Hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th, and hopefully not everyone's hungover at work today like me. We're moving on to NAU this week! I've mentioned this a couple times this year, but I'm very high on this NAU team! I think this is the year that the re-build comes together, and they finally string together some wins. NAU has the Freshmen of the Year returning at QB in Zac Martinez, and they are this years winner of the Big Sky scheduling lottery. They avoid UM, EWU, and Sac State, and they get msu and Weber at home. With that in mind, let's dive in!
September 1 @ Arizona State - L. NAU did play spoiler last year against UA, but I don't think they do this time. I know that the ASU football program has fallen on hard times, but they're still better than UA and I would be shocked if they dropped this game to NAU. Expect this to be a close game though, but I'll take the Sun Devils!
September 10 @ Sam Houston - L. This could be a defining moment in NAU's season. This game did not go well for the Jacks last year in Flagstaff, and now they go to Huntsville this season to take on a transitioning Bearkat team that will be over the FCS scholarship limit this season. Not sure NAU gets it done in this one. I'll take SHSU at home.
September 17 vs. North Dakota - W. UND got off to such a strong start last season, and then really fizzled down the stretch. I don't know much about this seasons UND team, but I think NAU is capable of winning this game at home.
September 24 vs. Idaho - W. Could be a tough game. The Vandy's have been hard on NAU over the years, but at some point NAU has to turn the corner and start winning these types of games, and I think they're more than capable of that this year. Give me the Jacks in a close one.
October 1 @ Portland State - W. Should be fine in this one even though it's on the road.
October 8 vs. Cal Poly - W. We've talked about this before, but I don't think Cal Poly will be quite ready this year. I like the Jacks in this one.
October 15 @ UC Davis - L. I think this has the potential to be a great game. A 50-50 game in my mind, and a game that could decide who takes one of the final few playoff spots in 2022. I'll give the edge to Davis at home, but this could be a really good game.
October 22 @ Idaho State - W. Not much to say here. They should roll on the road.
October 29 BYE. A late bye week, but a good time to have it as they got some big games due up after the bye week.
November 5 vs. Montana State - W. I predicted last week that msu would lose this game, and I'm sticking with that prediction. A young cat team on the road in one of the most difficult places to play in the conference with NAU coming off a bye week. Sounds like a recipe for success for the Jacks.
November 12 @ Northern Colorado - W. After a hard fought game against the cats, a chance to work on some things against UNC before Weber rolls into town the final week.
November 19 vs. Weber State - W. NAU has always played Weber really tough. This could be an absolutely huge game for both teams, however I think NAU takes this at home and clinches a playoff spot, and sends Weber home for the season.
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I got NAU going 8-3. That may be a little bit generous as they may be a little more in the area of 7-4 or 6-5. I do think NAU has recruited very well, and at some point that needs to start translating to the field. This is my sleeper team in the Big Sky this year. Watch out for the Jacks. Thoughts?????
September 1 @ Arizona State - L. NAU did play spoiler last year against UA, but I don't think they do this time. I know that the ASU football program has fallen on hard times, but they're still better than UA and I would be shocked if they dropped this game to NAU. Expect this to be a close game though, but I'll take the Sun Devils!
September 10 @ Sam Houston - L. This could be a defining moment in NAU's season. This game did not go well for the Jacks last year in Flagstaff, and now they go to Huntsville this season to take on a transitioning Bearkat team that will be over the FCS scholarship limit this season. Not sure NAU gets it done in this one. I'll take SHSU at home.
September 17 vs. North Dakota - W. UND got off to such a strong start last season, and then really fizzled down the stretch. I don't know much about this seasons UND team, but I think NAU is capable of winning this game at home.
September 24 vs. Idaho - W. Could be a tough game. The Vandy's have been hard on NAU over the years, but at some point NAU has to turn the corner and start winning these types of games, and I think they're more than capable of that this year. Give me the Jacks in a close one.
October 1 @ Portland State - W. Should be fine in this one even though it's on the road.
October 8 vs. Cal Poly - W. We've talked about this before, but I don't think Cal Poly will be quite ready this year. I like the Jacks in this one.
October 15 @ UC Davis - L. I think this has the potential to be a great game. A 50-50 game in my mind, and a game that could decide who takes one of the final few playoff spots in 2022. I'll give the edge to Davis at home, but this could be a really good game.
October 22 @ Idaho State - W. Not much to say here. They should roll on the road.
October 29 BYE. A late bye week, but a good time to have it as they got some big games due up after the bye week.
November 5 vs. Montana State - W. I predicted last week that msu would lose this game, and I'm sticking with that prediction. A young cat team on the road in one of the most difficult places to play in the conference with NAU coming off a bye week. Sounds like a recipe for success for the Jacks.
November 12 @ Northern Colorado - W. After a hard fought game against the cats, a chance to work on some things against UNC before Weber rolls into town the final week.
November 19 vs. Weber State - W. NAU has always played Weber really tough. This could be an absolutely huge game for both teams, however I think NAU takes this at home and clinches a playoff spot, and sends Weber home for the season.
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I got NAU going 8-3. That may be a little bit generous as they may be a little more in the area of 7-4 or 6-5. I do think NAU has recruited very well, and at some point that needs to start translating to the field. This is my sleeper team in the Big Sky this year. Watch out for the Jacks. Thoughts?????
