Pick The Quarterfinal Winners!!

[askin4cats]

MSU (homer pick - hoping the SHSU #1 Seed and undefeated season was due to level of competition) UM, Maine and NDSU

[clawman]

Home teams win

[Ivytalk]

I went with the higher seeds in all four. So sue me.

I still think Montana is going to win the whole thing. Best all-around team left, IMHO.

[Gil Dobie]

I went with the higher seeds in all four. So sue me.

I still think Montana is going to win the whole thing. Best all-around team left, IMHO.

Montana was my sleeper pick a few weeks back, but I'm still pulling for the Bison.

[SeattleGriz]

MSU - If they try to lose the game like they did with UNH, then it will be a struggle, if not, they will smoke SHSU.
UM - Offense and defense peaking for Montana, coupled with a short week of prep for UNI.
Maine - Was very impressed with them stuffing App. Just don't think GSU has the horses to hold up.
NDSU - This will be interesting game, as NSDU is from a rushing conference and doesn't really see a good passing attack like Lehigh. NDSU's D does enough to get them the win though.

[htownbearkat]

Cry more they were picked as the number one seed by the commitee. It's win or go home.

Oh no crying. SHSU will not make it to the championship. They are not a #1 seed caliber team and their rating was a joke.

How do we keep winning? How are we even in the playoffs? There should be 2 brackets and maybe Sam should be the 4th seed in the NIT.
SCOREBOARD!

[htownbearkat]

MSU (homer pick - hoping the SHSU #1 Seed and undefeated season was due to level of competition) UM, Maine and NDSU

It was for sure, keep reading the boards. We shouldnt even be in the playoffs. I feel really really bad you guys have to play in Hunstville. Its a crime. If we played in the big Sky we would be lucky to win 2 games.

[SeattleGriz]

MSU (homer pick - hoping the SHSU #1 Seed and undefeated season was due to level of competition) UM, Maine and NDSU

It was for sure, keep reading the boards. We shouldnt even be in the playoffs. I feel really really bad you guys have to play in Hunstville. Its a crime. If we played in the big Sky we would be lucky to win 2 games.

As pretty much everyone has said on this board, the Southland just hasn't fared well since Hurricane Katrina and now there is much skepticism. You guys beat MSU and that will quiet all the naysayers.

[AZGrizFan]

Oh no crying. SHSU will not make it to the championship. They are not a #1 seed caliber team and their rating was a joke.

How do we keep winning? How are we even in the playoffs? There should be 2 brackets and maybe Sam should be the 4th seed in the NIT.
SCOREBOARD!

Somebody has sand in their vagina.

[askin4cats]

MSU (homer pick - hoping the SHSU #1 Seed and undefeated season was due to level of competition) UM, Maine and NDSU

It was for sure, keep reading the boards. We shouldnt even be in the playoffs. I feel really really bad you guys have to play in Hunstville. Its a crime. If we played in the big Sky we would be lucky to win 2 games.

you don't go 12-0 without talent - I am not buying into the boards that SHSU is a creampuff

[AZGrizFan]

It was for sure, keep reading the boards. We shouldnt even be in the playoffs. I feel really really bad you guys have to play in Hunstville. Its a crime. If we played in the big Sky we would be lucky to win 2 games.

you don't go 12-0 without talent - I am not buying into the boards that SHSU is a creampuff

Bullshit. You just have to have more talent than the other crappier teams in your conference.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

It was for sure, keep reading the boards. We shouldnt even be in the playoffs. I feel really really bad you guys have to play in Hunstville. Its a crime. If we played in the big Sky we would be lucky to win 2 games.

you don't go 12-0 without talent - I am not buying into the boards that SHSU is a creampuff

Creampuff? no. overrated? yep. they played a squashy schedule and were in a conference that was closer to OVC in terms of overall strength...

of the remaining teams - I would argue that it's HIGHLY LIKELY 6 would have also gone 12-0 with your schedule. (I don't think Lehigh would have)

[Lehigh1985]

you don't go 12-0 without talent - I am not buying into the boards that SHSU is a creampuff

Creampuff? no. overrated? yep. they played a squashy schedule and were in a conference that was closer to OVC in terms of overall strength...

of the remaining teams - I would argue that it's HIGHLY LIKELY 6 would have also gone 12-0 with your schedule. (I don't think Lehigh would have)

Not to derail the thread but I am curious who you think SHSU played this year that could have beaten Lehigh, or for that matter, Maine, Towson, both Montanas, GS, ODU, NDSU, NI, JMU, New Hampshire and heck, let's even throw in Delaware. And yes, you can go 12-0 if you don't play anyone. When the average team you play has less than three wins and of those even those with somewhat winning records like 6-5 are they're playing the same horrendously bad teams? I think more than 6 of the current playoff teams would have gone 12-0... easily.

They had their hands full with Stony Brook. That doesn't bode well going forward. No offense to Stony Brook but they simply aren't close to championship caliber. Wait till' you get a load of the talent at the next level. I'll be very surprised if the game lasts more than a half. And I may have to eat my words but I don't expect such. They may have some talent but playing patsies all year does not prepare a team well for superior competition. If anything, I think they'll be caught entirely off guard.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Creampuff? no. overrated? yep. they played a squashy schedule and were in a conference that was closer to OVC in terms of overall strength...

of the remaining teams - I would argue that it's HIGHLY LIKELY 6 would have also gone 12-0 with your schedule. (I don't think Lehigh would have)

Not to derail the thread but I am curious who you think SHSU played this year that could have beaten Lehigh, or for that matter, Maine, Towson, both Montanas, GS, ODU, NDSU, NI, JMU, New Hampshire and heck, let's even throw in Delaware. And yes, you can go 12-0 if you don't play anyone. When the average team you play has less than three wins and of those even those with somewhat winning records like 6-5 are they're playing the same horrendously bad teams? I think more than 6 of the current playoff teams would have gone 12-0... easily.

They had their hands full with Stony Brook. That doesn't bode well going forward. No offense to Stony Brook but they simply aren't close to championship caliber. Wait till' you get a load of the talent at the next level. I'll be very surprised if the game lasts more than a half. And I may have to eat my words but I don't expect such. They may have some talent but playing patsies all year does not prepare a team well for superior competition. If anything, I think they'll be caught entirely off guard.

New Mexico. New Mexico was bad this year - but my guess is that they'd give a few of the playoff teams a game... I also think that NDSU/Montana/Montana St/Ga So and Maine would have wiped the floor with them too...

[JohnStOnge]

So Lehigh wins the title?

I can understand people being skeptical about a Southland team being seeded #1 but I don't understand being skeptical about NDSU. The program was in the seminfals last year and lost on the road in overtime to the national champ. It has a winning record against BCS league schools since moving up from Division II. I just don't get why some people don't take them seriously.

Wouldn't surprise me at all if they win it all this year. They certainly appear good enough to have a legitimate shot. Biggest problem I see for them is that if they play Georgia Southern in the semis Georgia Southern's going to like their nice climate controlled facility. They won't have the advantage Montana has when a team like Georgia Southern goes up there in December.

That's be a heck of a semifinal though. I'm hoping it happens because I've seen both teams on TV this year and I'd love to see Georgia Southern's speed vs. NDSU's physicality.

[100%GRIZ]

Shsu
MONTANA
GS
NDSU

[JohnStOnge]

<<they played a squashy schedule and were in a conference that was closer to OVC in terms of overall strength...>>

Well, I wouldn't do that far. I think it's a distinctly tougher conference than the OVC. Its second place team did blow out the OVC champ on the road. I think there were probably four or five teams in the Southland this year better than anybody in the OVC.

It's just that they're not at the level of the four toughest auto bid conferences (CAA, Southern, MVC, Big Sky). I'm a Southland fan but if I call it like I see it I really do believe that Sam Houston State would've been a middle of the pack team in any of those leagues. And watching them on TV winning 20-6 at home against what turned out to be the last place team in the MVC is part of that. Of course what happened yesterday did nothing to change my outlook.

But we have a playoff system and maybe after it's all over we'll be saying Stoney Brook must've been a lot better than we thought. One never knows. I expect Montana State to beat Sam Houston but what fans expect doesn't determine the outcome.

And I must admit that I expect it a little less after looking up the details of the Montana/Montana State game and seeing how Montana ripped Montana State in the rushing game. 309 yards on 47 carries? That's obscene. Makes me wonder if Sam Houston's going to be able to run the ball for big yardage because the BearKats DO have a very good running back.

[Silenoz]

MSU
UM
GSU
NDSU

Once again the numbers are off. Who is always voting for 2 or 3 teams?

[Strommer10]

MSU
UM
GSU
NDSU

I wasn't impressed by SHSU last week and MSU will be the toughest opponent that they will have faced all year. I smell an "upset". This will set up the Brawl of the Wild part II in Missoula the following week. Hopefully the Cats can show up for that one.

UNI got the benefit of a VERY bone-headed play on special teams by Wofford that ultimately was the difference.
UM will be a little too much at home, I think it will be close though.

GSU runs over Maine. Even after last week, I don't think Maine can do it again. Congrats to them on the impressive win in Boone though.

NDSU will have their hands full this week. Lehigh will pass the ball around the Dome and play solid run D. Lehigh hasn't seen a defense like NDSU's yet this year & NDSU hasn't seen a passing attack like Lehigh's this year. It will be very close, but I think NDSU will pull it out at home.

[AZGrizFan]

Well, if MSU and UM both win as many here are predicting, the Big Sky Conference is guaranteed to have an NC participant for the 4th straight year.

[Strommer10]

Well, if MSU and UM both win as many here are predicting, the Big Sky Conference is guaranteed to have an NC participant for the 4th straight year.

It's a very good possibility. I think it'll happen, but I could also see both montana's losing this weekend... Highly unlikely though.

[WYOBISONMAN]

I would like to see one of the Montanas against NDSU in Frisco. A great matchup between neighboring states!

[AZGrizFan]

So Lehigh wins the title?

I can understand people being skeptical about a Southland team being seeded #1 but I don't understand being skeptical about NDSU. The program was in the seminfals last year and lost on the road in overtime to the national champ. It has a winning record against BCS league schools since moving up from Division II. I just don't get why some people don't take them seriously.

Uh...NOPE. They lost in the quarterfinals to EWU.

[Grizo406]

I went with the higher seeds in all four. So sue me.

I still think Montana is going to win the whole thing. Best all-around team left, IMHO.

From one "Man of Vision & Insight" to another, Ivy...I sure hope you're right!