Big Sky Predictions Week One 2012

[wapiti]

I've been hoping Jalmond would have started this thread earlier this week, but I could not wait any longer since one week from today is the first games.
Thursday Aug 30
UNC 10 @ Utah 42 Utah wins easily. UNC finally scores againt Utah's 2nd and 3rd stringers.

Sac St 13 @ NM St 17 New Mexico State takes Sac State, but barely. This could depend on which Sac team shows up to play. The one that beat Oregon State last year or the one that struggled thru confrenece play.

S Utah 17 @ Utah State 34 Utah State pulls away in the 4th quarter. But not before S Utah gives Utah state good scare.

Azusa Pac @ UC Davis UC Davis should win this one. (I know nothing about Azusa Pac though.)

EWU 24 @ Idaho 17 In the Big Sky game of the week, EWU takes down FBS Idaho.

Chadron State 10 @ MSU 42 Last time Chadron visited Bozeman, the Cats got stung with a bad loss. That will not happen this time.

SD Mimes 6 @ ND 38 I do not have much of a feel for how good or bad ND will be this year, but they should easily beat the Mimes.

NAU 17 @ ASU 36 NAU vistis a BCS FBS team, and manages to keep it close for 3.3 quarters, but them ASU's depth takes over and wins.

Saturday Sept 1
SD 13 @ Montana 21 Each team scores three times, but Montana's touchdowns are worth more than SD's field goals. This game will be the first indicator of how the off-field issues have affected the griz.

ISU 10 @ Air Force 45 Air Force wins this one easily and lets off the gas pedal at the start of the 4th quarter.

San Diego 16 @ CP 32 Cal Poly wins this one fairly easily.

Caroll College 12 @ PSU 45 Carrol is the cream of the crop in the NAIA. But PSU's depth, size and speed over Caroll wins this.

Weber 16 @ Fresno 35 Weber takes on a FBS foe and feels it in the loss column, but takes a check home.

[darell1976]

UNC @ Utah Utah 63 UNC 0
Sac St @ NM St NMSU 28 Sac St 27
SUU @ Utah St Utah St 31 SUU 17
Azusa Pac @ UC Davis UC Davis 38 Azusa Pac 10
EWU @ Idaho EWU 34 Idaho 27
Chadron St @ Montana St MSU 56 Chadron St 9
SD School of Mines (not Mimes) @ North Dakota UND 52 SDSoM 3
NAU @ ASU ASU 35 NAU 14
South Dakota @ Montana UM 45 USD 13
ISU @ Air Force AF 41 ISU 10
SD @ Cal Poly Cal Poly 35 SD 3
Caroll College @ Portland St PSU 52 CC 6
Weber St @ Fresno State FSU 31 WSU 28 OT

[Catbooster]

Thursday Aug 30

UNC @ Utah

Sac St @ NM St I wouldn't be shocked if Sac St wins, but I will be surprised (and happy)

S Utah @ Utah State

Azusa Pac @ UC Davis

EWU @ Idaho I could see this one going either way - It should be close. I'm rooting for the Eagles, but trying to be objective I'm going to go with the 85 scholarships over the team that is breaking in a new quarterback in the first game. A couple weeks later I'd probably go with EWU.

Chadron State @ MSU First game under the lights, no Danny Woodhead, not following an emotional BCS/FBS win...shouldn't be close (nor should it have been last time xthumbsdownx )

SD Mines @ ND

NAU @ ASU

Saturday

SD @ Montana I expect the Griz to be tough by the end of the season - how quickly will they get there? Regardless, a win.

ISU @ Air Force

San Diego @ CP

Caroll College @ PSU

Weber @ Fresno Hope I'm wrong

[bojeta]

........
Azusa Pac @ UC Davis UC Davis should win this one. (I know nothing about Azusa Pac though.).....



Azusa Pacific was a very good team at the NAIA level last year and should be a pretty good DII team this year. Davis should beat them, but it won't be a complete cakewalk. If they're not on their game, we could see another episode like Humboldt State last year. Because of Humboldt, I don't think we'll see them underestimate Azusa.

[bojeta]

The first round looks pretty easy to pick, but I'm going to go against the grain on the Sac game. I say they beat NMSU in a very close game.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Since I'm now in Big Sky country I feel it's my duty....

Utah 52 UNC 14; this is going to get ugly

NM State 24 Sacramento State 14; SSU has a shot

Utah State 31 Southern Utah 20: another close call with a FBS foe

UC Davis 42 Azusa State 10: yawn

EWU 24 Idaho 20: A FBS scalp

MSU 38 Chadron State 17: yawn

Montana 30 South Dakota 20: should be a good game, if it was at SD i might have went with the Coyotes

Arizona State 41 NAU 24: close for a half

North Dakota 54 SD Mines 10; why is this game being played?

Air Force 45 Idaho State 17

Cal Poly 31 San Diego 14; might be closer

Portland State 34 Carroll College 3: embarrassing scheduling

Fresno State 28 Weber State 13

[UNDColorado]

Since I'm now in Big Sky country I feel it's my duty....

Utah 52 UNC 14; this is going to get ugly

NM State 24 Sacramento State 14; SSU has a shot

Utah State 31 Southern Utah 20: another close call with a FBS foe

UC Davis 42 Azusa State 10: yawn

EWU 24 Idaho 20: A FBS scalp

MSU 38 Chadron State 17: yawn

Montana 30 South Dakota 20: should be a good game, if it was at SD i might have went with the Coyotes

Arizona State 41 NAU 24: close for a half

North Dakota 54 SD Mines 10; why is this game being played?

Air Force 45 Idaho State 17

Cal Poly 31 San Diego 14; might be closer

Portland State 34 Carroll College 3: embarrassing scheduling

Fresno State 28 Weber State 13

Good question, many of us are wondering the same thing. On the upside future schedules have no lesser division teams on them.

[moosbah]

UNC @ Utah Utah 63 UNC 0
Sac St @ NM St NMSU 28 Sac St 27
SUU @ Utah St Utah St 31 SUU 17
Azusa Pac @ UC Davis UC Davis 38 Azusa Pac 10
EWU @ Idaho EWU 34 Idaho 27
Chadron St @ Montana St MSU 56 Chadron St 9
SD School of Mines (not Mimes) @ North Dakota UND 52 SDSoM 3
NAU @ ASU ASU 35 NAU 14
South Dakota @ Montana UM 45 USD 13
ISU @ Air Force AF 41 ISU 10
SD @ Cal Poly Cal Poly 35 SD 3
Caroll College @ Portland St PSU 52 CC 6
Weber St @ Fresno State FSU 31 WSU 28 OT

Ever seen them play? Trust me, it's Mimes.

[UNDColorado]

Ever seen them play? Trust me, it's Mimes.

Are they really that bad? (I know nothing about them other than they exist)

[darell1976]

Since I'm now in Big Sky country I feel it's my duty....

Utah 52 UNC 14; this is going to get ugly

NM State 24 Sacramento State 14; SSU has a shot

Utah State 31 Southern Utah 20: another close call with a FBS foe

UC Davis 42 Azusa State 10: yawn

EWU 24 Idaho 20: A FBS scalp

MSU 38 Chadron State 17: yawn

Montana 30 South Dakota 20: should be a good game, if it was at SD i might have went with the Coyotes

Arizona State 41 NAU 24: close for a half

North Dakota 54 SD Mines 10; why is this game being played?

Air Force 45 Idaho State 17

Cal Poly 31 San Diego 14; might be closer

Portland State 34 Carroll College 3: embarrassing scheduling

Fresno State 28 Weber State 13

All I can think of is this was scheduled before the Big Sky recruited the GWFC teams, and maybe Brian Faison (UND's AD) didn't want to pay SDSoM for UND to cancel it. Reguardless I hope this is the LAST non DI opponent.

[darell1976]

Are they really that bad? (I know nothing about them other than they exist)

I think they are worse than Black Hills State (UND crushed them last year).

[UNDColorado]

Oh well, maybe we can use this game to see how the younger guys look.

[MSUBobcat]

Utah 45 UNC 10 -- It's Northern Colorado. No further explanation needed.

NMSU 27 Sac St. 21 -- Aggies are just a bit too much for Sac, but they keep it interesting til the end.

Utah State 31 Southern Utah 17 -- Another WAC Aggies team proves to be too much for its BSC challenger

UC-Davis 35 Azusa 24 -- Azusa has a good program, but and will make it a game, but should be slightly outmatched in this one

EWU 31 Idaho 27 -- EWU pulls off the "upset" over a team demoralized by its uncertain future. An unofficial welcome back to the BSC

MSU 52 Chadron 13 -- MSU exacts revenge for the 2006 Danny Woodhead debacle.

UND 49 Mimes 3 -- Sorry Darell but for a team that got worked last year (including by several NAIA teams) Mimes is the correct term here. They will be pretending to play football, but not actually doing it

ASU 31 NAU 17 -- NAU will be overpowered by its in-state PAC-12 big brother

UM 24 USD 13 -- While the Griz have some off-the-field issues, they are still the Griz in Missoula and South Dakota isn't quite up to the task at this stage in their program

AFA 38 ISU 17 -- Another FBS team against another BSC doormat. Things are gonna get ugly.

Cal Poly 28 San Diego 13 -- I'm expecting Cal Poly to be a playoff contender this year, so it has to start with a win over San Diego

PSU 42 Carroll 10 -- Carroll is a great program, but the difference between a powerhouse NAIA team and a decent FCS team is too large.

Fresno State 28 Weber 17 -- Weber should put up a decent fight, but not enough for the conference's 2nd FBS upset of week 1

[moosbah]

I think they are worse than Black Hills State (UND crushed them last year).

Here'e their new QB.

16650

[ASU_Fanatic]

ehhh I don't care about the Big Sky

[darell1976]

Utah 45 UNC 10 -- It's Northern Colorado. No further explanation needed.

NMSU 27 Sac St. 21 -- Aggies are just a bit too much for Sac, but they keep it interesting til the end.

Utah State 31 Southern Utah 17 -- Another WAC Aggies team proves to be too much for its BSC challenger

UC-Davis 35 Azusa 24 -- Azusa has a good program, but and will make it a game, but should be slightly outmatched in this one

EWU 31 Idaho 27 -- EWU pulls off the "upset" over a team demoralized by its uncertain future. An unofficial welcome back to the BSC

MSU 52 Chadron 13 -- MSU exacts revenge for the 2006 Danny Woodhead debacle.

UND 49 Mimes 3 -- Sorry Darell but for a team that got worked last year (including by several NAIA teams) Mimes is the correct term here. They will be pretending to play football, but not actually doing it

ASU 31 NAU 17 -- NAU will be overpowered by its in-state PAC-12 big brother

UM 24 USD 13 -- While the Griz have some off-the-field issues, they are still the Griz in Missoula and South Dakota isn't quite up to the task at this stage in their program

AFA 38 ISU 17 -- Another FBS team against another BSC doormat. Things are gonna get ugly.

Cal Poly 28 San Diego 13 -- I'm expecting Cal Poly to be a playoff contender this year, so it has to start with a win over San Diego

PSU 42 Carroll 10 -- Carroll is a great program, but the difference between a powerhouse NAIA team and a decent FCS team is too large.

Fresno State 28 Weber 17 -- Weber should put up a decent fight, but not enough for the conference's 2nd FBS upset of week 1

LOL!!!

[frozennorth]

going with the consensus, with the addendum that ewu humiliates idaho.

[uofmman1122]

ehhh I don't care about the Big Sky
Balls.

I was really looking forward to your intense Big Sky analysis.

But thanks for caring enough to come into the thread and let us know about your lack of caring about the BSC. It's appreciated. xawesomex

That said, I think all the home teams win except Idaho. Pretty sure EWU will take advantage of the UI dumpster fire.

[Squealofthepig]

Balls.



C'mon, don't feed the trolls.

The pics are pretty easy this week - which game is everyone looking forward to? I gotta go with EWU/Idaho.

[Grizalltheway]

C'mon, don't feed the trolls.

The pics are pretty easy this week - which game is everyone looking forward to? I gotta go with EWU/Idaho.

Why not? I'm sure Fanatic will care plenty about it after his team is 0-3 against a certain BSC member.xwhistlex

[Ginsbach]

PSU 42 Carroll 10 -- Carroll is a great program, but the difference between a powerhouse NAIA team and a decent FCS team is too large.


http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=292900155

[frozennorth]

http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=292900155

remember, decent fcs team.

[CopperCat]

ehhh I don't care about the Big Sky

You will come playoff time.

[Ginsbach]

UNC @ Utah
Sac St @ NM St
SUU @ Utah St
Azusa Pac @ UC Davis
EWU @ Idaho
Chadron St @ Montana St
SD School of Mines @ North Dakota
NAU @ ASU
South Dakota @ Montana
ISU @ Air Force
SD @ Cal Poly
Caroll College @ Portland St
Weber St @ Fresno State

[MSUBobcat]

http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=292900155

Posting a game from 2 different teams, with no other argument, is great support on why I'm wrong. But PSU does seem to call off the dogs earlier than some teams (just after halftime last year v. Willamette). PSU 34 Carroll 10. I'm not claiming to be some Vegas guru telling you if the team is going to beat the spread or not, but if you are going to criticize my "predictions" at least nut up or shut up (no scores in your picks).


UNC @ Utah
Sac St @ NM St
SUU @ Utah St
Azusa Pac @ UC Davis
EWU @ Idaho
Chadron St @ Montana St
SD School of Mines @ North Dakota
NAU @ ASU
South Dakota @ Montana
ISU @ Air Force
SD @ Cal Poly
Caroll College @ Portland St
Weber St @ Fresno State

[WeAreNorthDakota]

Looks like I'm taking all the home teams. Although I'd love to see EWU take down Idaho considering the Vandals think their football team is the only team that's too good for the Big Sky.

[MSUBobcat]

Looks like I'm taking all the home teams. Although I'd love to see EWU take down Idaho considering the Vandals think their football team is the only team that's too good for the Big Sky.

Well at least you took the time to "almost" quote me in another thread and call me a hypocrite before going out on a limb with this 2 sentence tour de force of BSC predictions. You and Ginsbach must be good friends.

[Ginsbach]

Posting a game from 2 different teams, with no other argument, is great support on why I'm wrong. But PSU does seem to call off the dogs earlier than some teams (just after halftime last year v. Willamette). PSU 34 Carroll 10. I'm not claiming to be some Vegas guru telling you if the team is going to beat the spread or not, but if you are going to criticize my "predictions" at least nut up or shut up (no scores in your picks).

I'm not criticizing your predictions at all. Did you look at the two teams I posted and the result of that game? It was a joke about how UND (an FCS team) lost to a NAIA team, especially in contrast to your statement.

> Posts link to UND losing to an NAIA team
> Implies UND was not a decent FCS team in 2009

[Screamin_Eagle174]

UNC @ Utah Utah 48 UNC 6
Sac St @ NM St NMSU 28 Sac St 16
SUU @ Utah St Utah St 31 SUU 17
Azusa Pac @ UC Davis UC Davis 38 Azusa Pac 10
EWU @ Idaho EWU 34 Idaho 24
Chadron St @ Montana St MSU 56 Chadron St 9
SD School of Mines @ North Dakota UND 48 SDSoM 10
NAU @ ASU ASU 35 NAU 17
South Dakota @ Montana UM 31 USD 17
ISU @ Air Force AF 41 ISU 7
SD @ Cal Poly Cal Poly 38 SD 13
Caroll College @ Portland St PSU 52 CC 10
Weber St @ Fresno State FSU 34 WSU 20

[darell1976]

I'm not criticizing your predictions at all. Did you look at the two teams I posted and the result of that game? It was a joke about how UND (an FCS team) lost to a NAIA team, especially in contrast to your statement.

> Posts link to UND losing to an NAIA team
> Implies UND was not a decent FCS team in 2009

Makes Cal Poly look really bad since they (ranked #16 at the time) lost to a non decent FCS team in North Dakota.:D

[MSUBobcat]

I'm not criticizing your predictions at all. Did you look at the two teams I posted and the result of that game? It was a joke about how UND (an FCS team) lost to a NAIA team, especially in contrast to your statement.

> Posts link to UND losing to an NAIA team
> Implies UND was not a decent FCS team in 2009

My apologies Ginsbach. xpeacex I took your post of the UND game as saying PSU whooping CC was a ridiculous prediction due to the fact that UND had lost to CC's alter-ego. It went right over my head that you were implying UND wasn't a decent FCS team that year, which I agree with. xnodx They were in year 2 of the transition I believe, so really only a quasi-FCS team anyway, with only 1 "quality" win that year (Stony Brook).

[MSUBobcat]

Makes Cal Poly look really bad since they (ranked #16 at the time) lost to a non decent FCS team in North Dakota.:D

Cal Poly made themselves look bad in going 4-7 including a win over D-II Dixie State. UND's site doesn't show them as ranked 16th either (which I tend to agree with since they would have been 4-3 at the time including the Dixie State victory. Not exactly top 25 material.

[mmiller_34]

Thursday Aug 30

UNC @ Utah - 50-3

Sac St @ NM St - 27-13

S Utah @ Utah State - 31-17

Azusa Pac @ UC Davis - 35-14

EWU @ Idaho - 24-17

Chadron State @ MSU - 45-7

SD Mines @ ND 63-0

NAU @ ASU 49-14

Saturday Sept 1

SD @ Montana 34-14

ISU @ Air Force 31-3

San Diego @ CP 45-14

Caroll College @ PSU 38-10

Weber @ Fresno 31-17

[BisonBacker]

Thursday Aug 30

UNC @ Utah Blowout, Utah wins big.

Sac St @ NM St

S Utah @ Utah State

Azusa Pac @ UC Davis

EWU @ Idaho

Chadron State @ MSU

SD Mines @ ND

NAU @ ASU Beatdown for NAU

Saturday

USD @ Montana Will be interesting to see how Montana responds to all the off season drama.

ISU @ Air Force

San Diego @ CP

Caroll College @ PSU

Weber @ Fresno

[darell1976]

Cal Poly made themselves look bad in going 4-7 including a win over D-II Dixie State. UND's site doesn't show them as ranked 16th either (which I tend to agree with since they would have been 4-3 at the time including the Dixie State victory. Not exactly top 25 material.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ONAV8GGH1A


Montage from the October 31, 2009 NCAA FCS College football game between the Cal Poly Mustangs and the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Losers of two straight, the Sioux pulled an improbable Halloween upset against the #16 ranked team in FCS. Thanks to Jake Landry's 273 total yard performance (including a spectacular 28 yard touchdown run) and Mitch Sutton's 143 rushing yards and two touchdowns, the Sioux shocked the defending Great West Champions 31-17, scoring their first win over a ranked opponent since moving to FCS

http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=6399&DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=204825112
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Passion. Focus. Intensity. Three words that came up in a lot of conversations over the past week surrounding University of North Dakota football. And passion, focus, and intensity is exactly what the Fighting Sioux brought to the field on Saturday as they upset No. 18/16 Cal Poly with a 31-17 Hall of Fame victory at the Alerus Center in front of a crowd of 6,711.

[laxVik]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ONAV8GGH1A



http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=6399&DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=204825112
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Passion. Focus. Intensity. Three words that came up in a lot of conversations over the past week surrounding University of North Dakota football. And passion, focus, and intensity is exactly what the Fighting Sioux brought to the field on Saturday as they upset No. 18/16 Cal Poly with a 31-17 Hall of Fame victory at the Alerus Center in front of a crowd of 6,711.That was one lame video.

[darell1976]

That was one lame video.

Yeah it was, buts its the only one that said #16 Cal Poly. This is a better video since it showed how UND came back down 17-7 in the second and scored 24 straight.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ao7AWqhNHI

[laxVik]

Yeah it was, buts its the only one that said #16 Cal Poly. This is a better video since it showed how UND came back down 17-7 in the second and scored 24 straight.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ao7AWqhNHIYour vid made me watch the USF v UND game. You were manhandled. Ouch.

[darell1976]

Your vid made me watch the USF v UND game. You were manhandled. Ouch.

It wasn't a pretty sight. That just proved if you aren't prepared anybody can beat anybody. But not to worry UND will be prepared..EVERY GAME!! We have a playoff birth to shoot for.

[jayhawkdaddy]

Aug 30

UNC @ UTAH

SAC STATE@ NM St

S Utah @ UTAH STATE

Azusa Pac @ UC-DAVIS

EWU @ IDAHO

Chadron State @ MONTANA STATE

SD Mines @ NORTH DAKOTA

NAU @ ARIZONA STATE

Saturday Sept 1

SD @ MONTANA

ISU @ USAFA

San Diego @ CAL POLY - SLO

Caroll College @ PORTLAND STATE

Weber @ FRESNO STATE

[coover]

ehhh I don't care about the Big SkyYOUR loss!

[coover]

The Poly - USD game should be interesting as San Diego is frequently a top team in the non-scholarship Pioneer League, and is expected to be the top team this year.

Poly this year is (at least at the beginning of the season) pretty much unknown as most of the last years starters are gone. It will be a young team with some experience but, at least in the eyes of the pollsters, not yet proven.

San Diego is probably good enough to be an average to slightly below average team in the Big Sky, certainly not good enough to compete for a Big Sky Championship, but certainly capable of beating a couple or more of the bottom dwellers.

The San Diego - Cal Poly game will show what kind of team Poly has. If San Diego wins, Poly is in for a long season. If Poly wins in a close game, Poly will probably end up 5-6 or 6-5, and if Poly wins big ... watch out.

I think Poly wins fairly easily. They may be young, but they have a lot of talent, both offensively and defensively. Several Poly players unknown now will be very well known at the end of the season. Watch this game and you very well may see the future.