Count me unsurprised that the fifth-ranked Montana State Bobcats are ahead of the No. 4 Montana Grizzlies in the first FCS Playoff Selection Committee’s Top 10 that was announced on ESPN2 Wednesday.

The Bobcats, a season removed from a national title game appearance, have played a tough schedule, falling in double overtime to No. 2 South Dakota State a week after they were blown out by Oregon.  

They’ve won five straight since, the last a 48-14 dismantling of an Idaho State team that a) doesn’t play well on the road and b) had the Griz on the ropes the week before, in a 42-38 Montana win. 

The Grizzlies, two seasons removed from a title game appearance, are 6-0. 

OK, that isn’t super convincing. 

If you want to blame someone, try the schedule makers: The Griz have benefited from five home games, including a 24-23 last-gasp win over North Dakota that — the selection committee has the Fighting Hawks ranked eighth — does look nice on the resume. 

Looking less impressive is a 41-30 win over then-No. 8 Idaho, which has dropped three straight to drop to 2-4 and out of one, but somehow not both, weekly polls. 

Or blame Brent Vigen. The Bobcat coach is a bit of a quarterback whisperer, and Stanford transfer Justin Lamson is playing great football. 

Right behind the Cats and Griz: UC Davis. The 5-1 Aggies are sixth in the eyes of the selection committee, which will release another ranking ahead of the FCS Selection Show on Nov. 23. 

At play are first-round byes for seeds 1-8 and a maximum number of home playoff games. Defending national champ North Dakota State and SDSU have been ranked 1-2 all year, but play each other in two Saturdays.  

The loser of the Dakota Marker presumably would fall out of the top two in the polls. That leaves everyone from the unbeaten Tarleton State Texans to the unbeaten Lehigh Mountain Hawks with a chance at a semifinal home game. 

Tarleton State, ranked third, is good, with a win over Army and its third, fourth and fifth running backs speeding away from overmatched Utah Tech Saturday, 41-23. Ranked teams West Georgia and Abilene Christian are on the schedule. West Georgia visits the Texans Saturday. 

That same day, the Griz will kick off against Sacred Heart as 30.5-point favorites, again at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.  

The Bobcats have a well-deserved bye. 

Gnash those fangs Griz fans, but the schedule toughens up from here. Sacramento State brings UM to California on Friday, Oct. 24, the first of three road games in four weeks.  

Then there’s the Brawl on Nov. 22. The home team has held serve at home the last five Cat-Griz games. Montana hosts this one. The selection committee will watch and decide if the Grizzlies deserve three more home games. 

Reach Fritz Neighbor at 758-4463 or at [email protected].