FCS Football Playoff Play #378 Montana -9.5 #378 Montana -9.5
With perhaps the best home field advantage in all of FCS football Montana is a tough out no matter the circumstances. With temperatures in the low 20's, wind chill in the lower teens with possible snow, and a field that can be impossible footing for opponents when frozen it gets even better as a 16-1 home record in December illustrates. Against SF Austin a warm weather team from Texas who is pass happy and lacks a quality running game and suspect defense and has played no cold weather games in recent history we get a great spot to step in the Griz.
The Grizzlies come into the game undefeated and have won 11 consecutive Big Sky championships in a conference that is consistently higher rated the Southland - before SFA's win last week no Southland teams had won a playoff game since 2005. Montana was extremely lucky to win last week vs South Dakota St in one of the greatest comebacks ever, scoring 40 consecutive points to win 61-48 despite three turnovers that led directly to 21 SDSU points. That said, Montana closed -7 last week vs SDSU and I rate SDSU 7 points better than SF Austin.
After an 0-11 season two years ago, SF Austin defines a team just happy to be here - check out the photos from Thursday night in Missoula below. SF Austin plays uptempo so expect more plays and potentially a defensive score to aid us getting over the number if needed. Crowd noise is certain to affect the SDSU attack that uses verbal communication without huddling. This is a huge step up in class, venue, and a moment they are not ready for. The storybook season ends here. Lay the points.
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