Big Sky Prediction Thread - 2019

[Mvemjsunpx]

• 1. Eastern Washington__8-0____10-2_____ They aren't really the best team, but that schedule is an absolute gift
  2. UC Davis ____________7-1_____9-3_____ Losing Keelan Doss hurts, but the Aggies don't have to replace much else
  3. Weber State__________7-1_____9-3_____ They could win games with their fantastic special teams alone
  4. Montana State________6-2_____8-4_____ MSU will spin a wheel to determine what position Andersen will play each week
  — North Dakota ________5-3_____7-4_____ The Fighting Hawks bid farewell to the Big Sky with an at-large bid
  5. Southern Utah _______4-4_____5-7_____ It's an odd-numbered year for the T-Birds, but the schedule is just too brutal
  6. Northern Arizona ____4-4_____6-6_____ The last time Jerome Souers wasn't coaching in the Big Sky? 1985
  7. Idaho_________________4-4_____5-7_____ The Kibbie Dome props up an otherwise crappy team
  8. Montana _____________3-5_____6-6_____ The Griz are a better team than last year, but the schedule won't let them prove it
  9. Idaho State __________3-5_____4-8_____ The Fighting Phenicies appear to have an awful special-teams unit
  10.Portland State________2-6_____4-8_____ Bruce Barnum won more games his first year than he's won the last 3 years combined
  11.Sacramento State ____2-6_____4-8_____ Can Hardship-Waiver U rebound with a new coach?
  12.Cal Poly _____________1-7_____2-9_____ The 'Stangs allowed 7.5 yards-per-carry last season
  13.Northern Colorado___0-8_____0-12____ The Bad-Football Bears return only 1 starter from an OL that gave up 46 sacks

[JALMOND]

Bruce Barnum won more games his first year than he's won the last 3 years combined

But he has more wins in Missoula than the 3 previous Viking coaches combined.

[Mvemjsunpx]

• Best Rushing Offense - Eastern Washington
  Worst Rushing Offense - Northern Colorado
  
  Best Passing Offense - UC Davis
  Worst Passing Offense - Cal Poly
  
  Best Overall Offense - UC Davis
  Worst Overall Offense - Northern Colorado
  
  Best Run Defense - Weber St.*
  Worst Run Defense - Cal Poly
  
  Best Pass Defense - Northern Arizona
  Worst Pass Defense - Idaho
  
  Best Overall Defense - Montana St.*
  Worst Overall Defense - Idaho
  
  Best Special Teams - Weber St.
  Worst Special Teams - Idaho St.
  
  
  
  Best Quarterback - Jake Maier (UCD)
  Best Running Back - Josh Davis (WEB)
  Best Wide Receiver - Mitch Gueller (ISU)
  Best Tight End - Charlie Taumoepeau (PSU)
  Best WR/TE Corps - Montana
  Best Offensive Lineman - Noah Johnson (IDA)
  Best Offensive Line - UC Davis
  
  Best Defensive Lineman - Bryce Sterk (MSU)
  Best Defensive Line - Montana St.
  Best Linebacker - Dante Olson (UMT)
  Best LB Corps - Montana
  Best Defensive Back - Brayden Konkol (MSU)
  Best Secondary - Northern Arizona
  
  Best Kicker - Max O'Rourke (UCD)
  Best Punter - Cade Coffey (IDA)
  Best Ret. Specialist - Rashid Shaheed (WEB)
  Best Return Teams - Weber St.
  
  
  
  * - I would pick North Dakota here if they were eligible

[SeattleGriz]

Montana _____________3-5_____6-6_____ The Griz are a better team than last year, but the schedule won't let them prove it
9.

eGruz has them going 9-2, with a deep playoff run. Hauck might get a Nobel this year too!

Nevermind the fact we are on our 3rd head coach in the last 6, with last year being 3rd in 5.

Even if Hauck turns it around, year two is pretty sporty.

I think you're closer to the truth.

[AZGrizFan]

You’re smoking crack. There are 7 easy games, 5 very difficult ones. I can see 4-4, 7-5 at worst.

[BDKJMU]

I’ll go:
1. UCD 9-3/7-1
- EWU 9-3/7-1 (Don’t play UCD, so with Div II game seeded behind)
3. Weber St 9-3/6-2 (win 1 of their 2 G5 games)
4. Montana 8-4/6-2
5. Montana St. 8-4/6-2
The rest I have no idea.

-UCD & EWU low seeds.
-Could see the Big Sky get 5 in, or 4 with the Montana/Montana St game being a playin game, with the loser with 5 losses & out.

[css75]

• 1. Eastern Washington__8-0____10-2_____ They aren't really the best team, but that schedule is an absolute gift
  2. UC Davis ____________7-1_____9-3_____ Losing Keelan Doss hurts, but the Aggies don't have to replace much else
  3. Weber State__________7-1_____9-3_____ They could win games with their fantastic special teams alone
  4. Montana State________6-2_____8-4_____ MSU will spin a wheel to determine what position Andersen will play each week
  — North Dakota ________5-3_____7-4_____ The Fighting Hawks bid farewell to the Big Sky with an at-large bid
  5. Southern Utah _______4-4_____5-7_____ It's an odd-numbered year for the T-Birds, but the schedule is just too brutal
  6. Northern Arizona ____4-4_____6-6_____ The last time Jerome Souers wasn't coaching in the Big Sky? 1985
  7. Idaho_________________4-4_____5-7_____ The Kibbie Dome props up an otherwise crappy team
  8. Montana _____________3-5_____6-6_____ The Griz are a better team than last year, but the schedule won't let them prove it
  9. Idaho State __________3-5_____4-8_____ The Fighting Phenicies appear to have an awful special-teams unit
  10.Portland State________2-6_____4-8_____ Bruce Barnum won more games his first year than he's won the last 3 years combined
  11.Sacramento State ____2-6_____4-8_____ Can Hardship-Waiver U rebound with a new coach?
  12.Cal Poly _____________1-7_____2-9_____ The 'Stangs allowed 7.5 yards-per-carry last season
  13.Northern Colorado___0-8_____0-12____ The Bad-Football Bears return only 1 starter from an OL that gave up 46 sacks

ISU Could finish higher IF special teams improve (not impossible) and even more important is they need to establish someone at QB. 9 offensive starters back, so this unit just needs a decent QB.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Mvemjsunpx]

You’re smoking crack. There are 7 easy games, 5 very difficult ones. I can see 4-4, 7-5 at worst.

5 favored games - UNA, Monmouth, ISU, @PSU, Idaho
4 underdog games - @Oregon, @Davis, Weber, @MSU
3 toss-ups - @SoDak (W), @Sac (L), EWU (L)

[SuperHornet]

I'm predicting Sac at 7-4 or possibly even 8-3....

[AZGrizFan]

You’re smoking crack. There are 7 easy games, 5 very difficult ones. I can see 4-4, 7-5 at worst.

5 favored games - UNA, Monmouth, ISU, @PSU, Idaho
4 underdog games - @Oregon, @Davis, Weber, @MSU
3 toss-ups - @SoDak (W), @Sac (L), EWU (L)

I think we beat UNA, Monmouth, ISU, PSU, Idaho, SoDak, MSU & Sac. 5-3, 8-4.

[kalm]

• 1. Eastern Washington__8-0____10-2_____ They aren't really the best team, but that schedule is an absolute gift
  2. UC Davis ____________7-1_____9-3_____ Losing Keelan Doss hurts, but the Aggies don't have to replace much else
  3. Weber State__________7-1_____9-3_____ They could win games with their fantastic special teams alone
  4. Montana State________6-2_____8-4_____ MSU will spin a wheel to determine what position Andersen will play each week
  — North Dakota ________5-3_____7-4_____ The Fighting Hawks bid farewell to the Big Sky with an at-large bid
  5. Southern Utah _______4-4_____5-7_____ It's an odd-numbered year for the T-Birds, but the schedule is just too brutal
  6. Northern Arizona ____4-4_____6-6_____ The last time Jerome Souers wasn't coaching in the Big Sky? 1985
  7. Idaho_________________4-4_____5-7_____ The Kibbie Dome props up an otherwise crappy team
  8. Montana _____________3-5_____6-6_____ The Griz are a better team than last year, but the schedule won't let them prove it
  9. Idaho State __________3-5_____4-8_____ The Fighting Phenicies appear to have an awful special-teams unit
  10.Portland State________2-6_____4-8_____ Bruce Barnum won more games his first year than he's won the last 3 years combined
  11.Sacramento State ____2-6_____4-8_____ Can Hardship-Waiver U rebound with a new coach?
  12.Cal Poly _____________1-7_____2-9_____ The 'Stangs allowed 7.5 yards-per-carry last season
  13.Northern Colorado___0-8_____0-12____ The Bad-Football Bears return only 1 starter from an OL that gave up 46 sacks

Always look forward to your work, Mvem!

I'm not sure if we're the best team but unless Shoemaker can't call plays and EB3 regresses I see very few defenses in FCS able to stop the offense. The only other question mark is at corner. Talented, but young. We had 10 players including 4 all americans out in the playoffs last year, so some depth has been created despite the losses to graduation. The grad transfer from the UW coming from the edge should help the D and Keith Moore is now at around 320 on his 6'4" frame to replace Tiuli.

And it's about damn time we had an easier schedule (after the UW and @JSU of course).

I think Weber is being undervalued in many preseason polls. Hill has turned a corner with that program and the offense should be improved this year.

Good observation on NAU's secondary. They also appear to have assembled a pretty damned good coaching staff.

Look for Sac to stay in some games. Troy Taylor is a wizard.

Poly played better down the stretch last year.

PSU had a great recruiting class. Can Barney stick around long enough to take advantage of it?

Nice Sandbagging on the Griz.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Always look forward to your work, Mvem!

Thanks.

I'm not sure if we're the best team but unless Shoemaker can't call plays and EB3 regresses I see very few defenses in FCS able to stop the offense. The only other question mark is at corner. Talented, but young. We had 10 players including 4 all americans out in the playoffs last year, so some depth has been created despite the losses to graduation. The grad transfer from the UW coming from the edge should help the D and Keith Moore is now at around 320 on his 6'4" frame to replace Tiuli.

And it's about damn time we had an easier schedule (after the UW and @JSU of course).

Well… I again don't think EWU is the best team, but they don't play Davis, Weber, or MSU (and they get NoDak at home). Their running game is deadly, but the Eags have question marks elsewhere: Can Barriere pass effectively without Webster? Can the D be better than average? Can the special teams recover from losing Alcobendas, who had an absolute monster of a season last year?

I think Weber is being undervalued in many preseason polls. Hill has turned a corner with that program and the offense should be improved this year.

Weber's O & D don't look like anything special (pretty good, but far from great), but they should have the best special teams in the nation. I mean, Trey Tuttle is probably the weak link of that unit. That's how good they are.

Good observation on NAU's secondary. They also appear to have assembled a pretty damned good coaching staff.

I'm actually skeptical on NAU's coaching. Chris Ball's defenses at Memphis weren't exactly good. Their secondary has been near or at the top of the conference the past few years, though. Will it stay that way with Andy Thompson gone?

Look for Sac to stay in some games. Troy Taylor is a wizard.

Sac is probably the Big Sky's biggest wild card. It remains to be seen how the new coaches will do (as an aside, former Griz Andy Thompson & Kraig Paulson are both on their staff), but they got several key people back thanks to 6th. year hardship waivers (or 6th. and 7th. year in the case of Kevin Thomson ).

Poly played better down the stretch last year.

They did, but they lost 4 of their top-5 rushers. JJ Koski is one of the top WRs in the Big Sky, but who knows if CP has anyone that can get him the ball.

Nice Sandbagging on the Griz.

Not so much sandbagging, but lack of faith in the overall leadership of the program.

[JALMOND]

PSU had a great recruiting class. Can Barney stick around long enough to take advantage of it?

This is the year Barnum has been pointing to as THE year. If he doesn't get it done, well, it will be much easier than in previous years to get rid of him.

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

South Dakota (Away) - Toss up game but its one the road so I will go with a loss here.
Northern Alabama (Home) _ Cupcake win
Oregon (Away) Big loss
Monmouth (Home) Cupcake win
UC Davis (Away) Big Loss
Idaho State (Home) Tough home game toss up but I will go with a loss here.
Sac State (Away) Tough road game loss
Eastern Wash (Home) Big home loss
Portland State (Away) Toss up but i will go with a road win
Idaho (Home) Toss up game but I will go with a win because Idaho sucks
Weber State (Home) Tough home game loss
Montana State (Away) State sucks but no reason to believe we win this one either so I will go with a loss.

4-8 will not surprise me, best case scenario is 6-6

[AZGrizFan]

South Dakota (Away) - Toss up game but its one the road so I will go with a loss here.
Northern Alabama (Home) _ Cupcake win
Oregon (Away) Big loss
Monmouth (Home) Cupcake win
UC Davis (Away) Big Loss
Idaho State (Home) Tough home game toss up but I will go with a loss here.
Sac State (Away) Tough road game loss
Eastern Wash (Home) Big home loss
Portland State (Away) Toss up but i will go with a road win
Idaho (Home) Toss up game but I will go with a win because Idaho sucks
Weber State (Home) Tough home game loss
Montana State (Away) State sucks but no reason to believe we win this one either so I will go with a loss.

4-8 will not surprise me, best case scenario is 6-6

I'll take the over, Alex.

[kalm]

South Dakota (Away) - Toss up game but its one the road so I will go with a loss here.
Northern Alabama (Home) _ Cupcake win
Oregon (Away) Big loss
Monmouth (Home) Cupcake win
UC Davis (Away) Big Loss
Idaho State (Home) Tough home game toss up but I will go with a loss here.
Sac State (Away) Tough road game loss
Eastern Wash (Home) Big home loss
Portland State (Away) Toss up but i will go with a road win
Idaho (Home) Toss up game but I will go with a win because Idaho sucks
Weber State (Home) Tough home game loss
Montana State (Away) State sucks but no reason to believe we win this one either so I will go with a loss.

4-8 will not surprise me, best case scenario is 6-6

I'll take the over, Alex.

8-4 or 9-3

[AZGrizFan]

I'll take the over, Alex.

8-4 or 9-3

Let's not get carried away. I'd be ecstatic with 8-4.

[BDKJMU]

8-4 or 9-3

Let's not get carried away. I'd be ecstatic with 8-4.

8-4 you’ll be hosting a home playoff game Turkey Day weekend. 7-5 you’ll be watching from home.

[kalm]

Let's not get carried away. I'd be ecstatic with 8-4.

8-4 you’ll be hosting a home playoff game Turkey Day weekend. 7-5 you’ll be watching from home.

This. They ain’t no CAA #3...

[AZGrizFan]

Let's not get carried away. I'd be ecstatic with 8-4.

8-4 you’ll be hosting a home playoff game Turkey Day weekend. 7-5 you’ll be watching from home.

8-4 we'll have two home games. Unless the 2nd game is against a seed.

[SACCAT]

8-4 you’ll be hosting a home playoff game Turkey Day weekend. 7-5 you’ll be watching from home.

8-4 we'll have two home games. Unless the 2nd game is against a seed.

can't tell if you are kidding or not.... If you are a first round team, and you win, you always play a seeded team in the second round.

[BDKJMU]

8-4 you’ll be hosting a home playoff game Turkey Day weekend. 7-5 you’ll be watching from home.

This. They ain’t no CAA #3...

No CAA is getting in at 7-5 either, with the possible exception of Maine (2 I-A games).

[BDKJMU]

So N Dakota counts as a OOC game for Big Sky teams?

[Mvemjsunpx]

So N Dakota counts as a OOC game for Big Sky teams?

No. NoDak doesn't get to be in the Big Sky standings themselves, but their games still count as conference games for the rest of the league.

[kalm]

This. They ain’t no CAA #3...

No CAA is getting in at 7-5 either, with the possible exception of Maine (2 I-A games).

I was trolling you there. 4 CAA playoff teams finished 7-5 or worse last year.

6 win teams from power conferences have received an at large bid in the past during 11 game seasons when their schedule has been brutal. Why not this year? Less likely the case with the CAA as there are typically a couple of NEC’s, PL’s, Ivies, and MEAC’s On the slate. But still possible. The fun thing about last year was the NEC and OVC represented for a change.