PIGSKIN PICK 'EMS

This weekly series offers a dive into some of the biggest games of college football around the country. Follow along as the Exponent ‘experts’ offer our analysis of the upcoming weekend’s slate of games, featuring some of the most storied NCAA football programs alongside the weekly Cats’ game. Don’t be afraid to pull up in the comments and tell us when we drop the ball, we don’t bite.

Record:

Thomas: 16-8 (2-1)

Meredith: 18-6 (1-2)

Jaxson: 17-7 (2-1)

Liam: 7-2 (2-1)

#2 North Dakota State (8-0) @ #12 South Dakota State (6-2)

Saturday, Nov. 6, @ 1 p.m. on ESPN+

Thomas

The Bison and the Jackrabbits are two of the best teams in the FCS right now, making this a highly-anticipated matchup, even if nobody wants to go to Brookings to watch it. The second-ranked Bison look unstoppable as their undefeated season rolls along, but the Jackrabbits’ only losses this year came against seriously tough Missouri Valley Conference opponents. A last-second field goal will give the Bison a big win on the road, 30-27.

Meredith

Dakota vs Dakota. North Dakota State should be the clear winner. However, South Dakota State will be playing on their home turf and I’m sure that, as the two are border buddies, the excitement from South Dakota State fans will generate some positive feelings for the players on the field. Yet I cannot count out North Dakota State’s dominant season. Last weekend was not my best weekend in terms of picks, but I’m going with North Dakota State and hoping that the team pulls off a win so I don’t lose my lead to Jaxson. North Dakota State wins 21-14

Jaxson

This is one of the most overlooked rivalries in all of college football. Hailing from the Dakotas, the Jackrabbits and Bison have represented the Missouri Valley Conference in every FCS national championship since 2010 except for 2016. Now, in 2021, both teams are vying for a return to Frisco. But first, the second-ranked Bison must travel to 12th ranked SDSU to battle it out for the Dakota Marker. SDSU will pull off the upset on home turf and reenter the top ten. Jackrabbits hop to victory, 30-24.

Liam

​​This is always a hard-fought game. North Dakota State has obviously been playing very well this season, as they are 8-0. Even with two losses on its record, South Dakota State is a good team and scores on average 8.9 points more per game than North Dakota State. Despite this, I don’t believe that South Dakota will be able to stop the momentum North Dakota State will bring to this game. North Dakota State wins 31-21.

#4 Montana State (7-1) @ #5 Eastern Washington (7-1)

Saturday, Nov. 6, @ 2 p.m. on ESPN+ and Bobcat Radio Network

Thomas

Finally, the Cats get to play a real football team. The last seven wins have been impressive, but I’m pretty sure my fourth-grade recess touch-football squad could beat half of the teams in the Big Sky Conference. Eastern Washington is a different beast. The Cats will need to generate more offense than they did against Weber State to win this one, but the Eagles will struggle to find holes in a defense averaging just 10.38 points allowed per game. Cats win 24-13.

Meredith

What a game this will be. Both 7-1, the Cats and the Eagles have an intense matchup this weekend. With a Cat’s defense that’s kept most teams at low scores, and a high scoring offense, the Cats are up against perhaps their toughest team yet. Eastern Washington may have lost to Weber State but they should not be counted out as they were once holding the conference lead. Despite this, the Cats will bring their ‘A’ game and win. Cats win 17-14.

Jaxson

This top-five match-up is sure to be the toughest test the Cats have faced this season. Eastern is the best offense in the country, but the Cats have accounted for the best defense in the FCS. The Eagle defense also gives up a lot of points, they have allowed a whopping 227 points across all competitions. So, behind a strong offense and stifling defense, Bobcat football announces to the rest of the country that Montana State is a championship-level team. Cats win 38-24.

Liam

The only team that both Eastern Washington and our Cats have played against is Weber State. Hopefully, these games will be an indication of what’s to come since Eastern Washington lost to Weber State 34-35 and MSU beat Weber State 13-7. If MSUs defense can keep the Eagles’ offense to a minimum, then the Cats have a good chance at winning the game. Cats will beat the Eagles 31-24.

#4 Oregon (7-1) @ Washington (4-4)

Saturday, Nov. 6, @ 5:30 p.m. on ABC

Thomas

The Border War is set in sunny (not really) Seattle this year and the Huskies have never looked more like an underdog. A 4-4 record, including a loss to Montana, certainly isn’t what UW hoped for at this point in the season, but at least they have a chance to shoot down the Ducks, who the College Football Playoff selection committee ranked fourth in the nation. Oregon won’t make the playoff, but their fatal slip-up will occur in the Civil War, not the Border War. Oregon 24-Washington 14.

Meredith

This weekend brings another giant rivalry into the mix, as Oregon faces Washington. With a loss to the Griz and a few more noticeable losses, the Washington Huskies have quite a challenge ahead of them as they face Oregon, which is currently ranked fourth. Oregon however, lost to Stanford, a team that the Huskies had no issue beating. It will be a great game and a close one at that. Oregon will take a win this weekend, 35-28

Jaxson

This rivalry has been dominated by Oregon over the last two decades, with the Ducks coming out on top 15 times to the Huskies’ five. Early in the season, this matchup was thought to be determinate of who would win the Pac-12 North title. But now with the Huskies struggling through their season and sitting at a mere 4-4 (that includes a loss to Montana), this game has lost its luster. But, Oregon’s biggest problem this season is playing down to their competition. So don’t be surprised if this game is close. With the Ducks traveling to Montlake, I see the Dawgs being propelled to victory by the loudest, most passionate fans in the country. UW pulls off the upset and wins 17-10.

Liam

Oregon is the favorite in this rivalry next Saturday. They also have beat the Huskies the past two times these teams have faced off. However, rivalry games are always a toss-up. I believe that Washington will beat the Ducks in a close game since they will be eager to improve their record and beat their rivals. The Huskies will be victorious 38-35.