Big Sky Predictions - 9/22

[Mvemjsunpx]

Yeah, thanks to Adams. Your running backs only averaged about 3.5 ypc, though. And Weber's defense gives up 237.

So would it not follow, that if UND is giving up 200 ypg on the ground, that EWU will try to take advantage by running the ball more and using Adams a fair amount, like we did against WSU?

Well, of course. But running isn't EWU's strength & other teams can do it better, like the 7 Big Sky teams averaging 4+ ypc. The Eags aren't as well equipped to take advantage of run defense problems as other teams.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

So would it not follow, that if UND is giving up 200 ypg on the ground, that EWU will try to take advantage by running the ball more and using Adams a fair amount, like we did against WSU?

Well, of course. But running isn't EWU's strength & other teams can do it better, like the 7 Big Sky teams averaging 4+ ypc. The Eags aren't as well equipped to take advantage of run defense problems as other teams.

It might not be our greatest strength, but it's no longer a weakness this year. We've been fairly balanced so far.

[kalm]

So would it not follow, that if UND is giving up 200 ypg on the ground, that EWU will try to take advantage by running the ball more and using Adams a fair amount, like we did against WSU?

Well, of course. But running isn't EWU's strength & other teams can do it better, like the 7 Big Sky teams averaging 4+ ypc. The Eags aren't as well equipped to take advantage of run defense problems as other teams.

Well, we've played two FBS teams and a physical Weber team on the road while other BSC schools have had the fortune of facing the likes of SUU, UND, and Montana's run defense so far...

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Well, of course. But running isn't EWU's strength & other teams can do it better, like the 7 Big Sky teams averaging 4+ ypc. The Eags aren't as well equipped to take advantage of run defense problems as other teams.

Well, we've played two FBS teams and a physical Weber team on the road while other BSC schools have had the fortune of facing the likes of SUU, UND, and Montana's run defense so far...

And DIIs.

[Darell1976]

Based on what, exactly? Those are probably the top 5 in the conference right now - I would be extremely impressed if anyone in the country could go 5-0 through that stretch, let alone UND. Not saying it's impossible, but extremely improbable.

Exactly. I'd be shocked if the UNDers won more than two of those, and one seems more likely. NoDak is giving up almost 200 ypg rushing, and that doesn't bode well against the above teams other than EWU.

UND should win the home games. They beat Cal Poly in Grand Forks in 09 and since then the last two games have been a brutal back and forth game, and as for NAU, and Montana well we got thumped by NAU the last time we played them (1985) and we played UM and even had a late lead in 2010 in Missoula but I think with UND's high octane offense, huge (and loud) crowd, plus if UND's defense gets on track (we saw some of that in the Sac St game) UND should be 3-0 at home. The road games are the ones I penciled in at the beginning of the year as losses. UND proved they can win on the road so that helped somewhat, of course playing EWU and MSU is no easy task.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Well, we've played two FBS teams and a physical Weber team on the road while other BSC schools have had the fortune of facing the likes of SUU, UND, and Montana's run defense so far...

Idaho is not really an FBS team. That's like beating Southern Utah (if that).

Even with the Bauman explosion, the Griz are still fourth in the Big Sky in run D (and third in ypc D, ahead of EWU).