EWU @ Montana Predictions

[EWURanger]

Post them here. Not meant to replace SE's Official Game thread.

Rankings (All teams)
EWU: #92
Montana: #132

Records:
EWU: 5-2
Montana: 6-1

Versus Top 25 (All teams)
EWU: 1-0
Montana: N/A

Versus > .500 teams:
EWU: 3-2
Montana: 0-1

Versus < .500 teams:
EWU: 2-0
Montana: 6-0

Superlatives:

Best Win:
EWU: @ #25 Oregon State (Currently #26)
Montana: #203 Cal Poly

Worst Loss:
EWU: #119 Sam Houston State
Montana: #100 Northern Arizona

Largest Margin of Victory:
EWU: 29 points versus #467 Western Oregon
Montana: 38 points versus #307 North Dakota

Largest Margin of Defeat:
EWU: 15 points versus #119 Sam Houston State
Montana: 18 points versus #100 Northern Arizona

Other statistics:

Points Per Game:
EWU: 36.7
Montana: 38

Points Against:
EWU: 26.4
Montana: 17

Opponent Record:
EWU: 26-4
Montana: 20-31

Average Opponent Rank (All Division I):
EWU: 201.3
Montana: 302.3

Win Streak:
EWU: Won 3
Montana: Won 3

Other: At first glance, this looks like a game that Montana should win at home, especially when you look at average points allowed by the UM defense (17) and points scored by the UM offense (38). However, it is difficult to dismiss who UM has played in racking up all those stats. They have not beaten a team with an over .500 record - in fact, the only legitimate teams they have played to this point are NAU and Cal Poly. They were blown out in the NAU game on the road, and one could make a case that they should not have won the Cal Poly game if not for some officiating errors late in the game.

Conversely, EWU goes into Missoula with one more loss than UM, but having played a much more difficult schedule that they weathered the storm in, a win over (currently) the #26 ranked FBS team, and statistically one of the best QB's in the FCS (if not the best, haven't checked the stats today). EWU will undoubtedly be the best team that Montana has faced all year, and it will be interesting to see how the UM defense handles Adams and a much more balanced EWU offensive game plan. Defensively, I'm not sure if they will be able to completely contain Adams' scrambling and ability to make plays on the run. I expect Montana to run the ball early and often, but I don't expect they will run for over 400 yards on this defense like they did in 2012. Reason - EWU has a better line and a better secondary than it did in 2012. Another potential reason for that is that UM could be without the services of Trevon Van, who sustained an ankle injury in the Cal Poly game. All that said, they will still get their yards on the ground. Montana has also shown that they will challenge defense vertically, although their much vaunted offensive line has been less than impressive in pass protection in probably around half of their games. Look for EWU to utilize the blitz to capitalize on that.

My prediction: EWU 31, Montana 27

Adams throws for 290 yards and 3 TD's, but is picked off once. EWU is held below their season rushing, but still manages to get 150 on the ground (60 from Adams). EWU capitalizes on 2 Montana TO's and wins the game with less than 2 minutes remaining.

 

[Seattle Eagle]

I think EWU will have to score in the 35+ point range to beat Montana. We'll pretty much have to play another perfect game on offense to win because I'm not sure we can hold them to 28 points.

EWU > UM 35-31

 

[eaglesfootball]

going on a limb here..........

Eags-42
Bad news bears-27

 

[RayWill]

Our offense is kind of banged up. Van most likely will not play. JJ Favoring a shoulder. Wilson Out with ankle. The coaches refuse to run anyone but Canada. I hate to say it but think you will roll in this one. EWU 35+ MT 21-

 

[Rjones61]

EWU 42 UM 36

All of my Montana family have been poking fun of me all week. They're certain of their victory. I say otherwise. Time to put a few extra bucks in my pocket

 

[RayWill]

Our offense is kind of banged up. Van most likely will not play. JJ Favoring a shoulder. Wilson Out with ankle. The coaches refuse to run anyone but Canada. I hate to say it but think you will roll in this one. EWU 35+ MT 21-

OH ASLO WALCOTT GOODWIN AND TAKAI INJURED AND QUESTIONABLE

 

[EWURanger]

Our offense is kind of banged up. Van most likely will not play. JJ Favoring a shoulder. Wilson Out with ankle. The coaches refuse to run anyone but Canada. I hate to say it but think you will roll in this one. EWU 35+ MT 21-

OH ASLO WALCOTT GOODWIN AND TAKAI INJURED AND QUESTIONABLE

Never good to hear about injuries. We have had quite a few ourselves but hopefully getting some of those guys back soon. We've been missing our starting Right Tackle and starting RB since game 2 and a few other nagging injuries here and there. Anyone know if Rodgers and Wilson are healthy enough to start working back into the rotation?

 

[clawman1]

It was good to see the Eagles play more to the potential we thought they are capable of on Saturday. If we continue to keep the pieces together on Saturday we should win convincingly
IMHO the difference will be the game plan, coaching staffs, and play calling. Both squads are very good and if a player is not up for this game he should take up basket weaving so how well either teams puts that skill to good use will be the difference.
One thing I am afraid of is the intimidation factor, not our players but the refs being intimidated by a large home crowd that gets them flustered into making bad calls and afraid to correct their mistake.
But hey, we're in the Big Sky Conference!!
Go Eagles :thumb:

 

[FormerEag]

Our offense is kind of banged up. Van most likely will not play. JJ Favoring a shoulder. Wilson Out with ankle. The coaches refuse to run anyone but Canada. I hate to say it but think you will roll in this one. EWU 35+ MT 21-

And as much as I hate to say it, I have a hard time seeing us ever "roll" the grizz, especially in Missoula. I still think we win. But I think these teams are true rivals(more than msu and psu) and regardless of records will always play each other tough. Let's just hope we get a cleanly called game which is certainly not a given at wa grizz.

 

[RayWill]

Our offense is kind of banged up. Van most likely will not play. JJ Favoring a shoulder. Wilson Out with ankle. The coaches refuse to run anyone but Canada. I hate to say it but think you will roll in this one. EWU 35+ MT 21-

And as much as I hate to say it, I have a hard time seeing us ever "roll" the grizz, especially in Missoula. I still think we win. But I think these teams are true rivals(more than msu and psu) and regardless of records will always play each other tough. Let's just hope we get a cleanly called game which is certainly not a given at wa grizz.

THE REFS DO NOT WIN ALL THE GAMES YOU HAVE LOST AT WA GRIZ. THERE ARE CALLS THAT GO IN FAVOR EVERY DAY TO ONE TEAM OR ANOTHER AND THIS INSUATION THAT MT HAS THE REFS IN THIER POCKET IS STUPID. I HAVE SEEN MANY GAMES WHERE PENALTIES WENT JSUT AS DRAMATICALLY AGAINST THE GRIZ AS FOR. :roll:
And yes I was not clear in the head last night when I posted that. It used to be MT did not view Eastern as a rival but that has changed to a large degree. Still not as bitter on our side as the Griz-Cat rivalry but still getting there. I think MT will Fight hard but our offense seems to have gone flat. Even so I have went back and looked at some replays from some of your games and still am not super impressed with your defense and think that you may have a hard time containing MT if they show up fired up. One benefit fro you guys is that game day is also opening day of the general 5 week hunting season in MT and there will be many people who would normally attend the game out chasing critters instead. It will still be loud and still be WA Griz on a BIG game day but might be not as crowded as you might expect. So instead I say it will be a mid 30 game decided really close and won't pick a winner. it is really 50/50

I hope it is a clean game as well not Eastern has NEVER gained from bad calls or even won games because of them. :roll: Just part of the game it happens both ways to every team and it is not MT fault but rather the poor officiating in the Big Sky in general. Quit preparing excuses.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Our offense is kind of banged up. Van most likely will not play. JJ Favoring a shoulder. Wilson Out with ankle. The coaches refuse to run anyone but Canada. I hate to say it but think you will roll in this one. EWU 35+ MT 21-

And as much as I hate to say it, I have a hard time seeing us ever "roll" the grizz, especially in Missoula. I still think we win. But I think these teams are true rivals(more than msu and psu) and regardless of records will always play each other tough. Let's just hope we get a cleanly called game which is certainly not a given at wa grizz.

THE REFS DO NOT WIN ALL THE GAMES YOU HAVE LOST AT WA GRIZ. THERE ARE CALLS THAT GO IN FAVOR EVERY DAY TO ONE TEAM OR ANOTHER AND THIS INSUATION THAT MT HAS THE REFS IN THIER POCKET IS STUPID. I HAVE SEEN MANY GAMES WHERE PENALTIES WENT JSUT AS DRAMATICALLY AGAINST THE GRIZ AS FOR. :roll:
And yes I was not clear in the head last night when I posted that. It used to be MT did not view Eastern as a rival but that has changed to a large degree. Still not as bitter on our side as the Griz-Cat rivalry but still getting there. I think MT will Fight hard but our offense seems to have gone flat. Even so I have went back and looked at some replays from some of your games and still am not super impressed with your defense and think that you may have a hard time containing MT if they show up fired up. One benefit fro you guys is that game day is also opening day of the general 5 week hunting season in MT and there will be many people who would normally attend the game out chasing critters instead. It will still be loud and still be WA Griz on a BIG game day but might be not as crowded as you might expect. So instead I say it will be a mid 30 game decided really close and won't pick a winner. it is really 50/50

I hope it is a clean game as well not Eastern has NEVER gained from bad calls or even won games because of them. :roll: Just part of the game it happens both ways to every team and it is not MT fault but rather the poor officiating in the Big Sky in general. Quit preparing excuses.

Sorry, man, if we were talking about our past games with ANY OTHER TEAM, I'd agree that you win some and you lose some with the refs. But Montana is different. 1986, in what might have been the single worst call in the history of football, Eastern's receiver caught a game winning pass on the last play of the game in the middle of the endzone and ran out the back with his arms raised only to be ruled out of bounds (the replays showed he had a minimum of three steps in bounds and maybe even four). Outright cheating. 2001, Eastern forces a fumble in OT after scoring a FG to win the game, only for the refs to promptly respot the football and let Montana throw a TD to the endzone in the confusion. Again, replays showed the player was upright on both feet when he fumbled the ball... it wasn't even a close call. 2009, the Big Sky actually took the step of admitting two egregious refereeing errors in Montana's favor on a game winning drive (resulting in 30 yards of EWU penalties).

NO ONE ELSE gets every break, but Montana always does. It's sort of like Texas in the Big 12, everyone knows they butter the bread of the refs and get the calls. It's not even debatable anymore. Hell, your local newspaper ran a story when Eastern beat Montana on a late drive in 1991 with the headline "Yes, But Were His Feet Inbounds?," making light of the fact they screw us over and over.

 

[MTGriz]

 

[marceagfan5]

EWU 35
Griz 21

The Griz haven't beaten anyone since 2011 (1 win over a team with a winning record, Liberty 6-5 last year) that trend continues Saturday...

The refs won't be a factor because EWU wins going away...

 

[EWU98]

I am going with the CURB STOMPING approach 42-10 EAGS!
Vernon had his coming out party last year versus them and he will just continue where he left off + the D will send Canada north of the boarder . . .I know lame attempt at humor . . .but that's all I got for now.

 

[GRZZ]

EWU is a great team and this will be a tough one for the Griz to win, that is as far as my predictions go.

I did want to comment on the ref thing. We could go on and on, and everyone thinks they get a raw deal from the refs. My two thoughts.

1)If anyone thinks "questionable" calls helped Montana beat Cal Poly last weekend, you didn't watch the game, and are likely just parroting something someone else said. Cal Poly didn't score the entire second half. On the fumble call (which was a bad call it looks like), Poly didn't get a first down so they still would've had yards to go, and even if they had, there is no reason to believe that drive would've been the one drive in the second half they scored. It's not like a touchdown was reversed or Poly has the ball in the Griz red zone, they weren't even at mid-field I don't think. There are a whole lot of ifs in that claim that the refs helped the Griz win, if Poly has picked up the first down, If Poly has sustained a drive which they didn't do in the second half, if they had scored, etc. Plus, the Griz did not even score any points off of the turnover. Fairly harmless.

2)Wasn't there a somewhat controversial fumble call against Canada last year inside your 10 yard line? If that isn't called a fumble, completely different ball game...see above...

3)And finally, one of the worst officiating errors I have ever seen happened to the Griz at home, and the Big Sky even suspended the official...

OGDEN, UTAH (Oct. 27, 2010) - The Big Sky Conference has suspended the referee from the Northern Arizona University-University of Montana football game, league Commissioner Doug Fullerton announced Wednesday.

Jim Lenau has been suspended for one game for misapplication of a rule during the second quarter of Montana’s 24-21 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 23, in Missoula, Mont.

With the score tied 7-7 and 44 seconds remaining in the first half, Northern Arizona kicked the ball to Montana. The Grizzly player caught the ball and stepped out of the back of the end zone. The play was ruled a safety on the field and two points was awarded to Northern Arizona. The play should have resulted in a touchback for Montana.

Lenau issued an apology for the error following Saturday’s game.

Sorry for the preachy first post, so flame away.

 

[EWURanger]

EWU is a great team and this will be a tough one for the Griz to win, that is as far as my predictions go.

I did want to comment on the ref thing. We could go on and on, and everyone thinks they get a raw deal from the refs. My two thoughts.

1)If anyone thinks "questionable" calls helped Montana beat Cal Poly last weekend, you didn't watch the game, and are likely just parroting something someone else said. Cal Poly didn't score the entire second half. On the fumble call (which was a bad call it looks like), Poly didn't get a first down so they still would've had yards to go, and even if they had, there is no reason to believe that drive would've been the one drive in the second half they scored. It's not like a touchdown was reversed or Poly has the ball in the Griz red zone, they weren't even at mid-field I don't think. There are a whole lot of ifs in that claim that the refs helped the Griz win, if Poly has picked up the first down, If Poly has sustained a drive which they didn't do in the second half, if they had scored, etc. Plus, the Griz did not even score any points off of the turnover. Fairly harmless.

2)Wasn't there a somewhat controversial fumble call against Canada last year inside your 10 yard line? If that isn't called a fumble, completely different ball game...see above...

3)And finally, one of the worst officiating errors I have ever seen happened to the Griz at home, and the Big Sky even suspended the official...

OGDEN, UTAH (Oct. 27, 2010) - The Big Sky Conference has suspended the referee from the Northern Arizona University-University of Montana football game, league Commissioner Doug Fullerton announced Wednesday.

Jim Lenau has been suspended for one game for misapplication of a rule during the second quarter of Montana’s 24-21 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 23, in Missoula, Mont.

With the score tied 7-7 and 44 seconds remaining in the first half, Northern Arizona kicked the ball to Montana. The Grizzly player caught the ball and stepped out of the back of the end zone. The play was ruled a safety on the field and two points was awarded to Northern Arizona. The play should have resulted in a touchback for Montana.

Lenau issued an apology for the error following Saturday’s game.

Sorry for the preachy first post, so flame away.

Good post and I agree with most of your points. The fact remains that the Griz do seem to get a ton of calls at home. The ones in 2001 and 2009 most likely cost us those games, but that is in the past. I just hope that this game isn't decided by the refs, but on the field by the teams. We need instant replay in FCS.

 

[FormerEag]

EWU is a great team and this will be a tough one for the Griz to win, that is as far as my predictions go.

I did want to comment on the ref thing. We could go on and on, and everyone thinks they get a raw deal from the refs. My two thoughts.

1)If anyone thinks "questionable" calls helped Montana beat Cal Poly last weekend, you didn't watch the game, and are likely just parroting something someone else said. Cal Poly didn't score the entire second half. On the fumble call (which was a bad call it looks like), Poly didn't get a first down so they still would've had yards to go, and even if they had, there is no reason to believe that drive would've been the one drive in the second half they scored. It's not like a touchdown was reversed or Poly has the ball in the Griz red zone, they weren't even at mid-field I don't think. There are a whole lot of ifs in that claim that the refs helped the Griz win, if Poly has picked up the first down, If Poly has sustained a drive which they didn't do in the second half, if they had scored, etc. Plus, the Griz did not even score any points off of the turnover. Fairly harmless.

2)Wasn't there a somewhat controversial fumble call against Canada last year inside your 10 yard line? If that isn't called a fumble, completely different ball game...see above...

3)And finally, one of the worst officiating errors I have ever seen happened to the Griz at home, and the Big Sky even suspended the official...

OGDEN, UTAH (Oct. 27, 2010) - The Big Sky Conference has suspended the referee from the Northern Arizona University-University of Montana football game, league Commissioner Doug Fullerton announced Wednesday.

Jim Lenau has been suspended for one game for misapplication of a rule during the second quarter of Montana’s 24-21 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 23, in Missoula, Mont.

With the score tied 7-7 and 44 seconds remaining in the first half, Northern Arizona kicked the ball to Montana. The Grizzly player caught the ball and stepped out of the back of the end zone. The play was ruled a safety on the field and two points was awarded to Northern Arizona. The play should have resulted in a touchback for Montana.

Lenau issued an apology for the error following Saturday’s game.

Sorry for the preachy first post, so flame away.

Good post and I agree with most of your points. The fact remains that the Griz do seem to get a ton of calls at home. The ones in 2001 and 2009 most likely cost us those games, but that is in the past. I just hope that this game isn't decided by the refs, but on the field by the teams. We need instant replay in FCS.

I was on the field for the 2009 game. The call against boyce when he ran at 95 percent across the goal line was the biggest crap call I've ever seen. If that wasn't cheating,I honestly don't know what is.

 

[FormerEag]

EWU is a great team and this will be a tough one for the Griz to win, that is as far as my predictions go.

I did want to comment on the ref thing. We could go on and on, and everyone thinks they get a raw deal from the refs. My two thoughts.

1)If anyone thinks "questionable" calls helped Montana beat Cal Poly last weekend, you didn't watch the game, and are likely just parroting something someone else said. Cal Poly didn't score the entire second half. On the fumble call (which was a bad call it looks like), Poly didn't get a first down so they still would've had yards to go, and even if they had, there is no reason to believe that drive would've been the one drive in the second half they scored. It's not like a touchdown was reversed or Poly has the ball in the Griz red zone, they weren't even at mid-field I don't think. There are a whole lot of ifs in that claim that the refs helped the Griz win, if Poly has picked up the first down, If Poly has sustained a drive which they didn't do in the second half, if they had scored, etc. Plus, the Griz did not even score any points off of the turnover. Fairly harmless.

2)Wasn't there a somewhat controversial fumble call against Canada last year inside your 10 yard line? If that isn't called a fumble, completely different ball game...see above...

3)And finally, one of the worst officiating errors I have ever seen happened to the Griz at home, and the Big Sky even suspended the official...

OGDEN, UTAH (Oct. 27, 2010) - The Big Sky Conference has suspended the referee from the Northern Arizona University-University of Montana football game, league Commissioner Doug Fullerton announced Wednesday.

Jim Lenau has been suspended for one game for misapplication of a rule during the second quarter of Montana’s 24-21 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 23, in Missoula, Mont.

With the score tied 7-7 and 44 seconds remaining in the first half, Northern Arizona kicked the ball to Montana. The Grizzly player caught the ball and stepped out of the back of the end zone. The play was ruled a safety on the field and two points was awarded to Northern Arizona. The play should have resulted in a touchback for Montana.

Lenau issued an apology for the error following Saturday’s game.

Sorry for the preachy first post, so flame away.

Good post and I agree with most of your points. The fact remains that the Griz do seem to get a ton of calls at home. The ones in 2001 and 2009 most likely cost us those games, but that is in the past. I just hope that this game isn't decided by the refs, but on the field by the teams. We need instant replay in FCS.

I was on the field for the 2009 game. The call against boyce when he ran at 95 percent across the goal line was the biggest crap call I've ever seen. If that wasn't cheating,I honestly don't know what is.

Also, that first post was my one and only attempt at a friendly post this week. God, I truly hate the jizzz. FTG.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

34-20.

 

[kalm]

34-20.

That looks familiar.