Week 8 Sagarin Projections

[ZifCat52]

Last week, the Sagarin projections were correct 3 of the 4 games bringing the year-to-date totals to 68.3%. The Sagarin predictions for the Cats games all year have all been wrong, Idaho State's games have been right 5 of 6 times. The Sagarin ratings have been right 74.5% of the time for the other Big Sky games excluding Montana State. By the way, Matt Daugherty claims a 72.4% accuracy rate so far this year.

This week's predicted winners are:

Montana over Weber State in Ogden
Northern Arizona over Sac State in Flagstaff
Portland State over Eastern Washington in Portland
Montana State over Idaho State in Pocatello

Northern Colorado is not playing this week.

The current projections for the final standings look like this:

Montana: 10-1 Overall, 8-0 Conference
Montana State: 7-4 Overall, 6-2 Conference
Portland State: 7-4 Overall, 6-2 Conference
Eastern Washington: 5-6 Overall, 5-3 Conference
Northern Arizona: 5-6 Overall, 4-4 Conference
Sacramento State: 4-7 Overall, 4-4 Conference
Idaho State: 3-8 Overall, 2-6 Conference
Weber State: 2-9 Overall, 1-7 Conference
Northern Colorado: 1-10 Overall, 0-8 Conference

With Daugherty picking MSU correctly last week and both he and the Sagarin ratings saying MSU will win this week, I hope all the alignment of the stars and planets and special curses that HelenaCat is doing will take effect and that the Cats will come home with a win.

[Eastcoastgriz]

The current projections for the final standings look like this:

Montana: 10-1 Overall, 8-0 Conference
Montana State: 7-4 Overall, 6-2 Conference
Portland State: 7-4 Overall, 6-2 Conference
Eastern Washington: 5-6 Overall, 5-3 Conference
Northern Arizona: 5-6 Overall, 4-4 Conference
Sacramento State: 4-7 Overall, 4-4 Conference
Idaho State: 3-8 Overall, 2-6 Conference
Weber State: 2-9 Overall, 1-7 Conference
Northern Colorado: 1-10 Overall, 0-8 Conference

What a beautiful thing!!!

[VictorG]

I too have pick you again this week. I'm now 1 and whatever on your games this year!

[Hell's Bells]

good god daurty(?) and saragin have picked us this week


I hope we win, because i am getting facial ticks right about now

[DaCats Forever]

I-AA.org gives us a nice shot for this weeks game and of course they picked us to win which makes me a little scared that everybody is picking our Bobcats.

Montana State (4-3, 3-1) @ Idaho State (2-4, 1-2), 1:35 Mountain Time

This game looked as if it would be one for the Big Sky title and it has lost a little luster with Idaho State not playing up to the preseason expectations but this game is very important to Montana State’s Big Sky and I-AA playoff chances.

Of course, Idaho State could still win the Big Sky title if everything falls their way. The Bengals would win the conference title with victories in their final five games, and one other Montana loss. ISU would be the playoff representative in that scenario if both Northern Arizona and Portland State each lose one more time as well. But first, the Bengals have to take on a Montana State team that has won three straight and ranked in the Top 25 for the first time since their three game losing streak.

The series between the two schools has been very close of late, with 12 of the 18 previous games being decided by eight points or less, and the last four have come down to the final 30 seconds. Montana State has won the last two meetings, including a 30-28 victory in Bozeman lat year.

So far, the Bobcats are undefeated on the road this season with a 3-0 mark away from Bozeman.

In spite of playing without its starting quarterback (Cory Carpenter) and starting running back (Evin Groves), MSU gained 414 yards and 22 first downs last week in their win over Sacramento State, 21-18.

Idaho State is coming off a blowout loss at Portland State, 34-13. Highly touted senior, Michigan transfer quarterback Matt Gutierrez threw for just 144 yards and was intercepted three times in the loss for the Bengals.

Coach Mike Kramer of MSU will gun for his 50th career Big Sky Conference victory on Saturday against Idaho State. Kramer has a career league record of 49-43.

I think Coach Kramer and the Bobcats seem like they are starting to get on a role like in years past after weak starts and I think will come out victorious in Pocatello. However, the game will likely be close. I will take Montana State by a touchdown.