The Bobcat Nation

The Sports Network had a great article on the strength of schedules in 1-AA. MSU was rated as the fifth toughest schedule in the all of 1-AA. THe game against SFA was listed as one of the best matchups of the year.

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.as ... 877979.htm

Dougherty's analysis is bunk. Anyone who considers Suc State to be on a tough schedule is downright nuts, and most teams get off the hook for the I-A games.
That being said, although Dougherty is full of junk, the Bobcats have a very tough non-confernce schedule, one where they cannot afford to take many losses.

theblackgecko wrote:Dougherty's analysis is bunk. Anyone who considers Suc State to be on a tough schedule is downright nuts, and most teams get off the hook for the I-A games.
That being said, although Dougherty is full of junk, the Bobcats have a very tough non-confernce schedule, one where they cannot afford to take many losses.

Do these hard feelings stem from the lack of respect that the Griz received in this article?

The blackgecko's analysis of Dougherty's analysis is bunk. Anyone who considers playing SSU as something that makes playing New Hampshire, @ Portland State, @ Stanford, @ Stephen F. Austin, and @ Eastern Washington easy is downright nuts.
That being said, although theblackgecko is full of junk, he probably didn't realize that Dougherty was simply listing ALL non-conf. games, not just the tough ones.

Yeah, when a program has a losing overall record to Sac State (6-7), they tend to give them a lot more respect than Sac deserves. But, you all are right about the rest of the schedule for Davis and Cal-Poly being difficult.

Even with the 7 win criteria for the playoffs (rather than 3 or fewer losses), the powers that be in I-AA are very forgiving of losses to I-A schools. As a result, a lot of schools treat road games as bye weeks, with starters getting a good amount of rest. Most of Dougherty's analysis considers schedules to be difficult based on the number of I-A games, which are overrated compared to non-conference games against I-AA schools from the "power 5" conferences.

And, mquast52k, Dougherty is calling the Griz as likely to upset Oregon. So, Dougherty is giving a decent amount of respect to the Montana program.

theblackgecko wrote:And, mquast52k, Dougherty is calling the Griz as likely to upset Oregon. So, Dougherty is giving a decent amount of respect to the Montana program.

Further proof that Dougherty is an idiot...

I don't think he said it was LIKELY that the Griz would beat Oregon, but interpret it how you want. Personally, I doubt the Griz will give Oregon that much of a game so early in the season with your QB situation, especially considering that you haven't done that well on the road.

In fact, I have a bet with a Griz an buddy that the Cat's will make a better showing against OSU than the Griz against Oregon. Come on cats... win me that bottle of crown!

In fact, I have a bet with a Griz an buddy that the Cat's will make a better showing against OSU than the Griz against Oregon. Come on cats... win me that bottle of crown!

I was thinking about that a while back. Might be a good poll question. Which Big Sky team will give their I-A opponet the most trouble? MSU/OSU, UM/Oregon, PSU/Boise, PSU/Oregon St, NAU/AZ and Sac. St/Cal? I think Sac. St. is going to get smoked. I think PSU will too in both games, although Anderson at Oregon St. finally graduated, that should help a little. I think NAU has the best shot at the upset or making it close. I think we have an inexperienced QB and Oregon signed the #1 running back in the nation this year, throw in the fact it's at Autzen, enough said. I think MSU is also in trouble. The Cats haven't exactly come out blazing early the last few years. I watched OSU in their bowl game last year and unless half that team graduated, ouch. They looked mighty fast to me.

Oregon is down. All the other teams seem to be headed in the right direction (even Arizona). Thus, I think Oregon might only win by 10 or 14. I think all the other games are 3 TD's in favor of the I-A teams.

Maybe a better question might be, "which game is the ugliest?"

I think it will be BSU vs. PSU. If PSU holds Boise to under 60, it will be a miracle.