The Bobcat Nation

read this morning that Utah just scheduled North Dakota for 2017 -- they look to be scheduling a Big Sky school every year lately
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=25470597&nid=840" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I thought I'd try to capture the Big Sky school play-up games. 15 games this year -- I'd be surprised if there are no wins playing up, even though they are all road games. My guess at best chances at upsets colored red

Big Sky vs. :
Pac12 7 games
MWC 6 games
WAC 0 games (edit -- 2 teams that will formerly be WAC as of July 1 will be MWC when the season starts -- thanks catgrad for the correction)
Sun Belt 1 game
MAC 1 game
Independent 1 game
C-USA 1 game

8/29
Sac State at San Jose State
SUU at South Alabama (Sun Belt FBS now)

8/30
NAU at Arizona

8/31
EWU at Oregon State

9/5
Sac State at Arizona State

9/7
MSU at SMU
Weber State at Utah
Cal Poly at Fresno State
UC Davis at Nevada
PSU at Cal

9/14
Weber State at Utah State
EWU at Toledo
Cal Poly at Colorado State
SUU at Washington State
UNC at Wyoming

9/21
Idaho State at Washington

11/16
Idaho State at BYU

Not to nit pick but I don't think any Big Sky teams are playing against the WAC. I assume you were counting Utah State and San Jose State but both are joining the MWC for next year. I found this website as a good place to attempt to keep track of all the schools movement.

http://collegesportsinfo.com/conference ... ment-grid/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think you're giving Cal Poly credit for being something they're not. They aren't in the MSU/EWU top tier of teams.

BLACKnBLUEnGOLD wrote:I think you're giving Cal Poly credit for being something they're not. They aren't in the MSU/EWU top tier of teams.

Cal Poly just seems to always play everyone tough. They never seem to put together a magical season, but I'd rarely want to bet against them in any one game.

BLACKnBLUEnGOLD wrote:I think you're giving Cal Poly credit for being something they're not. They aren't in the MSU/EWU top tier of teams.

I dunno, they were Co-Champs of the Big Sky last year

Fresno State did well last year under their first year HC, but Cal Poly has a history of playing up well

Cal Poly:
2012 won their only play up game vs. Wyoming (when's the last time we won a play up? 2006?)
Playoff loss on the road to SHSU 18-16 (much closer than we played them! total offense favored Cal Poly 387-241, but 3 TO's killed them)

They play Fresno early

I just think they have a better chance at a win than we do against SMU, or EWU at OSU, etc (SMU beat Stephen F Austin 52-0 last year, and Fresno State 43-10)

I almost put SUU as an upset potential against Wazzu (SUU is 1-2 in their last 3 play up games, with a respectable loss at Cal), but I think Wazzu will turn the corner this year

Might put EWU vs. Toledo on the watch list, Toledo's only play down game last year they beat Coastal Carolina 38-28


.... I don't mind being proved wrong though. especially if SMU is involved

BLACKnBLUEnGOLD wrote:I think you're giving Cal Poly credit for being something they're not. They aren't in the MSU/EWU top tier of teams.

the other thing to consider is that the top tier teams in the Big Sky have not always been the teams to win play up games in recent memory

2012 Wins
Cal Poly beat Wyoming
Sac State beat New Mexico State
EWU beat Idaho (yes EWU top tier but not an upset over Idaho!)
Sac State beat Colorado
NAU beat UNLV

2011 Wins
Sac State beat Oregon State
SUU beat UNLV (SUU not in Big Sky at the time)

2010 Wins
none
"woulda coulda shoulda" been MSU over Wazzu

2009 Wins
none