Top FCS Conferences: CAA and MVFC

[VandalBasher]

http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.as...ec&tm=&src=FCS

3. Big Sky (13 teams)
The biggest FCS conference has placed seven different teams in the playoffs the last two seasons, and that doesn't include 2018 hopefuls Sacramento State, Montana State and Idaho (which is returning to the conference following 22 years on the FBS level). Southern Utah and Weber State shared last year's title, but are starting over at quarterback. That position is a strength at Eastern Washington, which felt snubbed of a playoff bid last year. Montana and Northern Arizona? Yup, the depth is impossible.

2. Missouri Valley Football Conference (10 teams)
The best FCS team on paper is North Dakota State once again, and the defending national champ is only leaving the Fargodome four times in the regular season (if not the entire season). One of the big questions is whether national semifinalist South Dakota State can withstand key senior losses and remain on an elite level. After that, Northern Iowa, Youngstown State, Illinois State, Western Illinois, South Dakota and Southern Illinois have to separate themselves in a logjam of teams.

1. CAA Football (12 teams)
Picking between the CAA and the Missouri Valley is splitting hairs, but the CAA appears to have more Top 15-type teams this year - a distinct advantage held by the Valley last year. James Madison, the 2016 national champ and 2017 runner-up, appears primed for a third straight appearance in the national championship game. New Hampshire, Elon, Stony Brook, Delaware, Richmond and a healthier Villanova all hope to reel in the Dukes, who have won 18 straight conference games (plus, two playoff wins over CAA opponents).

[VandalBasher]

The Big Sky plays the MVFC the most OOC games with the PAC12 as a close second. Here are the eight matches.

WIU- Montana and Montana St.
NDSU- Cal Poly
UNI- Montana
USD- Weber St. and Northern Colorado
SDSU- Montana St.
MSU- NAU


These are some very good match ups. Cal Poly and UNC were the only two that will have difficult games. The rest should be competitive.

[Bisonator]

The Big Sky plays the MVFC the most OOC games with the PAC12 as a close second. Here are the eight matches.

WIU- Montana and Montana St. I say this will be a split.
NDSU- Cal Poly NDSU by a bunch.
UNI- Montana UNI never beats Montana.
USD- Weber St. and Northern Colorado This will be another split.
SDSU- Montana St. Toss up goes to SDSU
MSU- NAU I'll give this one to NAU


These are some very good match ups. Cal Poly and UNC were the only two that will have difficult games. The rest should be competitive.

My predictions

[centennial]

http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.as...ec&tm=&src=FCS

3. Big Sky (13 teams)
The biggest FCS conference has placed seven different teams in the playoffs the last two seasons, and that doesn't include 2018 hopefuls Sacramento State, Montana State and Idaho (which is returning to the conference following 22 years on the FBS level). Southern Utah and Weber State shared last year's title, but are starting over at quarterback. That position is a strength at Eastern Washington, which felt snubbed of a playoff bid last year. Montana and Northern Arizona? Yup, the depth is impossible.

2. Missouri Valley Football Conference (10 teams)
The best FCS team on paper is North Dakota State once again, and the defending national champ is only leaving the Fargodome four times in the regular season (if not the entire season). One of the big questions is whether national semifinalist South Dakota State can withstand key senior losses and remain on an elite level. After that, Northern Iowa, Youngstown State, Illinois State, Western Illinois, South Dakota and Southern Illinois have to separate themselves in a logjam of teams.

1. CAA Football (12 teams)
Picking between the CAA and the Missouri Valley is splitting hairs, but the CAA appears to have more Top 15-type teams this year - a distinct advantage held by the Valley last year. James Madison, the 2016 national champ and 2017 runner-up, appears primed for a third straight appearance in the national championship game. New Hampshire, Elon, Stony Brook, Delaware, Richmond and a healthier Villanova all hope to reel in the Dukes, who have won 18 straight conference games (plus, two playoff wins over CAA opponents).

Oh boy! Now you've done it. I wouldn't even call the CAA a clear 2nd. And we are talking about it being better than the MVFC.

Someone needs to pull out the conference records, then the CAA folks try to exculde NDSU but not JMU. I'm not even sure JMU gets any further than the quarterfinals this year. I don't care how many blue chip transfers they are getting. It will start backfiring soon. Ask ISUr.

[VandalBasher]

This isn't my take but the analysis of the writer of the article. I would like to know what is the assessment of the BSC/MVFC match ups will be.

[ST_Lawson]

This isn't my take but the analysis of the writer of the article. I would like to know what is the assessment of the BSC/MVFC match ups will be.

Ok, I'll take a shot at it. My (barely educated) guesses...

WIU beats Montana State by 14, beats Montana by 3
NDSU beats Cal Poly by 28
UNI beats Montana by 7
USD loses to Weber State by 10, beats Northern Colorado by 14
SDSU beats Montana State by 21
MSU loses to Northern Arizona by 14

I've done a lot of the MVFC articles on the FCS Wedge site the last couple of years, so I'll be putting together previews of the games in the weeks preceding them.

[VandalBasher]

Ok, I'll take a shot at it. My (barely educated) guesses...

WIU beats Montana State by 14, beats Montana by 3
NDSU beats Cal Poly by 28
UNI beats Montana by 7
USD loses to Weber State by 10, beats Northern Colorado by 14
SDSU beats Montana State by 21
MSU loses to Northern Arizona by 14

I've done a lot of the MVFC articles on the FCS Wedge site the last couple of years, so I'll be putting together previews of the games in the weeks preceding them.

Thank you for your input. I look forward to seeing how these predictions add up as the season moves along.

[ST_Lawson]

Thank you for your input. I look forward to seeing how these predictions add up as the season moves along.

No problem. For comparison, here's what Massey currently predicts for the MVFC vs BSC games in 2018:

Week 1
Western Illinois at Montana State - WIU wins 28-21
Northern Iowa at Montana - UNI wins 31-25
Cal Poly at North Dakota State - NDSU wins 38-3

Week 2
Northern Colorado at South Dakota - USD wins 42-24
Montana State at South Dakota State - SDSU wins 37-20

Week 3
Northern Arizona at Missouri State - NAU wins 34-31
South Dakota at Weber State - WSU wins 31-24
Montana at Western Illinois - WIU wins 37-24

[Silenoz]

Ok, I'll take a shot at it. My (barely educated) guesses...

WIU beats Montana State by 14

I truly hope that happens. But I ain't betting on it.

[WeAreThePride]

Hahahahahahahahaha. JMU is not ‘primed for a third title appearance.’