First round FCS playoff games

[TomCat88]

Anyone have a good feel for how any of these games will play out? I kinda figure UM will blast SEMO. I heard SEMO’s QB is probably not playing and if he does he won’t be close to 100%. I think Weber will win handily. Not sure about Idaho. Think that’s a toss up.

Fordham at New Hampshire
Elon at Furman
St. Francis at Delaware
Davidson at Richmond
North Dakota at Weber St.
Gardner-Webb at E. Kentucky
Idaho at SE Louisiana
SE Missouri at Montana

[MSU01]

I agree, I see UM winning pretty easily in their game against SEMO. Weber and UND to me could be a lot closer than some think it will, Weber is talented but seems to have a habit of making mistakes to keep games close or (against MSU and Sac) fall behind. Idaho got a pretty challenging draw with a long road trip - tough to predict that one as I haven't watched SELA play at all this year. Hoping Idaho can win, that one is a good test of the strength of the Big Sky.

[91catAlum]

I like all the home teams except maybe Idaho and maybe Elon.

I agree that the griz will roll at home regardless of who plays at QB for either team. Double digit win.

Weber is a much better team than UND. Not sure UND should even be in the field but the committee probably felt like the MVC needed more than just 2 teams in.
Weber should've been seeded. I think they win easily especially at home. Another double digit win.

[Montanabob]

Home teams except:
Elon
Idaho
and wait for it - SEMO

[94VegasCat]

Home teams except:
Elon
Idaho
and wait for it - SEMO

I thought I read somewhere that Kris Brown is starting for the gris. If that’s true, it’s a toss up. If I was semo, I’d run the wildcat with their stud RB, a bunch.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Home teams all win — except Idaho defeats SELU. Idaho’s offense is quite a bit better and their defense is somewhat better. The “power game” of this week is North Dakota @ Weber State as they could both beat a lot of the field. Fordham @ New Hampshire should be pretty exciting if the scoreboard doesn’t run out of lightbulbs. Track-meet games can become upsets in around 11 seconds, so keep an eye on this one.

[Bobcat4Ever]

I like all the home teams except maybe Idaho and maybe Elon.

I agree that the griz will roll at home regardless of who plays at QB for either team. Double digit win.

Weber is a much better team than UND. Not sure UND should even be in the field but the committee probably felt like the MVC needed more than just 2 teams in.
Weber should've been seeded. I think they win easily especially at home. Another double digit win.

This.

[BobCatFan]

I read Missouri has Walter Payton candidate for running backs. Well, we just crushed the Griz, in the running game

If the GRiZ don’t have the starting quarterback, they’re gonna lose.

[91catAlum]

I read Missouri has Walter Payton candidate for running backs. Well, we just crushed the Griz, in the running game

If the GRiZ don’t have the starting quarterback, they’re gonna lose.

The griz defense is very stout against a standard running game, just not a QB centered run game like MSU. They'll stuff SEMOs run game.

Also SEMO probably doesn't have speed to get outside like the Cats. We'll see.

[Montanabob]

I read Missouri has Walter Payton candidate for running backs. Well, we just crushed the Griz, in the running game

If the GRiZ don’t have the starting quarterback, they’re gonna lose.

The griz defense is very stout against a standard running game, just not a QB centered run game like MSU. They'll stuff SEMOs run game.

Also SEMO probably doesn't have speed to get outside like the Cats. We'll see.

SEMO rushes straight down the middle for over 300 yards.

[DMMDCats]

New Hampshire

Elon - too bad they are on that side of the board

Delaware

Richmond

Gardner-Webb

Idaho - the better team with an attitude. I want to see how the frosh QB handles it.

SE Missouri - um has to prove they can beat a winning team. They know how to find defeat.

North Dakota at Weber St. - Weber should pull it off but I just hope they beat the heck out of one another.

[nanacat]

Home teams except:
Elon
Idaho
and wait for it - SEMO

I thought I read somewhere that Kris Brown is starting for the gris. If that’s true, it’s a toss up. If I was semo, I’d run the wildcat with their stud RB, a bunch.

If that's true, hmmm. Why start him and not Britt? Pretty certain Johnson won't play, or if so, very sparingly. If SEMO has a good rushing attack, which it sounds like they do, and they watch film from Cat-Griz, they have the recipe to run it down their throats. Not convinced they will, but I'm not sure this is a guaranteed blow out by the gris. Maybe, but there's room for maybe not too.

[BelgradeBobcat]

Watching Elon at Furman. I see Matt McKay is the same dynamic athlete he was here at MSU. I also see execution problems that plagued him here. Looking back-it's not surprising the griz's gimicky defense completely flustered him. Glad things worked out okay for both parties involved (McKay and MSU).

[nanacat]

https://www.havredailynews.com/story/20 ... 40442.html

It'll be interesting to see if the gris can bring it in a less than full stadium. Home field can be a huge advantage but if it's nearly empty, that's an emotional killer for young men to not feel supported. Truly not convinced either way about this game.

[91catAlum]

Furman beating Elon so far 14-3 in the 2nd quarter.

[RyeCat]

Furman beating Elon so far 14-3 in the 2nd quarter.

Neither one of these teams looks all that great.

[TomCat88]

Furman beating Elon so far 14-3 in the 2nd quarter.

Neither one of these teams looks all that great.

Elon handed W/M its only loss early in the season.

[RyeCat]

Furman beating Elon so far 14-3 in the 2nd quarter.

Neither one of these teams looks all that great.

Elon handed W/M its only loss early in the season.

We were just discussing that and there are a lot of armchair QBs pretty high on W/M

[Bobcat4Ever]

Watching Elon at Furman. I see Matt McKay is the same dynamic athlete he was here at MSU. I also see execution problems that plagued him here. Looking back-it's not surprising the griz's gimicky defense completely flustered him. Glad things worked out okay for both parties involved (McKay and MSU).

Nothing has changed with Matt in this game. He’s running very well, but only really takes off when the pocket collapses. He did take one for a good gain on a called run. But RPO still looks like it means rPO. Furman is trying to bring a lot of pressure. When they do, Matt was something like 1/8 or 2/9 starting out. Threw it into the ground and over their heads. The Elon line got a little better and he started hitting some downfield but they cannot sustain a drive — they scored on a 51-yard field goal. Their commitment to any kind of run game is tepid, at best. Best back has like three carries, because RPO means rPO means pass play.

The most noticeable thing about this game after watching Big Sky football is the lack of physical aggression, and maybe bulging jerseys. Furman’s star tight end (and he plays well and athletically) looks more like our #8 and #80 would have as freshmen. One or two defenders on stops with good tackling form, but no six or seven defenders arriving every play like we are used to seeing. I may be totally wrong, but don’t see these or similar teams lasting long at all once the bullies enter the playoffs next weekend.

[BelgradeBobcat]

So far all the bluebloods are coming through. Furman, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Richmond are winning big.