Moving on to our next predictions and this week it's the cats. We all know their story coming into the season so let's dive in!
August 29 @ Utah Tech - W. lol what a brutal first ever conference game for the Trailblazers. At least they get them at home. They're gonna need all the help they can get. Cats roll in this one.
September 5 vs. Butler - W. We saw Butler in Wa Griz back in 23, and they now return to the Treasure State to face the cats. Another easy win before the big test in Reno!
September 12 @ Nevada - W. Man what a fascinating game. Jeff Choate taking on his former team in a make or break season for him. He needs to get this game, and if he doesn't then it might be curtains for him in Reno. Plus just imagine how bad it might sting to lose this game to his former team that he maybe didn't leave on the best terms with. I do think the cats are the better team and will be favored in this game, but I think it's gonna be a close game. Choate will pull all of the stops out to try and win this game because he knows he needs it. Some articles suggest this might be his best team he's had in Reno so far. We will see but I do think the cats pull it out in a close game.
September 19 vs. Central Connecticut State - W. A playoff team from last year. Albeit from the NEC which is often considered the worst conference in the FCS. Cats win big at home.
September 26 vs. Northern Arizona - W. I'm not as high on NAU as other people are. They do have Ty Pennington who I think is a Top 3 QB in the Big Sky, but beyond that they lost a lot of playmakers and I don't think they're very good on D. Plus they really underachieved last year IMO. Maybe Pennington is good enough to keep them in it for a half but the cats should win no problem.
October 2 @ Idaho - W. If there were ever a trap game on the schedule, this would be the one. A Friday night game on ESPN which makes for a short week that includes travel while the Vandy's have a bye week the week before to prepare for this game. It should be a rocking Kibbie Dome as well for a national TV game. The cats have only been to the Kibbe Dome twice in the last decade. Because of all these circumstances, I think Idaho has a chance in this game. They will have some stuff dialed up for sure. In the end though, I do expect the cats to find a way to pull it out. Maybe they make the field goal at the end this time lol.
October 10 BYE
October 17 @ Eastern Washington - W. Another tricky place to play but if the reports are true that Eastern plans to go with Nate Bell at QB over Jake Schackel, then the cats are gonna roll and Aaron Best will be fired at year end.
October 24 vs. Weber State - W. Can Weber do better than they did last year in Bozeman? That was pretty uninspiring last year. Cats roll at home.
October 31 vs. Cal Poly - W. Should be no issues in this game. I think Poly is a year away.
November 7 @ Idaho State - W. Ooh another really tricky place to play. Two years ago I believe the cats found themselves in a one score game in the 4th quarter while in Poky. This ISU team is better than that 24 team though. ISU could have a lot on the line in this game, and it could be how they clinch themselves a playoff berth if they win it. I could see it playing out very similar to the Griz game in Poky last year. If Jordan Cooke is not clean and he's turning the ball over, then the cats will be fine. Which version of ISU will we see?
November 14 @ Northern Colorado - W. A nice easy tune up game before the Brawl. Cats roll in this one.
November 21 vs. Montana. No prediction from me in this one as always. I'd like to think that we will finally play a good game in Bozeman for once and that it comes down to the wire, but I guess we'll find out if BK can keep the team composed unlike Bobby.
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I've got the cats going 12-0 or 11-1 depending on the Brawl. There are some spicy road games on this schedule that could maybe see them stub their toe once somewhere along the way, but let's be honest. They have a really good team this year. They will be the heavy favorites to win it all again. I hope the Griz have caught up to them in terms of on the field play cause we've had a good offseason with recruiting and general excitement around the program. We will see though. That's my prediction. Thoughts???
August 29 @ Utah Tech - W. lol what a brutal first ever conference game for the Trailblazers. At least they get them at home. They're gonna need all the help they can get. Cats roll in this one.
September 5 vs. Butler - W. We saw Butler in Wa Griz back in 23, and they now return to the Treasure State to face the cats. Another easy win before the big test in Reno!
September 12 @ Nevada - W. Man what a fascinating game. Jeff Choate taking on his former team in a make or break season for him. He needs to get this game, and if he doesn't then it might be curtains for him in Reno. Plus just imagine how bad it might sting to lose this game to his former team that he maybe didn't leave on the best terms with. I do think the cats are the better team and will be favored in this game, but I think it's gonna be a close game. Choate will pull all of the stops out to try and win this game because he knows he needs it. Some articles suggest this might be his best team he's had in Reno so far. We will see but I do think the cats pull it out in a close game.
September 19 vs. Central Connecticut State - W. A playoff team from last year. Albeit from the NEC which is often considered the worst conference in the FCS. Cats win big at home.
September 26 vs. Northern Arizona - W. I'm not as high on NAU as other people are. They do have Ty Pennington who I think is a Top 3 QB in the Big Sky, but beyond that they lost a lot of playmakers and I don't think they're very good on D. Plus they really underachieved last year IMO. Maybe Pennington is good enough to keep them in it for a half but the cats should win no problem.
October 2 @ Idaho - W. If there were ever a trap game on the schedule, this would be the one. A Friday night game on ESPN which makes for a short week that includes travel while the Vandy's have a bye week the week before to prepare for this game. It should be a rocking Kibbie Dome as well for a national TV game. The cats have only been to the Kibbe Dome twice in the last decade. Because of all these circumstances, I think Idaho has a chance in this game. They will have some stuff dialed up for sure. In the end though, I do expect the cats to find a way to pull it out. Maybe they make the field goal at the end this time lol.
October 10 BYE
October 17 @ Eastern Washington - W. Another tricky place to play but if the reports are true that Eastern plans to go with Nate Bell at QB over Jake Schackel, then the cats are gonna roll and Aaron Best will be fired at year end.
October 24 vs. Weber State - W. Can Weber do better than they did last year in Bozeman? That was pretty uninspiring last year. Cats roll at home.
October 31 vs. Cal Poly - W. Should be no issues in this game. I think Poly is a year away.
November 7 @ Idaho State - W. Ooh another really tricky place to play. Two years ago I believe the cats found themselves in a one score game in the 4th quarter while in Poky. This ISU team is better than that 24 team though. ISU could have a lot on the line in this game, and it could be how they clinch themselves a playoff berth if they win it. I could see it playing out very similar to the Griz game in Poky last year. If Jordan Cooke is not clean and he's turning the ball over, then the cats will be fine. Which version of ISU will we see?
November 14 @ Northern Colorado - W. A nice easy tune up game before the Brawl. Cats roll in this one.
November 21 vs. Montana. No prediction from me in this one as always. I'd like to think that we will finally play a good game in Bozeman for once and that it comes down to the wire, but I guess we'll find out if BK can keep the team composed unlike Bobby.
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I've got the cats going 12-0 or 11-1 depending on the Brawl. There are some spicy road games on this schedule that could maybe see them stub their toe once somewhere along the way, but let's be honest. They have a really good team this year. They will be the heavy favorites to win it all again. I hope the Griz have caught up to them in terms of on the field play cause we've had a good offseason with recruiting and general excitement around the program. We will see though. That's my prediction. Thoughts???
