Big Sky Predictions week 0--8/23

[JALMOND]

Three games on tap involving Big Sky Conference teams to start the season in Week Zero. Two are road games and one has the team at home. One is a money game and the other two involve FCS teams. Great way to start off the football season. After all the spring and fall practices, three will get the ball rolling. Here are my predictions for the three games involving the Big Sky. As usual, all non-conference opponents are spelled out and the Big Sky conference team is in their scoreboard abbreviation. Let's play some football!!!

ISU at Nevada-Las Vegas (FBS Mtn West)---The Bengals are trying to improve on their so-so performance from a year ago and will be heading south and moving up a level to face a strong Mtn West foe. In the past, their opponent could be penciled in for a "maybe" win, but not this year...Nevada-Las Vegas 35, ISU 14.

Tarleton State (FCS United) at PSU---The Vikings are staying home in August for this matchup, bringing in a strong FCS top 10 team to their humble settings. The Vikings would love to make it a game, but questions early on may be tough to overcome against a quality opponent...Tarleton State 34, PSU 7.

UCD vs Mercer (FCS Southern) in Montgomery, AL---Technically a neutral game, but the Aggies have to come across the country for this. The Aggies lost quite a bit from last season, so will they be ready for this game? Many questions, and lots of travel miles may doom them already...Mercer 27, UCD 21.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Tarleton St. 38-20 Portland St. — Not counting Spring '21, this is the first time the Vikings have opened with an FCS opponent since 2007

Mercer 24-13 Davis (in Montgomery, AL) — Lan Larison averaged 5.2 yards-per-carry last year; but the rest of the Aggies averaged 2.3

Idaho St. 17-51 UNLV — The 26.5 spread for the Rebels is lower than I expected

[SuperHornet]

I'll stand with Venus' picks this week...though I wouldn't be surprised if the Manure Pile won; they're the most likely to win of the three Sky programs playing this weekend. That said, any week in which the Manure Pile loses is a good week....

[JALMOND]

Tarleton St. 38-20 Portland St. — Not counting Spring '21, this is the first time the Vikings have opened with an FCS opponent since 2007

And the end result was that the Vikings suffered their first shutout in an FCS game since 2006 at Montana State.