It seems to pretty simple to me...

[Obzerver]

I've seen you both (MSU & UM) vs EWU and why there is a question on who will win is beyond me. 1) MSU stopped a great RB in R. Cole, period. 2) Slowed down a great QB in Meyer like no team has done before. 3) Lulay had a two-fold negative against him when he got hammered in the first qtr. (by a "Noble Prize Hit") and then complicated with all those dropped passes vs EWU... this will not occur in "The Brawl". MSU will; 1) Chill the UM run. like they did to EWU. 2) Force the passing game on a Rookie and therefore capitalize on his mistakes. 3) Will surprisingly be able to run on UM, not to mention that Lulay will not be denied...

[Cat-theotherwhitemeat]

oh oh, there's a flag on the play.



Penalty on Obzerver. Obsessive A$$ kissing...15 yards and a fine of one warm Oly to be served two years from now when EWU travels to Missoula again.

Carry on.

[iaafan]

The big problem is UM getting INT returns/Fumble returns/blckd punt and FG returns for TDs or to set up TDs. That's what they do well and that coupled with how MSU consistently makes mistakes is why MSU will have trouble winning it. Take away the mistakes and I'd agree with you, but MSU has shown no sign of not screwing up all year. Other than SFA, they haven't put together anything near a complete game. If they had, they'd be 8-2, 9-1 right now. The only losses they probably couldn't have avoided are to EWU and OSU. The C-P and PSU losses were just poorly played games, but even a bunch of wins were poorly played.

[Cat Pride]

The big problem is UM getting INT returns/Fumble returns/blckd punt and FG returns for TDs or to set up TDs. That's what they do well and that coupled with how MSU consistently makes mistakes is why MSU will have trouble winning it. Take away the mistakes and I'd agree with you, but MSU has shown no sign of not screwing up all year. Other than SFA, they haven't put together anything near a complete game. If they had, they'd be 8-2, 9-1 right now. The only losses they probably couldn't have avoided are to EWU and OSU. The C-P and PSU losses were just poorly played games, but even a bunch of wins were poorly played.

And I attribute this to coaching. If the kids continue to make these type of mental mistakes its due to not being prepared and not executing!

[elkmcc]

I've seen you both (MSU & UM) vs EWU and why there is a question on who will win is beyond me. 1) MSU stopped a great RB in R. Cole, period. 2) Slowed down a great QB in Meyer like no team has done before. 3) Lulay had a two-fold negative against him when he got hammered in the first qtr. (by a "Noble Prize Hit") and then complicated with all those dropped passes vs EWU... this will not occur in "The Brawl". MSU will; 1) Chill the UM run. like they did to EWU. 2) Force the passing game on a Rookie and therefore capitalize on his mistakes. 3) Will surprisingly be able to run on UM, not to mention that Lulay will not be denied...

Wait, there is laundry all over the field. This is most definitely a neutral zone infraction. Trying to make allies out of the Bobcats after flattening them last Saturday is a lot like the US trying to make friends with the Iraqi's after bombing them for 10 years.

[UpwithMontanaBoys]

The cats will be shell shocked by the hard hitting defense of the Griz.

It seriously has been the X-factor all season. EWU played out of their friggin minds against the Griz, and sealed the deal with 2 minutes left. It was a tight game, and the score gave those not here a feeling they cruised....that was not the story at all.


This will be a great game, good luck to the Cat Fans.


I hope the Griz can win it, it should be a classic for The red Headed one's final hurrah.


Go Griz

[CARDIAC_CATS]

The cats will be shell shocked by the hard hitting defense of the Griz.

It seriously has been the X-factor all season. EWU played out of their friggin minds against the Griz, and sealed the deal with 2 minutes left. It was a tight game, and the score gave those not here a feeling they cruised....that was not the story at all.


This will be a great game, good luck to the Cat Fans.


I hope the Griz can win it, it should be a classic for The red Headed one's final hurrah.


Go Griz

Was that the same crushing D that gave up 540 yards and 5 TD passes to Meyer? EW was in cruise control most of that game. Once they got a 2 TD lead they became a little conservative. EW even turned it over 2 times in that game so who knows, it could have been even 600+ yards that they tagged on the Griz.

I like what I saw from our defense the past few weeks. We are healthy and swarming and Berquist is no Meyer. Our D should eat up Berquist this week when they bring the pressure.

It's going to be a fun weekend this week Cat Fans!

Lulay goes out on top!

[SeeHarg]

Just a minor quibble:

1) MSU stopped a great RB in R. Cole, period.

snip

MSU will; 1) Chill the UM run. like they did to EWU.

Unlike they did to Porland State.

Hilliard is like Rubin, not Ryan Cole (who shows promise, but is nevertheless average this year). Rubin went for 140 and a couple scores against the hapless, can't-wrap-up-unless-the-back-of-my-jersey-says-Marudas Cat defense.

There's a reason Lex and Rubin are Payton candidates, and R. Cole's not.


I don't know how this weekend will turn out... the Cat D has been... bad lately. Except against Sac State. They didn't really slow Rubin down and made Sawyer Smith, the worst QB in the Sky, look like Marino. The receivers waver between brilliant and butterfingers. Hard to know who'll be there on Saturday.

The Griz offense, similarly, comes and goes. Who knows which bunch will show up?

[SeeHarg]

Lulay goes out on top!

Of what?

[El_Gato]

Yo Mama!!

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

[SeeHarg]

DON'T YOU GO TALKIN BOUT MY MAMA PUNK

[theblackgecko]

We should ask the Cal Poly fans who is going to win this weekend.

[SteelheadBum]

I'm a Cal Poly Fan; I say MSU will win!! GO CATS!!!!

[Helcat72]

We won with just Travis passing through the middle of the season, but lately teams have schemed to take his effectiveness away by playing zone with up to 6 DB's. The coaches now have to figure out how to attack that kind of defense...if they don't Travis will have another tough day trying to move the ball. We ran the ball fairly effectively last week but it was sort of an afterthought, and EWU didn't trash their defensive game plan when we did. We, however, panicked and trashed our running game when they scored two touchdowns. Our running game has to be a part of our attack and we have to use it as a primary weapon to draw the defense up. We have to make the Griz defense put 7 or 8 men in the box to stop it...then we can pass effectively, because with their D-line pass rush and 6 or 7 players covering the second and third level, Travis will be under tremendous pressure and a replay of EWU will happen. We have to establish a running game not just use it for a change of pace.

[SteelheadBum]

MSU will lose if we can't run the ball and our special teams continue to suck. Just score more points than the griz!! GO CATS!!!!!!!!!!

[GrizinWashington]

I've seen you both (MSU & UM) vs EWU and why there is a question on who will win is beyond me. 1) MSU stopped a great RB in R. Cole, period. 2) Slowed down a great QB in Meyer like no team has done before. 3) Lulay had a two-fold negative against him when he got hammered in the first qtr. (by a "Noble Prize Hit") and then complicated with all those dropped passes vs EWU... this will not occur in "The Brawl". MSU will; 1) Chill the UM run. like they did to EWU. 2) Force the passing game on a Rookie and therefore capitalize on his mistakes. 3) Will surprisingly be able to run on UM, not to mention that Lulay will not be denied...

Obz makes some decent points here. However, comparing Cole to Lex is rather laughable. And I really doubt that MSU will be able to run on Montana when no one else has consistently all year long. That said, the Griz offense concerns me a bit. I think it will come down to the MSU offense vs. the Griz special teams. If MSU's offense is on fire, it could be a long day for the Griz. But if it's close, Montana's superior special teams will win it.

[catsrback76]

We won with just Travis passing through the middle of the season, but lately teams have schemed to take his effectiveness away by playing zone with up to 6 DB's. The coaches now have to figure out how to attack that kind of defense...if they don't Travis will have another tough day trying to move the ball. We ran the ball fairly effectively last week but it was sort of an afterthought, and EWU didn't trash their defensive game plan when we did. We, however, panicked and trashed our running game when they scored two touchdowns. Our running game has to be a part of our attack and we have to use it as a primary weapon to draw the defense up. We have to make the Griz defense put 7 or 8 men in the box to stop it...then we can pass effectively, because with their D-line pass rush and 6 or 7 players covering the second and third level, Travis will be under tremendous pressure and a replay of EWU will happen. We have to establish a running game not just use it for a change of pace.

Good post Hellcat. Our coaching staff needs to grow the cahonnies needed to run the ball against the Griz. IF we make that commitment with Groves, then he will get his yards too. That will allow for the pass to open up more even if they play zone. Then the game becomes a Lulay moment. He will have the game he wants rather than the game the D coach for the Griz is calling. RUN the ball more than 13 times--- please-- give it 20 in a game and let's see what that creates for Travis.

[BozoneCat]

Weather could prove to be a factor on Saturday as well. Our offense hasn't looked good the last two weeks in the cold weather, and cold weather usually favors a run-oriented team. It is all mental, though. If it is cold (and you have to think it will be), then Travis and all of our receivers have to be mentally prepared to not let it affect their game. If we drop balls all over the place like we did last week, we will get beat. The grass surface favors our team, though - the griz usually play terrible on grass now that they are sissified from playing on their fake turf.

[El_Gato]

If Cummings & Daniels from Sac State can put 180 rushing yards on the Griz D, I'm pretty sure Groves & Lulay can do some damage on the ground as well. And I'll bet the Griz were "leaning" toward the line of scrimmage more vs Sac than they'll be able to against Lulay, Gatewood, Guinn, Murray, and Miller as well.

All in all, I think our O is going to expose some weaknesses in the Griz D, IF Bailey will remain patient and IF our special teams & defense don't let us fall behind big or early. I know, I know, them's some pretty big IF's, but I do think our O will have unexpected success vs the "vaunted" Griz D.

[bozbobcat]

Weather could prove to be a factor on Saturday as well. Our offense hasn't looked good the last two weeks in the cold weather, and cold weather usually favors a run-oriented team. It is all mental, though. If it is cold (and you have to think it will be), then Travis and all of our receivers have to be mentally prepared to not let it affect their game. If we drop balls all over the place like we did last week, we will get beat. The grass surface favors our team, though - the griz usually play terrible on grass now that they are sissified from playing on their fake turf.

As far as the weather goes, it shows close to 50 degrees and sunny with little (10%) chance of rain. It looks like nice weather. Field conditions should also favor the Bobcats. I'm not sure what shape the field will be in on Saturday because it has been covered with snow for the last week or so. If the snow melts off, it should be ok. If it's brushed off, bad news for the Griz.

For the weather forecast, here's the link.
http://www.weather.com/activities/drivi ... av_driving