Montana @ NDSU, the Rubber Match

[AZGrizFan]

NDSU doesn't have their all-world QB. Their "new" guy beat the #'s 10, 9, 8, 6 & 5 teams in the conference. Real powerhouses. We got outscored 17-0 AFTER we'd outscored them 24-0 in the firs thalf. That game was never in doubt. Don't bet the house, cluck.

Stick did not play against SDSU, the #5 team in the conference. He played against WIU, the #3 team in the conference and won convincingly.

Soooo....one good win then.

[Ibanez]

I'm betting Montana by a TD. I think ti'll still be a close game. Wentz is out, this isn't the NDSU of the past and I think Montana will capitalize on it.

I know you guys have it on hand, how many points have Montana and NDSU allowed against teams they both played?

Btw, Wentz has been out with a broken wrist. Weak. You'd figured any man by his age would have a strong wrist/forearm.

[Gil Dobie]

Stick did not play against SDSU, the #5 team in the conference. He played against WIU, the #3 team in the conference and won convincingly.

Soooo....one good win then.

That 9th place team beat Liberty by 21 points.

[AZGrizFan]

Soooo....one good win then.

That 9th place team beat Liberty by 21 points.

IN SIU. Big, big difference. But you knew that....Besides, it was the week AFTER the Montana game....and everyone knows about the Griz hangover....

[Gil Dobie]

That 9th place team beat Liberty by 21 points.

IN SIU. Big, big difference. But you knew that....Besides, it was the week AFTER the Montana game....and everyone knows about the Griz hangover....

Will they have another hangover this weekend or was that it the second half against SDSU?

[AZGrizFan]

I know you guys have it on hand, how many points have Montana and NDSU allowed against teams they both played?

Griz beat NDSU
Griz lost to Weber 24-21 (OT) with 2nd string (and ultimately 3rd string) QB
NDSU beat Weber badly 41-14
Griz & NDSU both beat SDSU (24-17 and 28-7)
Griz & NDSU both beat UND (42-16 and 34-9)

So, Griz beat NDSU, SDSU, UND.
NDSU beat Weber, SDSU, UND.

[AZGrizFan]

IN SIU. Big, big difference. But you knew that....Besides, it was the week AFTER the Montana game....and everyone knows about the Griz hangover....

Will they have another hangover this weekend or was that it the second half against SDSU?

They who? The hangover is had by the team the Griz PLAYED.

[Grizalltheway]

Will they have another hangover this weekend or was that it the second half against SDSU?

They who? The hangover is had by the team the Griz PLAYED.

Cal Poly's lasted the whole season this time.

[SeattleGriz]

I know you guys have it on hand, how many points have Montana and NDSU allowed against teams they both played?

Griz beat NDSU
Griz lost to Weber 24-21 (OT) with 2nd string (and ultimately 3rd string) QB
NDSU beat Weber badly 41-14
Griz & NDSU both beat SDSU (24-17 and 28-7)
Griz & NDSU both beat UND (42-16 and 34-9)

So, Griz beat NDSU, SDSU, UND.
NDSU beat Weber, SDSU, UND.

Yep. Montana has the better wins.

[ming01]

YSU and WIU rush defense both above Montana.

UMT - 3.9 ypc
YSU - 4.2 ypc
WIU - 4.2 ypc

hmm i went by the rushing defensive stats on NCAA.com

[ming01]

UMT - 3.9 ypc
YSU - 4.2 ypc
WIU - 4.2 ypc

Oh, statistics...yes, those usually translate accurately.

The Griz gave up 229 yards rushing last time these two teams met...in Grizzyworld. That is slightly less than NDSU's season average, so it isn't as though the Griz run defense did anything worth writing home about.

NDSU is at home...a big advantage for their offense since it will not have to operate with the noise. NDSU had 9 penalties in Grizzyworld...NDSU is not going to hit that number in the dome. Without the False Starts, NDSU can run the ball more often.

I'm rooting for the Teddy Bears, but I think NDSU will win.

Stick has performed a lot better inside. Inconsistent throwing the ball outside

[ming01]

I'm betting Montana by a TD. I think ti'll still be a close game. Wentz is out, this isn't the NDSU of the past and I think Montana will capitalize on it.

I know you guys have it on hand, how many points have Montana and NDSU allowed against teams they both played?

Btw, Wentz has been out with a broken wrist. Weak. You'd figured any man by his age would have a strong wrist/forearm.

7 to SDSU, Weber 14, Und 9 for NDSU

17 to SDSU, UND 16, Weber 24 for Montana.

Not that it means much.

[YoUDeeMan]

Stick has performed a lot better inside. Inconsistent throwing the ball outside

Inside/outside as in, indoors/outdoors, or inside/outside as in, inside the hash marks/outside the hash marks?

If it is the former, does he not have good rotation and ball velocity? If it is the latter, does he not have good vision over the middle...is he a short QB or simply gets confused looking through the wall of players?

[Vidav]

Noob question. . .

If Montana and UNI both win they play each other. How is hosting determined for that since neither team is seeded? Is it another bid like in the first round?

[Peems]

Noob question. . .

If Montana and UNI both win they play each other. How is hosting determined for that since neither team is seeded? Is it another bid like in the first round?

Correct. The game would be played in Missoula

[Mvemjsunpx]

UMT - 3.9 ypc
YSU - 4.2 ypc
WIU - 4.2 ypc

Oh, statistics...yes, those usually translate accurately.

The Griz gave up 229 yards rushing last time these two teams met...in Grizzyworld. That is slightly less than NDSU's season average, so it isn't as though the Griz run defense did anything worth writing home about.

And they don't translate because…?

NDSU only scored 7 in the second half the first time around, and they had much more of a pass threat than they do now.

NDSU is at home...a big advantage for their offense since it will not have to operate with the noise. NDSU had 9 penalties in Grizzyworld...NDSU is not going to hit that number in the dome. Without the False Starts, NDSU can run the ball more often.

NDSU only had 1 false start in the first meeting, so that clearly wasn't a factor.

[Mvemjsunpx]

The stats clearly favor NoDak State, for the most part, but I think this is a game where you can throw out a lot of the stats. NDSU is playing their backup QB, who is not as versatile as Carson Wentz, while Montana's starting QB is finally getting into a groove after missing the entire middle half of the season. NDSU's secondary will probably do a better job against UM's receivers than the first meeting, but their offense is more one dimensional now with Stick and the Griz defense got a shit-ton of experience playing against run-heavy teams over the first 2/3 of the year. I'm sure most of us expect the Bizon to get knocked off at some point in these playoffs, so why not this weekend?

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

• • • Quarterbacks -- Montana
      
      Running Backs - North Dakota St.
      
      Receivers/TEs - Montana
      
      Offensive Line - North Dakota St.
      
      
      Defensive Line - Montana
      
      Linebackers --- North Dakota St.
      
      Secondary ---- North Dakota St.
      
      
      Kicking ------ (push)
      
      Punting ------ North Dakota St.
      
      Return Teams - North Dakota St.
      
      Kickoffs ------ North Dakota St.
      
      
      
      
      
      • Montana 27-24 North Dakota St.

[Grizalltheway]

So would you call linebackers a push or better if KVA weren't hurt?

[Grizalltheway]

I also don't know how you can call their secondary better if Champion (oh the irony) is still starting.

[Mvemjsunpx]

So would you call linebackers a push or better if KVA weren't hurt?

I would call it a push, yes.

[Mvemjsunpx]

I also don't know how you can call their secondary better if Champion (oh the irony) is still starting.

That was only one game. The Bison have a better pass efficiency D despite a middling pass rush. Hopefully the Griz can take similar advantage like the first game, but NDSU has the better secondary on paper at least.

[AZGrizFan]

NDSU doesn't have their all-world QB. Their "new" guy beat the #'s 10, 9, 8, 6 & 5 teams in the conference. Real powerhouses. We got outscored 17-0 AFTER we'd outscored them 24-0 in the firs thalf. That game was never in doubt. Don't bet the house, cluck.

Stick did not play against SDSU, the #5 team in the conference. He played against WIU, the #3 team in the conference and won convincingly.

So I can see why you'd want to claim victory over a 6-5 WIU team and not an 8-3 SDSU team...makes perfect sense.

[AZGrizFan]

I also don't know how you can call their secondary better if Champion (oh the irony) is still starting.

That was only one game. The Bison have a better pass efficiency D despite a middling pass rush. Hopefully the Griz can take similar advantage like the first game, but NDSU has the better secondary on paper at least.

Against a conference that doesn't pass. SURE their stats look better. How'd they do on the 29th of August?

[Grizalltheway]

That was only one game. The Bison have a better pass efficiency D despite a middling pass rush. Hopefully the Griz can take similar advantage like the first game, but NDSU has the better secondary on paper at least.

Against a conference that doesn't pass. SURE their stats look better. How'd they do on the 29th of August?

Well according to Bison fans on AGS/Bisonville, they weren't really trying then and it's going to be completely different this time.

[AZGrizFan]

Against a conference that doesn't pass. SURE their stats look better. How'd they do on the 29th of August?

Well according to Bison fans on AGS/Bisonville, they weren't really trying then and it's going to be completely different this time.

Just a freebie for Stitt, then?