2025 Cat-Griz Prediction Thread

[mule]

I know Cats are a better team and I hope it shows on Saturday. Do you think Bison will fall from #1 seed even if they lose? If they do would they just drop to #2?

[GoldstoneCat]

I know Cats are a better team and I hope it shows on Saturday. Do you think Bison will fall from #1 seed even if they lose? If they do would they just drop to #2?

If they lost to st Thomas? That would be earth shattering. Chaos in the committee room. Especially if we won also. Pandemonium! Won't happen though.

[nanacat]

I rarely put in a prediction, only have a few times, and am truly hesitant to due to history. I very much think the Cats are the better team, it's just the being in Missoula factor that ruins my confidence. That being said, my gut tells me this is the year the Cats win there. I think the coaching staff for the Cats is better, several of them have been there before and are tired if not getting the win. I think Howe has done phenomenally this year and this game will be no exception. A long as Lamson keeps his head, we're going to be ok. Might be close but I think the trophy returns to Bozeman.

Can it be Saturday yet???

[RobertSebastianCat-81]

-- What gives me concern:
- UM beat Indiana State who beat SDSU who beat MSU. It's an interesting statistic that exists.
- Being able to stop their passing game. I saw the ends of the games the Gris played where they came from behind to beat ISU and UND. The offense seemed to gain first downs at will -- especially KAY finding wide open receivers. Add to this that he leads the FCS in passing yards and passing TDs.
- Lamson passes can be pretty inaccurate at times, and he calls his own number at times when he should have handed the ball off. Lamson's best runs are in response to a blown play, making something out of nothing.
- The lack-of-discipline penalties we incur, especially false starts -- this will be amplified in the environment of WaGriz.
- The Gris will try a fake punt, and some other cute plays to try to embarrass us.
- The Gris' proven ability to intercept passes.
- Vigen is 0-2 in Missoula.

-- What gives me hope:
- The home field advantage may not be such an issue -- this year a lot of Gris opponents were able to perform quite well there, especially EWU.
- The Cats always seem find a way to win in those games where they are sluggish, experiencing three-and-outs, unsuccessful running up the middle, etc.
- The Cats have done really well defensively against good passing teams who I expected might tear them up (NAU, UCD, ISU).
- Our return game appears to be better than theirs (Dowler, Woods).
- We lead in the majority of key statistics.
- A pick six in each of the past two games.
- I assume the coaches are going to insist that all kickoffs result in a touchback (don't kick to Wortham, Gillman).
- Against the UM DL, I see potential for more plays where the OL creates a hole for Davis for 40+ runs. I hope the coaches figured out how to do this by now as well as running Jones to the outside.
- We will for sure outscore them in the third quarter.

Bobcats 38, Pandas 28

[coloradocat]

Bobcats 30
Sad Pandas 20

Matching field goals in the first. Lamson can't get out of his own way and the griz script isn't as good as they thought. 3-3
Griz block a punt which leads to a short field TD at the beginning of the 2nd. We respond with a TD of our own. They score another TD before halftime leaving us not enough time to answer. 17-10
We come out strong after halftime and score 2 TDs (one with a missed/blocked PAT). We extend our 3Q shutout streak on defense. 23-17
The griz cut the lead to 3 with a FG and we respond with a clock eating drive to seal the game with a TD. Bobbi stares blankly from the sideline. 30-20


Or maybe, just maybe:
Bobcats 42
Fraud Pandas 13

Lamson's good. Special teams is good. Defense is great. Griz realize a cupcake schedule doesn't prepare you for real football. Committee realizes how ugly some of their wins were and pushes both Lehigh and Tarleton above them after both have dominant week 13 wins and the griz don't even get a chance to go to Fargo after losing in the quarters.

[Montanabob]

-- What gives me concern:
- UM beat Indiana State who beat SDSU who beat MSU. It's an interesting statistic that exists.
- Being able to stop their passing game. I saw the ends of the games the Gris played where they came from behind to beat ISU and UND. The offense seemed to gain first downs at will -- especially KAY finding wide open receivers. Add to this that he leads the FCS in passing yards and passing TDs.
- Lamson passes can be pretty inaccurate at times, and he calls his own number at times when he should have handed the ball off. Lamson's best runs are in response to a blown play, making something out of nothing.
- The lack-of-discipline penalties we incur, especially false starts -- this will be amplified in the environment of WaGriz.
- The Gris will try a fake punt, and some other cute plays to try to embarrass us.
- The Gris' proven ability to intercept passes.
- Vigen is 0-2 in Missoula.

-- What gives me hope:
- The home field advantage may not be such an issue -- this year a lot of Gris opponents were able to perform quite well there, especially EWU.
- The Cats always seem find a way to win in those games where they are sluggish, experiencing three-and-outs, unsuccessful running up the middle, etc.
- The Cats have done really well defensively against good passing teams who I expected might tear them up (NAU, UCD, ISU).
- Our return game appears to be better than theirs (Dowler, Woods).
- We lead in the majority of key statistics.
- A pick six in each of the past two games.
- I assume the coaches are going to insist that all kickoffs result in a touchback (don't kick to Wortham, Gillman).
- Against the UM DL, I see potential for more plays where the OL creates a hole for Davis for 40+ runs. I hope the coaches figured out how to do this by now as well as running Jones to the outside.
- We will for sure outscore them in the third quarter.

Bobcats 38, Pandas 28

isu beat sdsu without Carson.... not even a comparison.

[mule]

Run the ball run the ball and control the clock. Don't ask to much from the young QB till we control the clock and show some confidence. Pound it on the ground as long as we can then open up the book.

[profisme]

38-17 Cats win.

[MTmadeCat]

31-24 Cats.
Grind through the first half when the crowd is in to it and the only offensive concern for the Cats has been slow starts, then Cats take over in the third quarter which they dominate and Wa-griz is 3/4 empty.

[RICO CAT]

You know that team will come out with their hair on fire planning to capture momentum immediately, perhaps a deep pass down the middle on their first play. They are probably banking on the Cats starting out slow, I hope that’s not the case. Keep swinging no matter what !

[GoCats18]

Montana State—- 39
The other team—-16

[hilinegrizfan]

I think Cats have the better overall team but I also think Lamson gets rattled by the crowd, and I think Griz offense can put up enough points to win in a close one. Lamson is no doubt a baller but nothing can prepare a transfer player for how hostile this environment is. Who's the kid who quit your team the next day after getting destroyed here? was that McKay? lol I've never seen that before, ass kicked so bad that he quit the team the next day haha.

[ZebraCat]

Why are grispanda fans on this board so annoying and dumb?

[91catAlum]

I think Cats have the better overall team but I also think Lamson gets rattled by the crowd, and I think Griz offense can put up enough points to win in a close one. Lamson is no doubt a baller but nothing can prepare a transfer player for how hostile this environment is. Who's the kid who quit your team the next day after getting destroyed here? was that McKay? lol I've never seen that before, ass kicked so bad that he quit the team the next day haha.

He quit because he got benched the next week for Tommy Mellott. He hadn't been playing well, had the disaster in missoula, and lost his job.

[D-Wreck]

Why are grispanda fans on this board so annoying and dumb?

Because so many people here feed the trolls. They get exactly what they want, so they keep coming back. BN is the unsecured dumpster that these grissly bears keep coming to eat out of.

[Prodigal Cat]

I think Cats have the better overall team but I also think Lamson gets rattled by the crowd, and I think Griz offense can put up enough points to win in a close one. Lamson is no doubt a baller but nothing can prepare a transfer player for how hostile this environment is. Who's the kid who quit your team the next day after getting destroyed here? was that McKay? lol I've never seen that before, ass kicked so bad that he quit the team the next day haha.

McKay was in a fairly open feud with the OC by the time Cat/griz came around. He took a very hard hit against Weber about a month earlier and had started ignoring reads and handing the ball off no matter what because he was hit adverse. The Cats were good enough to squeak out wins but they played some bad teams plus the guy he was handing it to is probably the best RB to play in this conference in the last decade plus. Lamson is not McKay at all, and this is the 3rd or so time I've seen a griz fan try and make that correlation. Lamson loves to get and deliver hits. He probably should have gotten a penalty last week the way he was jawing and staring down Davis. So you can probably stick that wish back where you got it because it ain't happening.
Oh and McKay left because he and Housewright were irreconcilable and he got benched, not because the pandas were so scary. The starter that took over was a Butte kid that took us to the National Championship so we were fine.

[hilinegrizfan]

Why are grispanda fans on this board so annoying and dumb?

what was dumb about the post? I stated the cats have a better team over all. I paid respect to Lamson. and I reflected on a past griz game where your QB got his ass kicked so bad he got benched and then quit. all 3 of those are accurate.

[hilinegrizfan]

I think Cats have the better overall team but I also think Lamson gets rattled by the crowd, and I think Griz offense can put up enough points to win in a close one. Lamson is no doubt a baller but nothing can prepare a transfer player for how hostile this environment is. Who's the kid who quit your team the next day after getting destroyed here? was that McKay? lol I've never seen that before, ass kicked so bad that he quit the team the next day haha.

McKay was in a fairly open feud with the OC by the time Cat/griz came around. He took a very hard hit against Weber about a month earlier and had started ignoring reads and handing the ball off no matter what because he was hit adverse. The Cats were good enough to squeak out wins but they played some bad teams plus the guy he was handing it to is probably the best RB to play in this conference in the last decade plus. Lamson is not McKay at all, and this is the 3rd or so time I've seen a griz fan try and make that correlation. Lamson loves to get and deliver hits. He probably should have gotten a penalty last week the way he was jawing and staring down Davis. So you can probably stick that wish back where you got it because it ain't happening.
Oh and McKay left because he and Housewright were irreconcilable and he got benched, not because the pandas were so scary. The starter that took over was a Butte kid that took us to the National Championship so we were fine.

I never compared Lamson and mckay. I said i think he might get rattled by the crowd, it will be nothing he's ever experienced before. maybe its wishful thinking. Really excited for the game, mad respect for both programs. Montana is lucky to have it. if you make your way over, I hope you have a great time!

[profisme]

Why are grispanda fans on this board so annoying and dumb?

what was dumb about the post? I stated the cats have a better team over all. I paid respect to Lamson. and I reflected on a past griz game where your QB got his ass kicked so bad he got benched and then quit. all 3 of those are accurate.

I didn't have a problem with your post. I thought it was accurate other than McKay was in the process of losing his job even before Cat/Griz. As mentioned earlier, when he got pasted in that game against Weber, he was no longer the same QB leading up to that game and took away a major part of his game/Bobcat offense by not being willing to keep the ball on read option plays anymore.

[Montanabob]

all comes down to which set of referees do we get. good to see at least 3 officials are not eligible.

maybe the rest do a better job?

nah, wishful thinking.