anyone worthwhile host a football game? SHSU apparently cared enough about their football team to post a winning bid. Instead of congratulating them and praising them for supporting their football team - real support, not just cheerleader fake praise support, you whine that a Bif Fuffy team DESERVES a home game.

Weak sauce, sister.

Football isn't a charity, feel good sport. Put up or shut up.

Big Fluffy teams are irrelavent anyway. They are generally food for CAA and MVFC teams.

They deserve nothing.

Want a home game? Win the games against your defensively challenged conference mates and make a splash once you get into the playoffs. Produce money and support your gawdamned football team instead of expecting others to give more shits about your team than your own administration.

A UD fan talking about the playoffs?

Oh sorry, I forgot you've officially put on your CAA jersey now that your own team is done sucking for the year.

At least those mid-Atlantic folk have other bandwagons they can latch too...

Philly
Redskins
Ravens
Rutgers
Penn State
Towson
Maryland

[JALMOND]

Despite the fact that SUU is the outright champion of a better conference than Sam Houston's, I think the Bearkats are rightly the favorite here. The Thunderbirds' league title kinda deserves an asterisk given the teams they dodged on the way there (Montana, EWU, NoDak), plus the Bearkats are at home. It won't be the blowout we saw when these two teams played in 2013, but SHSU will still come away with the win.

Here's my assessment of the matchups & my pick for the game:

• • • Quarterbacks -- Sam Houston St.
      
      Running Backs - Sam Houston St.
      
      Receivers/TEs - (push)
      
      Offensive Line - Sam Houston St.
      
      
      Defensive Line - Southern Utah
      
      Linebackers --- Southern Utah
      
      Secondary ---- Sam Houston St.
      
      
      Kicking ------ Sam Houston St.
      
      Punting ------ Sam Houston St.
      
      Return Teams - Sam Houston St.
      
      Kickoffs ------ (push)
      
      
      
      
      
      • Southern Utah 23-31 Sam Houston St.

I actually think this game will be closer. The T-Birds defense was the best I've seen against PSU all year and that includes Washington State. I'd be surprised if the deficit is larger than 4-5 points.

[JohnStOnge]

I actually think this game will be closer. The T-Birds defense was the best I've seen against PSU all year and that includes Washington State. I'd be surprised if the deficit is larger than 4-5 points.

When I looked at the stats for Southern Utah at Portland State it made me more hopeful that the Thunderbirds can win this game. I know that things are very unpredictable and different teams match up in different ways.

BUT

If I had to say based on season long performance which team has been more impressive between Sam Houston State and Portland State I'd have to say Portland State.

AND

Southern Utah, playing on the road, had 30 first downs to Portland State's 15 and out gained the Viking's by 562 to 389 in total yards. The stat that stands out as the probable reason they lost in spite of that is the one saying they had 3 turnovers while Portland State didn't have any.

Even with that the game came down to them deciding to go for two and win the game in regulation instead of going to overtime when they scored to draw within 23-24 with 1:18 left.

So I figure they've got to go into this game feeling like they "coulda shoulda" beat a team that's better than Sam Houston State is.

Of course they need to completely forget about South Dakota State. The Wabbits are also probably better than Sam Houston State. But 55-10? Yeah. They need to keep that one out of their heads.

[Grizalltheway]

Why would they be thinking about a game from September against a team from a different conference?

[kalm]

Why would they be thinking about a game from September against a team from a different conference?

Never forget!

[JALMOND]

Of course they need to completely forget about South Dakota State. The Wabbits are also probably better than Sam Houston State. But 55-10? Yeah. They need to keep that one out of their heads.

One has to think any playoff team is playing better ball now than in week 2.

[JohnStOnge]

Why would they be thinking about a game from September against a team from a different conference?

Psychology. "We've been through tougher challenges than what we're going into now."

[JohnStOnge]

Weather.com weather forecast has it cool...actually COLD by Huntsville, TX, standards...and possibly rainy during the game. Kickoff is at 2 pm CST.

Forecast:

2 PM 47 degrees, 40% rain chance, 7 mph NW wind
3 PM 47 degrees, 40% rain chance, 7 mph NNW wind
4 PM 48 degrees, 40% rain chance, 6 mph NNW wind
5 PM 48 degrees, 65% rain chance, 6 mph NNW wind

And yes a high temperature of 48 as is the case in Huntsville today is COLD for that area. The average historical daily high temperature in Huntsville during November is 70. The lowest monthly average daily high temperature, that for January, is 59.

[JohnStOnge]

Well so far Southern Utah looks pretty outmatched.

[JohnStOnge]

You know, I almost wrote yesterday that when I've watched Sam Houston State they looked weak in the secondary but didn't because I looked up their pass efficiency defense and they were like 22nd in that area and gave up 49.7% completion percentage.

Now the blocked PAT for 2 points so Sam Houston's up 3.

[htownbearkat]

If keeler will just run the ball this game wont be close.

Oh yeah and dont give up the big plays.

16-6 kats.

[JohnStOnge]

This is aggravating. Southern Utah has open receivers all over the place and the quarterback can't hit them.

[JohnStOnge]

You know I think I was right in thinking Sam Houston State is weak at defensive back when I watched them. Can't figure out how they did so well in the passing efficiency defense statistics. Maybe it's because they get good pressure on the passer or something.

[BigSky2014]

Southern Utah looked a little out of sorts early but have settled down. This will be a good one to the end.

[JohnStOnge]

If only they could do extra points.

[BigSky2014]

If only they could do extra points.

Yea, right...

[JohnStOnge]

Ok at least Sam Houston State is only +2 points on placekicking screw ups now.

[BigSky2014]

Guess they both have some problems with the kicking game.

[BigSky2014]

Looking at Sam Houston's roster, 26 transfers. Is that how they build teams each year?