TSN picks ASU over Griz

[Proud Griz Man]

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McDonnell "In the Huddle"

No. 12 Montana Grizzlies (1-0) at No. 11 Appalachian State Mountaineers (0-1), 6:30 p.m. (ESPN Game Plan, ESPN3.com)

Series record: Montana leads, 2-0

Last meeting: Montana 24, Appalachian State 17 (Dec. 12, 2009)

What to know: You won't be able to find too many people in Boone, N.C., on Saturday night who will not be in attendance at "The Rock" for one of the most anticipated regular-season non-conference matchups in the history of the FCS.

For those questioning the significance of a regular-season contest between the Southern and Big Sky conferences, keep in mind both programs have a combined five national championships, 10 FCS championship-game appearances and 40 FCS postseason berths. In the last seven years, Appalachian State and Montana are the winningest programs in all of the FCS with 79 and 78 victories, respectively.

To make things even more interesting, Appalachian is coming off a disappointing 8-4 season without a playoff win (yes, disappointing in the eyes of the Mountaineers faithful) and lost to Eastern Carolina last week. The Grizzlies had a troubled offseason with player arrests, assault allegations and the firing of its head coach. Montana won its opener, but trailed a South Dakota team that won three FCS games in 2011, 24-16 midway through the third quarter. The Grizzlies rushed the ball effectively and won, 35-24.

Very rarely do teams come away with victories against Appalachian State in the confines of Kidd Brewer Stadium. Coach Jerry Moore is 20-3 all-time in home openers for the Mountaineers and 10-1 in the last 11 years.

Prediction: Appalachian State 33, Montana 28

 

[GrizSpartan]

Logical! BUT, who knows. We may end up playing the game of the year in Boone. No matter, it is a classic match-up.

 

[grizfan47]

Man I hope we win. However, a 33 - 28 loss would not be the end of the world. Taking a young team on a road trip of the this magnitude, two time zones away, against a formidable foe is a tough order for anyone. No excuses, leave it on the field and everything else will take care of itself. Go Griz!! :thumb:

 

[Gaeilge1]

One thing is for certain no matter who wins. After the game both teams will have a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and what they need to work on for the rest of the season.

I know this sounds cliche', but by all accounts these are two evenly matched teams in the higher echelons of the division. Both play a spread offense and have stout defenses. When you have that kind of scenario this early in the season even the losing team may reap great benefit from the game. That is not necessarily true when you play weaker or much stronger competition as many of the other schools in the division will play this weekend.

 

[PhilPonder]

Prediction: Appalachian State 33, Montana 28

Booyah!!!

 

[BWahlberg]

Good! Good!