Here's what FCS Central has to say about Griz vs North Dakota game.
No. 16 North Dakota at No. 5 Montana
Kickoff: 2 pm CT (ESPN+)
North Dakota has started to build some hype with a competitive game against Kansas State and a blowout win over Portland State. This will be the Hawks' first true FCS test, and it comes in one of the most hostile environments in college football. There's no shortage of questions for Montana, which has only played one game against a non-Division I opponent. The Grizzlies have won over 86% of their games inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium, a troubling statistic for North Dakota, which has had some struggles away from home.
Despite playing an overmatched team, the Grizzlies were impressive on the ground, rolling up over 300 yards and four touchdowns. Eli Gillman continues to be one of the best running backs in the subdivision, averaging over 13 yards per carry. I also liked what I saw from Stevie Rocker Jr. in limited action. They also have an extremely dangerous weapon in Michael Wortham, who led the team with six catches for 120 yards and one touchdown. He's going to be used all over the field and can flip the game's momentum with one explosive play.
The Hawks have been good against the run, limiting their first two opponents to only 3.8 yards per carry. The key for the Hawks will be open-field tackling, because Gillman and Wortham can turn one missed tackle into six points. It's a big game for linebacker Malachi McNeal, who anchors the middle of the Hawks' defense. Along with McNeal, it's going to be important for Lance Rucker and Kyjuan Vengrowsky to create pressure and make quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat uncomfortable in the pocket.
My biggest concern was Montana's rushing defense, which allowed 221 yards on 5.0 yards per carry against Central Washington. The Grizzlies missed 10 tackles last week, causing some concern against a North Dakota offense that has three proven options at running back. Sawyer Seidl leads the running back room with 69 yards and two touchdowns, but don't forget about Sacred Heart transfer Xavier Leigh or Gaven Ziebarth. North Dakota's rushing attack was the difference last year, and if the Grizzlies don't improve from last week, it could be the difference once again.
I'll be watching the quarterback battle closely as each team still has some unanswered questions at the position. Jerry Kaminski appears to be an upgrade for the Hawks, throwing for 395 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. He also brings a dual-threat ability that the Hawks did not have last year. Ah Yat showed some flashes last week, but still lacked consistency with some missed throws and two turnovers. This will be a huge test for Kaminski, but he's delivered all season for the Hawks.
This game could go in many different directions, which has led me to go back and forth on which team I want to pick. I'm going to stick with North Dakota on the road, despite some concerns about how hard it is to win in Missoula. I trust Kaminski a bit more than Ah Yat right now, and I think the Hawks find enough success on the ground to escape with the upset win this weekend.
Prediction: North Dakota (24-21)
