The Bobcat Nation

Ok – I have a bet coming up and need some good, unbiased (Heh-heh - this means you too, Meat! ) feedback from the board. Who will fare better in their 2005 money games – Cats or Griz?

My take:

Rumor has it that Oklahoma State may struggle somewhat this year due to loss of personnel, coaching change, etc. I know that has many of us licking our chops. However, while they may end up at or near the bottom if their division, they do play in the Big 12. We’ve started slow the past 5 years. We’ll hang around for the 1st half like we did against Colorado State, but they’ll pull away in the 2nd half and beat us by 17.

Montana will be breaking in a new QB, and receivers in an offense that is apparently so complicated that it took 1A drop-down and now NFL member Craig Ochs 1\2 a season to master. Because of this, the should probably whittle down the playbook and see if Hilliard, Waller, and their good O-line can move the ball against them. I predict they will do this and get the usual Griz breaks to keep it close in the 1st half. By then the 50,000 folks in Autzen will be wide awake and so will the Ducks. Given all this, plus the fact that the Griz don’t usually fare so well on the road, they’ll be doing well to keep this one within 21.

Looks like I talked myself into taking the Cats!

I think the cats should be able to put some points on the board. Maybe even 30. If the new wide open OSU O puts 50 on the cats watch out for the rest of the year becouse your D will be in the ******.

I have no clue about the Griz and Ducks. To many ? All I know is I hate money games they do nothing for the team. (other than the guys like playing in them.)

jagur1 wrote:I think the cats should be able to put some points on the board. Maybe even 30. If the new wide open OSU O puts 50 on the cats watch out for the rest of the year becouse your D will be in the ******.

I have no clue about the Griz and Ducks. To many ? All I know is I hate money games they do nothing for the team. (other than the guys like playing in them.)

And the fans like watching them! I have always been a fan of playing up a level (better team) as it makes your team better in the long run. Something to be said about playing good competition (assuming your team has good depth). MSU has had really good success playing up a level the last 5-8 years or so as they haven't sustained a lot of injuries when playing up. That is the only drawback that I can see, but it just doesn't seem to have been happening the past few years (maybe because the 1-A players are more elite/better coached technique wise maybe??).

haven't really paid any attention to the incoming kids, been busy with Army duties. how's the line up look for this coming season?

-brian

MSU has had really good success playing up a level the last 5-8 years or so as they haven't sustained a lot of injuries when playing up. That is the only drawback that I can see, but it just doesn't seem to have been happening the past few years (maybe because the 1-A players are more elite/better coached technique wise maybe??).

We don't get many injuries playing I-A teams we get our injuries during SPRING BALL!

jagur1 wrote:I think the cats should be able to put some points on the board. Maybe even 30. If the new wide open OSU O puts 50 on the cats watch out for the rest of the year becouse your D will be in the ******.

I have no clue about the Griz and Ducks. To many ? All I know is I hate money games they do nothing for the team. (other than the guys like playing in them.)

I dont like the $$ games all that much either, but I'd much rather see the Cats play OSU than see them play Adams St. I dont think you learn anything by playing down a division other than getting rooks some PT. Rooks get that same valuable PT against I-A teams too.

The perfect schedule would be replacing the OSU/CSU/WSU with more games against SFA, Sam Houston, McNeese St... or if you want I-A... play teams from the WAC, MAAC, Sun Belt, Conference USA. With those teams, you have a fighting chance at pulling the upset. Of course with those I-A games, there is no big payday.

gtapp wrote:

MSU has had really good success playing up a level the last 5-8 years or so as they haven't sustained a lot of injuries when playing up. That is the only drawback that I can see, but it just doesn't seem to have been happening the past few years (maybe because the 1-A players are more elite/better coached technique wise maybe??).

We don't get many injuries playing I-A teams we get our injuries during SPRING BALL!

I agree. The chances of kids getting hurt at the I-A level are the same as those playing against D-II teams or even scrimmages. If you are scared to play I-A games due to injury concerns, then I'd say you have bigger problems with your team depth charts and training regimine.

I have no clue what to expect from OSU but I agree that our O should be able to score some points thanks to all the experience we finally have on that side of the ball. The big ?? is how will OSU's offense & our defense play; I don't think anyone can safely predict that except that I would expect a Big 12 team to be able to pound the ball in the second half. If we trail, it's going to be tough to get enough touches to come from behind...

On the other hand, with the "experts" predicting Oregon to bounce back from a sub-par year, with a lot of experienced guys back and Bellotti wanting desperately to prove his abilities, added to the HUGE # of ???? for the Griz and I really think this shapes up as a laugher. I think Oregon will be up by 21+ by halftime and cruise home by 30+ and the Griz really WON'T know anything more about themselves...

El_Gato wrote:I have no clue what to expect from OSU but I agree that our O should be able to score some points thanks to all the experience we finally have on that side of the ball. The big ?? is how will OSU's offense & our defense play; I don't think anyone can safely predict that except that I would expect a Big 12 team to be able to pound the ball in the second half. If we trail, it's going to be tough to get enough touches to come from behind...

On the other hand, with the "experts" predicting Oregon to bounce back from a sub-par year, with a lot of experienced guys back and Belotti wanting desperately to prove his abilities, added to the HUGE # of ???? for the Griz and I really think this shapes up as a laugher. I think Oregon will be up by 21+ by halftime and cruise home by 30+ and the Griz really WON'T know anything more about themselves...

They will know that their team can beat up on a DIV II Ft. Lewis?

If the Cats want to keep things respectable, its all about getting pressure on OSUs QB so as to alleviate pressure on our DBs. I think Lulay and Co. can keep up with OSU scoring wise if the defense gets its share of stops.

I'd love to see a "W", but am realistic and see this as a 10 point win for OSU. 34-24 final score.

UM-Ducks... I see pretty much a blow out. Griz are going to have to slow it way down to keep things close, and Oregon's DL is probably second best in the Pac-10 only to USC, so good luck running the ball. 41-17 Ducks.

Cat Pride wrote:If the Cats want to keep things respectable, its all about getting pressure on OSUs QB so as to alleviate pressure on our DBs. I think Lulay and Co. can keep up with OSU scoring wise if the defense gets its share of stops.

I'd love to see a "W", but am realistic and see this as a 10 point win for OSU. 34-24 final score.

UM-Ducks... I see pretty much a blow out. Griz are going to have to slow it way down to keep things close, and Oregon's DL is probably second best in the Pac-10 only to USC, so good luck running the ball. 41-17 Ducks.

I sure hope that OSU game is televised locally here in Montana. If not, then I hope one of the Foxsports in the midwest areas pick it up as those usually aren't blacked out on my FOX SPORTS channel package I have.

[quote="CARDIAC_CATS They will know that their team can beat up on a DIV II Ft. Lewis? [/quote]

It's a home game so the Griz should win it.

OH, back to the original question of this thread, which I didn't directly answer:

I will be absolutely STUNNED if we don't perform better vs OSU than do the Griz against Oregon. I see us keeping it "close", not losing by more than 14, 20 at most while I think Oregon will be up by 30+ at some point in their contest...

I hate agreeing with Cat fans but I think in this case you are right. I see us getting crushed. This isn't like playing at Wazzu or Oregon St. where they have no fan base when they aren't playing well. This stadium will be packed and loud which will be tough for our new QB who is learning a new "O". Add that to the fact the Ducks signed the top running back in the nation and have a decent D, it could be a long game. On the other hand the Cats have an experienced "O" and a senior QB. If Kramer gets his ducks in a row again, the D should be very good. I see OSU winning but the Cats keeping it within 14-17.

I think Oregon will be up by 21+ by halftime and cruise home by 30+ and the Griz really WON'T know anything more about themselves...

And a loss by the Cats to OSU will show the Cats what exatly?

IMO, both the Cat's and Griz stand a good chance of getting smoked. Cat's will get beat by at least 21 and the Griz possibly more! My inlaws are BIG OSU fans and make all home games and several road games every year. I'll try to get some feeling from them on this years team. OSU is better than anyone here is giving them credit for.

VictorG wrote:IMO, both the Cat's and Griz stand a good chance of getting smoked. Cat's will get beat by at least 21 and the Griz possibly more! My inlaws are BIG OSU fans and make all home games and several road games every year. I'll try to get some feeling from them on this years team. OSU is better than anyone here is giving them credit for.

I agree in the part about OSU being better than some posters have inferred but I really think we're a lot better than they (OSU) give us credit for - the game is even money IMTUO. As for the griz, the ducks aint bad but they're not that good either - middle of the pack in the PAC. It's my hope that they both lose. Mabe a 0-0 tie and it gets dark and they lose electricity in the stadium that Phil built .

I'm looking forward to the whose better argument University of Oregon or Okie State after they both win.

DaGriz wrote:...And a loss by the Cats to OSU will show the Cats what exatly?

Da,

I'm just saying that this year's non-conference games are more critical for the Griz than normal because they have question marks at so many KEY positions. I'm pretty certain your quarterback(s) are in for a LOOOOOOONG afternoon at Autzen, so I don't think that game will do anything to really help you find answers at that position or for your passing game in general.

We, on the other hand, don't have as many questions to answer, IMO. Even though I'm picking us to lose to OSU, I'm confident that our offense will gain even more confidence if they are able to move the ball effectively against a Big 12 team. Defensively, I'm confident that our 2 Coach K's will NOT allow our D to look anything close to how bad it was at the end of last season...

In the same regard if the cat D gets lit up by OSU. I don't think that will do anything for finding the answers to all the questions that the cats have on D.
\
New scheme nobody knows how to play or coach
How good are your D line man in a 3/4
Can your DBs cover anybody
What about the DBs confidence after getting lit up by OSU
4 games of giving up 40 points and a 4 game losing stretch
Can your LBs get off the blocks in the new D.

My first question is what the hell is El Gato doing up at 5:16am, and posting on the Nation??

I'd like to play the optimist and say that both teams keep it close and actually have a chance to win it in the 4th quarter.......but, no. I agree with many of the reasons above. I don't know that much about OSU but I have to think that Oregon is a tougher place to play from what I've read/heard. That, coupled with the fact that the Griz will have an inexperienced qb are my reasons for thinking the Cats will perform better.

I'm thinking the two games will be 21+ point blowouts but have different routes to get there. The Cats keep it close until the third quarter when the Cowboys realize they need to step it up. The Griz take it in the shorts in the first half and make it somewhat respectful in the second half when the Ducks put in their scrubs. Cats lose by 21, Griz lose by 27.

That is all.