Thursday Night Big Sky Primer

Four games on tap for Thursday night, so let's take a look and make some fun (and meaningless) predictions on what will go down.

Eastern Washington @ Northern Arizona
These are the types of games that you have to win if you want to make the conference tournament. On the road, but against a team that is at the bottom and not playing very well right now. The Eagles need Cliff Colimon to get on track, as they go as he goes most of the time. The forward trio of Cliff Ederaine/Laron Griffin/Tremayne Johnson has been playing well for the Eagles, and they should be solid again. The Lumberjacks need Gabe Rogers to be himself again, but it doesn't look like that is in the cards this year. EASTERN WASHINGTON 75, NORTHERN ARIZONA 63

Idaho State @ Montana State
This has become the biggest game of the night. If the Bengals can pull out the road upset, they will move into a tie for third place in the Big Sky, a sentence that would have gotten followers of the conference laughing if you had said it a month ago. But something funny happened on ISU's journey to the cellar... they got confidence, Kenny McGowen and Melvin Morgan started hitting shots, and Chase Grabau turned into an all-conference player. I think the magic continues for at least one more game and the Bengals find a little more magic. IDAHO STATE 67, MONTANA STATE 65

Portland State @ Weber State
The Wildcats are going to be ready for this game, anxious to show that the ISU game is behind them. PSU has a bad taste in their mouth as well, after being swept at home by the Montanas. The difference is that this game is in Ogden, where WSU is very difficult to beat. PSU has the talent down low to make it a game, but too much Lillard for the upset to happen. WEBER STATE 77, PORTLAND STATE 70 

Sacramento State @ Northern Colorado
Like EWU, this is a game that the Bears need to win for their conference tournament hopes. At home against a team at the bottom of the conference is not a game they can afford to lose, especially since there is a three way tie for fifth (meaning one of the teams is going to miss the postseason). Tevin Svihovec has developed into a guy that wants the big shot down the stretch, and more often than not, he has come through. That will be needed once again in this one. NORTHERN COLORADO 71, SACRAMENTO STATE 68

Your thoughts? Who do you think is winning these games?

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