Cat Griz is THE biggest annual sports event in Montana. We are 2 states away from the closest major pro sports teams so the universities take top spot. If you don't live in Bozeman or Missoula, there is about a 50/50 chance that your neighbor will be rooting for the other team. It is the noisiest per capita sports event you will ever go to.

I've seen tickets being advertised for $900 resale for this years contest. Add to the normal hype, both teams should be top 10 and there is talk that ESPN's College Game Day may choose to broadcast from Missoula that weekend. I've lived in Bozeman for 37 years and always make the Cat Griz when it's here. I need to make it to a game in Missoula at some point in my life. They have a great stadium. MSU's stadium is decent but it is the product of 3 separate constructions and is not what I would call cohesive. It seats 17,777 but the attendance average for the year is just under 20K because of additional standing room only tickets sold. Tickets for this years' Cat Griz are sold out of course and attendance at Wa-Griz will be over seating capacity and approaching 27K.

MSU has really exploded as has Bozeman and many places in MT. We have an extraordinary U president that most of the credit goes to. As for UM, they seem to have stabilized their enrollment decline that occurred the past decade. I tend to delight in the misfortunes of UM (losing 16 years in a row to them can do that) but I think the state is better when both U's are strong.

I will be cheering for the Aggies on Saturday. I don't understand EWU's need to roll up the score on teams. Maybe it's because their offense is predicated on tempo and flow and if you can't stop them, that results in blowouts. So, get them in third and long, contain and pressure EB3, and don't let him scramble for a first down. Simple, right?

Win the next 2 and I could see a top 4 seed. That loss to ISU is a real head shaker and may be a sticking point.

Hello Aggies from your brethren land grant U in Montana. MSU broke a 10 year losing streak to EWU so it is possible. You have a very good coaching staff and I'm sure they've seen how to beat the Eagles.

EWU has played against 3 of the top 5 defenses in the BSC. Weber and MSU beat them and they beat UM. Weber and MSU were able to pressure EB3 with just the front 4, could stop the run game without stacking the box, and didn't allow EB3 to turn scrambles into first down runs.

UM plays a 3 3 5 defense and blitzes the majority of the snaps. That left the db's in too many 1 on 1 match ups and all it takes is for EB3 to find and connect on a handful of those to win a game or to elude the 6 pass rushers and run for a first down.

EWU fans immediately blamed their offense for losing to Weber and MSU. The fact was that both teams neutralize the run game and EB3 which has more to do with a successful defense than a failing offense.

MSU does have a game changer at MLB in Troy Andersen. The OLB turned RB turned QB turned MLB is really an amazing athlete. 6'4", 240#, and as fast as anyone in the league. He was able to shut down EWU receivers over the middle (had 2 pass break ups) and was able run EB3 out of bounds before he could get a first down.

MSU left a lot of points on the field with 2 failures in the red zone and a missed interception by Andersen that would have been a pick 6. Still, defense wins.

So good luck this weekend. Take it from a Cat fan, it is a lot of fun to beat the Eagles.