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Upset Guesses, Oct 25

What upset is possible?

  • #21 South Dakota (5-3) vs #18 Illinois State (3-3)

    Votes: 16 36.4%

  • Princeton (3-2) vs #14 Harvard (5-0)

    Votes: 3 6.8%

  • Dayton (5-2) vs #19 Presbyterian (7-0)

    Votes: 5 11.4%

  • Grambling (4-3) vs #12 Jackson State (5-1)

    Votes: 2 4.5%

  • #2 SDSU (7-0) vs #1 NDSU (7-0)

    Votes: 18 40.9%
  • Total voters
    44
IdaGriz01

IdaGriz01

Well-known member
Luckily, we have two powerhouse ranked-vs-ranked matchups this week, but it’s pretty slim beyond that. By my count, eleven ranked teams face opponents who have won zero, one, or two games … and in several cases those wins were against D-II opponents. Of course, “on any given Saturday” upsets happen, but it would be a wild chance to pick which they might be.

As usual in the past, the team on the left is the underdog that might pull off the upset. You are allowed just one choice this week, but you can change your vote later if you want to.

Disclaimer/Reminder: For reasons I have explained before, I do not include Big Sky games in these polls.

Official verification: Bobcats suck!
 
Is the SDSU vs NDSU game supposed to be a choice or are you leaving that one out because of the QB situation for the rabbits and DT situation for the hairy cows?
 
Discussion
Not much to say about the Dakota State(s) game. A matchup of two heavyweights. Normally, I’d say NDSU would at least have the home-field advantage, but this is such a grudge match, I’m not sure that applies here. I expect it to be close and come down to the wire … yet either one has the horses to get hot and pull away.

The Illinois State at South Dakota game is hard to call, despite the difference in overall records. Both got clobbered by a good FBS opponent. And they had two common opponents: Both got pounded by NDSU, USD on the road, Illinois State at home. And both pounded Murray State (which has not won a game). Actually, I’d give the edge to South Dakota, just because they’ve played more tough games to this point.

The winner of the Harvard at Princeton game will take the lead in the Ivy League, but that might not mean much since there are so many conference games left to be played. They both pounded their one common opponent, Brown, so that does not tell us much. I think the Tigers have a credible chance at an upset because they always play Harvard tough … and they are at home.

The Presbyterian at Dayton game is another one that presents a problem, despite the undefeated record for Presbyterian. Neither team has played a tough schedule: The Flyers have one D-II win, while the Blue Hose have wins over D-II and NAIA opponents. They have three common opponents: Both drubbed Stetson and Morehead State (big deal). Dayton lost a close one to Butler, while Presbyterian won a close one. Both teams also score a lot of points. Perhaps home field will be enough for the Flyers, I just cannot decide

The game between Grambling and Jackson State pits two well-known teams from the HBCU ranks against each other. Grambling is listed as the “home” team, but that’s just a formality. The game is being played in Las Vegas at Allegiant Field … billed as the “Las Vegas HBCU Classic.” I’m mildly surprised that it is not being broadcast (that could change, of course). Except for FBS losses, neither team has played a schedule worth diddly-squat (two D-II and an NAIA between them). On their records, Jackson State should win. However, they thought that last year and Grambling won anyway. I included the game as a long shot for people to try.
 
IdaGriz01 said:
Discussion
Not much to say about the Dakota State(s) game. A matchup of two heavyweights. Normally, I’d say NDSU would at least have the home-field advantage, but this is such a grudge match, I’m not sure that applies here. I expect it to be close and come down to the wire … yet either one has the horses to get hot and pull away.
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Well, they're definitely not going to have home field advantage because the game is in Brookings lol
 
uofmman1122 said:
Well, they're definitely not going to have home field advantage because the game is in Brookings lol
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Oops! Using the shorthand caused me to totally screw up that comment. Meant to refer to SDSU, with the same notion. Except for the grudge match, you might expect some home-field advantage. I don't think that can be assumed in this case.

Addendum: What happens when you try to hurry.
 
IdaGriz01 said:
Oops! Using the shorthand caused me to totally screw up that comment. Meant to refer to SDSU, with the same notion. Except for the grudge match, you might expect some home-field advantage. I don't think that can be assumed in this case.

Addendum: What happens when you try to hurry.
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No problem.

With respect to this game, if Chase Mason is out, I don't see much hope for SDSU, and it might not be close.
 
fltheadgriz said:
NDSU at SDSU should be more than interesting.
Anyone hear if the SDSU QB is out or how injured he is?
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Friends in Brookings said he hurt his ankle on first series but expecting him to play Saturday. Makes a guy wonder if they weren’t playing Murray St if he goes back in last week and how much keeping him out was a precaution? I have no clue.
 
I put in on this yesterday, I think, I'm feeling the home field advantage and SDSU prevails.
I also like the USD upset. They obviously aren't what we were told in the preseason and they lost at Lamar, which is a joke.
I could actually see Princeton winning, again, the home field is a big sway for me in that, but I am going to have to say Harvard holds them off.
It is ridiculous that Jackson State is at #12, the entire SWAC is horrible, but being the best of one of the worst carries a lot of clout, obviously.
Presbyterian will lose, but not this week. That is coming up when they go to St. Paul, MN to play St. Thomas on November 15.
 
I listened to part of a Jackrabbit podcast this week and they were saying that Chase Mason has turf toe. It seemed like they have some connections to the program and therefore had accurate info. All that to say, depending on how serious it is, he may not play Saturday. And if he doesn't play, I'm not sure SDSU has much of a chance against the Bison. If Mason can play and is mobile enough, then it could be anybody's game. Pretty hard to predict right now.
 
Da Boyz Mom said:
I listened to part of a Jackrabbit podcast this week and they were saying that Chase Mason has turf toe. It seemed like they have some connections to the program and therefore had accurate info. All that to say, depending on how serious it is, he may not play Saturday. And if he doesn't play, I'm not sure SDSU has much of a chance against the Bison. If Mason can play and is mobile enough, then it could be anybody's game. Pretty hard to predict right now.
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I can't disagree at all, the backup did well enough to beat Murray State, but how much does that take, the defense just needed to hold up and maintain the lead. It would change my prediction if he is out, but I just feel the Looney Tunes win at home and Buggs Bunny calls in Elmer Fudd for Buffalo season on the lone prairie.
At least the stumble I perceived they had against Murray State has an explanation over the 10-7 first half snooze in Terre Haute.
 
Griz in Texas said:
I can't disagree at all, the backup did well enough to beat Murray State, but how much does that take, the defense just needed to hold up and maintain the lead. It would change my prediction if he is out, but I just feel the Looney Tunes win at home and Buggs Bunny calls in Elmer Fudd for Buffalo season on the lone prairie.
At least the stumble I perceived they had against Murray State has an explanation over the 10-7 first half snooze in Terre Haute.
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You make a good point about the bison having some slow starts this year. If they start real slow in Brookings, especially if Mason can play, they might find themselves in a hole they can't easily climb back out of. It will be interesting for sure!
 
garizzalies said:
Damn that can be a horrible injury. Many do not fully recover because it’s “just a toe” and they do not take the necessary time off while it can lead to overcompensation injuries to other body parts.
Turf toe can be the kiss of death in the nfl and has ended the careers of many greats like Jack Lambet, Shaq, and Prime.
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Fully agree. I thought this had gone away once they got rid of those hard surfaces that were carpet over cement. I think I read last year that it's alive and well and probably a lot more common than before. It doesn't happen just on turf, it can happen on any surface, as seen with Shaq.
I wouldn't want to wish the kid harm, but if this lingers it will definitely impact them the rest of the season I would think. I saw a little of their game against Sac State but I don't recall tuning in for anything else at this point. It's a big drop from what I understand to the young man in the QB2 slot.
 
The NDSU board says Mason is out for sure. Big surprise there, like they have an insider giving them the info.
The SDSU site thinks he is play, but he probably won't, except for key situations (sounds like the whole game), and there is actually one person on there that out right says this. This is what you get for smoking stuff that grows in buffalo dung!

I'm going on Mason won't play, not that NDSU knows for sure, but if SDSU doesn't know, I have to back off the upset pick because without the QB, the defense isn't capable of carrying the back up and had issues against Murray State last week.

I hope they find a way around it whether he plays or not, but I will go with USD as my upset pick this week.
 
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Coaches at NDSU are not totally buying the stories about the severity of Chase Mason's injury. (He is supposedly "day-to-day.") They don't say anything specific except that they "will prepare for Mason with an eye on Marble." [Marble is QB2.] Link to pretty good article: https://www.inforum.com/sports/biso...son-head-coach-tim-polasek-planning-for-mason

"Reading between the lines," as it were, I get the notion that this sort of ploy is not at all unusual in this super-rivalry game. On the other hand, the loss of the starting defensive tackle for NDSU seems legit (but then, that may be yet another ploy).
 
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