Poll: Week 1, Big Sky's shot for FBS win

[SuperHornet]

Make it simple

FBS +20

As much as I'd hate to see it happen, it would be major funny to see MSU win or lose by less than a TD just to stuff this elitist argument.

[Catattack]

Make it simple

FBS +20

As much as I'd hate to see it happen, it would be major funny to see MSU win or lose by less than a TD just to stuff this elitist argument.

Elitist or realist ? I want every BSC team to beat their FBS opponents, but it isn't happening. Picking these scores falls somewhere between rocket science and Dorothy clicking her heels. Seems like you lean towards the Dorothy method.

[SuperHornet]

Not every FBS team is U$C. Wyo is a crap team that outside of a couple of decent years would probably be in the MAC if not for geography. Wazzu and OSU are (for the Pac-12) crap teams who really ought to be in the WAC. For the teams involved, those are winnable games. If App can beat a semi-decent Big Ten team (admittedly ranked much higher than they deserved) and a few East Coast FCS's can take out lower-tier FBS schools, our guys can beat the dregs of the elite leagues.

[mtjack]

If the emotional wreckage that was the U of Arizona football team at the end of last season (five straight losses) shows up, then anything is possible.

Hope NAU's ticket allocation isn't in the southwest endzone @ U of A's stadium. Do a youtube search for "Arizona fans vs. Iowa" and "Oregon Ducks booed and bottled at Arizona". That section of the stadium is rabid.

More than likely the game will be respectable through 2-3 quarters with U of A's Pac-10...err...12 depth wearing down NAU in the 4th quarter. I think this formula applies to most Big Sky vs. FBS schools match ups.

Weber State gets my vote as having the best chance of pulling off an upset.

[TexasGriz]

I said Weber and Wyoming... Weber is a mid pack Big Sky team but Wyoming is terrible...

[Ivytalk]

I said Weber and Wyoming... Weber is a mid pack Big Sky team but Wyoming is terrible...

Agreed. I was tempted to go with EWU, but I just couldn't pull the trigger!

[ewudood]

Idaho State isn't going to beat Washington State... but Kramer is a much better coach then Wulff. It ain't even close.

I can tell you a lot of guys I know smiled with shocked amusement when WSU hired Wulff from Eastern. They did the Eagles a favor in getting rid of Wulff. I'm not saying Wulff was the worst of the worst, but he certainly was no better than ordinary, and he has a history of being very difficult to work with.

Interestingly, Beau Baldwin was not Eastern's first choice to replace Wulff when he left. Eastern had chosen Jim McElwain (offensive coordinator at Alabama and EWU grad) for the position but couldn't come to terms on compensation.

Interesting to hear that about Wulff. I was a fan of him, though I think his strength was recruiting and not so much the big game. I never trusted him with a lead.

Dont know much about McElwain but I think EWU got a good one with Baldwin. Hopefully he'll stick around for at least a few more years.

[kalm]

Not every FBS team is U$C. Wyo is a crap team that outside of a couple of decent years would probably be in the MAC if not for geography. Wazzu and OSU are (for the Pac-12) crap teams who really ought to be in the WAC. For the teams involved, those are winnable games. If App can beat a semi-decent Big Ten team (admittedly ranked much higher than they deserved) and a few East Coast FCS's can take out lower-tier FBS schools, our guys can beat the dregs of the elite leagues.

Going back to 2000, which PAC-10 teams other than USC and Oregon have clearly had more on-field success than OSU?

[AZGrizFan]

Idaho State isn't going to beat Washington State... but Kramer is a much better coach then Wulff. It ain't even close.

I can tell you a lot of guys I know smiled with shocked amusement when WSU hired Wulff from Eastern. They did the Eagles a favor in getting rid of Wulff. I'm not saying Wulff was the worst of the worst, but he certainly was no better than ordinary, and he has a history of being very difficult to work with.

Interestingly, Beau Baldwin was not Eastern's first choice to replace Wulff when he left. Eastern had chosen Jim McElwain (offensive coordinator at Alabama and EWU grad) for the position but couldn't come to terms on compensation.

Interesting to hear that about Wulff. I was a fan of him, though I think his strength was recruiting and not so much the big game. I never trusted him with a lead.

Dont know much about McElwain but I think EWU got a good one with Baldwin. Hopefully he'll stick around for at least a few more years.

I have no idea what McElwain is making, nor how much Baldwin is making, but I have to imagine McElwain would have had to take a HUGE pay cut to come to EWU.

[Shellin]

Not every FBS team is U$C. Wyo is a crap team that outside of a couple of decent years would probably be in the MAC if not for geography. Wazzu and OSU are (for the Pac-12) crap teams who really ought to be in the WAC. For the teams involved, those are winnable games. If App can beat a semi-decent Big Ten team (admittedly ranked much higher than they deserved) and a few East Coast FCS's can take out lower-tier FBS schools, our guys can beat the dregs of the elite leagues.

Going back to 2000, which PAC-10 teams other than USC and Oregon have clearly had more on-field success than OSU?

+1

I can't argue that WSU's resources and facilities mirror the MWC more than the Pac-12, or that our last 3 years have been terrible, but OSU has been a very, very solid program since Riley came back. 2 of the last 3 seasons OSU only needed to beat Oregon to get to the Rose Bowl.

As for which Big Sky teams have a shot, I agree with just about everyone else, Weber over Wyoming (while still a long shot) is probably the best option. Even with Polk out for the game UW has Callier and Sankey at RB, who are both very talented. As much as I would love EWU to win I just don't see it happening for them. As for the Griz, I'm just hoping they're competitive until halftime so the game is fun to watch.

[Wildcat Ryan]

Weber State OVER Wyoming, the Wildcats will suprise this season.

[GoAgs72]

I went with EWU over Washington. This would be a real coup for both EWU and the Big Sky plus starting an intrastate rivalry.

[lakesbison]

NO BIG FLUFFY TEAM WILL BEAT A FBS THIS YEAR

[kalm]

NO BIG FLUFFY TEAM WILL BEAT A FBS THIS YEAR

Probably right. We'll have to rest our laurels on quarterfinal victories, semi final victories, and national championships.

[catbooster]

I'd love to see the Big Sky teams get a couple wins out of this list, but I'll be very surprised if any of them are wins for us. I expect most of the games to be competitive into the 2nd half and then the FBS depth will begin opening a lead.

Kramer always had a knack for getting his team up for the FBS games, but not always beating the ones he should beat (Colorado , then Chadron State in 2006). But even though the cougars are weak, I can't see ISU beating them. Washington state might be the weakest FBS team on the list, but ISU is probably the weakest BSC team on the list.

I picked WSU vs. Wyo. I think WSU is a good team that might be very good depending on how the new quarterback, etc. work out - middle or higher of the Big Sky, and Wyo is a fairly weak FBS. Best chance IMO, but still unlikely.

[bonarae]

Hmmm, I went with Weber, but it's more likely that we'll get zero (upsets).