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Prediction Thread Week 2: EAGLES 44@ NDSU 50 OT

L

luckyintheorder

Active member
Do the research, consult the gods, cast the bones, read the tea leaves or break out the OUIJA board because it is ON!

So many good threads and comments leading up to this one. Rare opportunity to compete against #1 NDSU. Have to give their AD props for scheduling this game. Some of their fans are citing the semi-final loss to EWU as motivation, but no players on the team today were there, so eh..

Secret sauce: Contain their QB, slow down the run game, run our offense (not some weird 2-3 TE's power look) and live in the moment. Superstition says I should pick against EWU after last week, but....

... Screw the odds makers in Vegas. Eagles 48 - NDSU 42 in OT

bison_bullseye.jpg
 
NDSU's defense is likely superior to WSUs, so I can't imagine our offense will have as easy a time moving up the field through the air like we did last Saturday. I think we're going to see Beau and the offensive coaches have to mix in a balanced offensive game plan and work to get our RBs involved. But if by chance Gage and Co. do stay hot, and this turns in to a track meet, well then NDSU is in big trouble. But by guess is this will be a grind, with some special teams scoring (Shaq is taking one back) and just enough big plays on offensive to get out of Fargo with a W.

EWU: 34
NDSU: 27
 
NDSU is really hard to run on. It sounds like Nick DeLuca is back from injury and he's going to make some plays against the read option.

It seemed like we ran some two TE sets last week but we can still throw out of those. I think a key against a pin your ears back/aggressive front 7 like the Bizon is miss direction and keeping them off balance.

Their secondary may be their one weaker spot on D and it needs to be attacked.
 
kalm said:
NDSU is really hard to run on. It sounds like Nick DeLuca is back from injury and he's going to make some plays against the read option.

It seemed like we ran some two TE sets last week but we can still throw out of those. I think a key against a pin your ears back/aggressive front 7 like the Bizon is miss direction and keeping them off balance.

Their secondary may be their one weaker spot on D and it needs to be attacked.
Click to expand...

Agreed, even Chuck So was able to throw on the secondary. This one comes down to the OL protecting Gubrud and the defense making tackles. NDSU will get their rushing yards, want to minimize yds after contact and contain their QB on long third downs. I was thinking 5 stops again like at WSU would get it done.

Loved the fly sweeps last week keeping the defense off balance. Expect to use the RB's as pass options on the edge where their speed against LB's can make a difference and open up the middle for Kupp and Co. Lots of permutations and my guess is Coach B and Coach Taylor have an idea how to keep the ball moving :-) So many positive waves...
 
Still trying to come down from the WSU win...wow....helluva game!!!

Two weeks ago, I thought the odds were slim against NDSU but now I think we have a good shot to pull this one out. NDSU isn't as good as they've been, don't get me wrong, they are still the defending champs, but they have some holes. Our offense's greatest strength will be going against their Defense's weakest area. If our O line can provide some protection, we will have the ability to put up some big yards and points. Kupp is too tough to stop and if you try to, Bourne and Hill will have monster days, I expect KB to have a big day on Saturday.

I think we will struggle on D. I'm sure NDSU will try to run the ball every damn time and we are going to have to stack the box and try to make them throw the ball to beat us, but even if we stack the box, NDSU is going to chew up yards on the ground. Our D did look much improved and I don't think is getting enough credit for the performance against WSU. WSU is going to put up points and yards on everyone this year.

I think we come away with another HUGE win Saturday.

Eags 38
Bizon 28
 
luckyintheorder said:
Do the research, consult the gods, cast the bones, read the tea leaves or break out the OUIJA board because it is ON!

So many good threads and comments leading up to this one. Rare opportunity to compete against #1 NDSU. Have to give their AD props for scheduling this game. Some of their fans are citing the semi-final loss to EWU as motivation, but no players on the team today were there, so eh..

Secret sauce: Contain their QB, slow down the run game, run our offense (not some weird 2-3 TE's power look) and live in the moment. Superstition says I should pick against EWU after last week, but....

... Screw the odds makers in Vegas. Eagles 48 - NDSU 42 in OT

bison_bullseye.jpg
Click to expand...

Something that I always find funny about that game besides the fact that Bizon Nation doesn't think he fumbled, is that it was a quarter final game. Even if they had won that game in double OT or later, they would have to beat Villanova and Delaware to win that title. You can't do anything but respect what they've been able to do since 2011, but that 2010 game means absolutely nothing to anyone but fans.
 
I just get the feeling that this will be more high scoring than the Bison want it to be. NDSU plays excellent D, but we have great playmakers on offense and our offensive line is pretty darn big and physical from what I saw. an improved defense from EWU will mean that the Bison might have to throw the ball a little more than they want. this will be a close game, but I have a great feeling about this one:

41-38 EWU
 
NDSU is good, but not unbeatable. EWU looks to be good after week 1, but still some questions.

Home field Advantage - NDSU (In Fargo).
Offense - EWU (Bison's weakness plays right into the hands of Eags' adavantage).
Defense - NDSU (Bison have proven for several years to be the best).
Special Teams - EWU (Shaq Hill and Jordan Dascalo).
Coaches - EWU (Purely bias on my part, but Beau continues to prove he can get the most with little than any other coach in the FCS).

As echoed by a few already, this is the best offense that NDSU will have faced in some time. They are much better than Montana's O last year and if they try and blanket Kupp, they'll still be in for a very long day. NDSU's strength is their running game, but that also plays into the "strength" of EWU's D. The speed and tackling looked light-year's better than the last couple seasons. Make Stick beat you with his arm.

This is going to be higher scoring than NDSU wants it to be and therefore, I think EWU wins (something I would not have predicted two weeks ago). 2 TD's for Kupp, 2 for Bourne, 1 for Hill, 1 rushing from Gubrud and a FG for Dascalo equals:

Eagles - 45
Bison - 38
 
I'm cautiously optimistic as well and think we have a great chance to get the W in Fargo.

My biggest worry is NDSU cramming the ball down our throats on the ground with long sustained drives that keeps our offense on the sideline for the majority of the game. Losing the time of possession game limits our opportunities and makes it more difficult for the offense to find their rhythm.

That being said, I still think we win 35-31.

Go Eags!!
 
Most people think this will come down to how well our defense plays, but what if EWU executes their offense the way we know they can?

Eagles-45
Bison-28
 
ewueagle2010 said:
Home field Advantage - NDSU (In Fargo).
Offense - EWU (Bison's weakness plays right into the hands of Eags' adavantage).
Defense - NDSU (Bison have proven for several years to be the best).
Special Teams - EWU (Shaq Hill and Jordan Dascalo).
Click to expand...

Usually when a great defensive team goes up against a great offensive team, it's the team who plays defense that wins. Not sure about the special teams advantage (our kicking/kickoff coverage needs work), but the home field advantage for NDSU will be a factor. Even though I've always felt like the staff has done a good job of preparing for noisy stadiums with the silent count, I was at the game in Pullman and I think it's fair to say that NDSU will be a much louder situation. Coming off an emotional win against an in-state P5 school and then going into the home of 5x FCS champions is going to be tough. I think we probably drop this one on the road, and then come back home and beat UNI. I still think we're an 8-3 or maybe even 9-2 type team this year.

Eagles 28 Bison 38
 
I have a good feeling about this one. Guess I might as well jynx it!

EWU 42-28. I don't think this Bison team is as good as 2010-2014. They are still damn good, but I think we are going to have a great game and shock another team.
 
After watching the Charleston Southern Game is was apparent ND defense is going to have a lot of trouble with our spread offense and the speed we have. If our defense can somewhat contain their running game we win

EWU - 49 ND - 31
 
This is NDSU at home...neutral field, it's anybodies game. In Fargo, this goes down as a classic, ends up three points in favor of the Bison. 38-35 NDSU over EWU on a last second field goal. (I just threw up in my mouth a lot, coming out of the nostrils...)
 
Some have mentioned already, but my concern is whether the team can get focused for this game after WSU. Assuming the staff can get them in the right mindset, NDSU is probably still the best team we will face this year. I think it will be close for most of the game, but I have to give the edge to NDSU at home. They're nearly unbeatable there.

EWU 28 NDSU 41
 
Since this thread is about who you THINK will win and not who you WANT to win, I think NDSU should be 7-10 point favorites. A 22 point spread is too high, I don't think they will cover that. But I do think we will probably come up short in this one due to NDSU sitting on the ball all game long unless our defense can get them off the field.

Eags- 34
Bison- 42
 
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