Griz Favored??

[asugoapps]

App State confident, but numbers favor the Grizzlies
TOM BAUER/Missoulian
Wide receiver Taylor Walcott, right, goes up for a pass while being defended by cornerback Nate Harris during Montana’s football practice on Tuesday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The Griz are sporting new maroon helmets this season with a matte finish. Likewise, Applachian State will unveil new uniforms Saturday, which include black helmets with a matte finish.
August 27, 2013 10:05 pm • By Bill Speltz(2) Comments
Griz fans to 'Maroon Out' for nighttime football opener

The lights over Washington-Grizzly Stadium will blink on Saturday night, kicking off a season of change across the University of Montana campus. Read more

Speltz: Griz Nation take heed

Recently I received an impassioned email from a Montana football fan who made a great point about Saturday’s home opener against Appalachian State. Read more

Grizzlies' RB position back at full strength

Running backs Travon Van and Joey Counts were back in shoulder pads for the Montana Griz on Thursday after sitting out for a while with injuries. Read more

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BY THE NUMBERS
MONTANA (5-6) Griz Opp Scoring average 31.6 26.7 Rushing yards 235.7 92.5 Avg./Rush 4.9 3.0 Passing 220-347-11 289-450-12 Pas… Read more

GRIZZLY GAME DAY MATCHUPS

MONTANA roster No. Name Pos Hgt Wgt Year Hometown 1 – Anthony Goodwin SR CB 6-0 180 Temecula, Calif. 1 – Treshawn Favors FR RB 5-9 17… Read more

AROUND THE BIG SKY
EASTERN WASHINGTON Read more

App State’s senior QB could make things tough on Griz

Considering what he’s been through, a hostile crowd is probably not going to confound Appalachian State quarterback Jamal Londry-Jackson on Saturday. Read more

Going strictly by the numbers, the prognosis looks pretty good for the Montana football team Saturday.

For starters, the 20th-ranked Griz haven’t lost a home opener in 10 years and 12th-ranked Appalachian State is 0-9 in games west of the Mississippi River. On top of that, Montana will start 11 veterans on defense to the Mountaineers’ six.

Even the guys that make a living off numbers like Montana’s chances, installing the Griz as a 3 1/2-point favorite. Plus the Mountaineers suffered a huge loss last week when wideout Sean Price, a preseason All-American who had eight catches for 103 yards in last year’s win over visiting UM, was suspended indefinitely for an alcohol-related charge.

Yes, things are definitely looking good numbers-wise. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, that won’t mean a hill of beans once the lights are switched on for the first regular-season night game in Washington-Grizzly Stadium history.

“It’s going to be a big-time challenge for us but at the same time I think it’s helped us focus more,” said App State first-year coach Scott Satterfield, who served as offensive coordinator last season when ASU posted a 35-27 win over visiting UM. “It’s put more purpose in our guys and they understand the importance of every rep in practice. We’re excited about the opportunity.”

* * * * *

The Mountaineers will put a mountain of pressure on Montana’s defense with their multiple spread attack. Senior quarterback Jamal Londry-Jackson, the Southern Conference’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, completed 66 percent of his passes last season for a league-leading 3,278 yards.

“We’ve been stressing since Day One that they’re going to play fast,” Montana coach Mick Delaney said at Tuesday’s press conference. “They’re an up-tempo team. They’re even trying to play faster than they were previously at this time.

“They want to get off a play every 12-14 seconds so we’ll see what happens with that. Our defense is ready for that. We have a period in practice every day where our offense goes no-huddle against the defense and they’ve handled it very well. We also have some depth on defense we feel. Obviously we’re going to have to play more than 11 guys.”

That depth took a hit recently when reserve senior cornerback Sean Murray was suspended for behavior “not acceptable to our program,” according to Delaney. Although he lost his starting job a while back to sophomore Nate Harris, Murray was Montana’s most battle-tested cornerback, starting 10 games last season and tying for sixth in total tackles with 50.

Murray’s name has been removed from the roster on the University of Montana’s football website.

“As far as the depth goes, we had five corners competing – upperclassmen – and now we have four,” Delaney noted. “We also have three outstanding freshmen who are not quite ready to play but could if necessary.

“We’re solid with the four (non-freshmen) we have in Nate Harris and Anthony Goodwin and Josh Dennard and JR Nelson.”

* * * * *

Don’t be too surprised if Saturday’s game goes down to the wire and is decided by a field goal. Delaney has no doubt considered the possibility, and he deliberated for a long time before awarding the starting place-kicker job to sophomore Chris Lider for a second straight season.

The lefty was relatively strong last season, hitting 15 of 21 field goal attempts. But he missed from 23 and 37 yards in Montana’s 16-7 home loss to Montana State last November.

“That competition will remain open,” said Delaney, alluding to the fact freshman Ben Worst is pushing for the starting job. “Chris is a veteran, so to speak. He’s had a whole year under his belt, so we’ll see how he handles things.

“He’s gotten better day by day. I just have to stay away and leave him alone and let Coach (Jake) Cookus and Coach Ross (Brunelle) coach him and he’ll be fine.”

Delaney says Worst, who hails from Twin Falls, Idaho, is one of four true freshmen who may be called upon this season. Others include tight end Mike Ralston of Eugene, Ore., running back John Nguyen of Seattle and wide receiver Marq Rogers of Fort Wayne, Ind.

“We’re not planning on for sure using any true freshmen but there are four for sure preparing to play,” Delaney said. “Ben Worst has to be mentally prepared.”

The Mountaineers also have a starting place-kicker who has been through his share of ups and down. Senior Drew Stewart started the first eight games of the 2012 season, then was benched after missing three attempts in a row.

NOTES: The Grizzlies and Mountaineers will both unveil uniform updates on Saturday ... Starting sophomore wide receiver Taylor Walcott fell on a tender shoulder Friday and has since been receiving treatment. He will be fine by game time, according to Delaney ... Starting center Kjelby Oiland is day-to-day with his hamstring. Junior Logan Hines, who had two starts last season, will take over in his absence ... On the recruiting front, 6-foot-4 wide receiver Reese Carlson of Gig Harbor, Wash., has verbally committed to the Griz. He will be a freshman in 2014 .... Delaney said his defensive coordinator, Ty Gregorak, will start the season at his usual spot roaming the sidelines. But he may try the booth from time to time ... Griz offensive coordinator Kefense Hynson, who has drawn praise from Delaney, will be in the booth during games ... App State will travel to Missoula on Thursday .... Montana and ASU have 10 FCS championship game appearances and 41 FCS playoff berths between them.

[ggasu]

Montana favored by 3.5 at my sportsbook (5 dimes)

[ASUMountaineer]

Montana favored by 3.5 at my sportsbook (5 dimes)

It's almost a "pick-em" as the home team generally gets a 3pt bump. So, I'd say that Montana is favored by .5, but if I were betting, I'd stay away from this game.

[Black Saturday]

Montana favored by 3.5 at my sportsbook (5 dimes)

It's really nice to have our team's biggest offensive threat not playing.