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6 Big Sky Conference teams that can still make the playoffs

BWahlberg

BWahlberg

Well-known member
DONOR
4 weeks to go, lots still to decide. Teams could get hot and make a run, or fall all the way apart.

Montana Grizzlies (8-0 / 4-0): @Weber, vs EWU, @PSU, vs MSU. The Grizzlies next 3 games are against teams no better than .500 and they'll presumably be heavy favorites in all of them. One slip up before the much anticipated brawl would be an absolute disaster for Montana. They're probably 1 win away from being playoff bound but simply just making the playoffs isn't the goal here.

UC Davis Aggies (6-1 / 4-0): vs ISU, @Idaho, @MSU, vs Sac. This is a tough final 4 games, and as posted before Davis's week 1 no contest against top 15 Mercer looms big. Davis is kind of laying in the weeds here as most talk about Griz or Cats, but if they win out they're guaranteed a co-champ at the minimum. We'll see what Davis is made of pretty quickly here.

Montana State Bobcats (6-2 / 4-0): @UNC, vs Weber, vs UC Davis, @UM. Cats could have back to back weeks against top 10 teams to close the season, for them a win-out makes them the stand alone BSC champs.

Eastern Washington Eagles (4-4 / 3-1): vs Sac, @UM, vs UNC, @ Cal Poly. Maybe the most improbable team to make it, but technically still viable, they're 3-1 in conference and if they run the table they'll have a top 5 win and be 8-4. If the Griz beat the cats to end the season EWU would be BSC co-champs.

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (5-3 / 2-2): vs Idaho, vs UNC, vs Cal Poly, @ Weber. NAU has 2 conference losses so the BSC is probably not in play, however 3 home games of the last 4 and they're currently ranked. This sets them up well if they can handle business to make it.

Sacramento State Hornets (4-4 / 2-2): @EWU, vs PSU, vs Idaho, @ UC Davis. Tough road for Sac but if they can get organized and win out, ending the season with knocking off UCD they'll be on the bubble.

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Conventional knowledge would suggest that with just 1 or 2 more wins the Griz, Cats, and Aggies are in. EWU plays Sac this week - loser of that game is out. NAU is in if they win all 4, maybe on the bubble if they go 3-1, out if they go 2-2 or worse.

Seems to me the BSC has 3 to 4 that should be going - assuming they win the games they're expected to. Sac or EWU are on the wrong side of the bubble and need to make a run and get some help
 
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I see NAU the only other team to join these 3. EWU and Sac will lose at least one, maybe 2 of their final 4 games.

Sac will lose @ EWU and UCD. Eastern will lose to Montana and possibly CP on the road.
 
BWahlberg said:
Conventional knowledge would suggest that with just 1 or 2 more wins the Griz, Cats, and Aggies are in. EWU plays Sac this week - loser of that game is out. NAU is in if they win all 4, maybe on the bubble if they go 3-1, out if they go 2-2 or worse.

Seems to me the BSC has 3 to 4 that should be going - assuming they win the games they're expected to. Sac or EWU are on the wrong side of the bubble and need to make a run and get some help
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UM, MSU, Davis are in. Agreed loser of Sac/EWU is out. AND the winner needs to win out. If NAU goes 3-1 they are definitely in. 8-4, 5-3 in conference they're in. If they go 2-2, they're likely out.

So we'll have 4 almost certainly, and 5 if the EWU/Sac winner wins out (of course we'd better hope that's Sac, since we PLAY EWU...
 
With 12 game seasons, across most of the FCS and the addition of the Ivy leagues AutoBid. I believe 8 wins is all but required to make the FCS playoffs each year moving forward.

This year the FCS appears to be on track to to have more than enough teams with 9+ wins. That there will be a few 8 and 9 win teams that won't make the playoffs.

Any team that finishes with 8 fcs wins in the MVFC or Big Sky are sure bets to make the playoffs. Montana and Southern Illinois, both have a sub D1 win, which means if either finish with 8 total wins, will likely be sitting on the bubble or outside looking in.
UC Davis, and Mercer are likely the only teams in the FCS this year that could possibly sneak in with only 7 wins, UCD coming out of the Big Sky as they would finish with only 4 losses due to their canceled game. That would also mean they finished the season 1-3 and most likely would be passed on unless their QB being out was a factor that pushed them in. If Mercer finished with only 7 wins, they could possibly get a pass for the canceled game, and they would likely have a loss against Auburn to finish the season, giving them only 3 fcs losses.
 
My tailgate is better said:
With 12 game seasons, across most of the FCS and the addition of the Ivy leagues AutoBid. I believe 8 wins is all but required to make the FCS playoffs each year moving forward.

This year the FCS appears to be on track to to have more than enough teams with 9+ wins. That there will be a few 8 and 9 win teams that won't make the playoffs.

Any team that finishes with 8 fcs wins in the MVFC or Big Sky are sure bets to make the playoffs. Montana and Southern Illinois, both have a sub D1 win, which means if either finish with 8 total wins, will likely be sitting on the bubble or outside looking in.
UC Davis, and Mercer are likely the only teams in the FCS this year that could possibly sneak in with only 7 wins, UCD coming out of the Big Sky as they would finish with only 4 losses due to their canceled game. That would also mean they finished the season 1-3 and most likely would be passed on unless their QB being out was a factor that pushed them in. If Mercer finished with only 7 wins, they could possibly get a pass for the canceled game, and they would likely have a loss against Auburn to finish the season, giving them only 3 fcs losses.
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You really think an undefeated Montana team would be on the bubble because of a Div 2 win??
 
Griz
UC Davis
Cats

That’s all she wrote. If NAU sneaks in, they’ll lose round 1 of the playoffs again….same thing as last year. I think it was Tarleton that beat the brakes off them last year. I’m too lazy to fact check that, so apologies if I’m wrong.

I disagree with the statement that only 2 teams can win the whole thing. Any of the top 3 dogs in the big sky can play with anyone. Tarleton might be the real deal. That’s why they play the games. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but NDSU fans are more obnoxious than Cat fans. It would be fabulous to see them lose in their first game in the playoffs.
 
Downwiththefoe1984 said:
Griz
UC Davis
Cats

That’s all she wrote. If NAU sneaks in, they’ll lose round 1 of the playoffs again….same thing as last year. I think it was Tarleton that beat the brakes off them last year. I’m too lazy to fact check that, so apologies if I’m wrong.

I disagree with the statement that only 2 teams can win the whole thing. Any of the top 3 dogs in the big sky can play with anyone. Tarleton might be the real deal. That’s why they play the games. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but NDSU fans are more obnoxious than Cat fans. It would be fabulous to see them lose in their first game in the playoffs.
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Yeah it was Abilene Christian that beat them 24-0. An embarrassing showing.

I think they'll make it again, and will probably not make it to the 2nd round, but hopefully it's a better showing than last year.
 
Cats have proven time and time again they cannot beat the top Missouri Valley teams they are trying to emulate so while they can possibly make a run to the championship they are not a contender to win it. Montana and UC Davis have a chance but would probably be an underdog in the national championship against either North Dakota team.
 
'68griz said:
You really think an undefeated Montana team would be on the bubble because of a Div 2 win??
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Congrats on failing to read cognitively. 👍

It was stated that if they won 8 total games (which they currently are at) they would be a bubble team. It was simply referencing the two programs in those two conferences that are still playoffs eligible and have a D2 win on their record.
 
My tailgate is better said:
Congrats on failing to read cognitively. 👍

It was stated that if they won 8 total games (which they currently are at) they would be a bubble team. It was simply referencing the two programs in those two conferences that are still playoffs eligible and have a D2 win on their record.
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If the Griz lose 4 straight to end the season they don’t deserve to make the playoffs even though they will be a bubble team. You have putrid PSU on the schedule.
 
Downwiththefoe1984 said:
Griz
UC Davis
Cats

That’s all she wrote. If NAU sneaks in, they’ll lose round 1 of the playoffs again….same thing as last year. I think it was Tarleton that beat the brakes off them last year. I’m too lazy to fact check that, so apologies if I’m wrong.

I disagree with the statement that only 2 teams can win the whole thing. Any of the top 3 dogs in the big sky can play with anyone. Tarleton might be the real deal. That’s why they play the games. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but NDSU fans are more obnoxious than Cat fans. It would be fabulous to see them lose in their first game in the playoffs.
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How are we obnoxious? Do we call you names? Do we fat shame? Do we cry about referees and phoney holding calls? Do we say our backups are better than our starters?
 
FatBuffalo said:
How are we obnoxious? Do we call you names? Do we fat shame? Do we cry about referees and phoney holding calls? Do we say our backups are better than our starters?
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I am not sure why you are on Egriz when the Griz have owned the Bison as of recent. You could be a lot more obnoxious on bubnation where they try to copy NDSU but always fall short.
 
AZGrizFan said:
UM, MSU, Davis are in. Agreed loser of Sac/EWU is out. AND the winner needs to win out. If NAU goes 3-1 they are definitely in. 8-4, 5-3 in conference they're in. If they go 2-2, they're likely out.

So we'll have 4 almost certainly, and 5 if the EWU/Sac winner wins out (of course we'd better hope that's Sac, since we PLAY EWU...
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I don’t see any way we have 5 and I really think it’s a coin flip we end up with 4. I think we get 3 and the MVFC will be the only one with a chance to get 5. I will be interested to see how the Ivy’s auto bid affects the bubble teams.
 
My tailgate is better said:
With 12 game seasons, across most of the FCS and the addition of the Ivy leagues AutoBid. I believe 8 wins is all but required to make the FCS playoffs each year moving forward.

This year the FCS appears to be on track to to have more than enough teams with 9+ wins. That there will be a few 8 and 9 win teams that won't make the playoffs.

Any team that finishes with 8 fcs wins in the MVFC or Big Sky are sure bets to make the playoffs. Montana and Southern Illinois, both have a sub D1 win, which means if either finish with 8 total wins, will likely be sitting on the bubble or outside looking in.
UC Davis, and Mercer are likely the only teams in the FCS this year that could possibly sneak in with only 7 wins, UCD coming out of the Big Sky as they would finish with only 4 losses due to their canceled game. That would also mean they finished the season 1-3 and most likely would be passed on unless their QB being out was a factor that pushed them in. If Mercer finished with only 7 wins, they could possibly get a pass for the canceled game, and they would likely have a loss against Auburn to finish the season, giving them only 3 fcs losses.
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D2 wins don’t hurt you. The playoff committee said that last year. D2 wins are counted as wins. Just not counted as D1 wins to meet the minimum threshold. UM has already met the minimum threshold.
 
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