2017 Season Predictions

[Bison 4 Life]

its not because of Crowd, its just a hard road game. I'm not afraid to admit that SDSU can beat us as proved last year, and also we proved we can piss pound them so it could go either way. Lot of season before that game

How is it a hard road game? Nobody has yet quantified. That's just made up.

[wagsabison]

SDSU's expectations are higher entering this year compared to last with what they have returning so it will be interesting to see how they handle that.

[BisonNeil]

This^^^that is not a championship defense. I see their defense taking a step back this year, especially on the defensive line. If they need to play several true freshman on the defensive line, that offense is going to spend a lot more time on the sidelines watching other teams run it down their throats. Here's how I see the offensive and defensive units trending between us and SDSU.

SDSU Offense: Flat
NDSU Offense: Trend Up
SDSU Defense: Trend Down
NDSU Defense: Trend Up

I don't see SDSU beating us this year saving several more key injuries on our end. And any key injuries to SDSU and that house of cards comes down pretty quickly.

On what basis do you have the NDSU offense trending up?

[THEsocalledfan]

On what basis do you have the NDSU offense trending up?

I think you have wash at RB, status quo at QB, WR (which is an up, plus new WR too); clear up at TE, and down on OL, but we are almost always wrong with OL turnover. I can buy the up.

[Christopher Moen]

I think you have wash at RB, status quo at QB, WR (which is an up, plus new WR too); clear up at TE, and down on OL, but we are almost always wrong with OL turnover. I can buy the up.

I think the OC will be better too. If not, I'm sure we'll have a "Fire Messingham, save season" thread up right away.

[BisManBison]

On what basis do you have the NDSU offense trending up?

Easton takes a step forward requiring the teams to honor our passing game more this year than last year.

[X-Factor]

Toughest game? You literally said, and I quote: "When was the last time we lost to the tough teams on our schedule?". We lost to SDSU and JMU last year. Or did you forget?

You want to play that game, fine. My point still stands: We almost always beat the tough teams on our schedule and lose to someone we overlook. But maybe you don't remember beyond last year.

[56BISON73]

Easton takes a step forward requiring the teams to honor our passing game more this year than last year.

That will all depend on our receivers. If they cant get separation it wont make any difference if Stick can thread the needle at 100 yards on a rope.

[X-Factor]

They werent amped up last seasons loss to Sdsu?

They sure were in the playoffs...
But I'm more going along these lines:

2011 YSU: 24-27 L
2012 YSU: 48-7 W

2012 ISUb: 14-17 L
2013 @ISUb: 56-10 W

2014 @UNI: 23-3 L
2015 UNI: 31-28 W (almost got us a second time!)

2015 @Montana 38-35 L
2015 playoffs Montana 37-6 W

2015 USD 21-24 L
2016 @USD 28-21 W

2016 SDSU 17-19 L
2016 playoffs SDSU 36-10 W

2016 JMU 17-27 L
2017 JMU ?????!!!!

where does that put SDSU this year...who knows. I guess we already used our revenge game if your into trends like these.

[semobison]

Easton takes a step forward requiring the teams to honor our passing game more this year than last year.

This is what I hope to see. We were last in the conference in passing ypg last season and our 3rd down conversion rate was down. If we don't improve in these areas we could lose a couple of regular season games. This is a big year for our junior QB. I think he shows up big!