2015 schedule and reasonable expectations

[eaglesfootball]

Taking a look at this schedule and considering the youth of the team we have returning, what are reasonable expectations for this year? I put a W next to games that we should clearly be favored in.

Sep. 5 at Oregon (L)
Sep. 12 at UNI (Push)
Sep. 19 Montana State (Push)
Sep. 26 at Sacramento State * (W)
Oct. 10 Cal Poly * Hall of Fame Day (Push)
Oct. 17 at Idaho State * (Push)
Oct. 24 at Northern Colorado * (W)
Oct. 31 Weber State * (W)
Nov. 7 Northern Arizona * (W)
Nov. 14 at Montana * (Push)
Nov. 21 Portland State * Senior Day (W)

I see a most likely record of 7-4, with an absolute best of 9-2.

 

[EWURanger]

I'm hopeful for an 8-3 finish. If we can weather the storm early (maybe steal a win from UNI on the road), then the rest of the schedule we can handle. Most likely FCS losses are against UNI, MSU, UM, and CP.

 

[DefendtheRed]

8-3 feels very optimistic given the extreme difficulty of the early part of our schedule. We could easily lose our first three games of the season, and if we do that it'll be backs against the wall for the remaining games. Add to that several underclassmen playing in key positions and an unproven QB #1, and it's not a good position to be in.

 

[Hambone]

I guess I am a big time homer but I went with 9-2. Every FCS game on the schedule in winnable.

 

[Seattle Eagle]

I guess I am a big time homer but I went with 9-2. Every FCS game on the schedule in winnable.

I agree, we aren't playing NDSU 10 times. That being said, I think we will lose two of our FCS games and finish at 8-3 in the regular season.

 

[marceagfan5]

I think we can be a top 5 team to end the year, but we can't start 0-2. That UNI game is going to be huge for us. I think we are in for big things if we can start the year 2-1.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Sep. 12 at UNI
Sep. 19 Montana State
Sep. 26 at Sacramento State *
Oct. 10 Cal Poly *
Oct. 17 at Idaho State *

This stretch of games will make or break us. You could even be more specific and say those first two may be the deciders of our season. It is 1 in a million to beat Oregon, so it's pretty safe to say we're 0-1 and headed to Waterloo. Lose that UNI game, and we're in a world of shit. This is especially scary considering we've never won in the UNIDome... although we've come close a few times.

We need to win 4 of 5 in this stretch. It seems like almost every year, we play one dogshit game in the later part of the season, so we really need to come out of this stretch at no worse than 4-2. This is a horrific schedule; we've got an FBS team that will be ranked in the top 5, maybe even top 2. Then we've got 3 road games out of 5 where 4 teams could easily be ranked in the top 25 at game time.

If anyone can explain the logic of this schedule, I'd love to hear it. I wish the road game against UNI was replaced with a home game against Morehead State.

 

[MLEagle]

Lose to Oregon and one none Montana Big Sky foe. We win the other 9 games on the schedule.

 

[EWURanger]

Lose to Oregon and one none Montana Big Sky foe. We win the other 9 games on the schedule.

MSU and CP are my early favorites to win the Big Sky. I think we have a shot as well but both of those teams are in a better position to do so going into the season. Not sure what to think of Montana; may take them a year or two to get going but I guess we'll see.

 

[EWURanger]

Sep. 12 at UNI
Sep. 19 Montana State
Sep. 26 at Sacramento State *
Oct. 10 Cal Poly *
Oct. 17 at Idaho State *

This stretch of games will make or break us. You could even be more specific and say those first two may be the deciders of our season. It is 1 in a million to beat Oregon, so it's pretty safe to say we're 0-1 and headed to Waterloo. Lose that UNI game, and we're in a world of shit. This is especially scary considering we've never won in the UNIDome... although we've come close a few times.

We need to win 4 of 5 in this stretch. It seems like almost every year, we play one dogshit game in the later part of the season, so we really need to come out of this stretch at no worse than 4-2. This is a horrific schedule; we've got an FBS team that will be ranked in the top 5, maybe even top 2. Then we've got 3 road games out of 5 where 4 teams could easily be ranked in the top 25 at game time.

If anyone can explain the logic of this schedule, I'd love to hear it. I wish the road game against UNI was replaced with a home game against Morehead State.

There's definitely no fluff in the schedule. Depth will be key. More specifically, depth on the defensive line. That's my biggest area of concern going into the season. I'm hoping all that experience those young guys got last season pays off. Anyone heard anything about Evan Day?

 

[LDopaPDX]

Lose to Oregon and one none Montana Big Sky foe. We win the other 9 games on the schedule.

MSU and CP are my early favorites to win the Big Sky. I think we have a shot as well but both of those teams are in a better position to do so going into the season. Not sure what to think of Montana; may take them a year or two to get going but I guess we'll see.

Cal Poly gives the rest of the league fits, but we've beaten them every time out with Baldwin. I think Wulff only lost to them once. Before that, Kramer split with them early in their FCS years. We have been really solid against them recently.

Having so much talent, size, and experience on OL, we should be a favorite. The schedule is the primary thing working against us.

 

[USMC EAGLE]

I only live about 4 hours from the UNI campus so I am pumped about the game with them. I think 8-3 is going to be our record. Losses to Oregon, Idaho St. and MSU. Im thinking 7-1 during the BSC games.

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

USMC Eagle,
If you get the Eastern Magazine, be ready to read about the information the President spoke about reference the Gateway Project. This is nice news. Here is hoping for the best. Here listening to Golden State work for the Championship. Up by 10 8 minutes left in the game. Vic Wallace

 

[GoldenEagle]

I like watching competitive games. If I wanted to go to home games and watch my team dominate weak non-conference opponents than I would be a University of Montana fan.

 

[clawman1]

I like watching competitive games. If I wanted to go to home games and watch my team dominate weak non-conference opponents than I would be a University of Montana fan.

:thumb:
We all rise to the level of our competition to some degree. To play a bunch of chumps does no good. Have some faith, if we come out of the first 4 games 3-1, which I believe is a very reasonable expectation, we'll be in good shape.

 

[MTGrizFan]

I like watching competitive games. If I wanted to go to home games and watch my team dominate weak non-conference opponents than I would be a University of Montana fan.

Yes, because North Dakota State, Cal Poly, and Liberty are weak non-conference opponents. That's a new one. :lol:

 

[GoldenEagle]

I like watching competitive games. If I wanted to go to home games and watch my team dominate weak non-conference opponents than I would be a University of Montana fan.

Yes, because North Dakota State, Cal Poly, and Liberty are weak non-conference opponents. That's a new one. :lol:

Montana fans have great selective memory. They can tell you what the griz record was for any season in the past 25 years but quickly forget they played at home Ft.Lewis and Western State college each twice in the 2000s. The pansy award goes to Oklahoma Panhandle State who the griz played in 2013. Cream puff time.

 

[clawman1]

I like watching competitive games. If I wanted to go to home games and watch my team dominate weak non-conference opponents than I would be a University of Montana fan.

Yes, because North Dakota State, Cal Poly, and Liberty are weak non-conference opponents. That's a new one. :lol:

Montana fans have great selective memory. They can tell you what the griz record was for any season in the past 25 years but quickly forget they played at home Ft.Lewis and Western State college each twice in the 2000s. The pansy award goes to Oklahoma Panhandle State who the griz played in 2013. Cream puff time.

They also neglect to mention the years they ducked out of playing Cal Poly by paying them off.

 

[EWURanger]

I like watching competitive games. If I wanted to go to home games and watch my team dominate weak non-conference opponents than I would be a University of Montana fan.

Yes, because North Dakota State, Cal Poly, and Liberty are weak non-conference opponents. That's a new one. :lol:

Montana fans have great selective memory. They can tell you what the griz record was for any season in the past 25 years but quickly forget they played at home Ft.Lewis and Western State college each twice in the 2000s. The pansy award goes to Oklahoma Panhandle State who the griz played in 2013. Cream puff time.

They also neglect to mention the years they ducked out of playing Cal Poly by paying them off.

But love pointing out when MSU has done it. :lol:

 

[MTGrizFan]

I like watching competitive games. If I wanted to go to home games and watch my team dominate weak non-conference opponents than I would be a University of Montana fan.

Yes, because North Dakota State, Cal Poly, and Liberty are weak non-conference opponents. That's a new one. :lol:

Montana fans have great selective memory. They can tell you what the griz record was for any season in the past 25 years but quickly forget they played at home Ft.Lewis and Western State college each twice in the 2000s. The pansy award goes to Oklahoma Panhandle State who the griz played in 2013. Cream puff time.

They also neglect to mention the years they ducked out of playing Cal Poly by paying them off.

But love pointing out when MSU has done it. :lol:

Big difference is we made it up to Cal Poly by doing two home-and-home series before they were Big Sky members from 2008-2011. And of course every team plays cupcake games once in a while. You wanna talk cream puff? At least Montana hasn't scheduled an NAIA team... AN NAIA TEAM! :rofl: