How do Cats stack up against Griz

[mule]

Living not in the area but I do follow scores and some news from FCS teams in the Dakota's and Montana. So, if Cats and griz played today are cats a better all around team? Basically #3 against #4 which 1 and 2 played last weekend.

[kwcat]

We’re gonna get rolled!

[iaafan]

Really well. Our lines are better. Lamson will shred their defense which bottom half in the conference. Their offense is good statistically but has only played one good defense (UND).

The second best BSC team is UC Davis. They matchup a lot better. UM is a distant third and is more like NAU. They’ll struggle to move the ball against Weber which is better than UM defensively.

[jgrilley406]

I feel better about this cats team than last time the cats went into Missoula, mostly because the griz defense isn’t as good as they were two years ago (Alex Gubner mostly). The thing that may very well cost the cats the game is their kicking game whether FGs or punting. The griz almost always get a spark from special teams and with the cats struggles with it it could be costly if protection breaks down.

[mule]

Thanks for your views. I really do hope cats can kick their donkey. Of all the FCS teams in Dakota and Montana I dislike everything about griz and their is history with my feeling of that program.

Bison people don't like because they win. I for one have enjoyed there successful program and no one can take that success from that program. The better you are the haters you will have.

The Cats are my favorite team and I watch them or listen to them when I can. The Jones RB is my neighbors relation so it makes it a lot of fun.

Go Cats!!!!!

[CodyCat]

I feel better about this cats team than last time the cats went into Missoula, mostly because the griz defense isn’t as good as they were two years ago (Alex Gubner mostly). The thing that may very well cost the cats the game is their kicking game whether FGs or punting. The griz almost always get a spark from special teams and with the cats struggles with it it could be costly if protection breaks down.

The Cats have started really slow at NAU and at Poly. If they start slow in Missoula, it’s going to be a long afternoon.

[TomCat88]

I feel better about this cats team than last time the cats went into Missoula, mostly because the griz defense isn’t as good as they were two years ago (Alex Gubner mostly). The thing that may very well cost the cats the game is their kicking game whether FGs or punting. The griz almost always get a spark from special teams and with the cats struggles with it it could be costly if protection breaks down.

The Cats have started really slow at NAU and at Poly. If they start slow in Missoula, it’s going to be a long afternoon.

I’m trying to remember a game there that MSU didn’t start slow. 2010 is the last time?

2012 - down 7-3
2016 - down 7-0
2018 - down 22-0
(Bonus: down 24-14 in 1984)
Won all four.

[OldGriz]

The Cats will play tough and make the Griz win look ugly. I don’t see the Griz giving more than 10 points in the betting line. Probably even closer to 7. I don’t see Lamson giving the Griz much trouble, except to the extent that he can throw well enough to keep the D honest and not key on Davis/Jones every down. The Griz O-line is getting better every week. The Griz will find ways to appear confused and out of sync at times, but they will win the turnover game and go undefeated into the playoffs.

[GoldstoneCat]

The Cats will play tough and make the Griz win look ugly. I don’t see the Griz giving more than 10 points in the betting line. Probably even closer to 7. I don’t see Lamson giving the Griz much trouble, except to the extent that he can throw well enough to keep the D honest and not key on Davis/Jones every down. The Griz O-line is getting better every week. The Griz will find ways to appear confused and out of sync at times, but they will win the turnover game and go undefeated into the playoffs.

Lol. Ok. The clown qb from Idaho state and from sac both gave your vaunted defense trouble but ours, who is substantially more accurate and efficient with the football, and playing behind a way better line, won't. Ok. You guys are 90th in total defense with a pathetic schedule. I could not be more excited for this game.

[FTG_1984]

Cats are clearly the better team overall top-to-bottom. Wortham for the Pandas is a problem for everyone on defense. He's their catalyst on O. Contain Wortham & play mistake-free special teams and watch the Cats win by multiple scores in Wershington-Panda stadium.

[tetoncat]

I feel better about this cats team than last time the cats went into Missoula, mostly because the griz defense isn’t as good as they were two years ago (Alex Gubner mostly). The thing that may very well cost the cats the game is their kicking game whether FGs or punting. The griz almost always get a spark from special teams and with the cats struggles with it it could be costly if protection breaks down.

The Cats have started really slow at NAU and at Poly. If they start slow in Missoula, it’s going to be a long afternoon.

Have the Griz started fast in any home games yet? Seems like they are ones with slow starts. Cat Griz is different beast.

[49thparallel]

Griz offense is slightly better on paper but Cats D is better. Both teams are playing good football. I think in order for the Cats to win this game they'll need to put pressure on Ah Yat and contain Worthan and Gillman. Our offense will need to show up and play with consistency, unlike Mercyhurst or Cal Poly where they appear out-of-sync with long possession times but no points. Lamson looks sharp when he's on his game but when he's off makes poor reads and risky decisions running the ball where he doesn't protect himself. Think he does this sometimes to motivate himself but could result in injury. I'm not very confident about this game mostly because of how the last four years of the Brawl have disproportionally skewed the advantage for the home team. Coaches will need to prepare the team to overcome this as well as the noisy, hostile environment at WaGriz.

[HookedOnGriz]

I’m glad the game is in Missoula. Seems to help as of late.

I think the Cats have the better trenches and defense. I think the Griz have the better offense and play makers and special teams. How each of those affect the outcome of the game is anyone’s guess at this point. The Griz have more experience with a come from behind, pressure wins too so maybe that helps in a tight game. I think it’s a coin flip and the game being in Missoula may be the difference.

[Catsrgrood]

I’m glad the game is in Missoula. Seems to help as of late.

I think the Cats have the better trenches and defense. I think the Griz have the better offense and play makers and special teams. How each of those affect the outcome of the game is anyone’s guess at this point. The Griz have more experience with a come from behind, pressure wins too so maybe that helps in a tight game. I think it’s a coin flip and the game being in Missoula may be the difference.

I think this is a pretty fair assessment at this point.
Being in Missoula is what gives me pause with the recent history.

If it was in Bozeman I’d be very confident. If it was on a neutral field I’d be solidly confident. Being in Missoula, I still have confidence the Cats can win, but it’s anyone’s guess how the teams come out and if momentum and crowd become a deciding factor. I’m not saying Vigen can’t win there by any means, but he’s 0-2 and they haven’t been close. I need to see a win there before I can be too confident.

I don’t know that I buy that the griz offense is better as a whole though.
Gillman is probably the best RB in the league, but Jones and Davis might be 2 and 3, so I still take our RB group over UM’s.

Ah Yat looks good, but I wouldn’t necessarily take him over Lamson, they’re different styles, but are of similar quality/importance to what their respective teams need them to do. I’d personally take Lamson, but I’m a Cats fan.

Wortham is the obvious x factor. He does everything and is a problem.

And the other big one is the O line. I don’t think it’s particularly close. I’ll take our O line every time vs their O line.
I like the Cats d line vs the Gris o line all day long. How that matchup goes will be a big factor in how Gillman does and how well Ah Yat is able to get the ball to the other playmakers.

Still a month away, so still a lot of football to be played, but I’m getting excited for this one.

[CodyCat]

I don’t recall this game getting this much attention on this board in October. Going to be a fun final stretch.

[nanacat]

So, the game being in Missoula matters. Neither team has traveled as well as they play at home. Both teams have had games where they started slow but have made half time adjustments and got the win. The Griz have 50 transfers, does that matter? The Cats have the majority of in state players contributing on the team as starters or at least in the 2 deep, does that matter? I will say that for the extreme amount of talent last year's Cats team had, this year's team has a different type of swagger. If the moment doesn't get too big for them, I can see this team giving Vigen his first win in Missoula. But shutting down Wortham, Ah Yat, and Gillman will be crucial and the key to the win.

[91catAlum]

I’m glad the game is in Missoula. Seems to help as of late.

I think the Cats have the better trenches and defense. I think the Griz have the better offense and play makers and special teams. How each of those affect the outcome of the game is anyone’s guess at this point. The Griz have more experience with a come from behind, pressure wins too so maybe that helps in a tight game. I think it’s a coin flip and the game being in Missoula may be the difference.

Good post.

I'd rather be the team with the better trenches and defense, but I'd also rather be the team at home. This could be the first non- blowout game since 2018.

[GoodTimesAllTheTime]

It’s worth mentioning that Cat-Griz will be UM’s 12th straight game. Three months without a single week off is tough to deal with, especially if they continue to have to play their starters late in games. Obviously the Griz will be hyped up for the game, but fatigue can play a big role in this one.

[Montanabob]

It’s worth mentioning that Cat-Griz will be UM’s 12th straight game. Three months without a single week off is tough to deal with, especially if they continue to have to play their starters late in games. Obviously the Griz will be hyped up for the game, but fatigue can play a big role in this one.

especially after they lose and drop out of top 8 and host week 1 of the playoffs. please santa! in lamson and davis we trust.

[Go Scats Go]

Griz offense is slightly better on paper but Cats D is better. Both teams are playing good football. I think in order for the Cats to win this game they'll need to put pressure on Ah Yat and contain Worthan and Gillman. Our offense will need to show up and play with consistency, unlike Mercyhurst or Cal Poly where they appear out-of-sync with long possession times but no points. Lamson looks sharp when he's on his game but when he's off makes poor reads and risky decisions running the ball where he doesn't protect himself. Think he does this sometimes to motivate himself but could result in injury. I'm not very confident about this game mostly because of how the last four years of the Brawl have disproportionally skewed the advantage for the home team. Coaches will need to prepare the team to overcome this as well as the noisy, hostile environment at WaGriz.

That's a very reasonable report