College Basketball: Big Sky Conference

Furman came up short in its upset bid at Montana Friday night, falling to the Grizzlies 35-28 in overtime in the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs on a snowy, freezing night at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana. Furman forced overtime with 13 seconds remaining in regulation when quarterback Tyler Huff…

Odds as of December 6th at DraftKings. Sign up at the top-rated sportsbook with the DraftKings promo code to bet on FCS playoffs this weekend. Kicking off the FCS Quarterfinals is a matchup between No. 2 Montana and No. 7 Furman on Friday evening. The Grizzlies dominated Delaware 49-19 in the opening playoff round, while Furman secured a 26-7 win…

MISSOULA - The Griz carry a No. 2 seed and No. 2 national ranking into their FCS-record 27th appearance in the playoffs. They host unseeded and 11th-ranked Delaware, another blue blood, in a second-round game at 7 p.m. Saturday in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Montana is coming off its Big Sky-record 19th conference championship. The Griz hold a 10-1…

BOZEMAN-What looked like a clash of titans now needs a serious resuscitation. South Dakota State rides a 25-game winning streak into the FCS playoffs, the fourth-longest winning streak entering a playoff run in subdivision history. SDSU last lost on Sept. 3, 2022 to an Iowa team that continues to reset the metrics for what makes a great college…

FCS action will carry on this weekend and now we're at the juncture of the year where fates can, and likely will, really be decided. Some teams are already out of the running for the postseason while others are clinging to very slim hopes. This week's slate of games, however, is full of matchups between the top dogs. Whether it be the Big Sky or…

HELENA - Since 2018, over 30 states have legalized some form of sports betting. Right here in Big Sky Country, Sports Bet Montana opened in March 2020, giving fans the opportunity to bet locally. Ever since then, Sports Bet Montana has made the Cat-Griz rivalry a bit more exciting for these same fans. This year's match up features both teams ranked…

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Montana football team hits the road for the final time in the regular season as it travels to Portland State this weekend. The No. 3 Grizzlies will look to win their sixth consecutive game when they take on the Vikings at 7 p.m. MT Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium. The Griz are 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the Big Sky, part of a…

The Portland State Vikings and running back Jobi Malary (12 touchdowns) take on the one-loss Montana Grizzlies in a Week 11 Big Sky Conference college football showdown on Saturday, November 11 at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET with a live TV broadcast on ESPN Plus. LATEST LINE, POINT SPREAD AND BETTING ODDS Spread: Montana -10 | Portland…

The Sacramento State Hornets tangle with the Montana Grizzlies in a Week 10 Big Sky Conference college football tilt on Saturday, November 4 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET with a live TV broadcast on ESPN Plus. LATEST LINE, POINT SPREAD AND BETTING ODDS Spread: Montana -2.5 | Sacramento State+2.5 Moneyline: Montana -135 | Sacramento…

The Northern Colorado Bears scrap with the Idaho Vandals in a Week 10 Big Sky Conference college football contest on Saturday, November 4 at Noon PT/3 p.m. ET with a live TV broadcast on ESPN Plus. LATEST LINE, POINT SPREAD AND BETTING ODDS Spread: Idaho -27.5 | UNC+27.5 Moneyline: NA Over/Under: 52.5 HOW TO WATCH What: The Northern Colorado Bears…

BOZEMAN - At the start of the season, the top six football teams in the Big Sky Conference appeared to be good bets to make the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. At least one of those six teams has basically been eliminated from postseason contention heading into Week 9, and most of the conference's postseason picture is hazy heading into…

The Northern Colorado Bears scrap with the Cal Poly Mustangs in a Week 8 Big Sky Conference college football contest on Saturday, October 21 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET with a live TV broadcast on ESPN Plus. LATEST LINE, POINT SPREAD AND BETTING ODDS Spread: UNC -1.5 | Cal Poly+1.5 Moneyline: UNC -130 | Cal Poly+110 Over/Under: 55.5 HOW TO…

The 2023 FCS playoff bracket has 10 auto-bids and 14 at-large bids. Eight teams will be seeded with first-round byes. How the playoff field changes and takes shape every week is fascinating. So after every weekend of games moving forward, I will predict what the bracket will look like. Below are predictions for the seeds, auto-bids, at-large bids,…

The Montana State Bobcats host the Cal Poly Mustangs in a Week 7 Big Sky Conference college football match on Saturday, October 14 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET with a live TV broadcast on ESPN Plus. LATEST LINE, POINT SPREAD AND BETTING ODDS Spread: MSU -40.5 | CP+40.5 Moneyline: NA Over/Under: 60.5 HOW TO WATCH What: The Montana State Bobcats (4-1) face…

BOZEMAN - The Montana State football team's FCS title hopes received a big boost Saturday. No. 2-ranked North Dakota State, which has made 10 of the last 12 national championship games, lost to unranked South Dakota 24-19 Saturday in Fargo, North Dakota. That game ended during the second quarter of No. 3 MSU's homecoming game against Portland…

This week's frequent launch of conference play across FCS college football is sponsored by the Big Sky. Not literally, but it sure feels that way. The conference with the most nationally ranked teams is putting them to the test right out of the gate: No. 4 Sacramento State travels to No. 7 Idaho for the FedEx Ground FCS Game of the Week, No. 3…

Leading up to this match up, UCF, Boise State, and their respective fan bases had two very different mindsets. On one hand, you had Boise State who was looking to get a statement win against the Knights, after getting thumped by Washington. The Broncos were outplayed on almost every level and were hungry to show that they learned from their Week 1…

Weber State's football schedule this year has eight Big Sky Conference games, one FCS non-conference matchup, one non-D1 opponent, and one FBS opponent. Here are game-by-game predictions for the Wildcats, who are tied at No. 11 in HERO Sports' FCS Preseason Top 25. vs Central Washington Central Washington is a D2 program, so while it's a good…

It remains to be seen if a trio of transfers is an upgrade in production but it's certainly an upgrade in size for the Montana State Bobcat wide receivers If nothing else the difference between Montana State's receiving corps in 2023 is going to be noticeable visually. The starters haven't been named yet, but those vying for starting spots entering…

The Big Sky looks to continue asserting itself as the No. 1 or No. 2 FCS conference (depending on if one prefers the number of playoff-quality teams or the number of legit national title contenders). How's the conference looking in 2023? Here are the top returning players and our predicted order of finish.

SPOKANE - The Big Sky coaches slotted Montana sixth in the Big Sky football preseason poll, a reminder of where the Griz finished the 2022 season. The media were much more bullish on coach Bobby Hauck's Grizzlies, ranking them third in the 12-team poll that was released Monday. "Interesting," Hauck said of the disparity when shown the polls. "I…

FARGO - It was Big Sky Conference media day Monday and all the buzz was about Montana State, Sacramento State, Weber State and even upstart Idaho. Eastern Washington? Meh. The longtime Football Championship Subdivision powerhouse was picked to finish seventh in the 12-team league. This is odd territory for the Eagles. But expected, and probably…

UC Davis ranks No. 18 in HERO Sports' FCS Preseason Top 25. The Aggies finished 6-5 overall, 6-4 vs. FCS opponents, and 5-3 in the Big Sky. They won five of their last six games, and three of their losses were by six points or less to Top 10 teams. Here's a look at this year's UC Davis football squad.

Montana State football ranks No. 3 in HERO Sports' FCS Preseason Top 25. The Bobcats lost 39-18 to South Dakota State in the 2022 FCS semifinals, finishing 12-2 overall and 12-1 vs. the FCS. Here's a look at this year's MSU squad. Place College Football Wagers at BetMGM! 1st Team FB Derryk Snell DT Sebastian Valdez DE Brody Grebe 2nd Team QB Tommy…

The 2023 college football season will arrive with the return of many All-America and all-conference players - some also NFL prospects - and it reflects heavily with FCS special teams players. The Big Sky Conference is particularly strong again, led by Weber State kickoff returner Abraham Williams, in a ranking of the top returning FCS special teams…

As it does every year in March, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is sure to bring some degree of "madness." But plenty of insanity has already been etched into college hardwood lore in the run up to Selection Sunday 2023 - bringing us closer to what could be a dubious honor for not one, but two teams. In the championship tournament for the Big…

On Wednesday evening, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (12-22) and the Montana State Bobcats (24-9) square off in the 2023 Big Sky Tournament Championship. The Bobcats are rolling into this contest red-hot, winners of seven straight games. On Tuesday, Montana State beat Weber State 60-58 in double overtime. The Lumberjacks are rolling and have won…

Big Sky opponents square off when the Montana State Bobcats (9-7, 2-1 Big Sky) travel to face the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (5-11, 1-2 Big Sky) at J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome, tipping off at 4:00 PM ET on Saturday, January 7, 2023. Keep reading to find betting insights and statistics to help place a wager on the Bobcats' (-272 to win on the…

The Sacramento State Hornets (9-7, 2-1 Big Sky) will host the Northern Colorado Bears (5-11, 0-4 Big Sky) after victories in four home games in a row. It begins at 10:00 PM ET on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Keep reading to find betting insights and statistics to help place a wager on the Hornets' (-203 to win on the moneyline) game versus the Bears…

The last 365 days have been long for South Dakota State, but the year probably seems short now that they see who they'll be lining up against in the FCS semifinals on Saturday afternoon. Almost a year ago to the day, Montana State knocked off the Jackrabbits 31-17 to punch a ticket to the national championship. Here we are again, and the stakes are…

The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (4-11, 0-2 Big Sky) will try to break a four-game losing skid when hosting the Montana Grizzlies (7-7, 1-1 Big Sky) on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome. This game is at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN. Keep reading to find betting insights and statistics to help place a wager on the Grizzlies' (-156 to win…

The Eastern Washington Eagles (8-7, 2-0 Big Sky) will try to build on a four-game winning streak when hosting the Portland State Vikings (6-8, 0-1 Big Sky) on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Reese Court. It airs at 9:00 PM ET on ESPN. Keep reading to find betting insights and statistics to help place a wager on the Eagles' (-287 to win on the…

The UNLV Rebels have played down to their competition in recent season openers but are primed to do damage against a weak Bengals team on Saturday in Vegas. Find out more in our Idaho State vs. UNLV betting picks. The Idaho State Bengals come to Sin City to take on the UNLV Rebels, and both teams have a lot to prove this year. UNLV finished 2-10…

The Montana Grizzlies (6-6, 0-0 Big Sky) will host the Eastern Washington Eagles (6-7, 0-0 Big Sky) after victories in three home games in a row. It starts at 9:00 PM ET on Thursday, December 29, 2022. Keep reading to find betting insights and statistics to help place a wager on the Grizzlies' (-210 to win on the moneyline) matchup against the…

The odds appear to be stacked against unseeded Delaware when the Blue Hens travel west to face top-seeded South Dakota State in the Championship Subdivision playoffs this weekend. Just over 18 months ago, when the pandemic pushed the FCS season into the spring, Delaware made the same trip in the national semifinals and was beaten 33-3. This time,…

If you are having a hard time keeping-up with all of the transfer portal news for ASU football, this is the place to be. Roster turnover continues to happen every day, and House of Sparky will do its best to monitor all incoming and outbound transfers from the program. This post is updated as of 12/19 Inbound transfers Drew Pyne - Quarterback -…

After leading the nation for much of his first season of college football, Montana freshman punter earned the Football Championship Subdivision's highest special teams honor Wednesday, being named FCS Punter of the Year by the Augusta Sports Council. A graduate of Glacier High School, Rohrbach rose to the top as one of ten finalists for the award,…

After allegations last winter of an unhealthy culture, the University of Northern Colorado stood by football coach Ed McCaffrey and assured that it was all a big misunderstanding. Things would improve, university officials said. McCaffrey's era ended this week after UNC went 6-16 in two seasons and 4-12 against Big Sky opponents. Some close to the…

After allegations last winter of an unhealthy culture, the University of Northern Colorado stood by football coach Ed McCaffrey and assured that it was all a big misunderstanding. Things would improve, university officials said. McCaffrey's era ended this week after UNC went 6-16 in two seasons and 4-12 against Big Sky opponents. Some close to the…

The 2022 FCS playoffs are here. Who are the top contenders to win the national title? Who are the long-shots? Every week, I will rank my favorites to win the championship out of the remaining teams in the field. This list will get knocked down from 24 to 16 to eight to four, and then it's national title time. This is NOT a ranking of the 24 best…

The Idaho Vandals (6-4, 5-2) visit the Idaho State Bengals (1-9, 1-6) in a Week 12 Big Sky Conference college football instate rivalry on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET with a live TV broadcast on ESPN Plus. • You can watch the Idaho vs. Idaho State football game live online on ESPN+ , or follow along with live updates from…

HELENA - Typically reserved for "friendly wagers," backrooms or websites that use cryptocurrency, legal sports betting has been thrust into the limelight in recent years. Since 2018, nearly 30 states have legalized some form of sports gambling. Sports Bet Montana opened in March 2020, making the Cat-Griz rivalry a bit more thrilling for some…

Weber State running back Josh Davis (20) runs past Sacramento State defender Daron Bland (37) during a game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Sacramento, Calif. Bob Solorio, Sacramento State Athletics 2 / 2 Weber State defensive backs Eddie Heckard (5) and Ja'Kobe Harris (24) wrap up a Sacramento State ball carrier during a game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in…

The Cal Poly Mustangs (1-3) visit the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (1-4) in a Week 6 Big Sky Conference college football matchup on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET with a live TV broadcast on ESPN Plus. • You can watch the Cal Poly vs. Northern Arizona football game live online on ESPN+ , or follow along with live updates from each…

Washington State and Eastern Washington will both look to pull off upsets on the road this weekend. SPOKANE, Wash. - Week six of the college football season has arrived and both Washington State and Eastern Washington are underdogs come Saturday. The Idaho Vandals will have the weekend off with a bye after an impressive 55-35 win over Northern…

With No. 2 Montana off to a hot start with three straight wins to begin the season, the Grizzlies open Big Sky play by hosting Portland State at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday. Montana is a perfect 3-0 to start the season with wins over Northwestern State, South Dakota, and most recently Indiana State last week. The second-ranked Grizzlies…

Wins: 3 (Western Oregon-D2, Utah State-FBS, Utah Tech)Losses: 0 Biggest Takeaways: HUGE FBS win for the Wildcats as they systematically picked apart the Aggies 35-7 Similar ppg ratios as Montana at 40ppg offensively (11th FCS) and 8.67 defensively (3rd FCS) Ty MacPherson has been shredding defenses with 10 catches for 243 yards and 5…

It has never been easier for a college football player to switch programs, yet Eastern Washington has experienced very little turnover in that regard the last two seasons since the NCAA loosened its transfer rules. For the most part, Eastern has continued to heavily recruit high school students and develop them, creating an atmosphere that players…