Imagine the recruiting bump if we beat Montana.

We are 0-7 lifetime against the Griz and we'll be playing in one of the most difficult venues for opponents in all of the FCS. This is an enormous opportunity for the Aggies.

Weather forecast for Missoula on Saturday:

Ah, quite a shift from California weather then. 40% chance of rain could impact the passing game. Good thing we actually have a running game this year!

I love Hawk, love this team, love the national press, but I am nervous for this game. As awesome as the Hawktoberfest surprise was, Idaho State was in control of that game until the 4th quarter, and we barely made it back. Last week the first three possessions were disconcerting until we got the ball rolling. Not sure why Montana has lost 2 in a row, but they are going to come out swinging hard, and we better not start slow like we have the last 2 games. I believe the Ags win, but this is going to be close I suspect.

The young kicker makes the FG, we'd feel differently. Good to get a few breaks.

https://missoulian.com/sports/college/big-sky-conference/university-of-montana/coming-off-bye-week-montana-grizzlies-gear-up-for-biggest/article_9737d530-ced8-5025-9a86-6558d3bf3c96.html

“Obviously, UC Davis is a great team, they’re a great offense,” Montana linebacker Dante Olson said. “I wouldn’t say I’m more excited for one game than the other besides the fact that it’s a must-win for us. We need to go 1-0 this week. I’m excited to get back out there this week and get ready for Saturday.”

They were 4-1 to start the season.

Hauck is 6-1 at Montana after a bye week.

Cal Poly probably thought that the bye was going to help them as well. I'm not comparing CP to Montana cause they are in different ball parks this season, but the point still stands. Teams don't automatically do better because of a bye.

Agreed.

But Montana ain't CP, or ISU, or SJSU.

And Hauck isn't the coach at SJ State. Not young, not inexperienced, not green, etc.

I expect an epic battle.

I personally think ISU is a better team than Montana this season, but I get what you are saying. The Aggies are going to have to come out of the gate fast and strong, defense force some turnovers. Montana is playing to try to stay in the playoffs, the Aggies know that. I think that they will be ready.

Idaho St is better than Northern Iowa

San Jose would beat Montana handily. Idaho St also clearly better

I don't believe Montana is athletic enough for Davis.

I'm impressed w how their QB can to his left so consistently.

From the Montana fan blog....that last sentence is funny. Getting feisty early in the week.

“I know it's only Monday, but I'm already starting to get optimistic about Saturday. Coming off a week of rest, and hopefully some great practices this week, I think we will welcome UCD to Wa-Griz in the best way possible. I expect them to score some points, but I think we win the turnover battle for a change and get this one 38-24. Go Griz!

And to all the fans who will be there to welcome the UCD dozens into Missoula, please be respectful as usual. Show them a great time. Show them the bottoms of a few beers. Show them that, unlike where they come from, all beautiful towns don't have to smell like truck stop bathrooms with cows roaming the streets.”

Hey they called Davis a beautiful town

I saw that as well. I had a hard time following his drunken diatribe :).

In reply to Idaho State being better than Northern Iowa; In Sagarin rankings, Northern Iowa is ranked #74 , we’re #106, and Idaho State is #137.
On a neutral field Northern Iowa would be favored over Idaho State by two touchdowns

One thing I appreciate about playing a program like Montana is that I can visit the opponents' fan forum and see constant activity about our upcoming matchup. Most of the teams in the Big Sky just don't have that kind of online following (unless I'm not looking in the right places?). I get that most of the teams we've been playing aren't doing well and have depressed fan bases, but I'd say even during the Gould years we had some pretty regular posters here week in and week out.

They love their Griz.

Highest level of athletics in the state. We’d be like that in California if we didn’t have the NFL,NHL,NBA,PAC12,Mountain West, and Major League Soccer. Hard to imagine.
Edit left of major league baseball

And no wine country, Tahoe, etc.

Their mountains are nice.

Missoula is incredibly beautiful. A River Runs Through It was filmed there (I think). But the Griz are the only game in town, and they have a devoted following. It's tough to get people excited about even professional sports around here unless they're perennially competing for championships. Then we jump aboard the band wagon.

Here is an ESPN page which makes it easy to look up stats, schedules and rosters of all the FCS teams in the country divided up by conference:

EDIT: It's not worth it since it is not up to date at all

http://www.espn.com/college-football/teams/_/group/81

If Davis brings their A game this should be a W. Montana has talent and is well coached, but they have some big holes. Davis is a more complete team.

I believe we have the talent to match up well with them but I think the Wa-Griz Stadium environment and the emotion that Montana will bring to the field will be a significant factor. They're essentially playing for their post-season lives and they will be sky high at the start of the game.

The Ags are 0-7 historically against the Griz also. I expect this will be a very tough game for the Aggies and it will tell us a lot about just how good we are.

Hauck coming back to Montana wasn't exaclty popular across the board:

http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/37021142/um-responds-to-faculty-complaints-about-hauck-hiring

http://406mtsports.com/college/big-sky-conference/university-of-montana/hauck-s-tenure-at-um-brought-wins-but-legal-troubles/article_b4e946dd-acfa-5ad7-8aec-8d78bad96319.html

http://www.montanakaimin.com/features/asset-or-liability-bobby-hauck-s-controversial-return-to-um/article_de551310-db75-11e7-b412-dbef348385d4.html

Right now forecast is 55 and partly cloudy. That being said I’m in Ace Hardware getting some rain pants