League Experts Tab Bobcats Third, Fourth in Preseason Big Sky Poll
7/20/2010 9:40:32 AM | Football
Montana State lands third in the media poll and fourth in the coaches poll
The high expectations surrounding the Bobcat program stem from the return of eight starters on both offense and defense, along with the team's place kicker and long snapper. MSU returns its quarterback, top three receivers, and four offensive line starters on offense. Defensively, MSU welcomes a player that has started at least one game at 10 of the 11 positions.
In both 2008 and 2009, the coaches saw the Bobcats finishing fourth while the media saw the team finishing third, but in each of those picks MSU was seen much closer to the teams chasing them than the ones they were chasing. The Cats were picked third by the coaches and fourth by the media in 2007. This season, MSU is seen as being much closer to the team ahead of it than the ones behind it.
In each of Rob Ash's first three seasons at MSU, the Bobcats have finished close to where the preseason pundits picked them. MSU finished fourth last season with a 5-3 record, tied for third (5-3) in 2008, and tied for fourth (4-4) in Ash's first season, 2007.
Coaches' Poll
1. Montana (8)................................................ 64
2. Eastern Washington................................ 51
3. Montana State............................................ 48
4. Weber State............................................... 44
5. Northern Arizona (1)................................. 41
6. Sacramento State..................................... 30
7. Northern Colorado.................................... 19
8. Portland State............................................ 18
9. Idaho State................................................. 10
Media Poll
1. Montana (40).............................................. 374
2. Eastern Washington (1).......................... 280
3. Montana State............................................ 279
4. Weber State............................................... 269
5. Northern Arizona (1)................................. 240
6. Sacramento State..................................... 166
7. Northern Colorado.................................... 128
8. Portland State............................................ 89
9. Idaho State................................................. 62
