PSUVikings2
Active member
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=/cfoot2/news/AGN4078085.htm
A few mentions of the Viks.
A few mentions of the Viks.
Extra Point - More upset chances on FCS schedules
By Matt Dougherty, FCS Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The FCS history books will chronicle the 2006 Montana State Bobcats as the first four-loss at-large playoff participant in more than a decade, and as a team that broke a 21-year drought without a playoff win.
While those accomplishments ultimately defined the Bobcats’ season, the majority of the sports nation will remember the Montana State name for a defensive gem in a convincing, 19-10, victory at Colorado in the season opener. The major networks, radio stations and newspapers heralded the Bobcats, and head coach Mike Kramer had the opportunity to go on a soapbox more often than Donald Trump.
The big-school, big-money based media will always go crazy when one of their own loses to one of the "little guys" in the FCS. Of course they had a handful of opportunities in 2006, as New Hampshire, Richmond and Southern Illinois all scored "upsets" over teams in the top BCS conferences. North Dakota State, Northern Iowa and Illinois State all came one point shy of adding their name to the big victory list.
So who’s the top candidate to gain national media attention this year? North Dakota State and Northern Iowa top the list with rematches of last year’s nail- biters against Minnesota and Iowa State, respectively. Illinois State has another opportunity, and Richmond has a chance at two consecutive wins against FBS opponents from a BCS conference.
Expect the major sports networks to go into shock again as at least one of the FCS teams takes down a BCS big shot. I just hope the head coach is ready for a rendition of Kramer’s whirlwind week.
Below, take a look at some of the hardest non-conference slates and the most interesting games to watch for the 2007 season.
The Toughest - The most difficult non-conference schedules in the FCS in 2007, relative to the team’s strength.
1. Southern Utah (at Montana, North Dakota, Southern Illinois, McNeese State, at Montana State, at Youngstown State, at Northern Iowa) - The Thunderbirds play five games against 2006 playoff teams, visit a Northern Iowa team that should start the season in the top five, and play one of the best Division II programs in the country. Throw in the Great West slate, and Southern Utah is probably an underdog in every game this year.
2. Western Carolina (at Alabama, at Eastern Kentucky, at Georgia, Presbyterian) - The Catamounts will probably get embarrassed in two SEC trips, and a visit to Eastern Kentucky will be a challenge.
3. South Carolina State (at Air Force, at South Carolina) - With two tough FBS games and weak overall competition in the MEAC, the Bulldogs aren’t in good position to contend in the at-large field for an elusive playoff berth.
4. North Dakota State (Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, at Central Michigan, at Western Illinois, at Mississippi Valley State, at Minnesota, Illinois State) - Another daunting schedule for the Bison, who play a pair of good teams from the Southland and Gateway Conferences in addition to two FBS road trips.
5. Southeastern Louisiana (at New Mexico State, at Kansas, Kentucky Wesleyan, at Tulane) - Three FBS games will always make a season tough, even though none of the opponents are marquee names.
6. Gardner-Webb (at Ohio, Jacksonville, at Mississippi State, Austin Peay, at Appalachian State, at Wofford, Savannah State) - The home games are all very winnable, but trips to two FBS teams and a pair of Southern Conference powers will make the Bulldogs road weary.
7. Sacramento State (at Fresno State, at New Mexico, UC Davis) - The Hornets have not defeated a Division I team in non-conference play since 2004, and they aren’t in great position to change the trend this year with a pair of FBS road trips and a visit from local rival UC Davis.
8. Grambling State (at Pittsburgh, at UL-Monroe) - The traveling days return for at least one season, as the Tigers visit a pair of FBS foes in their non- conference opportunities.
9. Portland State (at McNeese State, UC Davis, at San Diego State) - Unlike last year, the Vikings do have a realistic opportunity to win all three of their non-conference games. But Jerry Glanville’s team will still face very stiff tests with the road trips to McNeese State and San Diego State and a home date against UC Davis.
10. Northwestern State (Henderson State, at Northeastern, at Texas Tech, at Ole Miss) - The s have a home victory set up and a winnable trip to Northeastern, but they take on multiple FBS road games for the third year in a row.
Beating the BCS - FCS teams exploded against opponents from the BCS conferences a season ago. Montana State made national headlines with a victory over Colorado, while Richmond and New Hampshire captured convincing wins against Duke and Northwestern, respectively. Southern Illinois knocked off Indiana to round out a successful year against big-time FBS foes.
1. North Dakota State at Minnesota (10/20) - After the Bison ted the statistics in a 10-9 loss against the Gophers last year, it’s surprising to see them receive another chance for a victory in Minneapolis.
2. Northern Iowa at Iowa State (9/- The Panthers were one 51-yard field goal away from upsetting the Cyclones last season, and should have an even better chance this year with a team that opens the season on the short list of top national title contenders.
3. Wofford at NC State (9/15) - The Terriers have most of their nucleus returning, and can always present a problem to FBS teams with their unique option offense (see a 27-20 loss at South Carolina in 2006).
4. James Madison at North Carolina (9/1) - Playing in the season opener after losing significant players from last season will make this one tougher for the Dukes, but they still stand more than a puncher’s chance against a North Carolina team that finished 3-9 and barely escaped Furman in 2006.
5. Illinois State at Missouri (9/22) - The Redbirds put a huge scare into Kansas State before bowing out by one point a year ago, and the Luke Drone-led offense should be able to score on the Tigers.
6. Texas State at Baylor (9/15) - The Bobcats have some questions to answer early in the season, but a matchup against a Baylor team that finished 4-8 last year is not overly imposing.
7. Richmond at Vanderbilt (9/1) - The departure of most of their defensive players from 2006 will probably keep the Spiders from posting another stellar defensive effort against an FBS team, but a game against one of the worst teams in the SEC presents another chance for a win.
8. Northern Arizona at Arizona (9/- The Lumberjacks have showed well against both of their in-state FBS rivals in the past few seasons, and have the opportunity to break through against the Wildcats.
9. Furman at Clemson (9/15) - Furman came just three points short of upsets against Pittsburgh (2004) and North Carolina (2006) in the past three seasons, so it can put a scare into a Clemson team that dropped four of its last five games a year ago.
10. Sam Houston State at Oklahoma State (9/29) - The Bearkats will probably have a tough time stopping the Oklahoma State offense, but quarterback Rhett Bomar, formerly of the University of Oklahoma, will certainly be up for the opportunity in a familiar place.
10B. Appalachian State at Michigan (9/1) - I don’t really think the Mountaineers can go in and win in the Big House, but I’d be remiss not to give the two -time defending FCS champions a shot.
"Upset" Possibilities - Local and national media would call these games "upsets" if the FCS team wins, but these teams should be confident heading into a very winnable game against an evenly-matched FBS foe.
1. New Hampshire at Marshall (9/15) - Maybe a third victory in four years against an FBS opponent is too much to ask for Ricky Santos and the Wildcats, but Marshall presents the softest test they’ve faced in that span.
2. Cal Poly at Idaho (9/- The Mustangs won at San Diego State a year ago, while Idaho held off 2-9 Idaho State for a three-point victory. That sounds like a good recipe for another FBS win for Cal Poly.
3. Portland State at San Diego State (9/22) - Portland State won at New Mexico last year, while San Diego State suffered the loss to Cal Poly during a 3-9 season. That bodes well for the Vikings.
4. McNeese State at UL Lafayette (9/15) - The Cowboys should have the defense to keep them in the game against most opponents, which will give them a shot against an average UL-Lafayette team.
5. North Dakota State at Central Michigan (9/22) - The Bison have a good track record against FBS teams after beating Ball State and almost knocking off Minnesota last year, though the matchup with Central Michigan figures to be tougher than both of those contests.
6. Southern Illinois at Northern Illinois (9/- Northern Illinois has emerged as a quality team in the MAC for the past few seasons, but it loses star running back Garret Wolfe. The Salukis are without last year’s superstar in the backfield as well, but they always show well against FBS teams, as evidenced by a win at Indiana last year and a 23-22 loss to NIU in 2004.
7. Delaware at Navy (10/27) - While Navy has emerged as a perennial bowl team, it has still endured tough matchups against opponents from the CAA, including a 21-17 loss to the Blue Hens in 2003.
8. UC Davis at San Jose State (9/29) - Granted, San Jose State is much better under the direction of head coach Dick Tomey. But the Spartans aren’t a power quite yet, and a UC Davis team that knocked off Stanford should have confidence in a regional game against an FBS foe.
9. Jacksonville State at Memphis (9/15) - The Gamecocks have the defense to hang in all the way, and could find enough offense against a Memphis team that comes off a 2-10 season where it struggled on defense.
10. Central Arkansas at Louisiana Tech (9/1) - The Bears lost a group of key players from last year’s inaugural Division I season, but they can’t be counted out against a Louisiana Tech team that just completed a 3-10 season with plenty of ugly losses.
Big-Time Mismatches - While FCS teams made great progress in matchups against the FBS a year ago, a majority of the games did not come down to the final minutes. That will be the case again this year, and these games should turn ugly in a hurry.
1. Western Carolina at Alabama (9/1), Western Carolina at Georgia (9/15) - After ending the 2006 season with a thrashing at eventual national champion Florida, the Catamounts must be a glutton for punishment to take on two SEC teams in the first three weeks this year.
2. Norfolk State at Rutgers (9/15) - It’s hard to believe that Rutgers was one of the more beatable FBS teams just a few years ago. Norfolk State isn’t likely to keep it interesting for very long.
3. Weber State at Boise State (8/30) - The Broncos have one of the best running backs in the country, and the nation saw what they are capable of on offense last season.
4. Tennessee Tech at Auburn (11/3) - Matching up with an SEC power is never a good recipe for an FCS team, especially a middle-of-the-road unit like the Golden Eagles.
5. Northern Colorado at Hawaii (9/1), Charleston Southern at Hawaii (9/22) - The Warriors score points in bunches, and can take the opportunity to pad the stat line of Heisman trophy candidate Colt Brennan in ting victories against the Bears and Buccaneers.
Best FCS vs FCS Non-Conference Matchups - With teams in the Gateway, Great West and Southland Conference in need of filling multiple non-conference games, games out West highlight the marquee slate of FCS contests.
1. Portland State at McNeese State (9/1) - The Cowboys try to atone for a loss at Portland State in 2004, but the more intriguing story will be Portland State head coach Jerry Glanville making his debut in a matchup of teams that figure to begin the season in the top 25.
2. Illinois State at North Dakota State (11/3) - In a late-season matchup between future Gateway rivals, the Redbirds go to the road in a game that they could very well need to make a return trip to the playoffs.
3. Northern Iowa at South Dakota State (9/15) - UNI comes into the season with high hopes for a national title, while South Dakota State will try to build on the momentum it picked up late in the 2006 season. Someone will take a step in the right direction here.
4. Southern Illinois at Hampton (11/17) - It might not end up meaning anything on the final weekend of the regular season, but a game between teams that have become perennial playoff contenders could be huge if one, or both, have a bid on the line.
5. Sam Houston State at North Dakota State (9/15) - With two non-Division I games and a trip to Oklahoma State, the Bearkats need to score a victory in Fargo to have any shot at making the postseason with an at-large berth.
6. South Dakota State at Youngstown State (9/- The Penguins have three other very winnable non-conference games at home, so they will likely be in great position for another postseason berth if they can get a win over South Dakota State.
7. Cal Poly at Texas State (9/1) - It’s rematch of the 2005 quarterfinal game won by Texas State, 14-7. While revenge will be on the minds, a win could also put Cal Poly in good playoff position with a much softer schedule coming this season.
8. Coastal Carolina at James Madison (9/15) - The Chanticleers began their meteoric rise in the FCS by knocking off then No. 1 James Madison at home two years ago. The Dukes look for a little revenge in a game between 2006 playoff teams that both lost key players.
9. Towson at Colgate (10/20) - The Tigers and Raiders will renew old Patriot League acquaintances, and the winner could get a huge leg up on a possible at- large playoff berth.
10. Northern Arizona at Appalachian State (9/15) - The Mountaineers finally found a taker for a home game at the last minute, and they will get a test from a Northern Arizona team that can make progress even without Jason Murrietta.
