Nope. Lack of depth will be the undoing. When the grizz were good (long ago), depth was the keystone. As much as it pained me at the time, the whole "next an up" mantra from you dicks was actually accurate and reliable. It's the real reason you played your best ball in November. Other teams without depth started to play at a lower level and lose games later in the season. I hated it and so did the rest of the BSC and IAA.
Now fast forward to 2018. Here's my intellectually honest opinion...
I would say 0-2 with the MVFC, but I thought you wouldn't beat NDSU with Stitt's first game either. I'll give you guys a split. UNI could go either way since they always shit the bed in Missoula, and you'll have the Cat game on tape for WIU. Let's go 1-1.
Drake is a win, but harder than you thought. The guys like Walhberg are trying to make the most of it at 2-1, but most folks are understanding that this could be a rough year (even Walhberg deep down).
Now here is where it gets interesting. Suck St is actually a quality playoff caliber football team and will show up to win. This will not be a great game for the grizz, although, you might actually win this one. That make 3-1, although I'm not sure that's a good thing. The fan base will start having visions of grandeur, but the reasonable folks will see what's coming. None the less, lets go with 3-1. Walhberg writes a really positive post and most on here are happy. A few curmudgeons but not many. If you lose, which could easily happen, 2-2 will start the unraveling. For argument's sake, let's go 3-1.
Next is Poly on the road. This is a tough place to play, and I expect a strong return for that program from last year. They had lots of drama with guys going to jail last year, but there's good coaching and a strong tradition. SLO a tough road trip any way you think about it, and I'm predicting a loss. If you lose to Suck St, then I'll predict a win. That's just the way these things go. After 5 games, the record will be 3-2. Not bad.
PSU will be a win to make it 4-2. The bipolar nature of this board will be in full effect. There will actually be threads on a deep playoff run. Poor bastards.
I truly believe you will lose at UND. 4-3. Lots of chatter over here and it get real interesting for us trolls. We really like Saturday evenings and Sundays like this. Thanks in advance.
UCD will be a strange and hard fought win. I say strange because what you knew about this team will get turned on its head. If your D was playing well, they will suck and give up 40+ points. If your O was playing well, they will suck. I think it will be the former. This game will have both teams in the 40+ and grizz will win ugly, probably on late heroics. That makes 5-3. Many on here will be doing the math for a playoff birth. Several others will see the writing on the wall.
For those tired of reading and/or don't want to hear what I have to say next, then just quit now. It gets ugly from here.
The lack of depth in the OL and QB will start to take it's toll. Just like with the Cats needed Prukop for effective O, the grizz will learn that a dinged up Sneed is a problem. There will also be depth issues in the secondary, and probably LB too. Teams will start to exploit weaknesses and start playing effective ball against the grizz. SUU will win pretty big and the team will be exposed. 5-4.
Idaho will come to play and win. This staff with all the drama will still come in and take advantage of the weaknesses and depth issues. The Stein will be lost. Sorry you had to hear it here first. 5-5.
Cat grizz will be a toss up. If you lose, and you might, it will be 5-6. Yikes. I believe the Cats have the depth necessary to compete in November in most areas, and we'll be no worse at QB. Of course I'm predicting a Cat win, but who knows. Either way it will be a tough and long off season for Hauck and the boys.
My money is on 5-6 with an ok chance at 6-5. If things start to unravel early, it could be a run of losses producing 2-4 wins. The absolute best outcome will be 7-4 and an outside shot at the playoffs. That would be a monumental success for Bobby in his first year.
Enjoy.
