The Idaho Vandals (10-3) take on the Montana State Bobcats (13-0) in FCS Playoffs action on Friday, Dec. 13. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
We're now down to eight teams remaining in the FCS Playoffs. We have four matchups slated for this weekend, and all four will provide valuable insight as to how the rest of the playoff season will unfold.
Will the “Big Four” — Montana State, South Dakota State, North Dakota State, South Dakota — hold serve, or will one of the other remaining teams step up and steal a road win?
This is a rematch of a mid-October bout in which the Bobcats were victorious by a score of 38-7. Idaho is a healthier team this time around, so this should be a fantastic Big Sky rematch with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
Settle in because this is going to be a wild weekend of FCS football.
Montana State is currently listed as a favorite of 13.5 points in the contest with a total set at 55.5.
Let's dive into my Idaho vs. Montana State predictions and college football picks for the FCS Playoffs quarterfinals on Friday, Dec. 13.
Idaho vs Montana State Prediction
- Idaho vs. Montana State Pick: Montana State -13
My Montana State vs. Idaho best bet is on the Bobcats to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at bet365, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Idaho vs Montana State Odds
| Idaho Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14 -110 | 55.5 -110 / -110 | +430 |
| Montana State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14 -110 | 55.5 -110 / -110 | -600 |
- Idaho vs Montana State Spread: Idaho +14 (-110) · Montana State -14 (-110)
- Idaho vs Montana State Over/Under: 55.5 Points
- Idaho vs Montana State Moneyline: Idaho +430 · Montana State -600
Idaho vs Montana State Preview
Idaho Vandals Betting Preview: Getting Healthy
Idaho comes into this one off of a convincing home win over Lehigh last week in the Kibbie Dome. The Vandals locked in on defense in the first half, as Lehigh could only muster two field goals in its six first-half possessions.
Idaho took firm control with a touchdown on its opening possession of the second half when Deshaun Buchanan scampered in from two yards out. The very next possession saw Lehigh drive the ball before a game-changing 74-yard interception return touchdown extended the Vandals' lead to 34-6.
Idaho looks to avenge a mid-October regular-season defeat in a rematch against Montana State this week. In that prior contest, Idaho was down several key players on both sides of the football and was really up against a tough Montana State defensive unit.
The return of Jack Layne at quarterback for Idaho should certainly give the Vandals a boost offensively that they were missing the last time these two opponents squared off.
Layne has performed well since coming back from injury and has thrown for 830 yards and nine touchdowns in the last three contests.
He's going to have a ton put on his shoulders in this matchup, as the Vandals really struggled to run the ball in the last meeting with Montana State and struggled again last week against a much weaker Lehigh stop unit that was decimated by injury.
However, with the Vandals being much healthier this time around, I'll be interested to see how they execute to potentially make this a closer game.
Montana State Bobcats Betting Preview: Worthy No. 1 Team
Montana State has been the No. 1 team in FCS most of the season this year, and for good reason.
The Bobcats have breezed through their FCS schedule with just one game finishing with margin of less than 14 points all season.
Quarterback Tommy Mellott has been exceptionally efficient, passing for 2,280 yards with a 26:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The ground game has carried this team all season, as the offensive line has mowed through every opposing defense it's seen. Eight times this year Montana State has rushed for more than 300 yards, and its yards-per-carry average sits at 6.9 as a team.
The Bobs ran for 360 yards on 54 attempts in the first matchup against Idaho and will certainly deploy a rush-heavy attack this week as well.
The Bobcats' defensive line has also caused nightmares for opposing offenses all season while registering 31 sacks and 77 tackles for loss this year. The Bobs are allowing just 112.2 rushing yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry on the season behind a defensive line with plenty of all-conference talent.
Idaho has surrendered 24 sacks and has allowed tackles behind the line of scrimmage often enough, so it's not hard to see Montana State getting home a lot in this one.
The secondary is allowing only 181 passing yards per game on the season — impressive given that most teams have been behind much of the way against Montana State and have needed to throw the ball to try to stay in these games.
Idaho vs Montana State Pick & Prediction
I played Montana State at home in this matchup and would support a position on any number under two touchdowns.
Offensively, the Bobs boast an extremely strong rushing attack that features four players averaging over 6.0 yards per carry.
While not being used as frequently in the ground game this year compared to years prior, Mellott adds a running element from the quarterback position that has frustrated everyone in the Big Sky this year.
Mellott has really sharpened in the passing department while completing over 70% of his throws and playing mistake-free football most of the way.
Four offensive linemen have been awarded with all-conference honors for Montana State, and for good reason. The unit has paved the way for 43 rushing touchdowns and has allowed just 11 sacks this year.
Idaho provided some resistance in the last meeting, and the defensive line is healthier this time around, but this is going to once again be its toughest challenge of the season.
The last meeting between these two teams ended with a 38-7 Montana State win. That seems bad enough in the first place, but the score could have been even worse.
Montana State missed a field goal early and was stopped on downs inside the Idaho 25-yard line twice in the second half with the game already decided.
I can see Idaho having much more offensive success this time around, but Montana State will not treat the second half as “laissez-faire” as it could in the first meeting.
Pick: Montana State -13 (Play to -14)
Idaho vs Montana State Start Time, TV Channel, Location, How to Watch
| Location: | Bobcat Stadium, Bozeman, MT |
| Date: | Friday, Dec. 13 |
| Kickoff Time: | 9 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN |
Idaho takes on Montana State on Friday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Idaho vs Montana State Weather
