There are seven games involving Big Sky Conference schools this week, including the first league tussle of 2007, between host Portland State and Sacramento State.
Some of the luster has come off the Vikings' season of rebirth after an 0-2 start. This week there has been talk in the Oregonian of not only moving preseason all-American center Brennen Carvalho to guard and moving somebody from the defensive line - nose tackle Casey Tyler is one option - to offense.
In other news, your humble prognosticator went 5-0 last week, meaning play time is over for Rial's Replacements. On to this week's picks.
t The picks
n Sacramento State at Portland State: The host Vikings are 10-1 against the Hornets since both joined the Big Sky in 1996. Jerry Glanville's boys had a 17-3 lead over UC Davis last week before losing. The Vikings will hold on this time.
Fritz: PSU 23, Sac State 19. Nick: PSU 26, Sac State 17. Bill: PSU 28, Sac State 20. Chad: PSU 24, Sac State 14.
n UC Davis at Eastern Washington: Davis righted its ship to win at Portland last week. Eastern has had three safeties go down with season-ending injuries, including senior Gregor Smith. The Eagles brought in two-time JC All-American and Washington State castoff Terry Mixon. Whether that's enough to stop Davis running back Joe Trombetta - or defensive end John Faletoese - remains to be seen.
Fritz: Davis 28, EWU 21. Nick: EWU 32, Davis 18. Bill: Davis 21, EWU 17. Chad: EWU 17, Davis 14.
n Northern Arizona at Appalachian State: “You can hide, you can play safe, you can take a lot of different angles, but we teach on a daily basis to meet challenges unified and head-on,” says NAU coach Jerome Souers. Facing the two-time national champions is one major challenge for the Lumberjacks.
Fritz: App State 40, NAU 19. Nick: App State 42, NAU 20. Bill: App State 38, NAU 14. Chad: App State 45, NAU 17.
n Weber State at Cal Poly: The Mustangs' defense and option should be too much for Weber State, though I could pick the Wildcats if they weren't going to San Luis Obispo.
Fritz: Cal Poly 18, Weber 0. Nick: Cal Poly 34, Weber 23. Bill: Cal Poly 35, Weber 28. Chad: Cal Poly 34, Weber 10.
n Dixie State at Montana State: Last December Dixie State lost to Fort Lewis, and last week Fort Lewis lost 49-0 to the Griz.
Fritz: MSU 49, Dixie 0. Nick: MSU 27, Dixie 14. Bill: MSU 45, Dixie 10. Chad: MSU 35, Dixie 6.
n Idaho State at Oregon State: The Bengals' second-ever game against a Pac-10 school is quite a step up from playing Southern Oregon.
Fritz: OSU 43, ISU 17. Nick: OSU 35, ISU 16. Bill: OSU 24, ISU 7. Chad: OSU 35, ISU 14.
n Northern Colorado at San Diego: It's another chance for the non-scholarship Toreros, an FCS playoff bubble team last season, to play with the “big boys.” QB Joel Johnson and USD will face the travel-weary Bears who have lost 10 straight.
Fritz: San Diego 31, UNC 21. Nick: San Diego 29, UNC 14. Bill: San Diego 38, UNC 7. Chad: San Diego 31, UNC 10.
Season record: Fritz 9-1, Bill 8-2, Nick 9-1, Chad 8-2
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)