EASTERN WASHINGTON BEATS MONTANA STATE! TRUE OR FALSE?

[BlackFalkin]

I think MSU is suspect and EASTERN WASHINGTON wins by 14 on the road in Bozeman, Mt.

[uofmman1122]

Based on their performance so far, I'd buy that.

[EWURanger]

If we can get some players on defense healthy, then it's definitely possible. We have been missing several key players since the Weber game; need to get 'em back, especially on defense.

On offense, losing Edwards for several weeks hurts and we have some backs dinged us as well. Talley didn't play last night and Forte went out with some weird injury. By the end of the game we were down to one scholarship RB and we were running our 4th and 5th string RB's. It was still cool to be in a position where those guys got to play though.


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[Winindy]

Depends on which MSU team shows up. Is it the one that gives up 41 to UCD and squeeked by Drake, or is it the number 2 team in the country that everyone keeps telling us is good? Shouldn't a number 2 team in the country show it every once in awhile? The only game they looked like they might be the number 2 team was that Chadron State game, but they should have considering that it was FCS v. DII.

[Gil Dobie]

EWU WINS IF MONTANA STATE CONTINUES TO PLAY LIKE THEY DID AGAINST UCD AND DRAKE, TRUE!

[uofmman1122]

Depends on which MSU team shows up. Is it the one that gives up 41 to UCD and squeeked by Drake, or is it the number 2 team in the country that everyone keeps telling us is good? Shouldn't a number 2 team in the country show it every once in awhile? The only game they looked like they might be the number 2 team was that Chadron State game, but they should have considering that it was FCS v. DII.

You obviously didn't watch the Chadron State game.

They did blow up Northern Colorado, but even we did that, so who knows.

[Ivytalk]

I'll pick kalm's Eagles this week!

[kalm]

Depends on which MSU team shows up. Is it the one that gives up 41 to UCD and squeeked by Drake, or is it the number 2 team in the country that everyone keeps telling us is good? Shouldn't a number 2 team in the country show it every once in awhile? The only game they looked like they might be the number 2 team was that Chadron State game, but they should have considering that it was FCS v. DII.

FWIW, we didn't look like a #2 until the final poll of the regular season in 2010. We we were still dismissed entering the Nova game without Taiwan. We were then given very little chance by most against Delaware.

MSU is the only undefeated team through 6 weeks in the BSC. You shouldn't have to apologize for winning. Their ranking is very justified.

[uofmman1122]

Depends on which MSU team shows up. Is it the one that gives up 41 to UCD and squeeked by Drake, or is it the number 2 team in the country that everyone keeps telling us is good? Shouldn't a number 2 team in the country show it every once in awhile? The only game they looked like they might be the number 2 team was that Chadron State game, but they should have considering that it was FCS v. DII.

FWIW, we didn't look like a #2 until the final poll of the regular season in 2010. We we were still dismissed entering the Nova game without Taiwan. We were then given very little chance by most against Delaware.

MSU is the only undefeated team through 6 weeks in the BSC. You shouldn't have to apologize for winning. Their ranking is very justified.

This was how we played all through 2007.

Got ripped on by cat fans all year for underperforming. The shoe is definitely on the other foot this year. (We suck, and they don't. )

[cats2506]

I see a close game but give the Cats the edge because it's at home. I don't think EWU has played a defense as good as MSU, having our front 7 healthy will be big. Kaufman is a problem but Adams will playing his first big game in a loud stadium on the road, against a very good front 7 that likes to go after QB's.

I also see weakness in their defense that I think MSU can exploit, I hope Kirk will be back and indications are that he was held for this game.

MSU can't afford the mistakes that we were able to overcome in the last 2 weeks, I just don't see us playing that poorly next week, after 2 weeks on the road to unknown venues it will be good to get back to Bozeman. EWU on the other hand is coming off 2 good performances at home, now they go on the road to one of the more difficult places to win in the last couple of years in the BSC, it may be hard for them to maintain that high performance level.

either way I expect a fairly close and somewhat high scoring game that goes down to the wire.

[kalm]

I see a close game but give the Cats the edge because it's at home. I don't think EWU has played a defense as good as MSU, having our front 7 healthy will be big. Kaufman is a problem but Adams will playing his first big game in a loud stadium on the road, against a very good front 7 that likes to go after QB's.

I also see weakness in their defense that I think MSU can exploit, I hope Kirk will be back and indications are that he was held for this game.

MSU can't afford the mistakes that we were able to overcome in the last 2 weeks, I just don't see us playing that poorly next week, after 2 weeks on the road to unknown venues it will be good to get back to Bozeman. EWU on the other hand is coming off 2 good performances at home, now they go on the road to one of the more difficult places to win in the last couple of years in the BSC, it may be hard for them to maintain that high performance level.

either way I expect a fairly close and somewhat high scoring game that goes down to the wire.

Agreed for the most part. Home field and an experienced QB should be the difference makers. But I will point out that while MSU does have a good run defense, you are ranked 93 in pass defense and just gave up 41 points to a UCD that had struggled to score previously. Your defensive numbers might be padded a little bit by the level of competition. You were stout against Chadron, UNC, and SUU for sure, but the other 3 games...not so much.

[cats2506]

I see a close game but give the Cats the edge because it's at home. I don't think EWU has played a defense as good as MSU, having our front 7 healthy will be big. Kaufman is a problem but Adams will playing his first big game in a loud stadium on the road, against a very good front 7 that likes to go after QB's.

I also see weakness in their defense that I think MSU can exploit, I hope Kirk will be back and indications are that he was held for this game.

MSU can't afford the mistakes that we were able to overcome in the last 2 weeks, I just don't see us playing that poorly next week, after 2 weeks on the road to unknown venues it will be good to get back to Bozeman. EWU on the other hand is coming off 2 good performances at home, now they go on the road to one of the more difficult places to win in the last couple of years in the BSC, it may be hard for them to maintain that high performance level.

either way I expect a fairly close and somewhat high scoring game that goes down to the wire.

Agreed for the most part. Home field and an experienced QB should be the difference makers. But I will point out that while MSU does have a good run defense, you are ranked 93 in pass defense and just gave up 41 points to a UCD that had struggled to score previously. Your defensive numbers might be padded a little bit by the level of competition. You were stout against Chadron, UNC, and SUU for sure, but the other 3 games...not so much.

Dont count our pass defense out, we have played some of the top passing teams in the FCS, SFA is #2, Drake is #8 and SUU is #26, add in that those games were played without some key players on the DL (pass rush) and those players are back now.

Again I wouldn't put too much into the UCD game either, giving them the ball 4 times inside the 30 kind of tilts it in their favor a lot, If that happens against EWU I agree we will get blown out, but I don't expect it to go that way.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I see a close game but give the Cats the edge because it's at home. I don't think EWU has played a defense as good as MSU, having our front 7 healthy will be big. Kaufman is a problem but Adams will playing his first big game in a loud stadium on the road, against a very good front 7 that likes to go after QB's.

I also see weakness in their defense that I think MSU can exploit, I hope Kirk will be back and indications are that he was held for this game.

MSU can't afford the mistakes that we were able to overcome in the last 2 weeks, I just don't see us playing that poorly next week, after 2 weeks on the road to unknown venues it will be good to get back to Bozeman. EWU on the other hand is coming off 2 good performances at home, now they go on the road to one of the more difficult places to win in the last couple of years in the BSC, it may be hard for them to maintain that high performance level.

either way I expect a fairly close and somewhat high scoring game that goes down to the wire.

Agreed for the most part. Home field and an experienced QB should be the difference makers. But I will point out that while MSU does have a good run defense, you are ranked 93 in pass defense and just gave up 41 points to a UCD that had struggled to score previously. Your defensive numbers might be padded a little bit by the level of competition. You were stout against Chadron, UNC, and SUU for sure, but the other 3 games...not so much.

[cats2506]

Agreed for the most part. Home field and an experienced QB should be the difference makers. But I will point out that while MSU does have a good run defense, you are ranked 93 in pass defense and just gave up 41 points to a UCD that had struggled to score previously. Your defensive numbers might be padded a little bit by the level of competition. You were stout against Chadron, UNC, and SUU for sure, but the other 3 games...not so much.

MSU has already beat two better passing teams than EWU, without out best DL players

[Screamin_Eagle174]

MSU has already beat two better passing teams than EWU, without out best DL players

MSU hasn't beaten a TEAM better than EWU. Or even close.

[cats2506]

MSU has already beat two better passing teams than EWU, without out best DL players

MSU hasn't beaten a TEAM better than EWU. Or even close.

Passing teams dipwad
http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?y ... IAA&dest=O" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kalm]

MSU has already beat two better passing teams than EWU, without out best DL players

I'll take our top 10 passing offense over both of those.

[cats2506]

MSU has already beat two better passing teams than EWU, without out best DL players

I'll take our top 10 passing offense over both of those.

Dont forget th other side of the ball, EWU hasnt faced a top 15 passing team yet

[Screamin_Eagle174]

MSU hasn't beaten a TEAM better than EWU. Or even close.

Passing teams dipwad
http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?y ... IAA&dest=O" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I said TEAMS, papercat. Big difference facing a potent passing offense that also has a run game and defense to compliment it.

[cats2506]

Passing teams dipwad
http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?y ... IAA&dest=O" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I said TEAMS, papercat. Big difference facing a potent passing offense that also has a run game and defense to compliment it.

our run D is our strength though, I thought you were making a deal of MSU being ranked #93 in pass D,



You guys have a running game this year?
weird

[kalm]

I said TEAMS, papercat. Big difference facing a potent passing offense that also has a run game and defense to compliment it.

our run D is our strength though, I thought you were making a deal of MSU being ranked #93 in pass D,



You guys have a running game this year?
weird

Ranked ahead of yours...against better competition.

[cats2506]

our run D is our strength though, I thought you were making a deal of MSU being ranked #93 in pass D,



You guys have a running game this year?
weird

Ranked ahead of yours...against better competition.

Next week do dont face a very good run defense either

meanwhile you will face the best run defense in the conference

[kalm]

Ranked ahead of yours...against better competition.

Next week do dont face a very good run defense either

meanwhile you will face the best run defense in the conference

So do we get to use the injury excuse too? Other than the 2nd half of Weber and the Montana game where were really beat up at LB, our run D has been solid. Might be getting Johnson back for this one too.

[LDopaPDX]

I think the real matchup isn't EWU offense v. MSU defense, it's EWU defense v. MSU offense. The Eagles need to keep the scoring down, and I don't know if they can.

The weird thing about Eastern is that injured players seem to fall into a black hole and never come out. You hear about these guys going down with sort of minor injuries, and for whatever reason, they wind up taking long stretches of the season off. Toughness is the one thing that appears severely lacking right now, especially on defense.

Zach Johnson = Great player = Always hurt

[kalm]

I think the real matchup isn't EWU offense v. MSU defense, it's EWU defense v. MSU offense. The Eagles need to keep the scoring down, and I don't know if they can.

The weird thing about Eastern is that injured players seem to fall into a black hole and never come out. You hear about these guys going down with sort of minor injuries, and for whatever reason, they wind up taking long stretches of the season off. Toughness is the one thing that appears severely lacking right now, especially on defense.

Zach Johnson = Great player = Always hurt

Toughness? Perhaps, but I haven't heard anything that suggests his or other injuries aren't legit. Might just be bad luck or fragility.