The North rules the semifinals from coast to coast in the 2018 FCS playoffs.
NDSU and SDSU meet for the 50th time (exaggeration) since 2011. And Maine wants to prove a point once again as it travels across the country to face an EWU team that's lost too many heartbreaking semifinal games in the 2010s.
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Here's the schedule (all times Eastern):
FRIDAY
SDSU at NDSU, 8 p.m – ESPN2
SATURDAY
Maine at EWU, 2 p.m. – ESPN2
Let's pick some scores!
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No. 5 South Dakota State @ No. 1 North Dakota State
Brian: SDSU 21, NDSU 20
When you know you're losing your coach, it's a distraction. Chris Klieman's move up to the Power Five level is a compliment both to him and the school he is leaving — and obviously, nobody should be mad at him for seizing this opportunity. It is a logical choice that there is no argument against. But it is always emotional when your coach moves on. Some teams turn that emotion into a positive, but emotion can be a tricky thing — even when it's positive. Some teams go the negative route with the emotion, which I doubt will happen with the Bison.
My question is this — could the "jacked up" emotion of losing your coach lead to some early mistakes? And when you couple some early mistakes with an opponent who has players on its roster who have beaten you twice — including the seasoned senior quarterback (Taryn Christion), is there a sliver of hope for the opponent to come out on top? I think with SDSU there is a decent chance they can pull this off.
Both semifinal games are 50/50 affairs, in my estimation, especially with the question marks about how a team responds to big news like Klieman's departure. I just could see this game going either way.
Sam: NDSU 31, SDSU 21
I am 100% certain that the Chris Klieman news won't impact this NDSU team. If the Bison lose, which shouldn't surprise anyone, it's because SDSU was the better team that day. And the Jacks have shown they can be a better team twice since 2016.
I've covered NDSU long enough to realize something like this won't derail them. The Craig Bohl to Wyoming situation was much more ugly than this Klieman to K-State ordeal. I was down in the basement of the Fargodome on Tuesday and Wednesday during media interviews. Nothing seemed off, compared to the tension everyone could feel in 2013.
Players and coaches were laughing with each other and media members in front of and behind the cameras. There's no weird vibe or awkwardness going on in the locker room, and if anything, this situation just makes the Bison team even more focused. The most telling part of all this is the NDSU players gave Klieman a standing ovation when he told them he took the K-State job.
And with Klieman sticking around until the season is done, and with the number of upperclassmen on this team, don't expect a distracted bunch. SDSU has all the ingredients needed to beat the Bison. If the Jacks win, no excuses should be made on NDSU's end. I've said for the last handful of years that one year SDSU will beat the Bison in the playoffs. I just don't see 2018 being that year.
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No. 7 Maine @ No. 3 Eastern Washington
Brian: Maine 28, EWU 27
In the 'other' 50/50 FCS semifinal matchup, we have two unique programs that are truly hard to match up on paper. Maine just doesn't see teams like EWU, and vice versa. Last week, Maine faced off against a Weber State team known for its grit and defense — and the Black Bears prevailed, out-gritting a very good Weber State team. Now Maine faces a more balanced EWU team, one with a ton of offensive firepower.
On the flip side, a full-strength EWU offense (no injury questions) hasn't faced a defense like this since it played the Pac 12's Washington State (24 points). This game is exactly what all of us out here in neutral land hope for in an FCS semifinal — an absolute toss-up between two programs that have earned their spot at the final four table. Can't wait to pop some popcorn and crack a Gatorade while watching this one.
Sam: EWU 24, Maine 21
There is traction to the argument of Maine having to travel all the way across the country again being difficult. You do see teams in the FCS playoffs run out of juice and maybe are a step slower than they usually are.
But I don't think that's going to be the overriding factor in the Eagles getting a win here. Maine squeaked by a Weber State team with a bad offense. Yes, Maine's defense was a part of why Weber's offense looked bad. But it was quite apparent that there was some bad offensive play going on as well.
EWU might not put up points in the 40s or even the 30s against this tremendous Black Bears defense. But the Eagles are still going to get theirs.
On the flip side, I really like how the EWU defense matches up with the Maine offense. I don't see the Blacks Bears piling up the rushing yards, which is what they'll want to do. Overall, EWU is a slightly more complete team, and with the home-field advantage, it gives the Eagles a 3-point edge.
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