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Southern Utah Thunderbirds @ Montana Grizzlies

2026-08-29 · 9:00 PM · Washington-Grizzly Stadium · Missoula, MT
Montana -7.2
Projected spread
68.4
Projected total
31–38
Proj score (away–home)
65%
Montana win prob
Series Montana lead 6–0 · 6 meetings since 2007
Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Run-heavy · 59% run Avg pace
Montana Grizzlies — defense
DEFENSE OFFENSE CB S S CB LB LB LB DE DT DT DE WR WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR QB RB
Montana Grizzlies — offense
Montana Grizzlies
Balanced · 54% run Avg pace
Unit strength weaker · avg · stronger

Position groups are shaded by team-unit strength (rush & pass offense vs. run & pass defense), not individual players — per-player ratings wait on the 2026 rosters. Identity, tempo, dual-threat and unit strength are measured from the 2025 season.

Power breakdown

TeamDivPowerOffDef (higher = better)Rank
Southern Utah Thunderbirds FCS +2.9 +3.8 -0.9 #119
Montana Grizzlies FCS +7.7 +7.2 +0.5 #53
Southern Utah offense vs. Montana defense
+3.3 pts
Montana offense vs. Southern Utah defense
+8.1 pts
Travel · context only
Away team travels 636 mi
Altitude · context only
784 m lower than the visitor's home elevation

These situational spots are shown for context, not baked into the projection: we tested travel, altitude and rest against 6,000+ games and found the power and efficiency ratings already account for them, so adding them again would double-count.

Power = points vs. an average D1 team (Off + Def), FBS and FCS on one scale. The projection assumes a 2.4-pt home edge (0 at neutral sites). An efficiency adjustment from season-to-date EPA and success rate applies once teams have played enough games; before then it is 0 and the number is the power rating alone. Player-level matchups, team strengths/weaknesses, and the Vegas-line comparison arrive as those phases land.