South Dakota State Favored For Another FCS Title
Montana Double-Digit Dog According to Montana vs SDSU Odds
A Pair of Former FCS Champions To Meet In Sunday’s Title Game
Two programs that know a thing or two about advancing deep into the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs will meet for the FCS title.
The Montana vs South Dakota State odds list South Dakota State as a double-digit favorite.
Montana has made it into the FCS playoffs a record 27 times. This will be the Grizzlies’ eighth championship game appearance. Montana won the titles in 1995 and 2001.
South Dakota State won its first national title in 2022 with a 45-21 win over rival North Dakota State. When it comes to the NCAAF scores, the Jackrabbits have won 28 games in a row. The last loss for the Jackrabbits came by a score of 7-3 to Iowa out of the Big Ten in the 2022 season opener.
South Dakota State is currently favored by 13 points according to the FCS championship odds. The Moneyline for the Jackrabbits is set at -490 with Montana priced at +370.
It is looking like it will be all hands on deck for Montana heading into the game. For South Dakota State, cornerback Steven Arrell hasn’t played since mid-October.
South Dakota State received all 24 first-place votes in the most recent American Football Coaches Association poll. Montana moved up from No. 3 to No. 2.
South Dakota State was the preseason No. 1 team. Montana was ranked 14th when the season began.
🏈 Montana vs South Dakota State 🏈
Day/Time:
Location: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Streaming: Watch Live Sports
Montana Is Living Dangerously
Montana had to survive back-to-back overtime games to reach the championship game with a 35-28 win over Furman followed by a 31-29 win in double overtime against a North Dakota State team that has won nine of the last 12 national titles. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Montana vs South Dakota State odds.
The Grizzlies are 6-0 in FCS games decided by eight points or less this season. Can Montana hang within one score against a South Dakota State team that leads all FCS teams in total defense and have two shutouts in three playoff games this season?
Montana was just 1-3 in one-score games a season ago.
South Dakota State Ready to Get Offensive
Only Davidson and Montana State averaged more points than South Dakota State this season with the Jackrabbits putting up 38.4 points per game.
When looking at the Montana vs South Dakota State odds, South Dakota State led all Football Championship Subdivision teams by converting 54.8% of its third downs.
South Dakota State also leads all FCS teams by getting points on 96.3% of its drives reaching the red zone.
Players To Watch
Montana has three FCS players with more than 600 rushing yards led by Eli Gillman’s 950 yards and 12 touchdown runs. Clinton McDowell has thrown for 1861 yards with 13 TD passes and only three interceptions.
Keelan White and Junior Bergen are both over 700 receiving yards.
Braxton Hill leads Montana with 116 tackles while Riley Wilson, one of the Texas natives on the Grizzlies’ roster, has 8.5 sacks. Defensive lineman Alex Gubner earn first-team All-American honors. The defense received a boost with the return of defensive lineman Kellen Detrick after he missed five games earlier this season.
Mark Gronowski, the Associated Press first-team All-American quarterback, has 2883 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Isaiah Davis has rushed for 1491 yards with 17 touchdowns. He joined Gronowski as well as offensive linemen Garret Greenfield and Mason McCormick.
Jadon Janke leads the Jackrabbits with 891 receiving yards.
Jason Freeman leads the defense with 96 tackles while Tucker Large and Dalys Beanum have four interceptions each.
Last Meeting
When looking at the NCAA FCS schedule, the teams haven’t played since the 2015 FCS playoffs when Montana won 24-7 before falling to eventual national champion North Dakota State.
Montana has won all eight previous meetings and that includes losses in the 2009 and 2015 FCS playoffs.
Montana vs South Dakota State Betting Preview
South Dakota State has trailed for a total of 3:32 in its three games in the FCS playoffs as the Jackrabbits have outscored their opponents 123-12. It has been a different story for Montana as the Grizzlies trailed Furman by one point in the third quarter and were also behind for most of the first quarter versus North Dakota State.
Just three of the last eight FCS championship games have been decided by seven points or less.
The total has been set at 49.5. Six of South Dakota State’s games this season would have finished over the total. Six of Montana’s games also would have landed over the total.
Montana was a one-point underdog in the FCS semifinal against North Dakota State before the Grizzlies prevented a rematch of the 2022 national title game. South Dakota State was favored by 19.5 points against Albany in the national semifinals and had no issues covering in the 59-0 victory.
For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
