The Bobcat Nation

MARQUEE MATCHUPS

No. 16 Eastern Washington (7-3) at No. 23 Montana State (6-3), 2:05

I was worried when I made the travel plans to this game. I knew it would be a good matchup, but I had to hope back in September that the contest would have playoff implications. That and Montana in November probably wasn't my best option for great weather. To say the least, the game is still worth going to as the loser is out and the winner has a good chance to move on to the postseason. Montana State is going to have a bundle of fans around I-AA rooting them on, too. If Eastern Washington wins, the Eagles are in. And despite two early losses and a three-point defeat against Montana, the Eagles are the most talented team in the Big Sky conference. Sam Houston State, Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky or any of the top teams would hate to see Erik Meyer and the dangerous Eagles in the first round. The Eagles have won every game this season in a rout and are outscoring teams by more than 15 points per game despite starting slow. Meyer, running back Darius Washington (who is expected to play at below 100 percent) and wide receiver Erik Kimble present a dynamic trio for any defense to contend with. But the Eagles have always been able to score, and the difference this season is a defense that holds up its end of the bargain. The only question for Eastern Washington, at least against a team like Montana State, is how the Eagles will respond to a close game. The Big Sky teams that Eastern Washington blew out took the Bobcats down to the wire, but Montana State found a way to win all of those close games. If this one is tight in the fourth quarter, MSU will have the experience and Travis Lulay has shown a great ability to make winning plays when the game is on the line. The Bobcats also have the homefield edge, and if they can stay within a few points or have a lead late in the game I like their chances to pull out the win. But I think Eastern Washington has too much talent to let the game come down to a few plays. The Eagles are hitting on all cylinders on offense and MSU will have trouble slowing that down. The Bobcats gave up 36 points to Sacramento State last week, and the Hornets’ offense is nowhere close to the level of Eastern Washington. The Eagles won’t win in another huge blowout, but will take care of business before the final minutes and punch their playoff ticket. Prediction: Eastern Washington 31, Montana State 17

neverplayed wrote:Eagles to devour kittys

by 20 or more points, but Lulay will still probably pass for 600 yards.

MSU's Defense - DEFENSE - whats that?

Dougherty is going to be on 1090 KBOZ's Sports Nuts show in about 15 minutes to talk about I-AA football for anybody in the Bozeman area that is interested.

• Thinks the Big Sky is down overall this year as several decent teams are worse and the top teams are not as good as recent past.
  
  Thinks any of the three possible Sky playoff teams could win a first round game if they can get a home game, but doubts any will go past second round.
  
  Felt cream of the crop in I-AA recently has been GSU, Furman, and S. Illinois and the next 16-20 teams are all behind them. Seemed to me to show his recent entrance to I-AA football showing a bias there.
  
  Said he was impressed with what he knows/has seen of Roger Cooper and has heard alot about him being a good pro prospect.
  
  Talked about some of the other pro prospects in I-AA that I can't remember.