Montana State survived a second-half scare, Idaho won another thriller and Utah Tech finally broke through, and the Big Sky Now panel is breaking it all down.

Host Luke Schmit is joined by Daily Inter Lake sports editor Fritz Neighbor, Mike Maynard of the Columbia Basin Herald and Mark Nelke of the Coeur d’Alene Press to recap Week 8, preview the biggest Week 9 matchups and make their weekly picks. 

Jon Allen is out this week again, so Luke covers his picks. Montana State rallied from a 27-17 halftime deficit to beat Weber State 38-33, outscoring the Wildcats 21-6 in the second half.

Idaho followed its win over Montana with a 31-28 walk-off field goal win over Southern Utah, Idaho State got back in the win column with a 38-8 win over Portland State behind quarterback Jordan Cook’s 334 passing yards, and UC Davis bounced back with a 33-6 win over Northern Colorado.

Utah Tech also picked up its first Big Sky Conference victory, a 43-26 upset of Cal Poly fueled by six turnovers. The panel also looks at what the results mean for the Big Sky Conference standings and the FCS playoff picture.

Then it’s on to Week 9. Can Montana get its defense right after the bye when it travels to Eastern Washington on Halloween night? Will Montana State put away Cal Poly early after its scare against Weber State? Can Idaho control a game from start to finish at Portland State? 

The panel also breaks down UC Davis at Weber State, Northern Arizona at Southern Utah and Idaho State at Utah Tech.

Finally, the crew makes its picks for all six featured matchups and updates the season-long standings. 

Play along with us and make your weekly picks in our season-long Pick ’Em! Someone needs to beat Jon. No registration required, and it’s free to play: https://qr1.be/D321P8

Big thanks to Mountain Pass Safes & Coins for sponsoring our Pick 'Em segment! They are a family-owned business proudly serving the Flathead Valley with a wide selection of high-quality safes ready for immediate delivery - no long wait times. Whether you’re protecting firearms, valuables, or important documents, their safes offer advanced fire protection, reinforced construction, and customizable storage options backed by strong warranties. They also buy and sell gold and silver with a reputation for fair, transparent pricing. Stop by their showroom at 2593 US Highway 2 E Suite 4 in Kalispell or visit https://www.mountainpasssafes.com to learn more.

Thank you to our headline sponsor M&C Tire for their continued support of Big Sky Now! Serving the Flathead Valley since 1979, M&C is your total tire dealer with trusted brands, all at affordable prices. From farm trucks to hybrids, their certified technicians handle it all with unmatched hometown service. Stop by in 1271 N. Meridian Road in Kalispell, call (406) 752-9662, or visit https://www.mandctire.com/ to keep your ride rolling.  

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MSU Bobcats overtake Weber State, 38-33

Vandals get a second chance to back up a big win

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