College Sports Madness top 44 FCS

CSM is doing an in depth preview of their top 44 going into this season releasing one each day counting down to #1 at the begging of the season. I'll add each school that has any significance to us and the Big Sky.

Cal Poly starts out the BSC schools at #44.
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9388" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

UC Davis ranked #36
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9441" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Youngstown State ranked #34
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9453" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Southern Utah ranked #29 and 5th in the BSC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9469" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Souther Illinois ranked #26 and 4th in the MVC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9477" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

James Madison ranked #25 and 7th in the CAA
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9490" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Northern Arizona ranked #24 and 4th in BSC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9503" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eastern Illinois ranked #23 and 3rd in the OVC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9510" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Delaware ranked #22 and 6th in the CAA
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9515" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Liberty ranked #21 and 2nd in the Big South
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9522" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Furman ranked #19 and 2nd in the Southern
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9533" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Richmond ranked #18 and 4th in the CAA
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9549" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Montana State ranked #17 and 3rd in the Big Sky
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9567" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sam Houston State ranked #16 and 3rd in the Southland
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9581" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Coastal Carolina ranked #12 and 1st in the Big South
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9604" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

South Dakota State ranked #10 and 3rd in the MVC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9639" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

McNeese State ranked #8 and 2nd in the Southland
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9650" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Northern Iowa ranked #7 and 2nd in the MVC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9655" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Villinova ranked #6 and 2nd in the CAA
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9661" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Montana ranked #5 and 2nd in the BSC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9665" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

New Hampshire ranked #4 and 1st in the CAA
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9671" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

North Dakota State ranked #3 and 1st in the MVC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9677" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Southeastern Louisiana ranked #2 and 1st in the Southland
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9683" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eastern Washington ranked #1 and 1st in the BSC
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9684" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I predict The Griz will be announced around August 22nd, with EWU being announced about the 29th.

Added #36 UC-Davis and #34 Youngstown State.

UCD will run the ball and they will do it well. Unfortunately they don't have a single QB with one pass completion from last year. They also return all three LB's from an average D last year.

Added #29 Southern Utah. They lost a couple key players from an offense that was abismal last year. Expierience will improve the players they return including their throwing QB and their running QB. Defense is their strong point. Even though their potential BSC defensive MVP is taking the next two years off, they still return some very good players.

We play them at SUU which will make it a little tuffer but its still our game to lose.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9477" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Southern Illinois is a past playoff foe of ours and they are comin in just outside the top 25. Ranked 4th in the powerful Missouri Valley Conference, they look to challenge for the title but have one key loss on either side of the ball to replace. They graduated their QB but may already have his replacement in the man that replaced him the last four games of the year due to injury. The harder one to replace is their MLB who was the heart and soul of the D. They return alot of talent but somebody needs to step up and be that vocal leader they will need.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9490" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Something tells me there is a little east coast bias in this poll. JMU comes in at #25 and 7th in their conference. Southern Illinois is 26th and 4th in the Missouri Valley and NAU is 24th and 4th in the Big Sky. Oh well, we know better. From the sounds of it, they won't be that good. A transfer QB and a couple of returning lineman are the bright spots on O. Defence will be replacing two time conference defensive MVP on an already poor defence. I wouldn't hold high hopes for em.

This poll tells me there will be NO love for Cal Poly, as the final three BSC slots will in all likelihood go to EWU, UM and MSU. I think Cal Poly finishes above NAU in the standings.

AZGrizFan said:

This poll tells me there will be NO love for Cal Poly, as the final three BSC slots will in all likelihood go to EWU, UM and MSU. I think Cal Poly finishes above NAU in the standings.

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check NAU's schedule, they don't play either MSU or UM, they have CP, EWU, UCD and SUU at home, they travel to Weber, UNC, PSU and UND.
they beat CP last year in SLO. I think that NAU has a good chance of ending the BSC at 4th.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9503" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

NAU is returning their QB, the best TE in the con, and most of their O line. The RB's replacing Bauman are supposed to be good and the two new starting receivers have expeirience. The D is the big question. Replacing 8 of 11 staters including all four D lineman is not going to be an easy task. Their main man on D, Hasquet is still there but there are alot of unknowns coming in. The conference schedule deffenetly helps though.

NAU will be good, but I do think CP is considerably underrated. They are just so damn tough to prepare for.

alabamagrizzly said:

NAU is returning their QB, the best TE in the con, and most of their O line. The RB's replacing Bauman are supposed to be good and the two new starting receivers have expeirience. The D is the big question. Replacing 8 of 11 staters including all four D lineman is not going to be an easy task. Their main man on D, Hasquet is still there but there are alot of unknowns coming in. The conference schedule deffenetly helps though.

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Without Bauman and that D, the Jacks go 4-4 in conference.

AZGrizFan said:

alabamagrizzly said:

NAU is returning their QB, the best TE in the con, and most of their O line. The RB's replacing Bauman are supposed to be good and the two new starting receivers have expeirience. The D is the big question. Replacing 8 of 11 staters including all four D lineman is not going to be an easy task. Their main man on D, Hasquet is still there but there are alot of unknowns coming in. The conference schedule deffenetly helps though.

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Without Bauman and that D, the Jacks go 4-4 in conference.

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I give them 5-3 at best losing to EW and CP at home and PSU on the road for sure. I could see em also losing to SUU and UCD at home but the latter is less likely. Most likely I agree with you at 4-4 with loses to EW, CP, SUU, and PSU.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9510" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eastern Illinois comes in at #23. Most Griz fans remember the last time E Ill visited us in 2000, we ended Tony Romo's college career with a 45-13 beat down. Last year they went into the playoffs with the #2 seed but lost to Nat Champ runner up Towson. A huge part of their success last year is now trying to be the next Tom Brady in New England. Their QB and his #1 receiver were the main reason for their high level of success last year but they won't fall off too far w/out them. They return most of their O line plus a RB who ran for over 1500 yards. The D has some bigger questions replacing 6 starters but there is enough quality around that they shouldn't feel to much of a step back. Expect to see them in the post season again.

alabamagrizzly said:

AZGrizFan said:

alabamagrizzly said:

NAU is returning their QB, the best TE in the con, and most of their O line. The RB's replacing Bauman are supposed to be good and the two new starting receivers have expeirience. The D is the big question. Replacing 8 of 11 staters including all four D lineman is not going to be an easy task. Their main man on D, Hasquet is still there but there are alot of unknowns coming in. The conference schedule deffenetly helps though.

Click to expand...

Without Bauman and that D, the Jacks go 4-4 in conference.

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I give them 5-3 at best losing to EW and CP at home and PSU on the road for sure. I could see em also losing to SUU and UCD at home but the latter is less likely. Most likely I agree with you at 4-4 with loses to EW, CP, SUU, and PSU.

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Hell, that D DIRECTLY won 3-4 games for them last year. Including ours.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9515" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Delaware comes in at #22 but from the sounds of it, that might be too high of hopes. The Griz seen Delaware come to town in '93 and dash our championship hopes with a crushing 49-48 defeat. They scored the go ahead TD on a long pass that sailed over the out stretched fingure tips of 3 time BSC 1st Team safety Todd Ericson with less then a min left. We were #2 in the country and So Dave Dickenson led the #1 passing attack. Well they ain't been back since.

This year may be a ruff year for them also after stumbling the last four games last year. They return their QB for a third season at starter and his top three targets but not much eles. Three starters from the O line are gone and the schools all time leading rusher is gone. Deffence is also replacing an All American on the line and in the secondary but there is enough talent around them that they shouldn't be worse then last year. They had a decent run D but one of the worst passing D's in the country.

alabamagrizzly said:

Delaware comes in at #22 but from the sounds of it, that might be too high of hopes. The Griz seen Delaware come to town in '93 and dash our championship hopes with a crushing 49-48 defeat. They scored the go ahead TD on a long pass that sailed over the out stretched fingure tips of 3 time BSC 1st Team safety Todd Ericson with less then a min left. We were #2 in the country and So Dave Dickenson led the #1 passing attack. Well they ain't been back since.

This year may be a ruff year for them also after stumbling the last four games last year. They return their QB for a third season at starter and his top three targets but not much eles. Three starters from the O line are gone and the schools all time leading rusher is gone. Deffence is also replacing an All American on the line and in the secondary but there is enough talent around them that they shouldn't be worse then last year. They had a decent run D but one of the worst passing D's in the country.

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Meaninglessly funny fact. The Blue Hens (terrible name) once had an English born b-baller named Spencer Dunkley. Great hoops name.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9522" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Liberty comes in at #21. They visited very recently in a smoke filled very anti-climactic win for the Griz. Last year they were one loss to conference rival Coastal Carolina away from possibly returning to Missoula in the playoffs. They are still a team to keep an eye on because next year we make the return trip to Lynchberg Va and could be in for a very formidable opponent.

On O they return almost everyone exept the starting RB and a couple at O line but the three returning O line all got preseason conference alcolaides. D is another story. They are replacing three lineman and both safeties amongst a couple others. The lone returning D lineman is a candidate for the conference defensive MVP but they got alot more work to do.

alabamagrizzly said:

Delaware comes in at #22 but from the sounds of it, that might be too high of hopes. The Griz seen Delaware come to town in '93 and dash our championship hopes with a crushing 49-48 defeat. They scored the go ahead TD on a long pass that sailed over the out stretched fingure tips of 3 time BSC 1st Team safety Todd Ericson with less then a min left. We were #2 in the country and So Dave Dickenson led the #1 passing attack. Well they ain't been back since.

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Delaware won the FCS championship in 2003 and appeared in the title game in 2007 and 2010. Just an FYI.

EWURanger29 said:

alabamagrizzly said:

Delaware comes in at #22 but from the sounds of it, that might be too high of hopes. The Griz seen Delaware come to town in '93 and dash our championship hopes with a crushing 49-48 defeat. They scored the go ahead TD on a long pass that sailed over the out stretched fingure tips of 3 time BSC 1st Team safety Todd Ericson with less then a min left. We were #2 in the country and So Dave Dickenson led the #1 passing attack. Well they ain't been back since.

Click to expand...

Delaware won the FCS championship in 2003 and appeared in the title game in 2007 and 2010. Just an FYI.

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Very observant. Who's Joe Flacco? I was talking in reference to coming to Wa Griz but I also thank you for pointing out what might have appeared to be massive gross negligence on my part. :clap:

#19 Furman
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9533" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Furman were the victims for our 2nd natty in '01. A day the defence dominated, we shut them out tell a desperation play at the end. Furman hasn't done much since then. Last years team was predicted to do poorly and thanks to 29 takeaways and not much eles, they ended up winning the SoCon's auto bid only to face the Juggernaut that is North Dakota State. This year they return 8 of 11 defenders including the entire front seven and all the skills on O and a couple O lineman. Problem is w/out the takeaways Furman was a very poor team last year. Sometimes the ball bounces your way and sometimes it don't. We know all about that.