Montana State vs Montana Preview, Prediction & Line – Week 13 FCS Football

• Montana is a 2.5-point underdog at home against Montana State in the Brawl of the Wild
• The winner claims the Big Sky title and likely the No. 2 seed in the FCS playoffs
• See below for my Montana State vs Montana preview, prediction and how to watch Saturday, Nov 22

The 124th Brawl of the Wild carries championship stakes Saturday as Montana State visits Montana with both teams undefeated in Big Sky play.

Montana (11-0, 7-0 Big Sky) hosts Montana State (9-2, 7-0) with the outright conference title on the line. The winner also likely secures the No. 2 seed in the FCS playoffs and home-field advantage throughout.

Montana State vs Montana Preview

This rivalry has been owned by the home team recently. Since 2019, the host has won every meeting, usually in blowout fashion. Washington-Grizzly Stadium gives Montana a massive edge Saturday.

Montana State replaced Tommy Mellott with Stanford transfer Justin Lamson at quarterback. Lamson has been excellent with 2,170 passing yards, 19 TDs and just 2 INTs. He’s also rushed for 10 scores. But how will he handle this hostile environment in his first Brawl of the Wild?

The Bobcats still lean on their ground game with Julius Davis (779 yards) and Adam Jones (647 yards, 9 TDs) forming a punishing one-two punch. They average 232.8 rushing yards per game, which will test Montana’s defense.

Key Statistical Matchup

Montana counters with explosive playmakers everywhere. Running back Eli Gillman leads the Big Sky with 1,129 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Michael Wortham has been Mr. Everything with 1,060 total yards and 11 scores, plus another 569 kick return yards. He can score from anywhere on the field.

Quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat ranks third in FCS passing with 2,968 yards and 24 TDs. When Montana gets rolling offensively, they can score in bunches. Wortham leads the receiving corps with 822 yards and seven touchdowns, creating mismatches all over the field.

Montana State’s defense has been the backbone of their success. They allow just 16.2 points per game (8th in FCS) and 308.5 total yards. Safety Caden Dowler has been on fire lately with three interceptions, including an 83-yard pick-six last week against UC Davis. He leads the team with 71 tackles.

Montana’s defense gives up a few more big plays, but makes up for it with 18 interceptions this season. Linebackers Payton Wing (3.5 sacks) and Elijawah Tolbert (62 tackles) hold things down in the middle. They’ll have to step up if they want to slow down Montana State’s run game.

Both coaches know what’s at stake. Brent Vigen has Montana State at 56-12 in five years, but hasn’t won a national title. Bobby Hauck owns 148 wins at Montana, but also seeks that elusive championship. Saturday’s winner takes a huge step toward that goal.

Montana State vs Montana Prediction

Montana State looks like the more complete team on paper. Their defense has been elite all season, while Montana has shown defensive vulnerabilities at times. The Bobcats can also point to two wins over ranked opponents (Northern Arizona and UC Davis), compared to just one for Montana (North Dakota).

But this game won’t be played on paper. It’ll be played in Missoula, where crowd noise can wreck an offense’s rhythm. Lamson hasn’t faced an environment like this yet. The decibel level when Montana State faces third down will be deafening.

There’s a reason the home team usually dominates this rivalry. When Montana gets rolling at home, they can overwhelm opponents in a hurry. Wortham and Gillman are the kind of playmakers who can flip field position in a snap. One big explosive play could turn this game on its head.

I expect Lamson to start tight in his first road Brawl. By the time he settles in, Montana will have built a lead they won’t relinquish. Look for the Grizzlies to ride their home crowd to the Big Sky title in a defensive battle that stays under the total.

• Score Prediction: Montana 24, Montana State 21

• Best Bet: Montana +2.5 (-113)

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Montana State vs Montana Line

The line has swung from Montana -1.5 to Montana State -2.5, a four-point shift that opens up some value. Getting points with the home team in this rivalry feels like a steal. The big bettors agree, with 45.56% of the handle backing Montana despite just 21.7% of tickets. A $10 bet on Montana returns $20.40.

The total has also drawn heavy action with 95.08% of the money on the under. Both defenses excel in big games, and rivalry intensity typically suppresses scoring.

Odds as of November 22, 2025, at FanDuel Sportsbook. Claim the FanDuel promo code to bet on Week 13 FCS action.

How to Watch Montana State vs Montana

• Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
• Time: 2:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM MT
• Location: Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Montana
• TV: ESPN+ and Montana Television Network stations

The 124th edition of one of college football’s fiercest rivalries promises to deliver drama with championship implications. Both fanbases will be locked in for this one, creating an electric atmosphere in Missoula. Don’t miss what should be an instant classic in the Treasure State.