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Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:11 pm
I-AA West: Rivalries Highlight Conference Races in Final Week
Kent Schmidt, I-AA.org Columnist
Well, the end is now for I-AA but the scheduling given from both the Big Sky and Great West Conferences had their ducks in a row when the schedules were announced before the season. Both conference titles are still up in the air but the two races will be decided by head-to-head match-ups this week with two rivalry games to decide the two conference champions.
The other I-AA West conference, the Southland Conference, has also just two teams possible of getting that league’s crown but will have to do it with two separate games.
The final week of the I-AA history will certainly have some final fireworks, especially in the I-AA West.
What are the games this weekend that both are rivalry games and games that will help decide conference championships?
In the Big Sky Conference, all eyes will be on the “Brawl of the Wild” game in Missoula between Montana and Montana State. The winner of this game will be the automatic qualifier to the Division I playoffs. Montana State likely needs the win to get in, as a loss would result in the Bobcats gaining just seven wins with four losses. Montana on the other hand is likely already in the postseason but a loss would likely drop the Grizzlies from one of the top four seeds for the football tournament.
The two Montana schools will be meeting for the 106th time this Saturday in Missoula with Montana winning 65 times and Montana State winning 35 times with five ties. In the last few years, however, the Bobcats have had the better of the Grizzlies in winning three of the last four meetings including a 16-6 win for MSU last year in Bozeman.
The Grizzlies, however, did win the last meeting in Missoula two years ago when Montana made it all the way to the national title game. Montana won 38-22.
Montana enters the game undefeated against I-AA competition and the Grizzlies only loss was at I-A Iowa to begin the season. Montana State has a I-A victory on its resume in a defeat of Colorado but the Bobcats also have an embarrassing loss on their second game at home to Chadron State of Nebraska, Division II school, who by the way is undefeated going into the DII playoffs.
I-AA West Games of the Week
With two head-to-head games that will result in determining conference champions, I thought it would be worthy of two games of the week; Montana State @ Montana and South Dakota State @ North Dakota State.
#15 Montana State (7-3, 6-1) @ #2 Montana (9-1, 7-0)
Both schools have had been winning lately. Montana has won nine straight games, while Montana State has won six in a row so something has to give Saturday in this game. The winner will be the Big Sky’s automatic bid winner.
Montana is ranked #2 in the country and with a win, would likely gain a Top 2 seed to have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Montana State needs a win to assure itself of a playoff spot. A loss would give the Bobcats four losses and would likely be on the outside of the playoff hunt.
Montana State is coming off a bye week leading into this game, where as Montana played at Northern Colorado to a blowout win. The question often is whether a week off is helpful for this game or if playing a weaker opponent is better. I tend to think that having a bye week before a rivalry game is the better option.
Last week, I made the prediction of Montana State winning this game and I will not stray. I like the way the Bobcats are playing right now even though they tend to play to the level of their competition.
Montana has not won very convincingly over the past five games aside from last week’s blowout at Northern Colorado. Montana State, likewise, has not won convincingly either in any of their wins.
The statistics and home field seem to favor Montana but there is just a part of me that thinks that Montana State will pull off the win in Missoula. I will take the Bobcats by three in a rather low scoring game.
Kent Schmidt, I-AA.org Columnist
Well, the end is now for I-AA but the scheduling given from both the Big Sky and Great West Conferences had their ducks in a row when the schedules were announced before the season. Both conference titles are still up in the air but the two races will be decided by head-to-head match-ups this week with two rivalry games to decide the two conference champions.
The other I-AA West conference, the Southland Conference, has also just two teams possible of getting that league’s crown but will have to do it with two separate games.
The final week of the I-AA history will certainly have some final fireworks, especially in the I-AA West.
What are the games this weekend that both are rivalry games and games that will help decide conference championships?
In the Big Sky Conference, all eyes will be on the “Brawl of the Wild” game in Missoula between Montana and Montana State. The winner of this game will be the automatic qualifier to the Division I playoffs. Montana State likely needs the win to get in, as a loss would result in the Bobcats gaining just seven wins with four losses. Montana on the other hand is likely already in the postseason but a loss would likely drop the Grizzlies from one of the top four seeds for the football tournament.
The two Montana schools will be meeting for the 106th time this Saturday in Missoula with Montana winning 65 times and Montana State winning 35 times with five ties. In the last few years, however, the Bobcats have had the better of the Grizzlies in winning three of the last four meetings including a 16-6 win for MSU last year in Bozeman.
The Grizzlies, however, did win the last meeting in Missoula two years ago when Montana made it all the way to the national title game. Montana won 38-22.
Montana enters the game undefeated against I-AA competition and the Grizzlies only loss was at I-A Iowa to begin the season. Montana State has a I-A victory on its resume in a defeat of Colorado but the Bobcats also have an embarrassing loss on their second game at home to Chadron State of Nebraska, Division II school, who by the way is undefeated going into the DII playoffs.
I-AA West Games of the Week
With two head-to-head games that will result in determining conference champions, I thought it would be worthy of two games of the week; Montana State @ Montana and South Dakota State @ North Dakota State.
#15 Montana State (7-3, 6-1) @ #2 Montana (9-1, 7-0)
Both schools have had been winning lately. Montana has won nine straight games, while Montana State has won six in a row so something has to give Saturday in this game. The winner will be the Big Sky’s automatic bid winner.
Montana is ranked #2 in the country and with a win, would likely gain a Top 2 seed to have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Montana State needs a win to assure itself of a playoff spot. A loss would give the Bobcats four losses and would likely be on the outside of the playoff hunt.
Montana State is coming off a bye week leading into this game, where as Montana played at Northern Colorado to a blowout win. The question often is whether a week off is helpful for this game or if playing a weaker opponent is better. I tend to think that having a bye week before a rivalry game is the better option.
Last week, I made the prediction of Montana State winning this game and I will not stray. I like the way the Bobcats are playing right now even though they tend to play to the level of their competition.
Montana has not won very convincingly over the past five games aside from last week’s blowout at Northern Colorado. Montana State, likewise, has not won convincingly either in any of their wins.
The statistics and home field seem to favor Montana but there is just a part of me that thinks that Montana State will pull off the win in Missoula. I will take the Bobcats by three in a rather low scoring game.
