Ranking MSU's 2017 opponents

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iaafan
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Ranking MSU's 2017 opponents

Post by iaafan » Thu Apr 27, 2017 8:54 am

A lot of fans think MSU has a very tough schedule this year. Relatively speaking I agree, but I don't think the BSC is particularly strong this year and our two toughest opponents are from outside the conference.

1 - @ Washington State: the Cougars were in the hunt for the PAC-12 championship with just two weeks to go in the regular season before losing their final two games and bowl game. Despite the solid season, the bowl game loss made them look flawed.
2 - vs. South Dakota State: the Jackrabbits were in the playoffs last year, but lost to Cal Poly at home along the way. Their best game came in a narrow loss against NDSU during the regular season, but the Bison made that look like a fluke in the playoffs.
3 - @ UND: the Hawks were rolling along after dropping narrow losses in their first two games, but after nine straight wins they lost to Richmond in their first FCS playoff game. They return a strong nucleus, but are a team MSU stacks up well against.
4 - vs. Weber State: the Wildcats bowed out meekly in the playoffs after a solid regular season. They took big steps forward the past two seasons and if they do that again they're a BSC frontrunner.
5 - @ NAU: the Lumberjacks lost their star QB early in the year and were hamstrung the rest of the way. After a 1-4 start they rebounded to get to 5-4 only to drop their final two games. MSU meets them in the penultimate game and it could have a lot riding on it.
6 - @ EWU: the Eagles lost their head coach and WR trio, and they have a history of not rebuilding over a summer as evidenced by their 6-5 seasons in 2011 and 2015.
7 - vs. Montana: the Grizzlies stumbled down the stretch losing four of five to miss the playoffs for the third time in the last seven seasons. Spring ball hasn't been promising in terms of finding a new starting QB. UM is also struggling to put together an OL.
8 - @ UNCO: the Bears showed signs of the life the past two seasons and MSU has a history of struggles in Greeley. Of their five DI wins only one (by 8 points) was by more than a field goal.
9 - vs. PSU: the Vikings came back to earth in 2016 after a Cinderella season in 2015.
10 - vs. ISU: the Bengals are under a new coach after a long 2015 campaign.
11 - vs. Kennesaw State: the Owls may be not be the worst team on the schedule. They went 8-3 last season, but most of those wins were against non-scholarship and D2 teams.



91catAlum
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Re: Ranking MSU's 2017 opponents

Post by 91catAlum » Thu Apr 27, 2017 9:44 am

Pretty good list. All I would change is to drop Weber 2 spots, just below EWU. Weber is good, but it's a home game, plus NAU and EWU still have tons of talent, and wins at the walkup sky dome have been scarce in recent years.


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Hawks86
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Re: Ranking MSU's 2017 opponents

Post by Hawks86 » Thu Apr 27, 2017 10:16 am



2016 Big Sky Preseason Football Polls

Coaches' Poll
Ranking Team (First Place Votes) Points
1. Northern Arizona (8) 132
T2. Portland State (2) 121
T2. Montana 121
4. Eastern Washington (2) 112
5. North Dakota (1) 105
6. Weber State 83
T7. Southern Utah 73
T7. Montana State 73
9. Cal Poly 66
10. Northern Colorado 43
11. Sacramento State 30
12. Idaho State 24
13. UC Davis 23


Media Poll
1. Northern Arizona (8) 287
2. Montana (7) 283
3. Eastern Washington (5) 269
4. North Dakota (2) 262
5. Portland State (3) 252
6. Weber State 174
7. Southern Utah 162
8. Montana State 157
9. Cal Poly 153
10. Northern Colorado 111
11. Idaho State 58
12. UC Davis 56
13. Sacramento State 50
2016 Football Standings

Eastern Washington 8-0
North Dakota 8-0
Weber State 6-2
Cal Poly 5-3
Southern Utah 5-3
Northern Colorado 4-4
Northern Arizona 4-4
Montana 3-5
Montana State 2-6
Portland State 2-6
UC Davis 2-6
Sacramento State 2-6
Idaho State 1-7


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onceacat
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Re: Ranking MSU's 2017 opponents

Post by onceacat » Thu Apr 27, 2017 9:09 pm

Hawks86 wrote:


2016 Big Sky Preseason Football Polls

Coaches' Poll
Ranking Team (First Place Votes) Points
1. Northern Arizona (8) 132
T2. Portland State (2) 121
T2. Montana 121
4. Eastern Washington (2) 112
5. North Dakota (1) 105
6. Weber State 83
T7. Southern Utah 73
T7. Montana State 73
9. Cal Poly 66
10. Northern Colorado 43
11. Sacramento State 30
12. Idaho State 24
13. UC Davis 23


Media Poll
1. Northern Arizona (8) 287
2. Montana (7) 283
3. Eastern Washington (5) 269
4. North Dakota (2) 262
5. Portland State (3) 252
6. Weber State 174
7. Southern Utah 162
8. Montana State 157
9. Cal Poly 153
10. Northern Colorado 111
11. Idaho State 58
12. UC Davis 56
13. Sacramento State 50
2016 Football Standings

Eastern Washington 8-0
North Dakota 8-0
Weber State 6-2
Cal Poly 5-3
Southern Utah 5-3
Northern Colorado 4-4
Northern Arizona 4-4
Montana 3-5
Montana State 2-6
Portland State 2-6
UC Davis 2-6
Sacramento State 2-6
Idaho State 1-7
3) EWU returns 14 starters, including returning an all-American at QB. They won't go 12-2 with wins against Pac-12 bowl teams like WSU, but they are the clear favorites to win the conference.

4) NAU probably has the best home field advantage in all of college sports. I'm only 50-50 on them here because they've got a history of fizzling out at the end of the season.

5) I've been wrong every single time I thought UM would be having a down year. Lost too many bets underestimating the Fizz.

6) Weber-I'm hoping last year was a fluke, but that was really the only embarrassing loss for the Cats last year. Young and hungry.

7) I know everyone on this board is super high on UND, but they went 1-3 out of conference last year and played a really weak in conference schedule. Super close losses to a couple of pretty weak Cat teams over the last 2 years makes me think they are really overrated.

Other than that, pretty spot on.



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Re: Ranking MSU's 2017 opponents

Post by TomCat88 » Fri Apr 28, 2017 4:47 am

I'd put UND ahead of SDSU. I think Weber will be in the title hunt and would say they're even with SDSU. I don't know when the last time both UM and EWU missed the playoffs, but there's a chance that happens this season.


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