Well I think we've had enough discussion on the cats over the last week, so let's move on to NAU. I'm of the opinion that this is a make or break or year for Chris Ball at NAU and I think he knows that as he has run rabid in the portal blowing out every other program in the Big Sky by a wide again with number of portal guys brought in. He's had the luxury of having 2 great QB's in Case Cookus, RJ Martinez, and now what could potentially be another great QB in Cal transfer Kai Milner (sorry to all of you who thought Britt would be the starter). NAU's biggest problem has been their Defense. It has been flat terrible since Ball has taken over. Their Offense has always been capable with the great QB's they've had, but it's time for them to figure it out defensively. The bad news is they have a brutally tough schedule. 4 out of 6 of their road games are teams that were in the playoffs last year (UND, Sac State, Weber, cats) and a fifth coming against FBS Arizona which is becoming a much more respectable program. With that, let's dive in!
September 2 @ Arizona - L. I know NAU was able to pull the upset 2 years ago against a 1-11 UA team, but this Arizona program is becoming respectable. Jayden De Laura is a baller at QB for the Wildcats and Arizona I believe will be a bowl team this year and finish middle of the pack in the PAC 12. I think NAU could keep it close for a half but after that it starts to get ugly.
September 9 @ North Dakota - L. It's hard to say any game this early in the season is a must win game, but this is a must win for NAU. If they do not win this game they are seriously throwing themselves behind the 8 ball early. Losing to UND could be the kiss of death for their season. I think this is a 50-50 game but I'll give the edge to the home team in UND who I think could actually have a pretty good season this year.
September 16 vs. Utah Tech - W. NAU does have a history of dropping games they shouldn't and while this feels like it could be one of those games they cannot afford to drop this one at home. I genuinely hope NAU has a better team then Utah Tech, cause if they don't Chris Ball's time in Flagstaff will certainly come to an end.
September 23 vs. Montana - L. We played pretty well the last time we were in Flagstaff, but it's always a tricky place to play. This could be a game NAU could look to steal if they drop that UND game. This could be a close game, but I'll take the Griz on the road.
September 30 @ Sacramento State - L. Another 50-50 game in my mind. If this game were at home I'd probably pick NAU to win. Since it's in Sacramento I'll say Sac State in a close one.
October 7 @ Weber State - W. I'll say NAU steals this one on the road because they have too! They cannot go 0-2 on this road. They very well could be staring down the barrel of having 5 losses through first week of October. I think NAU eeks this one out to keep their season alive.
October 14 vs. Portland State - W. I don't think they're gonna blow out PSU. I think they're really gonna have to work at it to win this one as well. They better win this one at home though.
October 21 BYE. This is one of those situations where I actually do believe a team could benefit from an early bye week. With all the heavy hitters in the first half of the schedule, if they could've gotten this sprinkled in somewhere earlier they might be feeling better about their chances in some of those games.
October 28 vs. UC Davis - W. Coming off a bye week at a critical moment in their season, I'll say NAU wins this game at home. They have no choice.
November 4 @ Montana State - L. NAU struck the fear of god into the cats in Flagstaff last year, but I just don't see how they do that in early November in Bozeman. The only path to victory I see is the cats would have to be decimated by injuries and even then it will still be really tough.
November 11 vs. Northern Colorado - W. Not much to say other then don't lose this game at home.
November 18 @ Eastern Washington - W. Could Eastern play spoiler in this game? I could see a scenario where they do. However Eastern could be out of gas by the time we get to the final week. I'll take NAU in a close on the road.
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I have NAU going 6-5 but I could very well see them finishing 4-7 or even worse. The question would be does a 6-5 NAU team sneak into the playoffs with a road win at Weber and a home win against UC Davis? I'm gonna lean towards no but depending on how things shake out around the country there is a possibility. Like I said, I think NAU's season comes down to that week 2 game against North Dakota. If you can pick up a road win against a good UND team and finish 7-4 then you're in! That's my prediction. Thoughts???
September 2 @ Arizona - L. I know NAU was able to pull the upset 2 years ago against a 1-11 UA team, but this Arizona program is becoming respectable. Jayden De Laura is a baller at QB for the Wildcats and Arizona I believe will be a bowl team this year and finish middle of the pack in the PAC 12. I think NAU could keep it close for a half but after that it starts to get ugly.
September 9 @ North Dakota - L. It's hard to say any game this early in the season is a must win game, but this is a must win for NAU. If they do not win this game they are seriously throwing themselves behind the 8 ball early. Losing to UND could be the kiss of death for their season. I think this is a 50-50 game but I'll give the edge to the home team in UND who I think could actually have a pretty good season this year.
September 16 vs. Utah Tech - W. NAU does have a history of dropping games they shouldn't and while this feels like it could be one of those games they cannot afford to drop this one at home. I genuinely hope NAU has a better team then Utah Tech, cause if they don't Chris Ball's time in Flagstaff will certainly come to an end.
September 23 vs. Montana - L. We played pretty well the last time we were in Flagstaff, but it's always a tricky place to play. This could be a game NAU could look to steal if they drop that UND game. This could be a close game, but I'll take the Griz on the road.
September 30 @ Sacramento State - L. Another 50-50 game in my mind. If this game were at home I'd probably pick NAU to win. Since it's in Sacramento I'll say Sac State in a close one.
October 7 @ Weber State - W. I'll say NAU steals this one on the road because they have too! They cannot go 0-2 on this road. They very well could be staring down the barrel of having 5 losses through first week of October. I think NAU eeks this one out to keep their season alive.
October 14 vs. Portland State - W. I don't think they're gonna blow out PSU. I think they're really gonna have to work at it to win this one as well. They better win this one at home though.
October 21 BYE. This is one of those situations where I actually do believe a team could benefit from an early bye week. With all the heavy hitters in the first half of the schedule, if they could've gotten this sprinkled in somewhere earlier they might be feeling better about their chances in some of those games.
October 28 vs. UC Davis - W. Coming off a bye week at a critical moment in their season, I'll say NAU wins this game at home. They have no choice.
November 4 @ Montana State - L. NAU struck the fear of god into the cats in Flagstaff last year, but I just don't see how they do that in early November in Bozeman. The only path to victory I see is the cats would have to be decimated by injuries and even then it will still be really tough.
November 11 vs. Northern Colorado - W. Not much to say other then don't lose this game at home.
November 18 @ Eastern Washington - W. Could Eastern play spoiler in this game? I could see a scenario where they do. However Eastern could be out of gas by the time we get to the final week. I'll take NAU in a close on the road.
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I have NAU going 6-5 but I could very well see them finishing 4-7 or even worse. The question would be does a 6-5 NAU team sneak into the playoffs with a road win at Weber and a home win against UC Davis? I'm gonna lean towards no but depending on how things shake out around the country there is a possibility. Like I said, I think NAU's season comes down to that week 2 game against North Dakota. If you can pick up a road win against a good UND team and finish 7-4 then you're in! That's my prediction. Thoughts???
