Big Sky Predictions 9-1
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 7:40 pm
The cusp of college football (finally) and with more than half of the Big Sky teams playing on Thursday, I thought I needed to get the predictions out today. For the newbies to the conference, the way I distinguish between Big Sky teams and non-conference teams is that I use the common three (in a couple cases, two) letter abbreviations for the Big Sky teams (except for Sac St) and then spell out the name of the non conference team (including Brigham Young instead of BYU). Therefore, UNC is Northern Colorado and not North Carolina. Here are the predictions for the first week. Perfection is a must...
San Diego at CP---First game as a member of the Big Sky conference and the Mustangs get to play the Pioneer League's San Diego squad. Maybe a chance to work out the kinks, but San Diego could be formidable and not someone to mess around with, not that the Mustangs will...CP 31, San Diego 20.
EWU at Idaho---There was some scuttlebutt with the WAC's conference struggles that Idaho may be better served to move back to the Big Sky, so what a better way than to have the Eagles meet up with them in a non conference road game. In Moscow, of course...Idaho 33, EWU 30.
ISU at Air Force---There is some talent on the Bengals this year, probably more than in year's past so what they need is a good start to the year. But going to face the Air Force? Well, have to start somewhere...Air Force 28, ISU 7.
South Dakota at UM---Finally, a chance to put all the offseason mess in Missoula aside and start to play some football for the Grizzlies. Where everyone else in the conference are playing patsies or being patsies themselves, the Grizzlies welcome a formidable foe in South Dakota. A win would be a great start, a loss, well, don't think that way...UM 21, South Dakota 17.
Chadron State at MSU---A few years back, after an unexpected win at Colorado, the Bobcats pretty much folded the tent the next week against Chadron State so this could be a tough opener. But also, things change...MSU 45, Chadron State 7.
South Dakota School of Mines at UND---The first game in the Big Sky for the former Sioux squad and they get a former NAIA team making the transition to DII in South Dakota Mines. The Sioux looked great against lesser teams last year and will want to make a good impression for their new conference mates...UND 34, South Dakota Mines 14.
NAU at Arizona State---Quite the entrance in to the season for the Jacks with a trip down the freeway to Arizona State. This is the year for the Jacks to make some noise in the conference, but what will they do here...Arizona State 38, NAU 21.
UNC at Utah---The first game last year for the Bears was a home loss to the NAIA's Lindenwood. Now this year, they start on the road against the Pac-12's Utah squad. A different look for an improved team, but the same result...Utah 48, UNC 10.
Carroll College at PSU---This game will not be a pushover for the Vikings as Carroll boasts a very impressive resume in the NAIA ranks. Carroll will come in eager to make a good impression and the Vikings will need to combat that. This won't be like Southern Oregon last year, but the same result...PSU 40, Carroll College 17.
Sac State at New Mexico State---Last year, the Hornets shocked the west coast, going in to Oregon State and getting the win late in the game. They get rewarded this year with a game at New Mexico State. Can the Hornets do it again?...New Mexico State 38, Sac State 24.
SUU at Utah State---The first game for the Thunderbirds and their strong quarterback in the Big Sky and they head north to play Utah State. No doubt they will want to make a great showing for the new conference, but the opponent is still the FBS Utah State, who threw a scare early into Auburn last year...Utah State 41, SUU 20.
Azusa Pacific at UCD---Do the Aggies have an offense this year or will they need to rely on their defense in the high flying circus of the Big Sky? Time will tell, but they do get an easy game with newly DII (and former NAIA power) Azusa Pacific. But will it be easy?...UCD 20, Asuza Pacific 6.
WSU at Fresno State---One of the teams flying under the radar during the offseason was the Wildcats, but with the coaching carousel there, maybe it was expected. They start with a newly revamped Fresno State team, trying to regroup after a coaching change themselves...Fresno State 28, WSU 20.
San Diego at CP---First game as a member of the Big Sky conference and the Mustangs get to play the Pioneer League's San Diego squad. Maybe a chance to work out the kinks, but San Diego could be formidable and not someone to mess around with, not that the Mustangs will...CP 31, San Diego 20.
EWU at Idaho---There was some scuttlebutt with the WAC's conference struggles that Idaho may be better served to move back to the Big Sky, so what a better way than to have the Eagles meet up with them in a non conference road game. In Moscow, of course...Idaho 33, EWU 30.
ISU at Air Force---There is some talent on the Bengals this year, probably more than in year's past so what they need is a good start to the year. But going to face the Air Force? Well, have to start somewhere...Air Force 28, ISU 7.
South Dakota at UM---Finally, a chance to put all the offseason mess in Missoula aside and start to play some football for the Grizzlies. Where everyone else in the conference are playing patsies or being patsies themselves, the Grizzlies welcome a formidable foe in South Dakota. A win would be a great start, a loss, well, don't think that way...UM 21, South Dakota 17.
Chadron State at MSU---A few years back, after an unexpected win at Colorado, the Bobcats pretty much folded the tent the next week against Chadron State so this could be a tough opener. But also, things change...MSU 45, Chadron State 7.
South Dakota School of Mines at UND---The first game in the Big Sky for the former Sioux squad and they get a former NAIA team making the transition to DII in South Dakota Mines. The Sioux looked great against lesser teams last year and will want to make a good impression for their new conference mates...UND 34, South Dakota Mines 14.
NAU at Arizona State---Quite the entrance in to the season for the Jacks with a trip down the freeway to Arizona State. This is the year for the Jacks to make some noise in the conference, but what will they do here...Arizona State 38, NAU 21.
UNC at Utah---The first game last year for the Bears was a home loss to the NAIA's Lindenwood. Now this year, they start on the road against the Pac-12's Utah squad. A different look for an improved team, but the same result...Utah 48, UNC 10.
Carroll College at PSU---This game will not be a pushover for the Vikings as Carroll boasts a very impressive resume in the NAIA ranks. Carroll will come in eager to make a good impression and the Vikings will need to combat that. This won't be like Southern Oregon last year, but the same result...PSU 40, Carroll College 17.
Sac State at New Mexico State---Last year, the Hornets shocked the west coast, going in to Oregon State and getting the win late in the game. They get rewarded this year with a game at New Mexico State. Can the Hornets do it again?...New Mexico State 38, Sac State 24.
SUU at Utah State---The first game for the Thunderbirds and their strong quarterback in the Big Sky and they head north to play Utah State. No doubt they will want to make a great showing for the new conference, but the opponent is still the FBS Utah State, who threw a scare early into Auburn last year...Utah State 41, SUU 20.
Azusa Pacific at UCD---Do the Aggies have an offense this year or will they need to rely on their defense in the high flying circus of the Big Sky? Time will tell, but they do get an easy game with newly DII (and former NAIA power) Azusa Pacific. But will it be easy?...UCD 20, Asuza Pacific 6.
WSU at Fresno State---One of the teams flying under the radar during the offseason was the Wildcats, but with the coaching carousel there, maybe it was expected. They start with a newly revamped Fresno State team, trying to regroup after a coaching change themselves...Fresno State 28, WSU 20.
won't have any trouble in this one
