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What does the "Best D in the BSC" mean?

G

GoldenEagle

Active member
So, this can be argued a couple different ways. But, a lot of discussion has been focused on our defense which has already played the two best offenses in the BSC, and the EAGS won both games. I found this interesting and for discussion sake, what is going to happen in the second half of the schedule when these teams play each other.

From the Big Sky conference web site today;

Statistically the best four defenses based on scoring defense in the BSC are;
1) Montana
2) Portland State
3) North Dakota
4) Northern Arizona

Statistically the top four offensive teams based on total scoring are;
1) Montana State
2) Idaho State
3) Eastern Wash
4) Sac State

To date, the only two teams from the above defensive and offensive lists to play each other are UND and MSU, and MSU won. There will be many matches of top D's vs. top O,s in the second half of the conference schedule. I think it is going to be interesting to see if the current top O and top D remain the same throughout the remaining schedule.

What is most important, a good O or a good D? I argue a good O this year will win the BSC and DEFENSE IS NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT IN WINNING FOOTBALL GAMES IN THE BIG SKY.

For example, (disclaimer, I loathe Montana so I am using the griz as an example), Montana will play 3 of the 4 top offensive teams (Sac State, Eastern and MSU) in the second half of the schedule. Do you think Montana will still be statistically the best defense in the BSC? Given Montana's anemic offense doe you think their D can solely carry them to a BSC title. I say no, and I think they drop at least two of those three games and are at risk of not making the playoffs. I will go as far as saying that Idaho State has a higher probability of making the playoffs because they have a very strong offense. What do you think?
 
I don't rate teams based on stats. I give it the eye test and see which team has bigger, better athletes. And then I look at how they execute. Usually better kids equals better execution, but not always.

Idaho State, for example, didn't look all that athletic, but they play well and execute. Eastern, Montana, and Montana State all appear very athletic- far more so than the second and third tier of the Big Sky- but none of the three really execute on both sides of the ball.

I think there is a lot of playing down going on this year, as all of the Big 3 have been tested by much lesser teams this season. I suspect the best games all three will play this year will be against each other, when they are forced to bring their A game.

All that said, I don't think anyone slips into the top 3 from the outside. The stats will likely remain fairly constant, and a lot will depend on what happens when the lesser teams play each other. But wacky scheduling aside, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind who the top 3 are.

The better debate is who constitutes the next tier... I'd throw in Cal Poly, North Dakota, and Idaho State (in no particular order). The other teams beyond that three all appear really bad this year. This is probably the most down I've ever seen the conference.
 
GoldenEagle said:
So, this can be argued a couple different ways. But, a lot of discussion has been focused on our defense which has already played the two best offenses in the BSC, and the EAGS won both games. I found this interesting and for discussion sake, what is going to happen in the second half of the schedule when these teams play each other.

From the Big Sky conference web site today;

Statistically the best four defenses based on scoring defense in the BSC are;
1) Montana
2) Portland State
3) North Dakota
4) Northern Arizona

Statistically the top four offensive teams based on total scoring are;
1) Montana State
2) Idaho State
3) Eastern Wash
4) Sac State

To date, the only two teams from the above defensive and offensive lists to play each other are UND and MSU, and MSU won. There will be many matches of top D's vs. top O,s in the second half of the conference schedule. I think it is going to be interesting to see if the current top O and top D remain the same throughout the remaining schedule.

What is most important, a good O or a good D? I argue a good O this year will win the BSC and DEFENSE IS NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT IN WINNING FOOTBALL GAMES IN THE BIG SKY.

For example, (disclaimer, I loathe Montana so I am using the griz as an example), Montana will play 3 of the 4 top offensive teams (Sac State, Eastern and MSU) in the second half of the schedule. Do you think Montana will still be statistically the best defense in the BSC? Given Montana's anemic offense doe you think their D can solely carry them to a BSC title. I say no, and I think they drop at least two of those three games and are at risk of not making the playoffs. I will go as far as saying that Idaho State has a higher probability of making the playoffs because they have a very strong offense. What do you think?
Click to expand...

Intriguing post. There may not be one complete team in the BSC but outside of ISUr, New Hampshire, and Nova, there are very few nationwide (NDSU needs to prove more offensively before I lump them in with that group).

I think Idaho State goes on a mini tear here and heads into Bozeman 7-3 with a legit shot at the playoffs. They got boat raced by Utah but held Utah State to 427 yards of offense and if they don't turn it over 4 times, they could have made a game of it.

Montana needs to show me more on O and MSU needs to show me more on D before I consider either clearly ahead of the Bengals.

You also have to consider the OOC teams the Big Sky has scheduled this year and:
Washington
Stanford
Washington State
Oregon State
Cal
Nevada
SDSU
CSU
Utah
Utah State

Not to mention games against ranked FCS opponents in NDSU (2), SHSU, UNI, SDSU, SELA, UCA, Montana State, Missouri State.

And ISU, SUU, and Davis all played 2 FBS games.

The conference appears down, but I can never remember so many quality opponents being played out of conference. So when I look at the clean records of Jacksonville State and Coastal Carolina, I'm ranking them high, but I'm also seeing schedules littered with a very down Southern Conference and MEAC teams out of conference.

To answer your question. You can win the BSC with mediocrity on one side of the ball. You can win a National Championship with one of the best offenses ever and very little defense, but it's much easier with just a good offense and decent defense. :mrgreen:
 
I suspect that those stats are going to even out quite a bit over the next few weeks. Everyone is talking about Montana's great defense, but I wonder if anyone has considered that they haven't played anyone with even a moderately good offense.

Wyoming - Probably the best offense they have faced, but nothing special. Averaging 18.3 PPG.
CWU - DII
South Dakota - 16 PPG.
NDSU - 32.2 PPG, but probably inflated a little by a 58-0 drubbing of Incarnate Word.
UNC - Had their third string QB in against the Griz...they average 17.8 PPG.
UND - They average a whopping 13.3 PPG, and were shut out by Misery State.

Average PPG of Montana's D1 opponents=19.5 PPG.

Like I said, Montana hasn't faced anyone with a good offense, and the two decent teams they have played, they have lost to. I really I think they are going to need more offensive productivity to beat EWU and MSU, or even Sac or CP for that matter. 21 PPG isn't going to cut it.

FWIW, Eastern is averaging 49 PPG against their D1 opponents.
 
EWURanger said:
I suspect that those stats are going to even out quite a bit over the next few weeks. Everyone is talking about Montana's great defense, but I wonder if anyone has considered that they haven't played anyone with even a moderately good offense.

Wyoming - Probably the best offense they have faced, but nothing special. Averaging 18.3 PPG.
CWU - DII
South Dakota - 16 PPG.
NDSU - 32.2 PPG, but probably inflated a little by a 58-0 drubbing of Incarnate Word.
UNC - Had their third string QB in against the Griz...they average 17.8 PPG.
UND - They average a whopping 13.3 PPG, and were shut out by Misery State.

Average PPG of Montana's D1 opponents=19.5 PPG.

Like I said, Montana hasn't faced anyone with a good offense, and the two decent teams they have played, they have lost to. I really I think they are going to need more offensive productivity to beat EWU and MSU, or even Sac or CP for that matter. 21 PPG isn't going to cut it.

FWIW, Eastern is averaging 49 PPG against their D1 opponents.
Click to expand...

This is a great point. Eastern's D1 opponents are averaging 32.8 points per game. I expect our comparitive defensive stats to narrow as the season progresses.
 
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