Biggest Cat Griz Game in History?

[catatac]

Ya ya, there will be thousands of posts from here on leading up to this game, but I was thinking about this question. Winner preserves undefeated season, Big Sky Champs, unquestionably get the #2 seed and fast track to meeting up with NDSU in Nashville. Not knowing exactly how far the loser will drop in terms of seeding is interesting. Thoughts? If there was a more important Cat Griz in history, let's hear the year.

[Catsrgrood]

Hard to argue there’s been a bigger one, and that’s not recency bias.

There are 3 places that will be damn near impossible for the road team to pull out the win in the playoffs; Bozeman, Fargo and Missoula.

The winner of this game will get the benefit of that, the loser will have to prove it wrong. Not that it can’t be done but it will be a tall task for whoever has to try and do it.

[91catAlum]

Depends on what you mean by biggest. It’s probably the highest ranking for both teams, ever.

The 2018 game was for a playoff berth with the loser going home. So winning that one was very big.

2023 was also for the outright conference championship and home field. So that year was as big as this year.

But yes it’s a huge, huge game.

[coloradocat]

First time that the winner of the game can essentially be penciled in to the championship game (outside of a semifinal rematch).

[BgCATfan]

When was the last a team made it to championship game by winning a semi on the road ?

I could look it up, but I’m tired, didn’t get home and I’m bed until 1:45 this morning!

[onceacat]

Hard to argue there’s been a bigger one, and that’s not recency bias.

There are 3 places that will be damn near impossible for the road team to pull out the win in the playoffs; Bozeman, Fargo and Missoula.

The winner of this game will get the benefit of that, the loser will have to prove it wrong. Not that it can’t be done but it will be a tall task for whoever has to try and do it.

Fargo? Yeah.

Bozeman? Cats have lost a handful of times over the last 5 years at home...SDSU, NDSU, and Sac State. Weird things happen, but I don't see a team in the field that is better than 7 point dogs coming to Bozeman....Cats just beat a Top 10 team by more than 20.

Missoula? Unless you think that the Pandas are vastly better than the numbers they are showing on the field week in and week out, the Cats should be 1-3 point favorites. That means that even if the Cats lose, they are still 50-50 in the replay.

I just think that with the way that these Cats are playing, they don't lose 2 50-50 games in a row in Missoula. And given how the gris have struggled to put mediocre teams away, it's really hard to imagine them winning 2 50-50 games in a row.

[Catsrgrood]

Hard to argue there’s been a bigger one, and that’s not recency bias.

There are 3 places that will be damn near impossible for the road team to pull out the win in the playoffs; Bozeman, Fargo and Missoula.

The winner of this game will get the benefit of that, the loser will have to prove it wrong. Not that it can’t be done but it will be a tall task for whoever has to try and do it.

Fargo? Yeah.

Bozeman? Cats have lost a handful of times over the last 5 years at home...SDSU, NDSU, and Sac State. Weird things happen, but I don't see a team in the field that is better than 7 point dogs coming to Bozeman....Cats just beat a Top 10 team by more than 20.

Missoula? Unless you think that the Pandas are vastly better than the numbers they are showing on the field week in and week out, the Cats should be 1-3 point favorites. That means that even if the Cats lose, they are still 50-50 in the replay.

I just think that with the way that these Cats are playing, they don't lose 2 50-50 games in a row in Missoula. And given how the gris have struggled to put mediocre teams away, it's really hard to imagine them winning 2 50-50 games in a row.

I agree with all of that. But I’m talking about this year specifically with this field of teams. NDSU will be home throughout, so we don’t have to worry about them coming to Bozeman or Missoula. SDSU is a shell of themselves and will probably lose again and miss the playoffs entirely.
There is not another team in the field that I think comes in to Bozeman and beats the Cats, with the possible exception of the griz. The griz can probably feel about the same way, very few are coming into Missoula and beating the griz with their home field advantage, with the possible exception being the Cats.

You’re right though, the griz would have a hard time winning two 50-50 games in a row against the Cats, but what would drastically help their odds is having both of those chances at home.

I like this year’s Cats chances against anyone at home or on a neutral field. I’d rather not go back to the place that we would have just lost 4 weeks prior in this scenario. And it goes without saying I’d rather not have to go to Fargo.

That’s why this game is so big, secure home field and I really like our chances to get to Nashville. Lose and it gets drastically harder to get there.

[lutecat]

Here's what would be interesting about a Cat/griz olayoff game. What would the assortment of fans look like? Since tickets are up for grabs and noone sells out, you're going to see a lot of the other team's fans get tickets to the game. Or people that a griz fans with season tickets buying enough for their Cat friends to go. And vice versa. Kind of how it was when we first opened the end zone. You had a bunch of griz fans buying season tickets because they were $60 and then only coming to the last one.

[Prodigal Cat]

When was the last a team made it to championship game by winning a semi on the road ?

I could look it up, but I’m tired, didn’t get home and I’m bed until 1:45 this morning!

JMU knocked off NDSU in Fargo in 2016. The Bison nearly took out the griz in 2023, UIW had a fumble controversy in 2022 in Fargo, but 2016 was the last time a home team lost in the semis.

[seataccat]

When was the last a team made it to championship game by winning a semi on the road ?

I could look it up, but I’m tired, didn’t get home and I’m bed until 1:45 this morning!

JMU knocked off NDSU in Fargo in 2017. The Bison nearly took out the griz in 2023, UIW had a fumble controversy in 2022 in Fargo, but 2017 was the last time a home team lost in the semis.

It wasn't a semi final but the cats went on the road and beat the #1 seeded SHSU in 2021 to reach the championship in the quarter finals.

[Prodigal Cat]

When was the last a team made it to championship game by winning a semi on the road ?

I could look it up, but I’m tired, didn’t get home and I’m bed until 1:45 this morning!

JMU knocked off NDSU in Fargo in 2016. The Bison nearly took out the griz in 2023, UIW had a fumble controversy in 2022 in Fargo, but 2016 was the last time a home team lost in the semis.

It wasn't a semi final but the cats went on the road and beat the #1 seeded SHSU in 2021 to reach the championship in the quarter finals.

Yes but he specifically asked who’s won in the road to reach the National title game. Cats still had to win at home the next week after the Sam Houston game.

A few other home semifinal losses.
2013 Towson beat EWU in Cheney to advance to Frisco
2014 Illinois St beat #1 UNH at home to go to Frisco
2016 I looked and I just noticed JMUs opponent was also a semifinal upset. Youngstown beat EWU in Cheney as well

So there was a bunch a decade ago but not many since.

[kcatz]

Here's what would be interesting about a Cat/griz olayoff game. What would the assortment of fans look like? Since tickets are up for grabs and noone sells out, you're going to see a lot of the other team's fans get tickets to the game. Or people that a griz fans with season tickets buying enough for their Cat friends to go. And vice versa. Kind of how it was when we first opened the end zone. You had a bunch of griz fans buying season tickets because they were $60 and then only coming to the last one.

Home team season ticket holders get first dibs. We can request the whole post season or do it week by week. I would assume if if even remotely looked like that's how it could shape up that most would go back and request additional.

Sure the away team number will be larger than normal but it won't be 50/50 due to season tix