**Weekly** 2017 season prediction thread

[BleedingBLue]

Why do so many people think EWU is going to be good this year despite losing their head coach and all-NFL-caliber WR corps? And don't tell me it's because they're good every year, because they aren't. They fail make the playoffs about 1 out of every 3 years.

2016: 8-0, 12-2
2015: 5-3, 6-5
2014: 7-1, 11-3
2013: 8-0, 12-3
2012: 7-1, 11-3
2011: 5-3, 6-5
2010: 7-1, 13-2
2009: 6-2, 8-4
2008: 5-3, 6-5

EWU has lost a lot. Outstanding WR's, a HC that was very bright, sly and a great recruiter. BUT, the years of Baldwin's recruiting isn't going to dry up overnight. Eastern is still loaded with talent, ie Gage Grubrud who is a shoe in for the Payton award and is an NFL caliber QB. While I see them not as potent as when Baldwin called the shots, they're still the best team in the BSC IMO. I also believe the BSC has taken a huge tumble over the past 4-5 years and a lot of that has to do with UM not being a perennial power anymore.

It'll be really Interesting to see how Gubrud performs without the amazing abilities of his top 3 WRs though. He is a good QB no doubt, but he also had guys make plays on questionable throws several times a game from what I saw. He's not going to have a guy he can throw in the direction of and have confidence he'll come down with it this year.

[Cat Grad]

TheySHOULD beat Idaho State and it's a toss up to me for Kennesaw State. 1-10 seems realistic.

[blueandgoldblitz]

I think we are still a year away. I think 6-5.

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Look at this! Bots got jokes! It's really scary that the bot might actually be right!

[iaafan]

I really like the roster shake up. Sometimes that's what it takes and you'd expect that if you hire a good coach with a different philosophy (one that's tried and true and modeled after Chris Peterson's).

Couple that with everything seems to be pointing in the right direction for MSU. 1 - Vastly improved defense. 2 - Rapidly improving QB. 3 - Buy in from the players. 4 - Finishing the first season under new coach strong. 5 - Accountability from top to bottom.

I see a probable loss to WSU. SDSU is probably 60% - 40% in the Jackrabbits favor. All other games are 50% - 50% or in MSU's favor.

The focus, talent and coaching are in place for a big year.

[iaafan]

After watching that Badlands Bowl I'm even more optimistic.

[John K]

TheySHOULD beat Idaho State and it's a toss up to me for Kennesaw State. 1-10 seems realistic.

I'm probably one of the more pessimistic/realistic posters on BN, but you are certifiably bat s**t crazy if you really believe we're only going to win one game this year.

[The MICKSTER]

I think we are still a year away. I think 6-5.

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+1.......I think if we didn't have the schedule we have we might make it to 7-4, but not this year. On Choate's/Murray's 3rd year we make a playoff run, and on year 4 NC! So let it be written....so let it be done.

[gtapp]

It's obviously going to depend on our passing game and our ability to defend the pass. We did not upgrade our WR group so it comes down to the OL and Murray's improvement.How much can he improve in one season? We will see. My concern is our pass defense. We had a large drop in CB talent over the winter and the only way we could generate a pass rush last year was by well designed blitz's. Teams have a year of tape now so we will need to find a Daly type pass rusher to get pressure. I don't see one on the roster unless it is one of the new guys. I see a lot of close games which means the difference between 3-8 and 7-4 is small. If we get a "good" transfer or two this fall and if player development is really good then yes, maybe 7-4 or 6-5. But don't be shocked if we win the same number as last year. Keep in mind who we beat last year; a D-II team, a D-1A team with just 40 scholarships, the last place team in the BSC and the griz (who one 3 conf games). Our schedule is much worse this year. I like this staff so who knows.

[TomCat88]

What's exciting about the upcoming season for the Bobcats is they're doing something that isn't all that exciting to the casual observer. They are coming off a season where they were as fundamentally sound as any team in the BSC and one of the more fundamentally sound squads I've seen at MSU.

[Cataholic]

It's obviously going to depend on our passing game and our ability to defend the pass. We did not upgrade our WR group so it comes down to the OL and Murray's improvement.How much can he improve in one season? We will see. My concern is our pass defense. We had a large drop in CB talent over the winter and the only way we could generate a pass rush last year was by well designed blitz's. Teams have a year of tape now so we will need to find a Daly type pass rusher to get pressure. I don't see one on the roster unless it is one of the new guys. I see a lot of close games which means the difference between 3-8 and 7-4 is small. If we get a "good" transfer or two this fall and if player development is really good then yes, maybe 7-4 or 6-5. But don't be shocked if we win the same number as last year. Keep in mind who we beat last year; a D-II team, a D-1A team with just 40 scholarships, the last place team in the BSC and the griz (who one 3 conf games). Our schedule is much worse this year. I like this staff so who knows.

As far as last season, there were a lot of positives that can't be forgotten. We lost by 3 to an FBS team that became bowl eligible. We lost by 2 to the conference champion. We lost by 6 to perrrenial conference contender NAU. We also physically dominated the Griz, something that hasn't happened in awhile. All of this while having virtually no reliable offense and no passing game. Call me "glass half full", but I expect a winning season this year.

[Cat Grad]

TheySHOULD beat Idaho State and it's a toss up to me for Kennesaw State. 1-10 seems realistic.

I'm probably one of the more pessimistic/realistic posters on BN, but you are certifiably bat s**t crazy if you really believe we're only going to win one game this year.

You said almost the same thing last year and I will give you credit for your predictions last year. The Cats won more than one game so way to go man! Where are the linemen this year? Especially on defense. Our skill kids are probably outlifting the linemen, and I'll admit I'm not going to any training but when the summer workouts are made public, I'm willing to bet there are a few running backs outperforming our home grown linemen from all the AA schools.

[Cat Grad]

TheySHOULD beat Idaho State and it's a toss up to me for Kennesaw State. 1-10 seems realistic.

I'm probably one of the more pessimistic/realistic posters on BN, but you are certifiably bat s**t crazy if you really believe we're only going to win one game this year.

You said almost the same thing last year and I will give you credit for your predictions last year. The Cats won more than one game so way to go man! Where are the linemen this year? Especially on defense. Our skill kids are probably outlifting the linemen, and I'll admit I'm not going to any training but when the summer workouts are made public, I'm willing to bet there are a few running backs outperforming our home grown linemen from all the AA schools.

[grizgirl]

What's exciting about the upcoming season for the Bobcats is they're doing something that isn't all that exciting to the casual observer. They are coming off a season where they were as fundamentally sound as any team in the BSC and one of the more fundamentally sound squads I've seen at MSU.

You may have been fundamentally sound overall, but your passing game was lacking in that regard, especially at the QB position.

[Cat_gld]

TheySHOULD beat Idaho State and it's a toss up to me for Kennesaw State. 1-10 seems realistic.

I'm probably one of the more pessimistic/realistic posters on BN, but you are certifiably bat s**t crazy if you really believe we're only going to win one game this year.

You said almost the same thing last year and I will give you credit for your predictions last year. The Cats won more than one game so way to go man! Where are the linemen this year? Especially on defense. Our skill kids are probably outlifting the linemen, and I'll admit I'm not going to any training but when the summer workouts are made public, I'm willing to bet there are a few running backs outperforming our home grown linemen from all the AA schools.

You can say that again!

[utucats]

11-0

[kwcat]

I don't have a confident guess at the season results yet as I still don't have a feel for the team yet with the roster "shake ups".

However I visited with a few of my UND booster buddies this last week. They, along with UND coaches, feel like MSU will be a contender sooner rather than later.
They were more optimistic about MSU, result wise, this season than myself. Parents of new recruit players for 2017 that I have visited with recently seem to echo that sentiment.

I have been thinking with all the changes and the strength of schedule that a 500ish season would be respectable. We get some bounces, 7-4, 8-3. I could also see 6-5 with a possible sneak in to the playoffs in certain scenarios. Like many of you, I am waiting to see what we do for pass rush and secondary coverage.

In non related news, looks like missoula college lost a receiver, tight end to UND. Yet to see a confirmation though.

Go Cats!

[Darth Yoda]

I'm going with a Lulay-era type season with very similar excitement levels when we look unbeatable, but also similar head scratching down times when we piss games down our legs. I believe we are looking at a 7-4 season, but as in the Lulay years, 2 loses in conference play still gets you in the hunt for a conference title. I'm predicting more of a bloodbath in conference play that reaches all the teams as opposed to what we've seen the last several years when teams are able to sneak through with 1 or 0 conference loses.

Final answer: 7-4 and still in the conversation for a title with 2 weeks to go.

[TomCat88]

The secondary is going to be very good. The SDSU game will be a good test and harbinger of things to come.

[91catAlum]

The secondary is going to be very good. The SDSU game will be a good test and harbinger of things to come.

that's encouraging, with the loss of Hale. And Harris. What makes you think so?

[TomCat88]

The secondary is going to be very good. The SDSU game will be a good test and harbinger of things to come.

that's encouraging, with the loss of Hale. And Harris. What makes you think so?

McCabe, Konkol, Washington, Wilson, Alley, Dre, Cole, Thomas, Garcia, Henderson, Evans, Anderson among others. If MSU's coaches can't make a nickel and dime out of that it's a lost cause.