QF - (#6) Samford @ (#3) NoDak State

[Mvemjsunpx]

(Fri., 5:00 PM MST, ESPN2)


Spread - Bison by 17.5
Sagarin - Bison by 14
Massey - Bison by 13

[SuperHornet]

3 ND State d. 6 Samford 35-28

[SDHornet]

NDSU in a rout.

[Gil Dobie]

NDSU in a rout.

Hope so, could be a lot of points scored

[dbackjon]

NDSU in a rout.

Hope so, could be a lot of points scored

0-0 after 1

[SuperHornet]

Both defenses have looked good so far. The one difference seems to be a botches special teams play that apparently has resulted in nothing.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Ah, one of those classic games where nothing happens…

[SuperHornet]

Ah, one of those classic games where nothing happens…

So much for the blowout. Sure, it might happen in the second half, but not yet. I still have a chance for the Samford win to avoid two straight semifinal losses to ND State....

[JohnStOnge]

I am absolutely shocked at how well Samford is doing stopping the run. Last week they gave up 348 yards rushing at 7.1 yards per carry against Southeastern Louisiana. I fully expected to see North Dakota State able to run the ball at will. Just another example of ''you never know'' with college football.

Meanwhile North Dakota State has lost a second really good back now. Hopefully for them they are very deep at running back. But losing two really good backs like they have is tough.

Not that Samford has it easy playing without its star quarterback.

[Mvemjsunpx]

27-3 Bison halfway through the fourth after it was still scoreless with 2:00 to go in the first half.

Samford switched to Hiers at halftime, but their defense is too tired for that to matter.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Samford scores, but doesn't get the 2PC—important because the spread was 17.5.

27-9 Bison, <4:00 4Q

[Mvemjsunpx]

Samford can't score on the final play and NoDak State wins 27-9

[JohnStOnge]

I'm with the guys calling the game wondering about whether Samford would've had some shot if they'd started their season-long starting quarterback. Their offense clearly became a lot more effective when he started playing.

[SuperHornet]

I'd be interested to hear Venus' (and anyone else's) opinion of that last Samford play. While I normally abhor a spread set automatic pass at that point on the field, it DID look like the QB had a better shot at trying to take it in himself (assuming he went for it from the get-go) than he did trying to force a pass into double coverage. Did you guys see that? (It certainly wasn't a done deal had he done that, but it DID look to me to be at least a slightly better option. At least he wouldn't have had as far to go against a defense dead set against it as Shane Falco had when he pulled that fake FG because the mob was after his kicker. ROFL....)

[Mvemjsunpx]

I'd be interested to hear Venus' (and anyone else's) opinion of that last Samford play. While I normally abhor a spread set automatic pass at that point on the field, it DID look like the QB had a better shot at trying to take it in himself (assuming he went for it from the get-go) than he did trying to force a pass into double coverage. Did you guys see that? (It certainly wasn't a done deal had he done that, but it DID look to me to be at least a slightly better option. At least he wouldn't have had as far to go against a defense dead set against it as Shane Falco had when he pulled that fake FG because the mob was after his kicker. ROFL....)

I thought he was gonna try to run it in, too, but he's a pocket passer…

[SuperHornet]

I may have cited the wrong movie. The Wiki description of the movie I was going for seems to have a different ending....

[SuperHornet]

I'm with the guys calling the game wondering about whether Samford would've had some shot if they'd started their season-long starting quarterback. Their offense clearly became a lot more effective when he started playing.

The PxP girl and the color analyst speculated about this, and figured that the backup got the nod because he essentially won the game last week. Unfortunately, that goes against the tradition that the starting quarterback doesn't lose his job due to injury....

[dal4018]

Bison 27-9

[Gil Dobie]

I'm with the guys calling the game wondering about whether Samford would've had some shot if they'd started their season-long starting quarterback. Their offense clearly became a lot more effective when he started playing.

Bison gave up a lot of yards when they dropped back into a zone prevent defense. QB would not have mattered.The OC had another questionable game, and the Samford run defense was very good. NDSU has now lost 3 of the top 5 RBs. Good thing there is depth at that position, now it's getting thin. Also lost another receiver and kick returner last night. Not sure about our all american pass rusher, limped off late in the game.

[BDKJMU]

Only watched the 1st series for Samford. As soon as I heard the starting senior? Samford QB wasn’t playing (apparently leads FCS in completion %) and a rFr backup was starting, I figured blowout and quit watching. Later seeing the score, I’m surprised the game wasn’t more lopsided..