College Sports Madness Top 44 - Countdown

[codecat]

#40 Grambling State 2018 FCS
#1 SWAC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16422

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#39 Tennessee State 2018 FCS
#4 Ohio Valley
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16425

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#38 Bryant 2018 FCS
#1 NEC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16428

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#37 Western Illinois 2018 FCS (Leathernecks)
#7 Missouri Valley
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16433

This is a bit of a surprise as they are in the top 25 most other places. A new head coach but was assistant head coach before so don't see much changing. Still should see a strong passing game if some new receivers step up. Edit: I see this as our first opportunity to see just how much our pass rush has improved this year.

[Rich K]

#37 Western Illinois 2018 FCS (Leathernecks)
#7 Missouri Valley
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16433

This is a bit of a surprise as they are in the top 25 most other places. A new head coach but was assistant head coach before so don't see much changing. Still should see a strong passing game if some new receivers step up. Edit: I see this as our first opportunity to see just how much our pass rush has improved this year.

This part caught my eye

Western Illinois travels to Montana State and Illinois before hosting Montana in their non-conference slate. And, of course, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is always tough. WIU plays Youngstown State, Illinois State and North Dakota State in their first three conference games. If Western Illinois can go 3-3 in those games, they have a shot at the playoffs.

That's a heck of a way to start the season. We'll be able to see where we measure up in quite a few ways.

[codecat]

#36 Colgate 2018 FCS (Raiders)
#1 Patriot
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16436

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#35 Charleston Southern - 2018 FCs Preview (Buccaneers)
#3 Big south
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16439

[Anacomando]

Cats need to bring the blitz to beat Western Illinois....they will be very solid! Cats d-line will determine that game!

[codecat]

#34 Eastern Illinois - 2018 FCS Preview (Panthers)
#3 Ohio Valley
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16443

[codecat]

#33 Stony Brook 2018 FCS Preview (Seawolves)
#6 CAA
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16446

Remember the stiff run defense these guys had???

[Cataholic]

If an am reading this right, with 32 teams left, there should be 7 from the Big Sky, 6 from the MVFC and 5 from the CAA?

[luckyirishguy25]

If an am reading this right, with 32 teams left, there should be 7 from the Big Sky, 6 from the MVFC and 5 from the CAA?

Apparently Hero Sports loves the Big Sky this year. I see a lot of tough teams, and we'll see how we shake out with the MVFC games. That should give us an idea how tough the Big sky will be this year.

[codecat]

#32 Sacramanto State 2018 FCS Preview (Hornets)
#6 Big Sky
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16449

[BleedingBLue]

I'm not so sure we're even going to be on this list.

[Catsrgrood]

I'm not so sure we're even going to be on this list.

Nothing’s for sure, but I’d be surprised if they have the Cats at 9th or worst in the Big Sky

[BleedingBLue]

I'm not so sure we're even going to be on this list.

Nothing’s for sure, but I’d be surprised if they have the Cats at 9th or worst in the Big Sky

EWU, NAU, UM and Idaho will no doubt be on the list. Only 2 of Davis, SUU and the Cats will be on the list it seems. Based on last year's results, the fact SUU returns almost every starter, Davis has a top 10 QB in the nation and we don't know who our QB is, I wouldn't be surprised if we're not on the list. Not that it matters though since well be on it by seasons end.

[Bobcatsinmso]

I would not be surprised at all if the Bobcats do not make the list. the Cats did not prove on the field of play anything that would merit the ranking from last season. Close losses do not matter. Wins matter. I am only concerned about where they will be ranked on Sunday November 18th. I am willing to bet that the ranking will be in the top 24 teams chosen by the playoff committee.

[Catsrgrood]

I'm not so sure we're even going to be on this list.

Nothing’s for sure, but I’d be surprised if they have the Cats at 9th or worst in the Big Sky

EWU, NAU, UM and Idaho will no doubt be on the list. Only 2 of Davis, SUU and the Cats will be on the list it seems. Based on last year's results, the fact SUU returns almost every starter, Davis has a top 10 QB in the nation and we don't know who our QB is, I wouldn't be surprised if we're not on the list. Not that it matters though since well be on it by seasons end.

Yea, good point. You might be right then. Certainly not something I’ll lose sleep over, but still a bit surprising that they aren’t on this top 44 list, if indeed it works out that way.

[Cataholic]

I'm not so sure we're even going to be on this list.

Nothing’s for sure, but I’d be surprised if they have the Cats at 9th or worst in the Big Sky

EWU, NAU, UM and Idaho will no doubt be on the list. Only 2 of Davis, SUU and the Cats will be on the list it seems. Based on last year's results, the fact SUU returns almost every starter, Davis has a top 10 QB in the nation and we don't know who our QB is, I wouldn't be surprised if we're not on the list. Not that it matters though since well be on it by seasons end.

Yea, good point. You might be right then. Certainly not something I’ll lose sleep over, but still a bit surprising that they aren’t on this top 44 list, if indeed it works out that way.

Not so sure about Davis. They 3-5 in conference and 5-6 overall last year. I would be surprised if they are ranked ahead of MSU.

Also, UM had one win against a team with a winning record. That team was NAU and NAU lost their All-American QB in the first quarter. They also had two wins against two of the worst football programs in FCs football. How does UM warrant any respect at all, especially after losing their freshman All American starting quarterback?

[BleedingBLue]

I'm not so sure we're even going to be on this list.

Nothing’s for sure, but I’d be surprised if they have the Cats at 9th or worst in the Big Sky

EWU, NAU, UM and Idaho will no doubt be on the list. Only 2 of Davis, SUU and the Cats will be on the list it seems. Based on last year's results, the fact SUU returns almost every starter, Davis has a top 10 QB in the nation and we don't know who our QB is, I wouldn't be surprised if we're not on the list. Not that it matters though since well be on it by seasons end.

Yea, good point. You might be right then. Certainly not something I’ll lose sleep over, but still a bit surprising that they aren’t on this top 44 list, if indeed it works out that way.

Not so sure about Davis. They 3-5 in conference and 5-6 overall last year. I would be surprised if they are ranked ahead of MSU.

Also, UM had one win against a team with a winning record. That team was NAU and NAU lost their All-American QB in the first quarter. They also had two wins against two of the worst football programs in FCs football. How does UM warrant any respect at all, especially after losing their freshman All American starting quarterback?

Davis has a great QB and we don't know if we have even a decent one yet. I'm definitely not saying UM should get a nod over us, but I'm sure they will. They always get love from national polsters and FCS "experts". Plus the name Booby Hauck for some reason makes the pollsters and experts giddy. It's possible not all the top 8 big sky teams (however he comes up with that number) get on the list anyway since Weber was 8 and Sac State is 6, but 7 hasn't shown up yet.