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Posts Tagged ‘Out Of Conference Schedule’

Great Alaska Shootout: Round 1 (Portland State VS Northern Illinois)

Monday, November 24th, 2008 by wiviking in Portland State, basketball



A year after a near miss in the Top of the World Classic, Portland State makes the trip up to Anchorage hoping to rewrite the story of their Alaskan adventure. The first round matches up the Vikings with Northern Illinois. The Huskies are a fairly inexperienced team, led by freshman Mike DiNunno and sophomore Darion Anderson. They are coached by the former head man at Colorado, Ricardo Patton. The Huskies have had a tough start to the season, winning only 2 games against a fairly weak schedule. However, the Viks will not want to take them lightly, as they have a number of guards with the potential to be explosive, as was the case with Fullerton. Thus far, the Huskies have preferred a smaller lineup, but may be forced into a more conventional one to match up with Nelson and Coston.

Match-Ups
Center
PSU: Jamie Jones NIU: Sean Kowal
The 6’11” Kowal, who migrated from Colorado with Patton, has the size and skill to become a very effective player in the MAC. Only a sophomore, Kowal is already averaging 10.5 points per game, and should be able to increase on that against the smaller Jones barring any foul trouble. The Viks can only hope that Jones can have anywhere near the effect he had on Sunday’s game when he scored 21 points including the winning basket in 26 very strong minutes. Though it has become difficult to put anything beyond Jones’ capabilities, this challenge may force him to find ways to be productive outside the points column. It would behoove the Huskies to be assertive with this mismatch, as their talented guards may not be as productive as they have thus far.
Advantage: Huskies

Power Forward
PSU: Kyle Coston NIU: Tyler Storm
Advantage: Highly-rated recruit Tyler Storm could get the start at the 4 for the Huskies. He and Coston should be good marks for each other, as they possess similar size and skill sets. Kyle will try to continue his progress after a solid game on Sunday during which he hit some meaningful shots down the stretch. The winner of this match up will depend on who can get it going from behind the arc in an unfamiliar arena. Coston should be more productive based on the number of minutes he usually merits.
Advantage: Vikings

Guard/Forward
PSU: Phil Nelson NIU: Najul Ervin
Ervin may also play the 4 as the leading rebounder for the Huskies, but winds up here based on size. He will contribute primarily from the inside, unlike Nelson, and may attempt to throw around his muscle with the leaner Viking defenders. Nelson’s defense looked significantly better than in the first two games, but will have to come a lot further if he wants to play more regular minutes. If he can’t handle Ervin inside, Wendell Wright should be able to handle the job, but offensive numbers will suffer if that happens. With the loss of Paul Guede, the Viks lack the versatility of a player who can produce on both ends of the floor, which made him key in crunch time against Portland. Based on his recent cold streak, look for Nelson to find some rhythm up in Alaska, and play a bigger role in the Viking offense.
Advantage: Vikings

Shooting Guard
PSU: Andre Murray NIU: Darion Anderson
Andre had a significant role in the Viks’ come-from-behind victory on Sunday. He hit some very big shots, and came up with a block on Akognon that may have saved the game. Whether or not he continues to play the go-to role on the outside in Alaska depends on the status of Jeremiah Dominguez. If the hand improves significantly, the offense may swing back to the comfort zone. However, if he struggles again, Ken Bone definitely has the confidence that Murray can do what the Vikings need to win. Anderson is a do-everything guard for the Huskies who is averaging 16 points and 5 rebounds per contest. If he can find his stroke from the outside, he has the potential to score 30. Assuming that Dominguez can produce, there is no reason to believe that Murray will duplicate his 16 points from Sunday.
Advantage: Huskies

Point Guard
PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez NIU: Mike DiNunno
True freshman Mike DiNunno has started his collegiate career gunning. He has averaged 21 points for a team that has needed production. A hard-nosed battle with Dominguez, Waters, or a combination of the two may dampen the enthusiasm. After a combined 3-15 effort, the Viking back court stars will look to regroup. The fact that the team was able to win with only 7 points from a duo that produced 42 against Rice speaks to the wealth of talent Ken Bone has right now in the Park Blocks. One would have to bet that Dominguez will get it back on track after the bad game, provided his hand injury begins to improve. The combination at the point for the Viks should be able to overcome the talented freshman for the Huskies.
Advantage: Vikings

Bench
The Huskies bring a very young bench to Wednesday’s game as well. Backup center Ante Dzepina has been solid for the Huskies thus far, and guards Bryan Hall and Jeremy Landers have logged heavy minutes. Again, the Vikings have an advantage due to the depth they have all around. The loss of Guede will hurt, but the continued progress of Wendell Wright should fill in nicely for the time-being. Tyrell Mara produced some very big numbers in Alaska last year, and the Vikings will hope that he can conjure up something similar this time around.
Advantage: Vikings

Prediction
The Huskies are a solid team, but at least a year away from competing for the MAC title. If they can keep it close against a Viking team with superior experience, Patton should be pleased. Viks roll in this one if they can limit the easy opportunities for Kowal on the inside. Either way, they should move on to face Hampton.
PSU: 76 NIU: 68

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PSU VS Cal State Fullerton

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 by wiviking in Portland State, basketball


Cal State Fullerton comes into their weekend contest with the Vikings with an entirely different roster from the one that was able to win convincingly at home last year, returning two letter winners and just one starter. However, that starter is former Washington State Cougar Josh Akognon, who put up 41 points on Sunday against Hawaii. They expected a lot from 7-2 freshman Adam Thomas coming into the year, but through two games, it appears he’s not yet ready to produce. The Vikings should be coming into Sunday’s match-up sky high, but there are questions about whether Jeremiah Dominguez will be able to play after sustaining a finger injury during Tuesday night’s win over the University of Portland. If he’s out, the Vikings game plan changes drastically, and will have them searching for a source of scoring.

Match-Ups
Center
PSU: Jamie Jones CSF: Papa Guisse
Guisse, the transfer from Salt Lake Community College, is going to be relied upon to get some rebounds and block shots for the Titans, who are a very small team. That said, he is very limited offensively, and has produced very little through two games this season. Jones, on the other hand, has been very productive in his two games for the Viks. He is averaging 13.5 points and 8 rebounds per contest. He has provided an interior scoring touch that the Vikings have not had in a few years. It has created some room for Dominguez to work on the outside, and he has responded by shooting 60% from 3 point range. Jones is also a breath of fresh air from the free throw line, hitting 83% in his first two games. Look for the Viks to try to get the ball to Jones inside and attempt to draw some fouls. Though it is nowhere near as bad as last season, the Titans are still very thin on the inside.
Advantage: Vikings

Power Forward
PSU: Kyle Coston CSF: Gerard Anderson
Anderson, who redshirted last season, has been able to pick up some of the slack left by graduation. Through two games he is averaging 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. He definitely has the potential to become explosive, as he showed by scoring 20 points in a half against Texas State. Coston has done exactly what has been expected from him so far, stretching the defense from the 4, and chipping in a little bit in every facet of the game. His much improved defense have given him the upper hand in his battle for minutes with Mara. As much as Kyle has improved, I think Anderson will give him fits with his inside game.
Advantage: Titans

Guard/Forward
PSU: Phil Nelson CSF: Marcio Lassiter/Aaron Thompson
Depending on who the Titans decide to go with here, Nelson could have a huge height advantage. His production in this game may depend on how disciplined he is when he gets the ball in space. If he realizes that he can take advantage on the inside, he could be very productive. However, if he jacks up a bunch of 3 balls, or tries to use his speed to get by defenders on the dribble drive, he might find the road a little bit tougher. Lassiter is a shooter, but might have significant difficulty getting his shot off against the significantly larger Nelson. (Assuming Nelson decides to play defense at any point) The larger Thompson also has outside range, but can also provide the Titans with a useful wing man who can help out on the boards if Coston or Mara can draw Anderson out to the perimeter. If Dominguez is out, the Vikings will depend heavily on Nelson, along with Jones and Waters to pick up the slack on the offensive end. One positive note for Nelson is that this game should provide the type of pace that allows fast break opportunities in which he can better utilize his exploits.
Advantage: Vikings

Shooting Guard
PSU: Andre Murray/Dominic Waters CSF: Josh Akognon
Akognon is the one player on the Titans who could spoil an otherwise easy win. The guy can flat out fill it up. His all-around scoring ability (which includes a knack for getting to the foul line) is what makes him so dangerous. He will likely be matched-up against Andre Murray to start, but his size and speed may incite a quick change to Waters who seems more suited to this kind of pairing. Either way, the goal for the Viking defender will be to slow him down, because the Titans don’t have another really dangerous weapon outside of Anderson. Murray has started out slow this season, but based on his in-season improvement last year, one wouldn’t expect too much reaction from Ken Bone and his staff. Waters has done everything they have asked from him so far. If he can add slowing down Akognon to that list, some lineup tinkering may be occurring in the near future.
Advantage: Titans

Point Guard
PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez CSF: Jacques Streeter
If Akognon is the one player for the Titans, Dominguez is the one player for the Vikings. Although the talent of some of the role players is obvious, none of them seem to have that instinct to turn on the juice when the team needs them like Dominguez. His step back 3 point shot has destroyed the chances of the two opponents on the Viking schedule so far, and it will likely continue to do so the rest of the season. However, none of this is relevant if his finger injury keeps him out of the game. Streeter is a very talented freshman, and has the ability to score and pass that will make him a star in the Big West in the coming years. If he goes up against Waters, the numbers are more likely to stay close.
Advantage: Vikings

Bench
Here, the Vikings have a very large advantage. The only real bench for the Titans is made up by freshman and former Benson Tech star Ameer Shamsud-Din, and whichever of the Thompson/Lassiter combo doesn’t get the start at the 3. Though talented, they really can’t compete with the Viking contingent of Waters, Mara, Thomas, Guede and Wright.
Advantage: Vikings

Prediction
I don’t see the Titans jumping out to a 17 point lead like they did in last year’s contest. If the Vikings can exploit some of the mismatches they have, they could be in very good shape. That said, the result of this game is likely going to come down to Dominguez playing, and the effectiveness of the PSU defense on Akognon. If they can hold him under 30, it seems unlikely that the Titans will be able to keep pace with the Viks on the offensive end.
PSU: 82 CSF: 74

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PSU VS UP

Sunday, November 16th, 2008 by wiviking in Portland State, basketball


November 28, 2007 - The Vikings celebrate their first win at the Chiles Center 78-73 on their way to the NCAA tournament while the Pilots experience an awful 9-22 season. November 18, 2008 – Though not expected to do much this season, the Pilots come to the Stott Center a very legitimate threat off their home upset of the Washington Huskies. Though both teams would like to win, the game isn’t key to either’s season. Therefore, the Vikings need it more to build confidence on the home court.

Match-Ups
Center
PSU: Jamie Jones UP: Kramer Knutson/Luke Sikma
Knutson started 30 of 31 games for the Pilots last season, averaging 5 points and 4 rebounds. Saturday night’s 10 point 4 rebound performance indicates that those numbers might improve this year. Jones was very solid, going for a double-double (13 points, 13 boards) in the opener. If he can stay out of foul trouble, he should be able to excel in this match-up. However, if he has to play tough defense on a player like Sikma, his offensive production may suffer.
Advantage: Push

Power Forward
PSU: Kyle Coston UP: Robin Smeulders
Tyrell had a huge game at the Chiles Center last year, draining five 3 point baskets and pulling down 7 rebounds. Smeulders, the new Pilot star, was limited to 3 points and 4 rebounds in 22 minutes. This year’s match-up sees a slightly different set of circumstances, as Smeulders won’t have to contend with Morrison inside, and Coston replacing Mara in the starting lineup. The only way I see the Vikings duplicating last season’s success against Smeulders is if they can find a way to get him into foul trouble.
Advantage: Pilots

Small Forward
PSU: Phil Nelson UP: Ethan Niedermeyer
What should we expect from Phil Nelson after the Rice game? A marked improvement. Nelson shot the ball much better in the exhibition, and should get a lot more fast break opportunities in a game against a team that focuses less on defense and controlling the pace. He is matched-up against Ethan Niedermeyer, a player that has improved each year in every meaningful category. His skill may be close to on par, but he can’t compete with Nelson from an athleticism standpoint. If the Viks can get out and run a lot in this one, Nelson could really exploit this match-up.
Advantage: Vikings

Shooting Guard
PSU: Andre Murray/Dominic Waters UP: Nik Raivio
Raivio put together a very solid game against the Vikings last year, scoring 20 points on 8-15 shooting. Andre Murray and Dominic Waters will try to change that outcome on Tuesday. Based on their efforts against Rice, one might contend that is a possibility. However, the Viks will have to overcome the height advantage that Raivio will have at 6’4”. Another factor is Murray’s ability to stay in the game after logging only 9 minutes in Houston.
Advantage: Push

Point Guard
PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez UP: T.J. Campbell
Just when you think you’ve seen everything from Dominguez, he produces something amazing. It happened on Saturday when he carried the Vikings to victory. He slammed the door on Rice’s late comeback attempt with a step-back three ball with just over a minute to go. What can he do to surprise us now? We’ll just have to watch on Tuesday night. Campbell is an interesting match-up, because Dominguez usually goes up against players that are around 6 feet tall. At 5’9” Campbell possesses a similar skill set to that of Dominguez in that he is a strong outside shooter, a good passer, and gets a lot of steals. If he or Ito can produce anything against Dominguez, I’m sure the Pilots fans will be happy.
Advantage: Vikings

Bench
One big question mark is Luke Sikma, who completely dominated the Vikings on the inside last year with 12 points and 14 boards, but has gradually seen a role reduction since that point. If Sikma can find some way to rekindle that magic, it will go a long way towards keeping this one close, especially if Smeulders and Knutson have as much trouble as they did in last year’s contest. Jared Stohl and Taishi Ito may see some meaningful minutes for the Pilots if the Viking guards can overwhelm Pilot defenders like they did the Owls. Even with Sikma available for the Pilots, I have to side with the Vikings on this one. With players like Mara, Waters, and Thomas, who all possess extreme versatility, they can really allow any of the starters significant time away and not miss a beat.
Advantage: Vikings

Prediction
I’m hesitant about picking this one because the Pilots look like a much better team than the one who the Vikings beat last season. The Vikings three most important players from last year’s contest are also out of the starting lineup. (Mara, Huff, Morrison) However, if the Viks can shut down Smeulders or Raivio, it could also be a rout. I’m going to go with the Viks in a fast-paced battle that mimics last year’s cross-town clash.
PSU: 85 UP: 80

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PSU VS Rice (11/15)

Monday, November 10th, 2008 by wiviking in Portland State, basketball


Portland State opens up the 2008-2009 basketball season at Rice. The Owls hired former Cal coach Ben Braun in the off season with the hopes he could turn around a team that went 3-27 last year and 0-16 in conference. Based on his amazing recruiting haul for next year (Be glad they’re not playing next year!), it appears they are headed back in the right direction. However, Braun isn’t expecting much improvement in the win-loss column this season with 4 upperclassmen returning. The one strength the Owls should bring to the floor is a defensive intensity that exceeds that brought on a nightly basis in the Big Sky.

The Vikings on the other hand, appear to have a lot to look forward to this year even with the losses of Deonte Huff and Scott Morrison with the return of Big Sky MVP Jeremiah Dominguez. The Vikings also return two other probable starters in shooting guard Andre Murray and forward Kyle Coston. The Vikings will also break in talented University of Washington transfer Phil Nelson, who scored a flashy 19 points in 23 minutes in the Viks’ exhibition against Western Oregon. Former WAC freshman of the year Dominic Waters should be the first guard off the bench, and University of Portland transfer Jamie Jones will likely start at center to begin the year. PSU’s biggest weakness may be free throw shooting, which has plagued them off and on in recent years. The loss of Morrison and fellow big man JR Moore may also hurt the Vikings on the inside given recruit Jason Conrad’s decision not to enroll at PSU.

Match-Ups
Center
PSU: Jamie Jones Rice: Trey Stanton
The transfer from the US Naval Academy should be an improvement for the Owls at center, although he may not be the big-bodied presence they need. He provides not only the shot-blocking and rebounding that one would expect from a center, but also a 3 point stroke that should stretch defenses all year. The Vikings might match him up with Coston on defense based on his similar body type. Whether or not Stanton is effective, the Owls will have a talented big man on the floor, because 6th man Suleiman Braimoh has the ability to score and rebound too. If Stanton can lock up Jones on defense, it will go a long way towards keeping this one close for the Owls. However, based on Jones’ history, I wouldn’t bet on that happening. In action at the University of Portland, Jones averaged 10 points and 7 boards, and Viking fans will be pleased to see that unlike past big men, he actually has moves around the basket. I’ll take Jones in this match-up with experience winning out, although I think Julius Thomas’ relentless effort will go a long way in helping wear down the Owls’ centers.
Advantage: Vikings

Power Forward
PSU: Kyle Coston Rice: Aleks Perka
Perka started the last three games for the Owls last season, so he gets the nod here. He was fairly effective when he saw extended time, but will need to exceed the 3.6 points and 2.1 boards per game he got last season if Rice is going to compete on a nightly basis. Coston really improved as the season went on last year, averaging 7.6 points in conference. The Vikings are hoping he can continue to develop into the starting role that he moved into last year. The departure of Alex Tiefenthaler should create more minutes for both Coston and Tyrell Mara. PSU needs their 3 point shooting forwards to stretch the defense so that slashers like Wendell Wright, Andre Murray, and Phil Nelson can get some room for their mid-range games. Rice has talented freshmen Emerson Herndon and Lucas Kuipers to come off the bench here, which should help keep the numbers close.
Advantage: Push

Small Forward
PSU: Phil Nelson Rice: Lawrence Gorham
Outside of point guard, this should be the most exciting match-up, and the one that produces the most points. Gorham, a junior had two 20 point games last year and averaged 8.5 points and 4 boards per game. If he can continue his progress, and help Foster on the scoreboard, it would greatly improve the Owls’ chances. Phil Nelson comes to PSU after starting 9 games as a freshman at the University of Washington, and it comes to no one’s surprise that there are very high expectations. With size, unlimited range, and highlight-reel dunking ability, Nelson is a player that could end up in the NBA in the not-so-distant future. The questions surrounding him are whether or not he can stay healthy, and if he can limit bad shots. If he can do these things, he may not be around long.
Advantage: Vikings

Shooting Guard
PSU: Andre Murray Rice: Cory Pflieger
Pflieger was third in Conference USA in 3 point shooting as a sophomore, averaging 6 points and 2 rebounds per contest. He sat out last season with a medical redshirt after going down with an ankle injury in the fifth game of the season. Rodney Foster may see some minutes at the two if one of the other point guards (Beasley, Frizzelle, Schwarze) proves effective. Murray brings luck to the Vikings, who won 18 out of his 22 starts after their dreadful start. He brings a strong all around game, with a good outside shot and a rebounding ability that exceeds his size. Though he probably won’t be looked on to score as much this season, Murray will be asked to bring his experience and intensity. Numbers wise, this should be close, even though Murray is the more talented of the two.
Advantage: Push

Point Guard
PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez Rice: Rodney Foster
The leading scorer and assist man for the Owls at 11 points and 3 assists per game, Foster shouldered the load for a team that simply wasn’t good. Ben Braun plans to take some of the load off of Foster by playing a larger rotation. The hope is that he won’t go down with a major injury like he did when he broke his hand in practice during the last week of the season last year. Foster will have a significant height advantage in this match-up, but the question is whether or not he can capitalize. Dominguez did a great job on larger opponents last year, utilizing his superior speed and hands to out-duel opponents. Whether or not he can duplicate last season’s numbers depend on the production of team mates. As you might recall, he usually played the role of tough defender and passer last season until it became evident the team would need his scoring output. Foster may outscore Dominguez, especially if Nelson and Jones can be effective on the offensive end, but the numbers should balance out by the time this one is over unless one of them gets into foul trouble.
Advantage: Push

Bench
Bryan Beasley, Texas’ former top-ranked point guard transferred to Rice after sitting out a year as a redshirt at Texas A&M. Last year, he transitioned into the lineup, starting 20 games, and averaging 3 points. Ben Braun has to hope that Beasley will continue to progress and take some pressure off of Foster. Other guys off the bench who might have an impact include Suleiman Braimoh, Emerson Herndon, and Lucas Kuipers. PSU should have a much better bench than they did last year. Although they lost Dupree Lucas and JR Moore, the Vikings gain Dominic Waters, a guy who can play at either guard spot; Donatas Visockis, a big man who will easily fill Moore’s role, and perhaps a great deal more; and Wendell Wright, a strong rebounding freshman wing. Those guys are added to the group that includes Tyrell Mara, Mickey Polis, and Julius Thomas. Even if they weren’t a more talented group, the Vikings clearly have experience and depth that the Owls don’t, and that should allow their starters to get the rest they need to be effective.
Advantage: Vikings

Prediction
Though the Owls play in a conference that has more talent than the Big Sky top-to-bottom, they held a minimal share of that talent, comprised mostly by Foster. If Rice is going to win some more games this year, and particularly this home opener, they will need everything he can give them and then some. The energy surrounding the reopening of Tudor Fieldhouse may keep this one close most of the way, but if the Vikings play up to their potential they’re just too talented for the current Rice squad.
PSU 74 Rice 62

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2008 OOC schedule, make or break?

Friday, April 18th, 2008 by BWahlberg in Big Sky, football

Happy to be blogging here, many of you probably know me as RE/MAXGriz over on egriz, I was asked to add some of my long winded insight into the blog features here.  Earlier this week in a discussion about the next season I thought I’d take a look at how the conference has booked their out of conference schedule (OOC).  It’s interesting what’s been set up, and for the amount of teams that are really striving to reach the playoffs, I was pretty surprised at how difficult they set up their schedules.  So lets take a look at what each team has set up before conference play starts:

Eastern Washington – Two FBS schools in Texas Tech and Colorado, in back-to-back games, ouch.  I know that the gap between top FCS teams and many FBS teams has closed, I see both of these games as very tough ones to win for EWU.  They’ve also got a home against Western Washington and two open dates (which I’ll bet one gets filled).  I’d expect possibly a Great West team or maybe another D2 school if they don’t want to travel.  If they look to a mid-west or east coast FCS team I’d expect they’d have to travel out there.  3 road games and 1 home game OOC could be rough, however it could also really toughen them up for the conference.

Weber State – They’ve also got 2 FBS teams, Hawai’i and Utah, probably both losses, those are both very good football teams.  The two home games they have booked are lower division schools, Dixie St and Montana-Western.  So chances are they’ll be 2-2 when done with the OOC, however they’ll not have a single win to help their status with the playoff committee, they’ll have to win at least 7 conference games to be even considered, if they even go 6-2 in conference play they’ll just have 6 Division 1 wins.  So Weber must be banking on winning the conference auto-bid this year.

Idaho State – ISU has Boise and Idaho booked in their OOC, as well as North Dakota.  Boise will most likely win, Idaho… who knows, I’d think the Vandals would have the edge there.  North Dakota went 10-2 last year and beat Southern Utah (although SUU didn’t win a game).  I think this game will be tough for ISU, they’re rebuilding and they’re having budget issues, so they probably won’t book an FCS road game as well.  They could limp out of the OOC with either a 1-2 or 0-3 record.

Portland State – They’ve got an OOC that tilts to their favor, games against Cal Davis and W. Oregon.  I don’t know much about Davis, so I can’t say how competitive they’ll be.  PSU should have their system in place and I think they’ll win both of those games.  Also they travel to Washington State, Wulff, WSU’s coach will be familiar with them, but he’s rebuilding a Cougar team that could have trouble stopping the spread offense.  Could be interesting to see what happens.

Montana – The Grizzlies have a bear of an opening game, testing a defense with 8 new starters against Cal Poly’s amazing and experienced offense.  The Wofford game stung Montana, and Cal Poly could do the same.  After that Montana returns to home to host Southern Utah, Central Washington and Cal Davis.  Most likely they’ll finish the OOC 3-1.

Montana State – Another team with 2 FBS and 2 lower division schools.  The Cats play Minnesota and Kansas State back-to-back, they also host Adams State and South Dakota.  MSU could be in a similar bind as Weber State, coming out of their OOC 2-2 and relying on winning the conference to make the playoffs.  I think they might have a chance to knock off Minnesota, they beat Colorado a few years back, so who knows!

Sacramento State – CSUS has an interesting OOC, they host two lower-division schools, Humbolt State and Southern Oregon.  They also travel to Davis and to Colorado State.  Since half of the conference is playing Davis, maybe I should check up on these guys!  Sac could be 3-1 OOC when it’s all said and done, they don’t play Davis until late, as they usually do. 

Northern Colorado – They’ve got 3 games booked so far, they travel to Purdue and travel to (guess who?) UC Davis.  They also host Texas State.  Didn’t they beat Texas State last year, or the year before that?  UNC is still building, and they’re on the rise, they could come out of this 1-2 but most likely I’ll say 0-3. 

Northern Arizona – NAU plays Arizona State, New Mexico Highlands (who?), and Southern Utah.  Pretty straight forwards, ASU will most likely beat NAU, but the other two games should be wins for the Lumberjacks.  2-1 OOC is decent. 

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Quick, “Who is UC Davis?” note – Just looked it up, Davis went 5-6 last year, their most notable wins were against Portland State and beating San Diego late in the season.  They didn’t do much else.  A quick manual count has them losing 12 seniors to graduation from the 2007 season, which included some skill players.  They’re a younger team, probably still finding their way.

—

It amazes me how some teams almost schedule themselves right out of the playoffs, I know it’s usually because of money issues, but there’s a lot of cases where teams would have made the playoffs if they wouldn’t have booked 2 or 3 FBS teams, or didn’t book 2 or 3 Division 2 (or lower) schools.  It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out, it’s just a bummer we’ve got to wait so long until football season actually starts.

 

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