Wagner @ EWU - The Christmas Game

[Screamin_Eagle174]

The Seahawks spent many summers in Cheney. I remember watching Jack Patera surveying the field from a cherry picker when I was a kid.

Would be nice to get that deal going again, it was good for the Univ. I remember meeting Dennis Erickson one summer in the Phase.


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They'll never come back now they have the VMAC. State of the art, probably the best facilities in the NFL.

[bluehenbillk]

What a crock. #1 seed gets South Dakota State and #2 seed gets Wagner.

Not EWU's fault. But what an absolute crock. A team earns the #1 seed then gets by far the toughest opponent of any of the seeds.

Haha you're more upset about it than I am. But yes, it is a complete joke.

EWU wins by 40.

If you're giving me 40 I'll take it. Deal?

[EWURanger]

I'm not sure about 40 points against a team that doesn't turn the ball over much. I'm gunna go with...EWU 31, Wagner 21


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[BisoNation]

Haha you're more upset about it than I am. But yes, it is a complete joke.

EWU wins by 40.

If you're giving me 40 I'll take it. Deal?

Haha nah. I'll give you 28 though.

[JohnStOnge]

NDSU is the best team in the country, I don't think many people expect them lose. But it is a mistake to disrespect any team in the playoffs, for every blowout win, there are upsets too.

I don't "expect" them to lose but I sure as heck wouldn't be surprised if they lose to South Dakota State. I saw where SDSU is ranked 19th. I haven't been following the rankings that closely this year but I think that is ridiculous. SDSU is way better than 19th. This is a team you'd normally not expect a #1 seed to have to see until late in the playoffs.

Let's put it this way: If NDSU was playing Wagner, I'd expect them to win and would be shocked if they didn't. Same with EWU playing Wagner. But SDSU? ANYBODY would have their hands full.

[BisoNation]

NDSU is the best team in the country, I don't think many people expect them lose. But it is a mistake to disrespect any team in the playoffs, for every blowout win, there are upsets too.

I don't "expect" them to lose but I sure as heck wouldn't be surprised if they lose to South Dakota State. I saw where SDSU is ranked 19th. I haven't been following the rankings that closely this year but I think that is ridiculous. SDSU is way better than 19th. This is a team you'd normally not expect a #1 seed to have to see until late in the playoffs.

Let's put it this way: If NDSU was playing Wagner, I'd expect them to win and would be shocked if they didn't. Same with EWU playing Wagner. But SDSU? ANYBODY would have their hands full.

We see eye to eye on this. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared for Saturday. It's a totally different feeling this year having gone through it last year and knowing we can win and wanting to get back to Frisco so bad. SDSU is a good football team, and it's tough to beat a good football team twice. But in their case, it's tough to be a great football team at all. Especially when they're at home and coming off a bye.

Saturday will set the tone for everyone for the rest of the playoffs. All these teams coming off byes need to perform well. How much longer until Saturday?

[Mvemjsunpx]

This game features what are probably the two "scrappiest" teams in the playoff field. Eastern Washington finds ways to win close games because of their ability to make unexpected big plays in all facets while Wagner accomplishes the same thing because they never, ever make a mistake (only 6 turnovers on the season). EWU is the better team on paper, though, and the mismatch in schedule strength is the biggest of the entire playoffs. Because of those two factors, I'd be surprised to a see the green team winning on the red field this weekend.

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

• • • Quarterbacks -- Eastern Washington
      
      Running Backs - Wagner
      
      Receivers/TEs - Eastern Washington
      
      Offensive Line - Eastern Washington
      
      
      Defensive Line - Eastern Washington
      
      Linebackers --- Wagner
      
      Secondary ---- (push)
      
      
      Kicking ------ Eastern Washington
      
      Punting ------ Eastern Washington
      
      Return Teams - Wagner
      
      Kickoffs ------ Eastern Washington
      
      
      
      
      
      • Wagner 16-31 Eastern Washington

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Word is all four Payton (Erik Meyer - Asst. WR/QB Coach, Bo Levi Mitchell) and Buchanan (JC Sherritt, Greg Peach) winners will be on the sidelines today. Wagner doesn't stand a chance.

[EWURanger]

By no stretch of the imagination does Wagner have better LB's...or return teams for that matter. I think that'll become abundantly clear here in a few hours.

[grizzaholic]

Anyone else having issues with ESPN3?

[grizzaholic]

Finally decided to pop up.

Wagner on EWU 45, 7 minutes left in the first.

[grizzaholic]

EWU has forgotten how to wrap up and tackle.

[grizzaholic]

BIG BLOCKED FG by EWU.

[grizzaholic]

And they do ZERO with it. Wagner ball on the 20 after a punt.

[grizzaholic]

Big pass by Wagner to the EWU 35.

[grizzaholic]

Wagner made the FG, 3-0

[grizzaholic]

EWU found something in the passing game, down to Wagner's 31

[grizzaholic]

TD EWU EWU leads 7-3

[grizzaholic]

Wagner with the FG....EWU 7-6

[danefan]

By no stretch of the imagination does Wagner have better LB's...or return teams for that matter. I think that'll become abundantly clear here in a few hours.

I'd say these teams are looking very matched thus far through the game.

Will Wagner's lack of depth play a factor? We'll see.

[danefan]

Wagner plays solid football. Nothing flashy. Just basic spread option.

[grizzaholic]

Wagner plays solid football. Nothing flashy. Just basic spread option.

Take away a couple of big pass plays and Wagner might not have a single point.

But I agree, Wagner has been playing sound football while EWU has missed many tackles.

[grizzaholic]

Kaufman with the big play and breaks 3 or 4 tackles. EWU down to the Wagner 20

[Mvemjsunpx]

By no stretch of the imagination does Wagner have better LB's...or return teams for that matter. I think that'll become abundantly clear here in a few hours.

What are you talking about? EWU's LBs were nothing special this year. Their stats were pretty average for a 4-3 team.

And Wagner leads the nation in KR average, so I feel pretty good about that pick.

[grizzaholic]

The color guy is terrible.