Montana won't like these Round 2 picks.

[jcfrancis]

And let round two begin:

FCS Playoff Second Round (from Sports Network)

Fordham (12-1) at X-No. 7 seed Towson (10-2), 1 p.m. (ESPN3). Back in the day - yeah, 1997-2003 - these two teams played together in the Patriot League. Towson's cornerback duo of Jordan Love and Tye Smith face a difficult assignment.

Tennessee State (10-3) at X-No. 2 Eastern Illinois (11-1), 2 p.m. (ESPN3) - You don't want to face a rested EIU offense.

X-Coastal Carolina (11-2) at No. 8 Montana (10-2), 2 p.m. (ESPN3) - Hah, think anybody in Missoula will notice this pick?

X-New Hampshire (8-4) at No. 5 Maine (10-2), 2 p.m. (ESPN3) - Wildcats are hot at the right time of the season.

Furman (8-5) at X-No. 1 North Dakota State (11-0), 3:30 p.m. (ESPN3) - As long as the Bison don't attempt a 57-yard field goal.

South Dakota State (9-4) at X-No. 3 Eastern Washington (10-2), 4 p.m. (ESPN3) - Zach Zenner is 56 rushing yards shy of a second straight 2,000-yard campaign.

Jacksonville State (10-3) at X-No. 6 McNeese State (10-2), 7 p.m. (ESPN3) - Visiting Gamecocks were the most impressive team in the first round.

X-Sam Houston State (9-4) at No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana (10-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN3) - Let the offensive fireworks begin.

[Grizalltheway]

No respect. None.

[JohnStOnge]

I don't know about "liking" it and I'm not a Montana fan but I will just say picking a team from the balmy Carolina coast to travel across the country from sea level to the Missoula Mountains and beat the team that historically has the best home field advantage in the playoffs when the current forecast predicts it will be 17 degrees and -1 wind chill is "courageous."

And aside from that both the Sagarin and Massey power ratings have Montana playing at home as a narrow favorite without considering such things as that. Let's just say that I wouldn't make that pick!

[JohnStOnge]

Just out of curiosity and so I won't have to look it up, can one of you Montana fans post the Griz historical home playoff record? And if you're really feeling frisky post their historical home playoff record against teams from the States that made up the Confederate States of America (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas).

I won't ask you to post the average score for what happened when Confederate States teams went up there at playoff time but I know from hard experience that it's been pretty ugly.

[JohnStOnge]

Make it three posts in a row: I think Eastern Washington has a much tougher draw. South Dakota State is probably a better team than Coastal Carolina to begin with and the Jackrabbits are obviously not going to be at a disadvantage in terms of handling harsh winter weather conditions. Plus they're built for winter football. I favor the Eagles but I would not be at all shocked to see them get knocked off. I WOULD be shocked to see Coastal Carolina, which is most certainly not built for winter weather conditions, go beat Montana in Missoula when the wind chill is below zero or close to it.

Ask Stephen F. Austin what it's like to have a high flying, whiz bang Southern offense and go into that blustery ice castle and try to make it work.

[kalm]

Make it three posts in a row: I think Eastern Washington has a much tougher draw. South Dakota State is probably a better team than Coastal Carolina to begin with and the Jackrabbits are obviously not going to be at a disadvantage in terms of handling harsh winter weather conditions. Plus they're built for winter football. I favor the Eagles but I would not be at all shocked to see them get knocked off. I WOULD be shocked to see Coastal Carolina, which is most certainly not built for winter weather conditions, go beat Montana in Missoula when the wind chill is below zero or close to it.

Ask Stephen F. Austin what it's like to have a high flying, whiz bang Southern offense and go into that blustery ice castle and try to make it work.

SHSU scored 45 in Cheney last December and it was pretty cold.

[JohnStOnge]

SHSU scored 45 in Cheney last December and it was pretty cold.

Yeah they did and they deserve a lot of credit for that. But I think that most would agree that in general a team from a cold weather climate area has an advantage playing during winter against a team from the sun belt. And for whatever reason that's especially the case at Missoula. If somebody does decide to do the average score for teams from the Confederate States playing at Missoula historically in the playoffs you will see that, as I said, it has not generally been pretty at all for the Southern teams that have gone up there.

And bear in mind that Montana is a program that has a losing record in the playoffs when playing away from Missoula. Some of that is that the teams playing at home have been better but I don't think it's all of it.

[Grizalltheway]

Just out of curiosity and so I won't have to look it up, can one of you Montana fans post the Griz historical home playoff record? And if you're really feeling frisky post their historical home playoff record against teams from the States that made up the Confederate States of America (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas).

I won't ask you to post the average score for what happened when Confederate States teams went up there at playoff time but I know from hard experience that it's been pretty ugly.

29-7 overall since The Mecca was built, 19-1 against the Rebs. History is history, but things don't look good for the Beach Chickens.

[Grizalltheway]

SHSU scored 45 in Cheney last December and it was pretty cold.

Yeah they did and they deserve a lot of credit for that. But I think that most would agree that in general a team from a cold weather climate area has an advantage playing during winter against a team from the sun belt. And for whatever reason that's especially the case at Missoula. If somebody does decide to do the average score for teams from the Confederate States playing at Missoula historically in the playoffs you will see that, as I said, it has not generally been pretty at all for the Southern teams that have gone up there.

And bear in mind that Montana is a program that has a losing record in the playoffs when playing away from Missoula. Some of that is that the teams playing at home have been better but I don't think it's all of it.

I would think most programs with as much playoff history as us would also have a losing record away from home.

[kalm]

SHSU scored 45 in Cheney last December and it was pretty cold.

Yeah they did and they deserve a lot of credit for that. But I think that most would agree that in general a team from a cold weather climate area has an advantage playing during winter against a team from the sun belt. And for whatever reason that's especially the case at Missoula. If somebody does decide to do the average score for teams from the Confederate States playing at Missoula historically in the playoffs you will see that, as I said, it has not generally been pretty at all for the Southern teams that have gone up there.

And bear in mind that Montana is a program that has a losing record in the playoffs when playing away from Missoula. Some of that is that the teams playing at home have been better but I don't think it's all of it.

Ask Stephen F. Austin what it's like to have a high flying, whiz bang Southern offense and go into that blustery ice castle and try to make it work

.

Wait. I thought it was due to high flying southern offenses being hampered because of the weather?

Seem to remember EWU scoring in the high 30's to high 40's in a windy(er) and equally as cold stadium in our last 6 home playoff games.

Perhaps it has more to do with being soft...

[JohnStOnge]

I went ahead and ran the numbers on Montana hosting teams from the former Confederate States. Montana is historically 20-1 against teams from the Confederate States in playoff games at Missoula. The average score is 41-14 Montana. The one loss was by one point, 23-22, to Wofford in 2007. And of course Wofford was (and is) a very run-oriented football team.

[JohnStOnge]

Seem to remember EWU scoring in the high 30's to high 40's in a windy(er) and equally as cold stadium in our last 6 home playoff games.

Perhaps it has more to do with being soft...

I think weather is a factor for Southern teams in that they are out of their comfort zone when it's like it's predicted to be in Missoula this coming Saturday. I don't know about Coastal Carolina but since I follow McNeese I can tell you that I doubt that they've played in temperatures below 50 this year. And if they did it wasn't by much. You take a team like that and stick them an environment where the wind chill is below zero and I think it has an impact on them. Not that it's impossible to overcome but it's a disadvantage.

And with Missoula it's more than that. I don't think there's a stadium atmosphere like that anywhere else in FCS. There are some dome stadiums like North Dakota States where it might get about as loud but I don't think it's quite the same. You've got this Southern team in frigid conditions with this huge (by FCS standards) crowd right on top of them making it so they can't hear any signals, etc. I think it's just flat out the toughest environment a team like that is going to face.

[jcfrancis]

Another thing to consider for Coastal: all of their games were in Kentucky, the Carolina's, Virginia. They never had to really travel far at all. Having to travel to Montana will be taxing and a big enough change in routine for them that it will (probably) impact the start of the game. I would not be surprised if they started off a little slow.

Oh, and coming from someone who grew up in that region of the nation, we are the South, not the Confederate States. Civil War was 150 years ago. Many consider that tag to be very racist.

[AZGrizFan]

Another thing to consider for Coastal: all of their games were in Kentucky, the Carolina's, Virginia. They never had to really travel far at all. Having to travel to Montana will be taxing and a big enough change in routine for them that it will (probably) impact the start of the game. I would not be surprised if they started off a little slow.

Oh, and coming from someone who grew up in that region of the nation, we are the South, not the Confederate States. Civil War was 150 years ago. Many consider that tag to be very racist.

You'll always be the Confederate States to us, though....

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Another thing to consider for Coastal: all of their games were in Kentucky, the Carolina's, Virginia. They never had to really travel far at all. Having to travel to Montana will be taxing and a big enough change in routine for them that it will (probably) impact the start of the game. I would not be surprised if they started off a little slow.

Oh, and coming from someone who grew up in that region of the nation, we are the South, not the Confederate States. Civil War was 150 years ago. Many consider that tag to be very racist.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9tcA_AM4BE[/youtube]

[jcfrancis]

[quote="You'll always be the Confederate States to us, though.... [/quote]

In the words of Short Round: "Very funny. Very funny"

[EWURanger]

[quote="You'll always be the Confederate States to us, though....

In the words of Short Round: "Very funny. Very funny"

[/quote]

Ah, lighten up, Francis.

[dal4018]

And let round two begin:

FCS Playoff Second Round (from Sports Network)

Fordham (12-1) at X-No. 7 seed Towson (10-2), 1 p.m. (ESPN3). Back in the day - yeah, 1997-2003 - these two teams played together in the Patriot League. Towson's cornerback duo of Jordan Love and Tye Smith face a difficult assignment.

Tennessee State (10-3) at X-No. 2 Eastern Illinois (11-1), 2 p.m. (ESPN3) - You don't want to face a rested EIU offense.

X-Coastal Carolina (11-2) at No. 8 Montana (10-2), 2 p.m. (ESPN3) - Hah, think anybody in Missoula will notice this pick?

X-New Hampshire (8-4) at No. 5 Maine (10-2), 2 p.m. (ESPN3) - Wildcats are hot at the right time of the season.

Furman (8-5) at X-No. 1 North Dakota State (11-0), 3:30 p.m. (ESPN3) - As long as the Bison don't attempt a 57-yard field goal.

South Dakota State (9-4) at X-No. 3 Eastern Washington (10-2), 4 p.m. (ESPN3) - Zach Zenner is 56 rushing yards shy of a second straight 2,000-yard campaign.

Jacksonville State (10-3) at X-No. 6 McNeese State (10-2), 7 p.m. (ESPN3) - Visiting Gamecocks were the most impressive team in the first round.

X-Sam Houston State (9-4) at No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana (10-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN3) - Let the offensive fireworks begin.

Tenn St and their pass defense is among the best in the FCS.Tenn St and it's pass attack need to show up next weekend EIU will come off the bus slinging it.Daniel Fitzpatrick will probably have Erik Lora as the top assignment will have to show why he is among the leaders in interceptions.

[jcfrancis]

Take away Lora and EIU has LePak and Drake, among others. Not to mention Little at running back who is a solid receiver and returner.

[dal4018]

Take away Lora and EIU has LePak and Drake, among others. Not to mention Little at running back who is a solid receiver and returner.

And TSU has David Van Dyke who is also among the leaders in thefts and they have a decent pass rush as well.Garoppolo can't throw if he is lying on his back!!!

[JohnStOnge]

I would think most programs with as much playoff history as us would also have a losing record away from home.

It's hard to find programs with as much playoff history as Montana. Don't know if there are any. But when Georgia Southern and Youngstown State were doing their things they had winning records on the road in the playoffs. Especially Youngstown State. They hardly ever lost on the road in the playoffs when they were in their heyday. I'd have to check on Georgia Southern's road record in recent years to see if they still have a winning record on the road. But if they don't I think it's going to be close.

[JohnStOnge]

BTW as a McNeese fan I don't like the current forecast for Saturday night in Lake Charles. Right now it's looking like around 42 degrees, 40% chance of rain, and NNE wind at 11 mph. McNeese's quarterback, I think, is affected by windy conditions. I think McNeese looked to have an advantage in that the Cowboys can run the ball well and also, at least when they're on, throw the ball well while Jacksonville State is pretty one dimensional. But I think if the conditions turn out to be as currently forecast that's going to at the very least diminish McNeese's advantage in that regard.

This is why I believe in the old Youngstown State and current North Dakota State model for building teams to in the playoffs. It hasn't mattered anyway for North Dakota State because they've been staying home to play and they play in a dome. But the playoffs are in the winter and I think offenses like that are more "robust" with respect to winter conditions. Play defense and play that kind of offense. I think if you're successful at it that's the best formula for playoff success.

[kendradad]

If CCU wins at Montana,(I will b e pulling for them), the Zero-bama healthcare site will start working 100% and never go down again and the IRS will run ads for Ted Cruz for President.

[jcfrancis]

Take away Lora and EIU has LePak and Drake, among others. Not to mention Little at running back who is a solid receiver and returner.

And TSU has David Van Dyke who is also among the leaders in thefts and they have a decent pass rush as well.Garoppolo can't throw if he is lying on his back!!!

TSU, at home, gave up 567 yards to EIU in October. Lora was not the leading receiver, but did have over 100 yards. So did two other receivers. And EIU had about 150 on the ground. Not saying it is going to happen again, but from what we have already seen, it is going to take more than those two players to stop EIU.

[LDopaPDX]

Seem to remember EWU scoring in the high 30's to high 40's in a windy(er) and equally as cold stadium in our last 6 home playoff games.

Perhaps it has more to do with being soft...

I think weather is a factor for Southern teams in that they are out of their comfort zone when it's like it's predicted to be in Missoula this coming Saturday. I don't know about Coastal Carolina but since I follow McNeese I can tell you that I doubt that they've played in temperatures below 50 this year. And if they did it wasn't by much. You take a team like that and stick them an environment where the wind chill is below zero and I think it has an impact on them. Not that it's impossible to overcome but it's a disadvantage.

And with Missoula it's more than that. I don't think there's a stadium atmosphere like that anywhere else in FCS. There are some dome stadiums like North Dakota States where it might get about as loud but I don't think it's quite the same. You've got this Southern team in frigid conditions with this huge (by FCS standards) crowd right on top of them making it so they can't hear any signals, etc. I think it's just flat out the toughest environment a team like that is going to face.

I know that living in Portland, where Winter (as well as Fall and Spring) temperatures are pretty much constantly in the 50s and a little damp... when I go to Cheney in December, it still feels like dick-crawling-up-in-my-stomach cold. There is a giant difference between 50s and damp and 20s and windy.