Nicholls State

[Coyote Fan]

My pick for this game is 35-21 Coyotes. I do believe that the Coyotes will clearly have to be the better team through the first three quarters to pick up the win. If this game is decided in the last few minutes I believe Nichols will win. I am a bit worried about Streveler's hand because he just wasn't himself passing the ball. I would like the Coyotes to spread the field and run out of the formation.

[usdyotes]

USD will win by at least 4tds. Nicholls runs a simple defense that we will score a ton on them. Their conference is weak. Dont care about A&M. They aren't good. Not over confident just a simple fact. If we dont score 50 plus I would be shocked. A&M barley beat Arkansas in OT that should of lost to Costal Carolina.

[Yotes]

50 plus points? We can do it, but it would be far from a shock if we fall short of that. We only put that much up on Drake and Indiana State. This team is better than those teams.

[91jack]

Nov 19, 2017 13:23:24 GMT -6 Coyote Fan said:

The Coyotes get to be that team that carries a big mantle to find out just how good this conference is. The Yotes went 1-4 against the other top 5 teams in the conference. The conference and the nation should be watching how the Coyotes do as they are the only team in the country that is in the playoffs as the 5th most worthy team from their own conference. Is the 5th best team in the MVFC on a level playing field with a team such as Sam Houston.

Just a note to everyone. There are many NDSU fans (and we know they are some of the most Knowledgeable out there) that have been arguing on behalf of the Coyotes and their worthiness to be in the field. The Coyotes were considered one of the last two teams in the field and the Bison fan(s) were saying that the Coyotes should have clearly been in the field. Jacks fans may not like us but the Bison fans kind of have our back. So even though I question the Coyotes worthiness myself based on the finish to the season if you ever meet a Bison fan just remember what they have been saying about us.

I think everyone should know/think that if you have 7 wins and play in the MVFC, you should be in the playoffs. Losing 4 or 5 might not sound good but 7 wins is 7 wins and that is all that should matter.
If you look at the predictions of the reports from Hero Sports, all four of the people that predicted the games had JMU, SDSU and NDSU in the semifinals. Two of the four that predicted the games had JSU as the final team in the semi's but the other two had USD. That means 2 of the 4 reports had three teams from the MVFC in the semi finals. That is just the respect this conference gets.

[Coyote Fan]

Nov 21, 2017 8:25:13 GMT -6 usdyotes said:

USD will win by at least 4tds. Nicholls runs a simple defense that we will score a ton on them. Their conference is weak. Dont care about A&M. They aren't good. Not over confident just a simple fact. If we dont score 50 plus I would be shocked. A&M barley beat Arkansas in OT that should of lost to Costal Carolina.

You are very much under estimating Nichols and setting yourself up for disappointment if that is what you think. So they can be within 2 touchdown at Texas A&M but you would be surprised if we don't win by at least 4 touchdowns and score at least 50 points. You have unrealistic expectations of this game. Nichols is undefeated at home as well. The Coyotes are not the team that beat Bowling Green or Western Illiois as much has happened on the downside since that part of the season. Even if the Coyotes were on a roll right now winning by that kind of a margin is still a best case senario.

The way things are trending I would consider any win by any score a good win.

[coyotecrazie5]

Here is a preview with some pretty good statistical info for both teams. Thanks ST Lawson for this info as I've been reading for a few weeks after I found his articles on leathernecknation.net

Article Here: thefcswedge.com/mvfc/mvfc-playoffs-round-1-preview/

USD excerpt below:


South Dakota (7-4) at Nicholls State (8-3)

This Season

South Dakota went 7-4 overall with a 4-4 conference record. They were 3-0 OOC with wins over Drake (Pioneer), FBS Bowling Green (MAC) and North Dakota (Big Sky). They were 4-1 at the DakotaDome and 3-3 when playing on the road. USD’s schedule was ranked 125th in DI by Sagarin and 3rd in the FCS by Massey.
Nicholls State went 8-3 overall with a 7-2 record in the Southland. They were 1-1 OOC with a 24-14 loss to FBS Texas A&M (SEC) and a win over Prairie View A&M (SWAC). They were 5-0 at John L. Guidry Stadium and 3-3 when playing on the road. NSU’s schedule is ranked 213th in DI by Sagarin and 74th in the FCS by Massey.
History:
The Coyotes and Colonels have never met before on the football field. It will be Nicholls’ 4th appearance in the playoffs and their first time hosting, while this is the first time that South Dakota has made it to the FCS playoffs.

We’ll start by taking a look at the numbers. When South Dakota has the ball, they put up 519 ypg (2nd in the FCS) and 37.8 ppg (5th). On the ground, they accumulate 207 ypg (22nd) and through the air, 312 ypg (9th). USD’s O-Line is allowing 5.91 tackles for loss per game (45th) and their offense has lost 10 turnovers this season (6th).
The Nicholls State defense allows 343 ypg (39th) and 24 ppg (49th). Of those yards, 152 ypg are on the ground (62nd) and 190 are through the air (33rd). They are averaging 8 tackles for loss per game (12th) and have created 13 turnovers this season (104th).
In this situation, South Dakota has one of the better offenses in the entire FCS…assuming QB Chris Streveler is something close to fully healthy (he’s been banged up a lot over the last few weeks). He is a significant portion of the Coyote offense, so if he’s not doing well, things could get a little dicey for them. Assuming he’s relatively ok, USD will likely have a fairly balanced offense. Their run game is decent and NSU’s run defense is relatively mediocre, meanwhile the Coyotes’ passing attack is in the top 10 of the FCS, but NSU’s pass defense isn’t ranked too badly either.

On the other side, Nicholls State comes in putting up 395 ypg (45th) and 28 ppg (44th). They run for 196 ypg (26th) and pass for 199 ypg (69th). Their offensive line allows 4.73 tackles for loss per game (18th) and the offense has lost 23 turnovers (93rd).
USD’s defense allows 382 ypg (76th) and 23.5 ppg (42nd). Their run defense allows 137 ypg (41st) and pass defense 245 ypg (97th). They get 8.5 tackles for loss per game (3rd) and have gained 17 turnovers (72nd).
So, the Coyotes do seem to allow quite a few yards, especially against the pass. However, NSU’s strength is their run game, which is USD’s defensive strength. One big difference is that NSU has lost quite a few turnovers this season. USD isn’t great at gaining turnovers, especially with their best DB having been suspended (kicked off maybe?) from the team, but might be able to get one or two.

Obviously anything is possible in the playoffs…upsets happen every year, but I don’t really see this one being close unless Chris Streveler has to sit out for a significant portion of the game. He’s the type of QB who can turn a broken play into a first down on a regular basis, either by running the ball himself (he’s not easy to take down) or by scrambling and finding a receiver (he can make very accurate throws on the run while being pressured). I think he’ll probably be a bit too much for the Colonels defense to handle and the Coyotes will come away with about a 14-point victory and head over to Sam Houston State in a week.

[Yotes]

I posted this in this weekend's basketball thread, but here it is again:

"Join the Howling Pack and USD Alumni Association at Will's Training Table for food and drinks to watch USD Football take on Nicholls State in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

The game will be streaming inside Will's and tailgating spaces will be available in the parking lot for those that want to enjoy the game outdoors. Bring your own food and beverage outside or join us inside Will's for complimentary food and beverage while supplies last.

After the game, head across the street to the Sanford Pentagon to cheer on Coyote Men's Basketball at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanford Pentagon Showcase!"

Pretty neat idea by the HP to have a watch party like this where they even let you take the party outside.

[thebacksackdad]

Nov 21, 2017 19:13:17 GMT -6 Yotes said:

I posted this in this weekend's basketball thread, but here it is again:

"Join the Howling Pack and USD Alumni Association at Will's Training Table for food and drinks to watch USD Football take on Nicholls State in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

The game will be streaming inside Will's and tailgating spaces will be available in the parking lot for those that want to enjoy the game outdoors. Bring your own food and beverage outside or join us inside Will's for complimentary food and beverage while supplies last.

After the game, head across the street to the Sanford Pentagon to cheer on Coyote Men's Basketball at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanford Pentagon Showcase!"

Pretty neat idea by the HP to have a watch party like this where they even let you take the party outside.

I'd be they're if I were a local. Sounds like a great time! However, watch for this coyote cheering the team on in LA!! Habe the tx... Just need to find a little, shining top hat for my coyote headdress!!

LETS GO COYOTES!!! BOOM SHAKALAKA!!!

[Yote 53]

Backsackdad, glad to see you back. I was a little worried after not hearing from you in a couple of days. Hope the trip back to Wisco went okay.

This guy brought his A-game Saturday, working up and down the aisles, getting the crowd going. We need more passion like this in the Dome!

[thebacksackdad]

Nov 21, 2017 20:46:29 GMT -6 Yote 53 said:

Backsackdad, glad to see you back. I was a little worried after not hearing from you in a couple of days. Hope the trip back to Wisco went okay.

This guy brought his A-game Saturday, working up and down the aisles, getting the crowd going. We need more passion like this in the Dome!

Thanks for the compliment! I have a lot of confidence as everybody I met in the aisles were just as pumped! Lets Go YOTES!

...and not just in FB btw... basketball n track is there as well. It's a new time in USD athletics! Its easy to see the U has put an emphasis on backing their teams and its starting to bear fruit!

[gopheryote]

I love all the optimism of picking the Yotes to win at least 2 games in the playoffs! I don't have the expectation of Nicholls being a relatively easy game (or USD even being favored). I will concede the Hero Sports & ST Lawson guys know much more about the broader FCS landscape - by several miles - than I do. But any of us who were at the game last weekend know 2/3 of the playbook was shelved because of Streveler's injured hand. That is more than the nicks and bruises all teams face at this point. I sure hope for health and a W, but don't know that I 'expect' a win, much less a double digit win.

That said, Yotes 41 Nicholls 17

[wrj]

Will someone fill me in on the time and TV option for your game.

[Yote 53]

I believe it is 3PM on ESPN3.

Valley games are all staggered start times, 1PM, 2PM, 3PM, all on ESPN3.

[wrj]

Nov 22, 2017 8:48:58 GMT -6 Yote 53 said:

I believe it is 3PM on ESPN3.

Valley games are all staggered start times, 1PM, 2PM, 3PM, all on ESPN3.

Thanks. I'll assume central standard time unless someone says otherwise.

[yote14]

Nov 20, 2017 8:51:59 GMT -6 wiley said:

I'm not that surprised we aren't hosting to be honest. I would love to have the game in Vermillion, but it's so hard to bid on a game and expect a lot of people to show up on a holiday weekend, especially students (not that their turnout is great). Very likely that most teams lose money on the first week's games. Also guessing if we hosted, we may very well be in NDSU's part of the bracket the way it appears the committee regionalized teams.

Holiday weekend and 3 straight days of basketball in the pentagon. Not sure what kind of financial commitment we had to make to the pentagon for the showcase but I'm sure it played a role in a lower football bid. If there was a home football game Saturday it would cannibalize all the fans for the basketball game Saturday afternoon and probably on Sunday too.