BigSky Bingo 2018

[SeattleBobcat]

Hey FCS fans! Welcome to BigSky Bingo, were we attempt to figure out what the hell will happen in the BigSky in 2018!

2018 is sure to be another crazy year in the BSC. IMO this may been the strongest most competitive year the BSC has seen. North Dakota is out, which is fine we didn't want them anyway, and Idaho is in. So who has a shot? Well its probably like pulling bingo numbers, just about anyone could come up with the BigSky championship bingo next year. Here's who I think has the best shot (in no particular order):

Idaho coming off arguably their most successful two years of FBS football, turns tail and crawls back to BigSky in hopes of recapturing old glory. Idaho will come in as a solid team, but as most of the FCS has progressed past the bottom of the barrel FBS teams, I see the Vandals finishing middle of the pack in the BSC this year.

Weber State however is coming off a great season, Weber and NDSU were the only two teams to put a scare into the JMU juggernaut last year, with NDSU winning a defensive battle for the NC. Weber drafted a couple this year, but Coach Hill hopes he has reloaded enough to make it one more game in 2018.

Eastern Washington always has a ton of talent, and next year will be no different. Coach Best had a rough one last year missing the playoffs, when they had surely earned a spot. EWU high flying offense will carry them thru most their BigSky schedule, but another rough OCC schedule could put them on the bubble again.

My favorite Montana State. MSU has been building something the past 2 years and last year they made some noise. MSU played 4 FCS playoff teams last year and was in every single game. 31-27 SDSU, 25-17 Weber, 37-36 NAU and 16-14 Kennesaw State. MSU also recruited a boatload of talent from Washington and California in the off season.

Northern Arizona returns a top QB and WR pair and a formidable defense, if the injury bug doesn't bite this year NAU could make some noise in the playoffs. Hopefully Souers shaken off the absolute pounding he got from non-scholly USD in last years playoffs.

Montana, yes Montana. While Bob Stitt wasn't what the Grizzlies were searching for, the prodigal son has come home. Coach Hauck looks to return the Grizzly to dominance of FCS football. And while I believe the griz are going to have a rough go of it in 2018, as a Bobcat fan if there's one thing that I've ever learned in my life, it's you don't bet against coach Hauck. Even when you know your team is better, faster and stronger... Don't count out Hauck's grizzlies. Watching some of the most nauseating beatdowns I have ever witnessed, I saw kids that would run through brick walls for their coach.

Southern Utah, Sac St, UNC and UCDavis have also been trending positively, I just don't think they will be the hunt for the title.

Here's my Prediction for how the BigSky conference finish:

1.Weber State
2.Eastern Washington
3.Montana State
4.Northern Arizona
5.Idaho
6.Montana
7.Southern Utah
8.Sac State
9.UC Davis
10.Norther Colorado
11.Idaho State
12.Portland State
13.Cal Poly

[Keeper]

I wanna play too!

1 - Weber
2 - EWU
3 - SacSt
4 - N Ariz
5 - S Utah
6 - UCDavis
7 - Montana
8 - Mont St
9 - Idaho
10 - N Colo
11 - Idaho St
12 - Port St
13 - Cal Poly

[Iridebikes]

Thanks for putting this together. I agree with your statement that this will be a incredibly competitive league this year. So here we go:

1- EWU, I think that they are bringing more back, in more positions then WEBER.
2-Weber
3- SAC State- I think they'll continue to build.
4- Montana State- The new coach is building a solid program. Weak spot is QB.
5-Idaho- I think they'll bring in enough FCS talent to cause some trouble.
6- NAU- Some talent in key spots but they never fail to disappoint or are continually the over hyped?
7-Southern Utah
8- Montana
9- UC Davis
10-Portland State
11-Northern Colorado
12- Idaho State
13- Cal Poly

[slostang]

I will take a shot at what I predict the order of finish will be a little later when I have had time to look at the other Big Sky teams. Just wanted to say that I think Cal Poly will finish at least in the middle of the Big Sky. They had a horrible year in 2018 finishing 1-7 in the Big Sky. It was a year of key injuries and a lack of depth in those positions. I think both were addressed this offseason. I also think this year will be a bounce back season. In the 6 years Cal Poly has been in the Big Sky they have had only one other year where they finished lower than 5-3. That year they finished 3-5 and the following year they were in the playoffs. That is four seasons finishing in the top third of the conference vs just two in the bottom third. I don’t know if they will make the playoffs in 2018, but I am confident they will not finish at the bottom of the Big Sky.

[BisonTru]

I wanna play too!

1 - Weber
2 - EWU
3 - SacSt
4 - N Ariz
5 - S Utah
6 - UCDavis
7 - Montana
8 - Mont St
9 - Idaho
10 - N Colo
11 - Idaho St
12 - Port St
13 - Cal Poly

Hey good to see you here. Have you done a return/lost spreadsheet like you did in past years? No big deal if you haven't. I'm sure it's a lot of work, but I do like looking at it if it's out here somewhere.

Either way I appreciate the work.

[VandalBasher]

I guess Idaho fans should be glad we aren't playing the Hornets this year. They must have received multiple drop down transfers from USC, Stanford, CAL, UCLA and maybe even Bama to be ranked so high.

They did score 50 on everyone in the BSC, though.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=400944827

[wapiti]

Tier one: These team will be the best of the Big Sky and represent in the playoffs.
1 - EWU I think EWU bounces back from missing the playoffs last year.
2 - Idaho Hard to figure out where UI will finish, but dropping from FBS I figure they will be solid.
3 - UCDavis This team is flying under the radar and could surprise a few teams early in the season.
4 - MSU Choate is building a good team in Bozeman.

Tier Two: These team will be competitive, but fall short of the playoffs.
5 - UM Hauck is back, but the griz are rebuilding not reloading.
6 - Cal Poly CP shows improvement this year.
7 - Weber I predict a down year for the BBQ
8 - Sac St It's Sac state; how often are they competing to be a top team in the Big Sky?
9 - Idaho State New coach will be on his 2nd season, team should be starting to gel under new leadership.

Tier 3: The bottom dwellers this season.
10 - NAU The QB/WR play will keep NAU in games, but how much will last year's debacle in the playoffs effect then this year. (See how CP did after they lost to a Pioneer team)
11 - S. Utah SU is a every other year team. Last season was a good one, so this year, not so much.
12 - N Colo I am unsure of NC and had to put them somewhere, maybe they will surprise me.
13 - Portland State Need to win a game before they can move up.

[Lorne_Malvo]

I think the Griz may be better this year than expected. I put them at #1 in the Big Sky.

[Iridebikes]

Is that based on the transfer of their starting QB? Too bad. That kid was going to be a good one. Any idea where he ended up at?

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Is that based on the transfer of their starting QB? Too bad. That kid was going to be a good one. Any idea where he ended up at?

I liked Gresch a lot. Wished he had stayed but after seeing the two QB's in person at the scrimmage I don't think he would have had the starting job this season.

Great kid with big potential and hope he lands somewhere outside the conference for all of our sake in the next few years.:D

[Lorne_Malvo]

Is that based on the transfer of their starting QB? Too bad. That kid was going to be a good one. Any idea where he ended up at?

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27833&stc=1

[TheKingpin28]

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27833&stc=1

That is a violation of the Eighth Amendment.

[SeattleBobcat]

After running through the entire conference schedule here's what I get for win-loss records.
NAU 7-1
WSU 7-1
EWU 7-1
MSU 7-1
Idaho 5-3
UC Davis 5-3
SUU 4-4
UM 3-5
ISU 2-6
SAC 2-6
UNC 2-6
PSU 1-7
CP 0-8
(UND games still count as conference, but UND cannot win the BSC title) (UND 4-4)

[SeattleBobcat]

I liked Gresch a lot. Wished he had stayed but after seeing the two QB's in person at the scrimmage I don't think he would have had the starting job this season.

Great kid with big potential and hope he lands somewhere outside the conference for all of our sake in the next few years.:D

My jaw hit the floor when I saw he left. I'd take him at MSU in a heartbeat.

[F'N Hawks]

Where did Jensen end up going?

[Schism55]

Where did Jensen end up going?
No info on that publicly that I've been able to find. Maybe he's taking a year off?

[slostang]

After running through the entire conference schedule here's what I get for win-loss records.
NAU 7-1
WSU 7-1
EWU 7-1
MSU 7-1
Idaho 5-3
UC Davis 5-3
SUU 4-4
UM 3-5
ISU 2-6
SAC 2-6
UNC 2-6
PSU 1-7
CP 0-8
(UND games still count as conference, but UND cannot win the BSC title) (UND 4-4)
Cal Poly is NOT going to be 0-8. Same coach has gone 7-1, 5-3, 5-3, 3-5, 5-3 before last year’s 1-7 injury filled season.

[Keeper]

Hey good to see you here. Have you done a return/lost spreadsheet like you did in past years? No big deal if you haven't. I'm sure it's a lot of work, but I do like looking at it if it's out here somewhere.

Either way I appreciate the work.

Coming Soon! for sure by this weekend.
Keeper

[dewey]

Coming Soon! for sure by this weekend.
Keeper

Good deal. That list you put together is nearly mandatory for a preseason top 25.

Dewey

[BisonTru]

Coming Soon! for sure by this weekend.
Keeper

That's awesome to hear. I really appreciate the work you do on that.

[VandalBasher]

Coming Soon! for sure by this weekend.
Keeper

The return to FCS by the Vandals will probably throw this analysis way off. Glad we could help.

[Catbooster]

Coming Soon! for sure by this weekend.
Keeper
Great! This really helps with that preseason poll especially.

For the various comments about Gresch...If the transfers are as good as expected, QB for the Griz may be just fine. People who know more about them than me seem to think so. But then again, our transfer QB from a couple years ago was highly touted and practiced really well but couldn't get it done in a real game. I think losing Favoroso (sp?) will hurt the Griz more than losing Gresch.

Idaho has been having some of their most successful seasons in FBS as they are dropping back to FCS. That doesn't help quiet the fans that wanted to stay in FBS. I'm not sure they have an equal replacement for Linehan, but I think they'll be competitive.

NAU has both Cookus and Butler back and both are healthy. I think they'll be in the upper tier of the conference, but it's always a little scary to pick them, especially toward the end of the season.

With all of the changes last year, EWU was a borderline playoff team. I think they'll do better this year. Right now, they'd be my pick to win the conference.

Sac had one of their best seasons for a long time last year. Maybe it's bias because they've been bad so often, but I need more than last year to convince me they can stay near the top.

I haven't really dug into the teams yet, so this is just my first impressions - and it's all just a crap shoot at this time of year anyway. Big Sky is hard too, because it's not just which team you think is better, but also their unbalanced schedules.

[JALMOND]

Idaho has been having some of their most successful seasons in FBS as they are dropping back to FCS. That doesn't help quiet the fans that wanted to stay in FBS. I'm not sure they have an equal replacement for Linehan, but I think they'll be competitive.

Idaho is definitely the question mark of the conference this year. If Linehan had one more year, and Lashley would have come back, the Vandals would probably have been the team to beat. Now, they seem to have just as many questions as the other schools. I'd say they will be near the top, but I don't think they will be top dog. I'd still have to go with Weber as the team to beat.

[VandalBasher]

Idaho is definitely the question mark of the conference this year. If Linehan had one more year, and Lashley would have come back, the Vandals would probably have been the team to beat. Now, they seem to have just as many questions as the other schools. I'd say they will be near the top, but I don't think they will be top dog. I'd still have to go with Weber as the team to beat.

I have yet to talk to a Vandal fan that is saying Idaho is a shoe-in to win the BSC. It has been my prediction that Idaho goes 7-4 this year. But, based upon the recent Top 25 mags, the four to beat are Weber, EWU, Sac. St. and NAU. The only team we play from those four is EWU. If the magazines and the forecasters are correct, Idaho goes 8-3 and makes the playoffs. That would be exceeding expectations right now.

As for losing Lashley, the Idaho LB unit will still be the best in the Big Sky. However, you are correct. We are nervously waiting to hear who our starting QB is and if there is any improvement on our OL. The rest of the O will be fine. But, that is like saying "it's a good engine" without a carburetor.

[VandalBasher]

Overall (https://www.masseyratings.com/undefined)





Home (https://www.masseyratings.com/undefined)





Away (https://www.masseyratings.com/undefined)





Conference (https://www.masseyratings.com/undefined)





Rank
Team
Record
PF
PA
Record
PF
PA
Record
PF
PA
Record
PF
PA



80
Weber St (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=8636&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



100
Southern Utah (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=7399&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



103
E Washington (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=2383&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



114
Idaho (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=3415&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



136
Montana St (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=5042&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



142
Montana (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=5035&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



143
Northern Arizona (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=5620&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



151
CS Sacramento (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=1067&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



153
UC Davis (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=8200&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



173
North Dakota (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=5538&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



205
N Colorado (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=5625&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



208
Idaho St (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=3421&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



211
Cal Poly (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=1032&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0



242
Portland St (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=6302&s=300937)

0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0
0-00.000

0.0
0.0

[SactoHornetFan]

Overall (https://www.masseyratings.com/undefined)





Home (https://www.masseyratings.com/undefined)





Away (https://www.masseyratings.com/undefined)





Conference (https://www.masseyratings.com/undefined)





Rank
Team
Record
PF
PA
Record
PF
PA
Record
PF
PA
Record
PF
PA



80
Weber St (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=8636&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



100
Southern Utah (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=7399&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



103
E Washington (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=2383&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



114
Idaho (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=3415&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



136
Montana St (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=5042&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



142
Montana (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=5035&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



143
Northern Arizona (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=5620&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



151
Sacramento State (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=1067&s=300937)

0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



153
UC Davis (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=8200&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



173
North Dakota (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=5538&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



205
N Colorado (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=5625&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



208
Idaho St (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=3421&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



211
Cal Poly (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=1032&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0



242
Portland St (https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=6302&s=300937)
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0
0-00.000
0.0
0.0







Fixed it for you! We aren't CS Sacramento...

[VandalBasher]

You'll have to talk to Massey about that. Still understood.

[nevadagriz]

Ewu
.MSU
WSU
. Idaho
NAU
Sac
SUU
davis
Montana
Poly
everyone else who cares

I hope I'm wrong however I see Montana middle of the pack. I also think MSU (as much as I hate them) win the close ones this year and make the playoffs. Poly will be much better, UND will be better. Idaho is truly the wild card. They could be 1-5 I think 3 or 4. Even though I have Sac at #5
i'm not totally sold on them and Davis. Until proven otherwise EWU has been and will be cream of the crop in the BSC.

[VandalBasher]

https://247sports.com/college/idaho/Board/103901/Contents/BSC-Mid-Summer-Predictions-119629915/

Big Sky predictions on the All Vandals site. Stop on by.

[Vandal03]

I don’t know enough about Big Sky football to make a prediction so here is my guess.

1. NAU
2. Idaho
3. Weber State
4. Eastern Wa
5. Southern Utah
6. MSU
7. Montana
8. UC Davis
9. Sac State
10. ISU
11. Cal Poly
12. Northern Colorado
13. Portland State