Montana State @ Davis: 2024 Big Sky Conf Championship

[GoldstoneCat]

Have listened to some UC Davis content, and some from sam Herder. I don't think our defense is getting enough credit coming into this game. Davis scored 30 on a bad griz defense with a couple turnovers and a bad decision by Bobby on 4th down before half. I expect them to get some things done, get some points, but am I crazy to think we can hold them in the 20s? Hearing lots of 35-31, 38-35 type stuff. I would be surprised if they get 30. And i would be more surprised if we don't get 30.

[BelligerentBobcat]

Akem’s comment on this game:

It’s a good matchup for UCD because the Bobcat defense has taken a step back this season.

This is a man who gets paid for his opinion on football. What an amazing country.

"They give up most of their points in the second half. That's going to hurt them in the playoffs." - boxscore analyst

I'll feel really good if our 2's and 3's are playing in the playoffs; even if they give up some points.

Having our 2's and 3's in almost every game this year will pay huge dividends in the offseason.

No question. I was just pointing to Akems asinine take that our defense is worse in 2nd halves. Forgetting to mention our 2's, 3's and 4's are playing in the second half. So if he's right, and we do that in the playoffs, my guess is it will be VERY good for the Cats.

I've heard some crazy takes by him over the last couple years but wow.

He obviously doesn't watch our games. He's a hack.

And a Griz hack at that! He's virtually unwatchable based on all the bad takes about everybody, including the Griz.

Akem better hope BelligerentBobcats doesn’t see this!! But Akem knows the formations, so he’s probably good.

Huh?

Well, don't you think 'someone in a position like Akem's' should know MSU's defense is mostly 2s and 3s in the second half and is the reason the points allowed are higher? I'm just having (trying to have) a little fun with you. Not a big deal, I'm not surprised you forgot about that. Carry on.

It just didn’t make any sense Tom.

Anyways, I don’t think much of Akem as an analyst. Good player though.

[BleedingBLue]

Have listened to some UC Davis content, and some from sam Herder. I don't think our defense is getting enough credit coming into this game. Davis scored 30 on a bad griz defense with a couple turnovers and a bad decision by Bobby on 4th down before half. I expect them to get some things done, get some points, but am I crazy to think we can hold them in the 20s? Hearing lots of 35-31, 38-35 type stuff. I would be surprised if they get 30. And i would be more surprised if we don't get 30.

This here. It's not like we're playing Miami and Cam Ward. I have said it twice, and I will say it again... Hastings is the least explosive 3000 yard passer I have ever seen. It's not like he's throwing the ball all over the yard a la Vernon Adams. He has thrown for 300, or close, to in most games, yet in several of those games they didn't even score 30. Dink, dunk, piddle out in the RZ. If we can keep them from scoring on big plays, we can force FGs when they get close. The Cats D is the best they will have faced to this point (outside Cal).

[catatac]

May as well get this thread started. I watched the Davis game until halftime. Both teams looked clunky. Davis must’ve turned it on in the 2nd half. The Davis offense looks dynamic to me. But that doesn’t mean much.

Big game for the Championship!!

What will be the keys to the game?

Side note\question. How long has it been since the winner of the SECOND to last regular season is guaranteed to be Big Sky Champions? Seems like historically the Cats or Griz are still in it with a chance. As some other poster said, these are the good times.

[TomCat88]

May as well get this thread started. I watched the Davis game until halftime. Both teams looked clunky. Davis must’ve turned it on in the 2nd half. The Davis offense looks dynamic to me. But that doesn’t mean much.

Big game for the Championship!!

What will be the keys to the game?

Side note\question. How long has it been since the winner of the SECOND to last regular season is guaranteed to be Big Sky Champions? Seems like historically the Cats or Griz are still in it with a chance. As some other poster said, these are the good times.

[BelligerentBobcat]

Have listened to some UC Davis content, and some from sam Herder. I don't think our defense is getting enough credit coming into this game. Davis scored 30 on a bad griz defense with a couple turnovers and a bad decision by Bobby on 4th down before half. I expect them to get some things done, get some points, but am I crazy to think we can hold them in the 20s? Hearing lots of 35-31, 38-35 type stuff. I would be surprised if they get 30. And i would be more surprised if we don't get 30.

This here. It's not like we're playing Miami and Cam Ward. I have said it twice, and I will say it again... Hastings is the least explosive 3000 yard passer I have ever seen. It's not like he's throwing the ball all over the yard a la Vernon Adams. He has thrown for 300, or close, to in most games, yet in several of those games they didn't even score 30. Dink, dunk, piddle out in the RZ. If we can keep them from scoring on big plays, we can force FGs when they get close. The Cats D is the best they will have faced to this point (outside Cal).

Yeah, he averages 7-8 YPA without throwing a lot of picks, so he’s not explosive, but pretty efficient. He’s not mobile at all, so our pass rush should have a big game this Saturday. They’re going to score, but I don’t think they’ll get their average.

[CodyCat]

May as well get this thread started. I watched the Davis game until halftime. Both teams looked clunky. Davis must’ve turned it on in the 2nd half. The Davis offense looks dynamic to me. But that doesn’t mean much.

Big game for the Championship!!

What will be the keys to the game?

Side note\question. How long has it been since the winner of the SECOND to last regular season is guaranteed to be Big Sky Champions? Seems like historically the Cats or Griz are still in it with a chance. As some other poster said, these are the good times.

Both Montana schools were really bad in the mid 2000s. So probably then.

[Lord Vigo]

Have listened to some UC Davis content, and some from sam Herder. I don't think our defense is getting enough credit coming into this game. Davis scored 30 on a bad griz defense with a couple turnovers and a bad decision by Bobby on 4th down before half. I expect them to get some things done, get some points, but am I crazy to think we can hold them in the 20s? Hearing lots of 35-31, 38-35 type stuff. I would be surprised if they get 30. And i would be more surprised if we don't get 30.

This here. It's not like we're playing Miami and Cam Ward. I have said it twice, and I will say it again... Hastings is the least explosive 3000 yard passer I have ever seen. It's not like he's throwing the ball all over the yard a la Vernon Adams. He has thrown for 300, or close, to in most games, yet in several of those games they didn't even score 30. Dink, dunk, piddle out in the RZ. If we can keep them from scoring on big plays, we can force FGs when they get close. The Cats D is the best they will have faced to this point (outside Cal).

Yeah, he averages 7-8 YPA without throwing a lot of picks, so he’s not explosive, but pretty efficient. He’s not mobile at all, so our pass rush should have a big game this Saturday. They’re going to score, but I don’t think they’ll get their average.

He's been sacked 17 times on 365 pass attempts.

Last season, on 363 attempts he was only sacked 9 times.

[ilovethecats]

Went on their board and it was pretty active in comparison to most. I was already impressed with their coach and team obviously, but man what a refreshing group of fans! Complimentary of our squad but at the same time expecting a competitive game that they can win.

Almost makes me feel bad thinking we can roll them; but my heart wants what it wants.

[TomCat88]

Went on their board and it was pretty active in comparison to most. I was already impressed with their coach and team obviously, but man what a refreshing group of fans! Complimentary of our squad but at the same time expecting a competitive game that they can win.

Almost makes me feel bad thinking we can roll them; but my heart wants what it wants.

This is one of the biggest games in Big Sky Conference history. I’ve checked with the league office and the combined 19-0 vs FCS is unmatched. I don’t think 19-1 has happened either.

I think BSC has a show on this game that started at 6. It will be on YouTube.

The players are incredible in this game. Some of the best in BSC history in Mellott, Larison and Grebe.

[TomCat88]

Went on their board and it was pretty active in comparison to most. I was already impressed with their coach and team obviously, but man what a refreshing group of fans! Complimentary of our squad but at the same time expecting a competitive game that they can win.

Almost makes me feel bad thinking we can roll them; but my heart wants what it wants.

This is one of the biggest games in Big Sky Conference history. I’ve checked with the league office and the combined 19-0 vs FCS is unmatched. I don’t think 19-1 has happened either.

I think BSC has a show on this game that started at 6. It will be on YouTube.

The players are incredible in this game. Some of the best in BSC history in Mellott, Larison and Grebe.

Well, the BSC channel show wasn't what I was expecting. I thought they were going to just talk about this game, but they had a bunch of other stuff on there. They did talk about it, but when they were talking about MSU's offensive line they threw a couple pics of the OL, but it was the backups.

Anyway, I'll just say that this may go down as one of, if not the, biggest regular season games in BSC history. Just the combined record puts it up there. We'll have to see how both teams do in the playoffs first. If they both win next week, then they're 22-2 with one loss being to a FBS team and the other to each other. If one of them goes all the way and the other gets to the semifinals, then this game is right at the top.

I think the current best was UM vs Boise in 1994 (combined 15-1). BSU was the national runner-up after loss to YSU. UM made it to the semis and lost to YSU. That was Dickenson's junior year, and I believe he was injured during or prior to the semifinal game.

[nanacat]

Serious question... how did UCD barely squeek by Idaho and PSU? The Cats dominated both. I get winning in Missoula was huge, and by that margin, but to need last minute heroics in those two other games? Did they make a bunch of adjustments after those games? Were they just fluke bad games? I'm not saying UCD isn't a good team, but I'm scratching my head a bit trying to understand why there's so much concern about them. Yes I'm nervous, but likely that's because of other posters expressing nervousness. Ty, Colter, and others didn't really express any concern about the Cats winning. Close game, yes, but a Cats victory none the less.

[GoldstoneCat]

Serious question... how did UCD barely squeek by Idaho and PSU? The Cats dominated both. I get winning in Missoula was huge, and by that margin, but to need last minute heroics in those two other games? Did they make a bunch of adjustments after those games? Were they just fluke bad games? I'm not saying UCD isn't a good team, but I'm scratching my head a bit trying to understand why there's so much concern about them. Yes I'm nervous, but likely that's because of other posters expressing nervousness. Ty, Colter, and others didn't really express any concern about the Cats winning. Close game, yes, but a Cats victory none the less.

Couple things. Tim plough indicated they've finally gotten healthy, as I think they were down some starters on defense in those games. And i think with him as a first year head coach and at least a partially new staff i think they've continued to improve all the way along.
I think, as a new coach, he made a mistake this week. Talking in the media about how this is the biggest game in program history, while probably true, maybe isn't the best way to set the narrative against a team that's all business, 1-0 mindset all day every day. Easy way to get doubt creeping in early, IMO, if we are able to start fast and get them down early, hit a couple big plays, whatever the case. "Oh damn, biggest game in history and we're blowing it!" Then you're pressing, and it snowballs. That may never bear out but I thought it was an interesting choice.

[nanacat]

Serious question... how did UCD barely squeek by Idaho and PSU? The Cats dominated both. I get winning in Missoula was huge, and by that margin, but to need last minute heroics in those two other games? Did they make a bunch of adjustments after those games? Were they just fluke bad games? I'm not saying UCD isn't a good team, but I'm scratching my head a bit trying to understand why there's so much concern about them. Yes I'm nervous, but likely that's because of other posters expressing nervousness. Ty, Colter, and others didn't really express any concern about the Cats winning. Close game, yes, but a Cats victory none the less.

Couple things. Tim plough indicated they've finally gotten healthy, as I think they were down some starters on defense in those games. And i think with him as a first year head coach and at least a partially new staff i think they've continued to improve all the way along.
I think, as a new coach, he made a mistake this week. Talking in the media about how this is the biggest game in program history, while probably true, maybe isn't the best way to set the narrative against a team that's all business, 1-0 mindset all day every day. Easy way to get doubt creeping in early, IMO, if we are able to start fast and get them down early, hit a couple big plays, whatever the case. "Oh damn, biggest game in history and we're blowing it!" Then you're pressing, and it snowballs. That may never bear out but I thought it was an interesting choice.

Good point!

[coloradocat]

Serious question... how did UCD barely squeek by Idaho and PSU? The Cats dominated both. I get winning in Missoula was huge, and by that margin, but to need last minute heroics in those two other games? Did they make a bunch of adjustments after those games? Were they just fluke bad games? I'm not saying UCD isn't a good team, but I'm scratching my head a bit trying to understand why there's so much concern about them. Yes I'm nervous, but likely that's because of other posters expressing nervousness. Ty, Colter, and others didn't really express any concern about the Cats winning. Close game, yes, but a Cats victory none the less.

Couple things. Tim plough indicated they've finally gotten healthy, as I think they were down some starters on defense in those games. And i think with him as a first year head coach and at least a partially new staff i think they've continued to improve all the way along.
I think, as a new coach, he made a mistake this week. Talking in the media about how this is the biggest game in program history, while probably true, maybe isn't the best way to set the narrative against a team that's all business, 1-0 mindset all day every day. Easy way to get doubt creeping in early, IMO, if we are able to start fast and get them down early, hit a couple big plays, whatever the case. "Oh damn, biggest game in history and we're blowing it!" Then you're pressing, and it snowballs. That may never bear out but I thought it was an interesting choice.

They also shouldn't be calling it the biggest game in program history unless they are super confident they're going to win. They probably are that confident but that could be just as much a result of last week's game as it is how ready they are for us.

The press are saying they beat the Montana Grizzlies when they actually just beat the griz.

[St George]

Where are the pictures of the Bobcats walking thru the stadium, I am guessing they made it there.

[4KornerKat]

Where are the pictures of the Bobcats walking thru the stadium, I am guessing they made it there.

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight ... 9-sw-4828p

Not quite there yet

[Montanabob]

Where are the pictures of the Bobcats walking thru the stadium, I am guessing they made it there.

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight ... 9-sw-4828p

Not quite there yet

Wait? allegiant left on time and arrived only 5 minutes late? WOW.

[RockyBearCat]

Serious question... how did UCD barely squeek by Idaho and PSU? The Cats dominated both. I get winning in Missoula was huge, and by that margin, but to need last minute heroics in those two other games? Did they make a bunch of adjustments after those games? Were they just fluke bad games? I'm not saying UCD isn't a good team, but I'm scratching my head a bit trying to understand why there's so much concern about them. Yes I'm nervous, but likely that's because of other posters expressing nervousness. Ty, Colter, and others didn't really express any concern about the Cats winning. Close game, yes, but a Cats victory none the less.

This is how i feel. 2.5 score win.

[blueandgoldblitz]

Who has to have a better game to win, Tommy or the linebackers?