Who is the Darkhorse?

[Daytripper]

There is a lot of discussion about how to seed the top eight. I am curious who people think has the best chance to win it all among the teams we can guarantee won't receive a seed. I am thinking Northern Iowa and Northern Arizona. I wish I could believe Sam Houston could do it, but I don't think they have a chance this year.

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

Hate to admit it but…UTC.

[Missingnumber7]

I think you have to look at UNI, if the right teams line up in front of them. I also think that JMU and Montana(if they get in) could sneak up on some teams and pull off a shocker.

[walliver]

Hate to admit it but…UTC.


I agree. They could lose in the first round or they could win it all. I just don't know if they can string together 4 or 5 good games in a row.

[X-Factor]

Dayton

[Daytripper]

Dayton

https://media.giphy.com/media/Ki9ZNTNS7aC9q/giphy.gif

[wretched]

I think UNI and a team like EWU, all depends on the match-up they get though.

[mamberso]

UNI or Montana

[JSUSoutherner]

UNI

[BisonTru]

Villanova

[BisonFan02]

Coulda been UND...but now they are a fighting bird.

[deez_na]

Coulda been UND...but now they are a fighting bird.

UND better hope they can win at Cal Poly first.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

SDSU -- probably not a true dark horse but they have the defense to win it.

[BisonBacker]

I think UNI and a team like EWU, all depends on the match-up they get though.

LOL they've been abused like the capn's tool when he surfs pornxlolx. I don't think they are going to be a factor.

[Gangtackle11]

Villanova

I like the vote of confidence. We have some serious work to do to get in.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

LOL they've been abused like the capn's tool when he surfs pornxlolx. I don't think they are going to be a factor.


Come on BB, their defense is ranked 117/123 in the FCS, they will win it...xthumbsupx

The bottom ranked defenses from #103-#123, there are 8 Big Sky teams and 2 Valley teams:

103 - Sac State
108 - Cal Poly
110 - Idaho State
111 - Cal Davis
112 - Northern AZ
114 - Montana State
117 - EWU
118 - Northern CO

113 - SIU
123 - Missouri State -- dead last in defense.

[CappinHard]

Coulda been UND...but now they are a fighting bird.

Dark Horses would have been an awesome mascot.

[wretched]

LOL they've been abused like the capn's tool when he surfs pornxlolx. I don't think they are going to be a factor.


Picked UNI because of their D and EWU b/c of their O which has actually struggled a bit this season but if they get in and face a couple of medicore defenses they could outscore some people and find themselves in a quartefinal match-up with a lot of offensive talent. I think that would be a scary match-up in the qtrs for NDSU in the climate controlled Fargo Dome with some of the struggles your D has had throughout the year. Just sayin.

[FargoBison]

Picked UNI because of their D and EWU b/c of their O which has actually struggled a bit this season but if they get in and face a couple of medicore defenses they could outscore some people and find themselves in a quartefinal match-up with a lot of offensive talent. I think that would be a scary match-up in the qtrs for NDSU in the climate controlled Fargo Dome with some of the struggles your D has had throughout the year. Just sayin.
Not scared of a team would we run for 300+ on.

Sent from my A0001

[smilo]

I expect Montana to win more than any other team at the moment, but let me see the final week and matchups before making a firm decision.

[mvemjsunpx]

UNI if they don't play Montana, because we know what will happen then. xcoffeex

[Thumper 76]

Dayton

This thread is about dark horses, not run away favorites.

[Gil Dobie]

I am going to agree with the UNI and Montana choices.

[Grizalltheway]

Griz need to really show up on the road for the first time this season to convince me, since that's where they'll be after the first round.

[dystopiamembrane]

Portland State is a dark horse. No chance to compete with the big boys.

[Catsfan90]

This thread is about dark horses, not run away favorites.
How stupid will we feel if by some miracle they make it to the championship :confused:

[BisonTru]

I like the vote of confidence. We have some serious work to do to get in.

A couple thoughts to expand on my answer. Everyone thought Villanova was a top 5 team with Robertson. He is definitely missed, but you can't win with just a good QB, you need a complete team. Villanova seems to be trending up and the new starter is most likely getting better. Granted you need more work to get in, but if they can get in I wouldn't be shocked if they make some noise.

[MR. CHICKEN]

....AH'LL RIDE SAM HOUSTON....ON MAH DARK HORSE......KEELER KNOWS HOW TA DANCE...WHIFF DUH STARS....xcoolx................FIRE BRAWK! xwavex

[JSUSoutherner]

How stupid will we feel if by some miracle they make it to the championship :confused:
Their games with Robert Morris and San Diego make me wonder what kind of unbelievable miracle that would take.

[X-Factor]

How stupid will we feel if by some miracle they make it to the championship :confused:
I don't know if "miracle" puts strong enough emphasis on it

[Catsfan90]

I don't know if "miracle" puts strong enough emphasis on it
Yah.... Miracle is definitely an understatement.

[Daytripper]

....AH'LL RIDE SAM HOUSTON....ON MAH DARK HORSE......KEELER KNOWS HOW TA DANCE...WHIFF DUH STARS....xcoolx................FIRE BRAWK! xwavex

https://media.giphy.com/media/R6Rh1Al59LKeI/giphy.gif

[JSUSoutherner]

https://media.giphy.com/media/R6Rh1Al59LKeI/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/141wuJxikpgHYY/giphy.gif

[Silenoz]

I'm not saying we're consistent, or a great road team, or that we'll make the playoffs, or that we'll win the first round game. But if I was a seed I wouldn't want to draw us in the 2nd round

And if Brady was to get hurt or something, we'd automatically become one of the weakest teams in the field

[LeeshaJo]

UNI - they are playing as well as anyone right now.

[tomq04]

Portland State is a dark horse. No chance to compete with the big boys.

I'm rooting for PSU the whole way, although I would prefer EWU to snag a W Saturday...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

JMU..

[caribbeanhen]

Colgate was a dark horse in 2003, now it's gonna be more like beating a dead horse as they are just bad

[NDSUtk]

What about Harvard? Or is it Penn now?

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[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Colgate was a dark horse in 2003, now it's gonna be more like beating a dead horse as they are just bad

Fordham has a better chance of advancing. Chase Edmonds has the potential to win a game or two by himself. Their defense is legitimately poor though...

Colgate and Lehigh are very similar. Both are a year a way from potentially challenging nationally....

[Twentysix]

SDSU -- probably not a true dark horse but they have the defense to win it.

SDSU is a favorite not a dark horse imo.

[melloware13]

Darkhorse of the Century: after a whole ton of NCAA sanctions get levied against better teams, Delaware gets in via the CAA AQ and runs away with the title :D.
I could see Southern Utah and Charleston Southern making some noise (even though both are in that 8-14 range right now)

[SpiderJPO]

Richmond Spiders. Everyone sleeping on Spiders. With a win Sat and a JMU victory CAA auto bid goes to Spiders with a seed. A victory over WM would also mean two top seven wins with head to head victories over other two teams everyone seems to think are best in CAA.

[Bisonwinagn]

SDSU is a favorite not a dark horse imo.

Pretty sure the previous post was a joke considering SDSU will be seeded.

- - - Updated - - -


Richmond Spiders. Everyone sleeping on Spiders. With a win Sat and a JMU victory CAA auto bid goes to Spiders with a seed. A victory over WM would also mean two top seven wins with head to head victories over other two teams everyone seems to think are best in CAA.

Again they would be seeded so not part of the discussion.

[geaux_sioux]

UND could be one if we get it. QB is back. DBs have learned how to play football. OL is blowing holes through teams. Best RB in the nation. Defense is on fire. Then again it could all be a product of playing in the fluff. We did dominate PSU when we were healthy though.

[PantherRob82]

Anyone guessing UNI is wrong. I think the 2nd round is our ceiling, quarters if we are lucky.

[Daytripper]

Anyone guessing UNI is wrong. I think the 2nd round is our ceiling, quarters if we are lucky.

How do you fill all those sandbags considering you are nowhere near a beach?

[Bisonwinagn]

Anyone guessing UNI is wrong. I think the 2nd round is our ceiling, quarters if we are lucky.

Maybe if you are matched up against a valley school.

[PantherRob82]

How do you fill all those sandbags considering you are nowhere near a beach?

I'm not sandbagging. Our defense is great. Our offense is pretty terrible.

[JayJ79]

I'm not sandbagging. Our defense is great. Our offense is pretty terrible.

Bailey goes down with an injury while running. Dunne comes in and magically sparks the offense and UNI goes on a 2005-esque run (but with one less fumble)

[CID1990]

The Citadel has had a habit of stringing together good performances this season. Losing to GSU and CSU in consecutive weeks lit a fire under this team. We would likely enter the playoffs on a 2 game losing streak - I wouldn't want to draw us in the first round.

If we get in and then win our first round game (likely against CCU or CSU) we could make some noise.

I think UTC could be a definite sleeper, too. If Huesman plays well they can beat anyone.

[McNeese75]

IMO UNI is the team everyone will be looking over their shoulder at. Darkhorse maybe, but certainly NOT under the radar.

[Daytripper]

I little part of me will be rooting for PSU (until they meet SHSU). The way they just blasted on to the scene this season was fun to watch.

[UNIFanSince1983]

Bailey goes down with an injury while running. Dunne comes in and magically sparks the offense and UNI goes on a 2005-esque run (but with one less fumble)

The problem is without Bailey we have 0 running game.

[Grizalltheway]

I little part of me will be rooting for PSU (until they meet SHSU). The way they just blasted on to the scene this season was fun to watch.

If the Griz don't make it or get knocked out early, I'll be pulling for them as well.

​They need all the fans they can get.

[Nova09]

How do you fill all those sandbags considering you are nowhere near a beach?

He just knows the distinct possibility of a Dayton matchup is looming

[tomq04]

​They (PSU) need all the fans they can get.


That's been my joke all season!! I'll be cheering for them as soon as the whistle blows tomorrow in Cheney.

[dewey]

I am going to agree with the UNI and Montana choices.

Agreed! UNI is a beast defensively and with Gustafson being healthy for the Griz they could really do some damage.

Dewey