Nation's bests hit Missoula

Grizzlies No. 1 D faces Portland State's No. 1 passing attack

The University of Montana football team can clinch a share of its 10th straight Big Sky Conference championship if it wins at home on Saturday.

But that could be a big "if."

The Jerry Glanville-coached Portland State Vikings come to Missoula fresh off scoring 68 points in a loss to Weber State last week. It was the highest-scoring NCAA game in college football history.

The battle in Washington-Grizzly Stadium will be between the nation's top scoring defense and the nation's top passing offense.

PSU true freshman quarterback Drew Hubel started his first game last week and earned national player of the week honors by completing 35 of 56 passes for 485 yards and NCAA Division I record-tying nine touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Glanville coached the NFL's Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons to 63 victories in the run-and-shoot offense's heyday between from 1986 to 1993. With former PSU head coach Mouse Davis as offensive coordinator, the Vikings are using that same ol' attack. Don't forget former NFL special teams guru Bobby April - he's with the Vikings as well.

The Vikings are averaging 361 passing yards and 30 points per week. Fortunately for the Griz, PSU's 3-4 defense gives up 39 points, 272 passing yards and 172 rushing yards per game as well.

The result: PSU is just 2-6 on the year, including 2-3 in Big Sky Conference play. The Vikings were picked to finish second in the Big Sky preseason poll.

The Grizzlies are 8-0 this year, including 5-0 in conference. They are ranked No. 4 in the TSN poll and No. 3 in the FCS Coaches Poll. Even with a loss, they could still earn the conference's automatic berth into the playoffs if Northern Arizona beats Montana State on Saturday.

UM coach Bobby Hauck is 3-1 against PSU and the Griz own a 9-2 record in the series.