Big Sky predictions 9/2 and 9/4

[JALMOND]

Finally football is here after a long offseason. This weekend is the start for Big Sky play. EWU and NAU get the season going by playing on Thursday, which is why I did the predictions today. Last season, Scream and myself waged a pretty intense battle (I believe I got him by one game) and I hope we can do it again this year (with the same result, of course). I use the scoreboard abbreviations for all Big Sky schools, with the exception of Sacramento State, which I shorten to Sac State. The other schools are spelled out. That said, here are my predictions for the first weekend of Big Sky play. All are non-conference games, either DI or DII (not even FCS vs FCS in the Big Sky). All are my opinion and all are open for discussion. Hoping for a perfect week...

EWU at Nevada---The Mitchell era begins at EWU with at trip to Reno to face the Wolfpack of Nevada. While the Eagles have high expectations, Nevada has lofty goals as well as they hope to contend with Boise State for the WAC title before the Broncos flee for the Mountain West. EWU may be able to score and there may be some great plays here and there, but during the course of the game...Nevada 41, EWU 20.

Montana-Western at ISU---Something exciting for Bengal nation coming into this season. The Bengals won their last game of the year last year which means for the whole offseason, they had a one game winning streak. A long time to wait for a chance to extend it to two. A great chance to continue as they face NAIA Montana-Western at home to start the year. Make it two...ISU 35, Montana-Western 10.

Western State at UM---Some things are different at Montana. Hauck is gone, Mariani is gone, Schillinger is gone, all replaced by capable personnel. Yet some things are the same at Montana. Reynolds is back, Selle is back, Johnson is back. Also, the opening opponent and venue is still the same, as the Griz welcome back DII Western State. Different result? No, some things remain the same...Montana 38, Western State 0.

Fort Lewis at MSU---The Bobcats start the year with some dings and minor aches and pains, but nowhere near the MASH unit that occurred at the start of last year. A great season could be in the works and it all starts with a home opener against DII Fort Lewis. This should be easier than Michigan State last year, as long as no one brings up Chadron State...MSU 41, Fort Lewis 7.

Western New Mexico at NAU---The Jacks still have Herrick back, but lost some big parts of the puzzle on offense. What better way to get Herrick accustomed to the newcomers than to play DII Western New Mexico in first game. This should not be a tough game, that is saved for week 2. The nightmare of the swoon late in the season last year is gone, this is a new year...NAU 35, Western New Mexico 3.

Adams State at UNC---Times have been rough for the Bears since moving up to the FCS. One conference win and not many more out of conference wins to show. Is this the year to put it all behind? Adams State is definitely not Kansas, nor is it Purdue, nor Hawaii, nor even UC-Davis. Unlike other openers, that means this is a good way to start...UNC 31, Adams State 10.

PSU at Arizona State---The first of two trips to the Pac-10 for the Vikings and what is widely assumed to be the easier of the two. Does that mean that new coach Burton could have the Vikings so pumped up and ready that they can pull off the upset in the desert? Can they do it with the uncertainty at the quarterback and the new offense and defense installed? Can they come home victorious? Only if the Sun Devils forget when the game begins...Arizona State 41, PSU 14.

Sac State at Stanford---Just like Portland State, the Hornets also step up to the Pac-10 when they head over to the Bay Area to take on Stanford. People are expecting great things from the Hornets, so much that some think they have a shot in this game. However, unlike Portland State's opponent (Arizona State), Stanford has a pretty darn good team, too. So much that an upset just isn't likely, even in this game...Stanford 38, Sac State 17.

WSU at Boston College---Most out of conference games in the Big Sky are generally with our western FBS cohorts, as it gives our boosters an opportunity to watch us step up. The Wildcats are bucking that trend as they head across the country and play ACC Boston College. There is a bunch of talent returning for the Wildcats but it's a whole different world out there...Boston College 35, WSU 10.

[weberwildcat]

im hoping wsu can score 21 like we did against utah who finished #2 in 2008. I also think Montana will score 60 against the DII. And I like NAU to get 40+

[SDHornet]

As in any game against an FBS opponent, I'm hoping for the team to show some life (offense moving the ball, defense making a few stops), no serious injuries, and hopefully avoid a shutout. Other than that I honestly can't expect too much...just take the money and run.

[S F State Gaters]

i have high expectations of Sac State this season, but Stanford is in contention for the Rose Bowl this season given USC's situation and Masoli, so while i'll be rooting for a repeat of UC Davis' performance in 2005, I won't be expecting it.

EWU has a really tough team in Nevada Reno as well. two unfortunate games, it'd be nice if they were playing somebody from Washington instead...

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I was only one or two games behind you last season J, so let's see if I can out predict you this year. This week's games are pretty cut and dry, and I'm not in a good mood right now, so I'm just going to post my predictions/scores. Like last year I'm also going to keep track of my point spread margins of error.

Home teams hold serve in week one.

EWU at Nevada : 27- 49

Montana-Western at ISU : 14 - 34

Western State at UM : 3 - 45

Fort Lewis at MSU : 7 - 35

Western New Mexico at NAU : 10 - 42

Adams State at UNC : 7 - 24

PSU at Arizona State : 7 - 42

Sac State at Stanford : 17 - 48

WSU at Boston College : 14 - 41

[biobengal]

EWU at Nevada : 21- 42
Nevada scores a lot, EWU moves the ball as well.

Montana-Western at ISU : 3-38
Western had trouble with MSU-Northern losing 20-3; ISU shouldn't have any trouble in this one.

Western State at UM : 3 - 52
Montana should be able to predict the score, I expect Western State may be able to kick a field goal in quarter 4.

Fort Lewis at MSU : 10-45
Montana State rolls in this one.

Western New Mexico at NAU : 10 - 38
NAU, Flagstaff and the dome should be too much.

Adams State at UNC : 14-31
Adams may hang with UNC for 2 quarters.

PSU at Arizona State : 0 - 49
Terrible way to break in a new coach.. Devils roll to a shut out with Barnum calling the shots.

Sac State at Stanford : 6-42
Stanford loses a big-time player in Gerhart but has plenty of weapons available.

WSU at Boston College : 10 - 41
Weber traveling to Boston... what, Miami (Fl) wasn't available?

[SuperHornet]

Eastern Washington Eagles @ Nevada Wolfpack 35-17

Western New Mexico Mustangs @ Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 42-3

Western State Mountaineers @ Montana Grizzlies 63-0

Weber State Wildcats @ Boston College Eagles 14-10

Fort Lewis Skyhawks @ Montana State Bobcats 3-0

Adams State Grizzlies @ Northern Colorado Bears 24-5

Montana Western Bulldogs @ Idaho State Bengals 31-10

Sacramento State Hornets @ Stanford Cardinal 27-18

Portland State Vikings @ Arizona State Sun Devils 17-9

[free7694]

Adams State Grizzlies @ Northern Colorado Bears 24-5

The average score of the last 3 UNC-Adams State games:

UNC 56
Adams 15

Saturday will be A LOT closer to that than to your pick

[free7694]

Eastern Washington at Nevada: Nevada, 41-10

Montana-Western at Idaho State: Idaho State, 31-14

Western State at Montana: Montana, 56-3

Fort Lewis at Montana State: Montana State, 45-6

Western New Mexico at Northern Arizona: Northern Arizona, 52-7

Adams State at Northen Colorado: Northern Colorado, 42-10

Portland State at Arizona State: Arizona State, 38-14

Sacramento State at Stanford: Stanford, 52-13

Weber State at Boston College: Boston College, 40-17

[biobengal]

Eastern Washington Eagles @ Nevada Wolfpack 35-17

Western New Mexico Mustangs @ Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 42-3

Western State Mountaineers @ Montana Grizzlies 63-0

Weber State Wildcats @ Boston College Eagles 14-10

Fort Lewis Skyhawks @ Montana State Bobcats 3-0

Adams State Grizzlies @ Northern Colorado Bears 24-5

Montana Western Bulldogs @ Idaho State Bengals 31-10

Sacramento State Hornets @ Stanford Cardinal 27-18

Portland State Vikings @ Arizona State Sun Devils 17-9

Nice picks noob.

[SuperHornet]

A guy with all of four posts is calling ME a noob?



Everyone else knows I'm a little crazy. But I've been here from the beginning. Noobs had better not be the pot calling the kettle black.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

A guy with all of four posts is calling ME a noob?



Everyone else knows I'm a little crazy. But I've been here from the beginning. Noobs had better not be the pot calling the kettle black.

You're black.

[SuperHornet]

SE: My point was that biobengal is in no position to make that kind of statement. free's post makes a WHOLE lot more sense that bio's because he has a stat to back it up. bio had nothing.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

SE: My point was that biobengal is in no position to make that kind of statement. free's post makes a WHOLE lot more sense that bio's because he has a stat to back it up. bio had nothing.

[BigSkyBears]

A guy with all of four posts is calling ME a noob?



Everyone else knows I'm a little crazy. But I've been here from the beginning. Noobs had better not be the pot calling the kettle black.

Wow, you really think we're going to lose to Adams St? You don't know much about football do you?

[canyoncat]

Eastern Washington Eagles @ Nevada Wolfpack 35-17

Western New Mexico Mustangs @ Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 42-3

Western State Mountaineers @ Montana Grizzlies 63-0

Weber State Wildcats @ Boston College Eagles 14-10

Fort Lewis Skyhawks @ Montana State Bobcats 3-0

Adams State Grizzlies @ Northern Colorado Bears 24-5

Montana Western Bulldogs @ Idaho State Bengals 31-10

Sacramento State Hornets @ Stanford Cardinal 27-18

I have got to see what your justification is with MSU only winning 3-0 over Fort Lewis.


Portland State Vikings @ Arizona State Sun Devils 17-9

[Wildcat Ryan]

Weber, please just dont get destroyed by 30 points

[SuperHornet]

A guy with all of four posts is calling ME a noob?



Everyone else knows I'm a little crazy. But I've been here from the beginning. Noobs had better not be the pot calling the kettle black.

Wow, you really think we're going to lose to Adams St? You don't know much about football do you?

Does Chadron State ring a bell?

[Silenoz]

Wow, you really think we're going to lose to Adams St? You don't know much about football do you?

Does Chadron State ring a bell?

Chadron State was an elite D2 team. D2 vs FCS is the same as FCS vs FBS, sortof. Pick upsets where the underdog is in the upper echelon of it's level.

[SuperHornet]

It's a matter of relatives, Silenoz.

Chadron, an elite D-II team, beat a Big Sky team with pretensions of being elite.

Adams, while not elite, is playing a Big Sky team with FANS who have pretensions of being elite.

The scale is about the same. It's just moved down a bit.

[Silenoz]

Hmm, I suppose it is UNC after all...

[BigSkyBears]

It's a matter of relatives, Silenoz.

Chadron, an elite D-II team, beat a Big Sky team with pretensions of being elite.

Adams, while not elite, is playing a Big Sky team with FANS who have pretensions of being elite.

The scale is about the same. It's just moved down a bit.

Listen lady - We're not elite and you picked us to lose because I'm being mean to Sac State fans. Don't cry, just be a better and smarter fan. I also saw you picked Sac to win the conference. Wow.

[free7694]

It's a matter of relatives, Silenoz.

Chadron, an elite D-II team, beat a Big Sky team with pretensions of being elite.

Adams, while not elite, is playing a Big Sky team with FANS who have pretensions of being elite.

The scale is about the same. It's just moved down a bit.

That 2007 UNC team that lost to Chadron was the worst college football team I've ever seen. They were just awful. 2010 UNC would beat 2007 UNC by 40 or 50 points. The Bears will crush Adams State.

Also, Chadron had Danny Woodhead in '07, Adams doesn't have anyone that could carry Danny Woodhead's jock.

[SDHornet]

It's a matter of relatives, Silenoz.

Chadron, an elite D-II team, beat a Big Sky team with pretensions of being elite.

Adams, while not elite, is playing a Big Sky team with FANS who have pretensions of being elite.

The scale is about the same. It's just moved down a bit.

Listen lady - We're not elite and you picked us to lose because I'm being mean to Sac State fans. Don't cry, just be a better and smarter fan. I also saw you picked Sac to win the conference. Wow.

BSB, I'm going to let you in on a little secret here on CS.com....You can not take anything SH says seriously...shhhh...don't tell anyone else.

[dbackjon]

EWU at Nevada : 13-31

Montana-Western at ISU : 7-25

Western State at UM : 3 - 35

Fort Lewis at MSU : 10 - 35

Western New Mexico at NAU : 7 - 42

Adams State at UNC : 7 - 45

PSU at Arizona State : 7 - 42

Sac State at Stanford : 17 - 42

WSU at Boston College : 6 - 38