{"id":117699,"date":"2024-07-17T08:23:54","date_gmt":"2024-07-17T15:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/herosports.com\/?p=117699"},"modified":"2024-07-17T08:41:57","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T15:41:57","slug":"fcs-montana-football-2024-game-predictions-bzbz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/herosports.com\/fcs-montana-football-2024-game-predictions-bzbz\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Montana Football Game-by-Game & Win Total Predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Montana\u2019s football schedule this year has eight Big Sky Conference<\/a> games and four FCS<\/a> non-conference matchups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are game-by-game predictions for Montana, who is No. 3 in HERO Sports\u2019 FCS Preseason Top 25<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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vs Missouri State<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Missouri State enters its final season as an FCS program. The Bears are transitioning to join the FBS in 2025, so they can go above the 63 FCS scholarship limit this year. They finished 4-7 last fall and 3-5 in MVFC play, and are set to return about 21 starters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a respectable opponent with talent and experience, but the season-opener in front of a rocking crowd should result in a comfortable Montana win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Win<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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at North Dakota<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This game will be closer than some may expect, especially when, on paper, it’s a Top 4 team playing a likely unranked team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montana has had some early-season clunkers in the past. And for how good the skilled talent is for the Grizzlies, a question still looms about who the starting quarterback will be. UND will go all-out for this game, including moving it to a nighttime kickoff for the home-opening crowd to get well-lubricated. The Alerus Center is one of the loudest venues in the FCS when it’s full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If UND starting QB Tommy Schuster returned instead of transferring to Michigan State, I may have gone with the upset. But the Fighting Hawks have a question mark at quarterback, plus they lose a bulk of their offensive line. That’s not ideal against an aggressive Montana defense that can make an inexperienced offense’s head spin. Add in UND coming off of a tough game at Iowa State, and Montana will be too much for the Hawks to pull off a stunner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Win<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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vs Morehead State<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montana rolls to a big win over non-scholarship Morehead State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Win<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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vs No. 16 Western Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Montana fans were surprised at how good Furman was in the quarterfinals. WCU could be this year’s Furman team in the SoCon, capable of being a scary squad on the national level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Catamounts just missed the 2023 playoffs. The pieces are in place to get over the hump this fall, led by quarterback Cole Gonzales. Gonzales may be the best passing quarterback Montana sees in the regular season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fun, ranked matchup between two likely playoff-bound teams. Home field will be a difference-maker for the Grizzlies, as the noise and defensive pressure will eventually take their toll on WCU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Win<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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at Eastern Washington<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EWU returns eight starters on both offense and defense after finishing 4-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky, plus seven FBS transfers to build depth and plug holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eagles may not be a playoff team this fall, but they’ll be good enough to scare top conference foes. Especially at home. Kekoa Visperas and Efton Chism III are a lethal QB-WR duo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montana will be favored to win every game until being a likely road dog at Montana State. Things don’t always go chalk, though. The Griz get caught on an off day and EWU gets an upset W in front of a solid home crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loss<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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