I see that Luka Nixon, a second team all Big Sky pick this spring hasn’t played since the Weber game. He missed some games prior to that one, Luka was really a big factor this spring.
Also Casey Granfors, who made 3 tackles on special teams against Tulsa, a pretty impressive feat hasn’t played since Dixie.
I assume both are injured.

Tulsa has been a major disappointment this season. If they had not fumbled the ball through the end zone they would have likely scored and we would not be a top 10 team.
Really, imperfect as it is, judging teams purely by a matrix of all teams comparative scores is the best method. For one thing it’s objective. Second, whether a team wins sometimes is pure luck, Not ranking a team based on their having one more loss than another leads to the kind of injustices we’ve been noting.
Northern Iowa is ranked by Sagarin higher than any Big Sky team.

No QB chatter, talked a bit about tackling bigger backs. Carson Crawford handled a number of questions, He presents himself very impressively.

How can the FCS coaches poll have Montana #10 and Sac #22 ?
Ranked 12 places higher than Sac who beat them at home and also has only one loss to a FCS opponent?

yep I overlooked that one

Sagarin list several different ratings for teams, one of which weights more recent games heavier. At one time they had a rating based on wins and losses, but now all algorithms use only point differentials. Our next game we’re picked by various algorithms to win by between 4.75 and 7.91 points, with the closer margin based on both teams recent performance. In summary a close game.

I don’t think Davis has covered a point spread since Weber game. I’m not talking specifically from a gambling point of view but point spreads reflect a consensus of opinion, Davis has underperformed week after week, relative to score expectations.

A lot of the polls are too influenced by where teams were in early polls. Teams get ranked based on last season or first couple of games and then it’s hard for a team to move up. Based on point differential and record this season Sac should be right there with us.

Part of their inconsistency might be due to their true freshman, class of 21 QB. They also have a freshman running back, a big guy at 6’2” 225 who had 177 yards rushing against Idaho. Their QB is a scrambler more than a runner, very mobile. They can be explosive,
This is a better team than anyone we’ve played this season in BigSky other than Weber.

Question for anyone:. If Northern Arizona wins out adding Davis and Montana to Arizona as quality wins, would they make the playoffs with a 7-4 record? I’m thinking they will view our game as a must win playoff type game.

UNI beat #3 Southern Illinois. 23 to 16

NAU punter dropped to a knee to field a bad snap. Give Idaho chance
And Beaudry throws interception

NAU looks tough against Idaho.

Unlikely, unless we beat EWU.
Right now we might be favored by a point because it’s a home game. But in two weeks it will be different.

We will be underdogs against both Eastern Washington and Sac.
It was surprising how Sac dominates NAU, I thought they were coming on with their true freshma QB..
In my opinion the season would be a great success if we beat EWU regardless of the playoffs. Going from not having beaten a top 20 team in a decade to knocking of two, one of which might be number 1 ranked when we play them would be a real step forward. Same applies but to a lesser degree if we beat Sac and lose to EWU.

I think Sac is not going to have any trouble. I haven’t been a believer in Sac because I just didn’t want to, but they’ve overcome my skepticism.

I take it you don’t think Northern Colorado has a shot?

in the Weber game a Davis punt led to a touchdown due to a turnover by the Weber QB throwing from the back line of the end zone with a 350lb lineman in his chest.
However, perhaps it’s just my biased eyes but we seem to allow first downs whenever we have them pinned deep at a vey high percentage. So we don’t get great field position as much as one might think.

We haven’t had a turnover except on downs in the red zone defense in conference games. I guess we used our allotment in the preseason.
Hawkins said that O’Keefe called that run from punt formation play. Has permission to anytime the defense/situation is right for it.

I know. I chose that to give apples to apples comparison.
Shows that we are indeed good as far as red zone defense, in the top half at least, we’re not the best.

Hastings seems to be really good at the two minute offense. Final drive of the first half and the end of the Weber game.