South Dakota - Let’s go 1-0

[Cataholic]

To me, this matchup is a blessing in disguise. I am not all overlooking USD, but this game seems like the perfect warm up/measuring stick for playing either NDSU or SDSU. Feel like USD plays a similar style of ball to NDSU and SDSU; smashmouth MVC style ball.

Did see their game yesterday and they confirmed what i suspected. They're big and tough in the trenches. Feels like their MO is get a lead, stop the run and lean on you. They did turn the ball over i think 3 times, so maybe they're susceptible to giving the ball away.

Think the Cats have a clear speed and athleticism advantage. USD also went toe to toe with a Davis team who turned the ball over 7(?) times; the same Davis team MSU dominated for 55 minutes.

Playing a MVC team in December seems to be the Bobcats kryptonite so it's hard not to have at least a little bit of doubt about this game. Helps we're playing in Bozeman. By 5pm on Saturday we'll know exactly what we are. I'm cautiously confident. The Cats seem to have that "it" factor about them. Just gotta slay that MVC dragon.

I am not sure if USD beats Davis if Larrison was not injured. I am guessing a number of those turnovers don’t happen as the game plan changed when Larrison was hurt.

[St George]

To me, this matchup is a blessing in disguise. I am not all overlooking USD, but this game seems like the perfect warm up/measuring stick for playing either NDSU or SDSU. Feel like USD plays a similar style of ball to NDSU and SDSU; smashmouth MVC style ball.

Did see their game yesterday and they confirmed what i suspected. They're big and tough in the trenches. Feels like their MO is get a lead, stop the run and lean on you. They did turn the ball over i think 3 times, so maybe they're susceptible to giving the ball away.

Think the Cats have a clear speed and athleticism advantage. USD also went toe to toe with a Davis team who turned the ball over 7(?) times; the same Davis team MSU dominated for 55 minutes.

Playing a MVC team in December seems to be the Bobcats kryptonite so it's hard not to have at least a little bit of doubt about this game. Helps we're playing in Bozeman. By 5pm on Saturday we'll know exactly what we are. I'm cautiously confident. The Cats seem to have that "it" factor about them. Just gotta slay that MVC dragon.

I am not sure if USD beats Davis if Larrison was not injured. I am guessing a number of those turnovers don’t happen as the game plan changed when Larrison was hurt.

I think you are correct. It is funny to me how the press says injuries hurt teams other than MSU and UCD.

[FA_Q_M]

To me, this matchup is a blessing in disguise. I am not all overlooking USD, but this game seems like the perfect warm up/measuring stick for playing either NDSU or SDSU. Feel like USD plays a similar style of ball to NDSU and SDSU; smashmouth MVC style ball.

Did see their game yesterday and they confirmed what i suspected. They're big and tough in the trenches. Feels like their MO is get a lead, stop the run and lean on you. They did turn the ball over i think 3 times, so maybe they're susceptible to giving the ball away.

Think the Cats have a clear speed and athleticism advantage. USD also went toe to toe with a Davis team who turned the ball over 7(?) times; the same Davis team MSU dominated for 55 minutes.

Playing a MVC team in December seems to be the Bobcats kryptonite so it's hard not to have at least a little bit of doubt about this game. Helps we're playing in Bozeman. By 5pm on Saturday we'll know exactly what we are. I'm cautiously confident. The Cats seem to have that "it" factor about them. Just gotta slay that MVC dragon.

I am not sure if USD beats Davis if Larrison was not injured. I am guessing a number of those turnovers don’t happen as the game plan changed when Larrison was hurt.

I agree. Again, blessing in disguise. I wasn't thrilled about pjaying Davis again.

[TomCat88]

To me, this matchup is a blessing in disguise. I am not all overlooking USD, but this game seems like the perfect warm up/measuring stick for playing either NDSU or SDSU. Feel like USD plays a similar style of ball to NDSU and SDSU; smashmouth MVC style ball.

Did see their game yesterday and they confirmed what i suspected. They're big and tough in the trenches. Feels like their MO is get a lead, stop the run and lean on you. They did turn the ball over i think 3 times, so maybe they're susceptible to giving the ball away.

Think the Cats have a clear speed and athleticism advantage. USD also went toe to toe with a Davis team who turned the ball over 7(?) times; the same Davis team MSU dominated for 55 minutes.

Playing a MVC team in December seems to be the Bobcats kryptonite so it's hard not to have at least a little bit of doubt about this game. Helps we're playing in Bozeman. By 5pm on Saturday we'll know exactly what we are. I'm cautiously confident. The Cats seem to have that "it" factor about them. Just gotta slay that MVC dragon.

I am not sure if USD beats Davis if Larrison was not injured. I am guessing a number of those turnovers don’t happen as the game plan changed when Larrison was hurt.

Yeah, it’s a tough game to get a good read on.

How do you weigh the two big turnovers on the goal vs the five interceptions by Hastings. Was USD’s 14-point win at home better than MSU’s 2-point win (after leading 30-8 w/10 minutes to go) on the road?

I think you’re right about the Larison factor but I also think the Aggies had to adjust their game plan after seeing how much pressure USD was getting on Hastings. USD was more physical up front than UC Davis imo. Are they as or more physical than MSU.

[Catprint]

What concerns me the most right now with out doing lots of analysis is the Yotes ability to take a close game and close it out in the fourth quarter. Particularly, the last 4 games against good teams:

vs. UND
...End of 3rd - 27-21 Yotes
...4th Qtr - score 2 touchdowns to put the game away

VS NDSU
... End of 3rd - 28-17 NDSU
... 4th Qtr - score 2 touchdowns to win 29-28

VS Tarleton State
... End of 3rd - 28-21 Tarleton State
... 4th Qtr - score 3 touchdowns to put the game away

VS UC Davis
... End of 3rd - 28 - 14 Yotes
... 4th Qtr - UCD scores to bring the game within one score
.... Yotes score and then intercept UCD in the end zone to put the game away

They average 14 points in the 4th quarter over the last 4 games against good or great teams. They trailed twice starting the 4th and were up by one score twice early in the fourth. They came away with the win in all four games. They are never down too much. They are the definition of a 4th quarter team.

[MSU01]

I've always worried a lot about the opponents and how good they were, but that has completely gone away this season and I'm just enjoying the games as they come. After watching all of the top teams I firmly believe that MSU has finally caught up to and surpassed the DSUs to have the best team in FCS this year, so to me if they play their game and don't make too many costly mistakes they should be able to beat anyone, anywhere this year. Does that guarantee that they'll win on Saturday or in Frisco if they get there - of course not, and the unpredictability of it all is a huge part of what makes sports so much fun to follow.

[TomCat88]

MSU is the only top five team with a road win over another top five team.

SDSU at NDSU L, 13-9 -58 total yards (biggest lead 7)
USD at SDSU L, 20-17 OT +54 (biggest lead 7)
NDSU at USD L, 29-28 +51 (biggest lead 14)
UC Davis at USD L, 35-21 -52 (biggest lead 14)
MSU at UC Davis W, 30-28 -83 (+106 w/10:00 left; biggest lead 22)

[kwcat]

What concerns me the most right now with out doing lots of analysis is the Yotes ability to take a close game and close it out in the fourth quarter. Particularly, the last 4 games against good teams:

vs. UND
...End of 3rd - 27-21 Yotes
...4th Qtr - score 2 touchdowns to put the game away

VS NDSU
... End of 3rd - 28-17 NDSU
... 4th Qtr - score 2 touchdowns to win 29-28

VS Tarleton State
... End of 3rd - 28-21 Tarleton State
... 4th Qtr - score 3 touchdowns to put the game away

VS UC Davis
... End of 3rd - 28 - 14 Yotes
... 4th Qtr - UCD scores to bring the game within one score
.... Yotes score and then intercept UCD in the end zone to put the game away

They average 14 points in the 4th quarter over the last 4 games against good or great teams. They trailed twice starting the 4th and were up by one score twice early in the fourth. They came away with the win in all four games. They are never down too much. They are the definition of a 4th quarter team.

That’s why we are both in the semi finals! Going to have to play a great game and get it done.

[tetoncat]

What concerns me the most right now with out doing lots of analysis is the Yotes ability to take a close game and close it out in the fourth quarter. Particularly, the last 4 games against good teams:

vs. UND
...End of 3rd - 27-21 Yotes
...4th Qtr - score 2 touchdowns to put the game away

VS NDSU
... End of 3rd - 28-17 NDSU
... 4th Qtr - score 2 touchdowns to win 29-28

VS Tarleton State
... End of 3rd - 28-21 Tarleton State
... 4th Qtr - score 3 touchdowns to put the game away

VS UC Davis
... End of 3rd - 28 - 14 Yotes
... 4th Qtr - UCD scores to bring the game within one score
.... Yotes score and then intercept UCD in the end zone to put the game away

They average 14 points in the 4th quarter over the last 4 games against good or great teams. They trailed twice starting the 4th and were up by one score twice early in the fourth. They came away with the win in all four games. They are never down too much. They are the definition of a 4th quarter team.

That’s why we are both in the semi finals! Going to have to play a great game and get it done.

Vs UCD close game through out. UCD had to attempt comeback without Larrison. He had 1/3 or more of offensive touches all year. 2023 they were shell of themselves when he was out. CATS dominated UCD early on road. Without Larisson they would have had no chance at comeback.

[WalkOn79]

Brode Grebe might just have a good day, He will be coming from the blindside on the Lefty QB for USD. By golly we might even see a holding call or 2 for a change. Any Word on which officiating conference crew for the game?

I see Brody/Kenny/Zack all having big days coming off the edge.

[The MICKSTER]

Brode Grebe might just have a good day, He will be coming from the blindside on the Lefty QB for USD. By golly we might even see a holding call or 2 for a change. Any Word on which officiating conference crew for the game?

I see Brody/Kenny/Zack all having big days coming off the edge.

I hope your right , because I think us getting pressure on their QB is going to be the biggest key for us.

[TomCat88]

I think MSU (49-17 and 52-19) and SDSU (35-18 and 55-14) have looked the best through the playoffs. Followed by NDSU and then USD. 15 of the points allowed by SDSU have come vs backups; 10 points allowed by MSU have come vs backups. So more like 49-10 and 52-16 for MSU's games with starters in; SDSU wins are more like 35-3 and 41-14 for starting units. MSU has played #16 and #6 Massey. SDSU has played #7 and #9 Massey.

[The MICKSTER]

Here is South Dakota's Football Coach Bob Nielson's press conference - MSU

[BFcatfan]

USD is obviously a really good team. Their OL bothers me. Big and block well. They don't use angles much, rather just be bigger and stronger. Their rb is good because of his line and his effort. I don't see anything that jumps out to me ability wise(speed, size, quickness,etc). With that said he maximizes every bit of his talent every play and he doesn't back down. He's the kind of back that will have 10 negative plays then on the 11th go for 80 because he just never stops running hard.

The qb is a statue. He doesn't like to throw on time. He needs for the wr to be clearly open for him to be comfortable throwing it. When he has to throw to a spot he double clutches or if he has to throw well covered guy he doesn't seem to have faith in either his arm or his wrs. Wrs don't scare me I think Idaho 's wrs are much better and outside of one really big play we held up well.

Defensively I was impressed with usd then I realized that larison wasn't playing. One play Larison was in on that I saw they scored on and he was a decoy, lol. They worry me because they are really really good in the redzone but so are we. We showed a level of creativity last game that I believe is going to cause usd some issues. Our OC gave them a lot to gameplan for that we didn't do in previous games, and they still have to figure out how to stop our bread and butter. I see us pounding the rock in this game, week 3 type of game plan.

What I suspect will be the flow of the game is we jump on them early controlling the clock being methodical. Tommy looks like last year Tommy, using his legs to influence the game early. Defense I think comes out on fire. We play tight sticky coverage and this qb doesn't like it. We'll get to the qb through blitzes which will also help clog up the run. They'll move the ball some but the combination of our offense controlling the time of possession and the aggressive nature of our defense will have us up going into half, more of the same in the 2nd half in which we have the 2s in beginning of the 4th.

Very good breakdown that I totally agree with. Not super impressed with their O. They had 6 take ways gave the ball away 3 times themselves for a +3 advantage. The score should have been spread another 14 pts in my opinion. I see us trying to stretch the field from side line to side with our speed like we did UT Martin… D will give up a few plays but they never panick, they adjust and buckle down. We win 45-28

[SparkCat]

I gandered at the USD forum. Their fan base is an extremely defensive bunch. 2506 and another poster greeted them with open arms and all they get is, ‘the Montana stadiums aren't nearly as loud as the Dakota Gravy Domes’.

[BelgradeBobcat]

I gandered at the USD forum. Their fan base is an extremely defensive bunch. 2506 and another poster greeted them with open arms and all they get is, ‘the Montana stadiums aren't nearly as loud as the Dakota Gravy Domes’.

I would guess they're the Dakota with the biggest chip on their shoulder.

[BFcatfan]

As a lifelong Lions fan, I’m hoping today’s game against the Bills is not the world giving me a sign

He’ll of a man to admit to being a Lions fan on a fan page. lol good on yah! I’m not superstitious so we’re good.

[damnyoutuesday]

I gandered at the USD forum. Their fan base is an extremely defensive bunch. 2506 and another poster greeted them with open arms and all they get is, ‘the Montana stadiums aren't nearly as loud as the Dakota Gravy Domes’.

"Fargo is louder and we play well up there"

They have won twice at NDSU since 2013. Scores at the FargoDome since 2013:

2013: L 0-42
2015: W 24-21
2017: L 14-49
2019: L 14-49
2021: L 24-52
2023: W 24-19

Sure I guess? Still don't think that's something to brag about

[CodyCat]

I went to their forum earlier today and there was a whopping eight posts. Two by 2506. USD is a really good team. But the reality is, nobody cares about USD in Soutb Dakota. They barely care about SDSU. I have a ton of family in SD and a bunch of hunting friends. I can count on one hand the amount of USD shirts I’ve seen. Certainly way more Jacks gear. But they’ve been dominate for a decade. I say all this to say, 4000 people for USD is pretty great for them. And for them to field a team like they have with the lack of fan support is really impressive.

[cyclonebasketballguy]

Coyote fan here. Coming in Thursday for what I expect will be a great game. Before I get into the game scenario I have a coup,e questions.

1.) Restaurant recommendation?
2.) Are opponents fans welcome to your tailgate?

Ok, now the game. Opening statement I’d make is I truly think this is the national championship game. Both NDSU & SDSU are good. We’re good. You’re good. Any of these final 4 teams can win it.

I’ve read how some on here think Davis was in the game the whole way. Mathematically yes….feeling no. If we played them 10 times on neutral field we’d win 8. As much as you had control at Davis it still came down to the last 2 point conversion. Football gets whacky at times. Same thing in our game. We were in control most the game.

I have deep respect for your team. They remind me of us. Resilient. Traditional schools of thought go out the window. You could jump on us by 14 early and I still think the game goes deep into the 4th. If we jump on you by 14 early I know it will go into the 4th.

Our QB is good. Dad was an NFL QB, so he has been developed for years. He’s playing his best ball right now. And he truly has a lot of weapons to throw to. Plus we have (2) RB’s that have both rushed over 1000 yards. Pierre is elusive and fast. Theiss is human bowling ball. He’d just as soon run over you as look at you.

Our defense is a bend but not break D. Front line is very good. Our secondary is pretty good, not great, but better than most in FCS Our linebackers have improved every week.

My personal belief is IF we can control your QB when he takes off. He’s extremely good and very dangerous. IF we control him I like our chances. If not, then it gets dicey.

I’ve been to your stadium twice. Love the setting. I love how you back the Bobcats.

Looking forward to my upcoming days in Bozeman. Would love to go back and forth with you all.