NAIA-CFB Game Preview: Montana Western (MT) Bulldogs (3-1) vs. Southern Oregon Raiders (1-3)

By
NCAAFB Editor
-
0
37

Venue & Logistics

  • Stadium: Raider Stadium, Ashland, Oregon (home of Southern Oregon University).
  • Kickoff Time: 1:00 PM PDT (2:00 PM MDT).
  • Capacity: ~4,000.
  • Surface: Artificial turf.
  • Event: SOU Homecoming 2025.

Weather Forecast (Ashland, OR)

  • Conditions: Partly sunny, mild fall afternoon.
  • Temperature at kickoff: ~22°C (72°F).
  • Winds: 10–15 km/h from the northwest.
  • Chance of rain: 10%.
  • Impact: Excellent football weather — no disruptions expected.

Injury Report

  • Montana Western Bulldogs (3–1):
    • QB1 healthy, averaging ~240 passing yards/game with 9 TDs.
    • RB1 probable after minor ankle tweak.
    • Defense missing one rotational linebacker (out).
  • Southern Oregon Raiders (1–3):
  • QB1 healthy, dual‑threat with 7 total TDs this season.
  • WR1 questionable with hamstring tightness.
  • OL depth thin after losing a starter in Week 3.

Key Player Matchups

  • Montana Western QB vs. SOU Secondary:
    UMW’s QB has been sharp (9 TDs, 2 INTs). SOU’s secondary has allowed 230+ passing yards in 3 of 4 games.
  • SOU QB Mobility vs. UMW Front Seven:
    SOU’s QB has rushed for 150+ yards this season. Montana Western must contain him to avoid broken plays.
  • UMW RB vs. SOU Run Defense:
    Montana Western averages 170 rushing yards/game. SOU has allowed 180+ rushing yards in 3 of 4 games.
  • WR1 Battle:
    UMW’s WR1 (averaging 95 yards/game) vs. SOU’s CB1 — a matchup that could swing momentum.

Recent Team Form

  • Montana Western (3–1):
    • L at #11 Montana Tech (38–27).
    • W vs. MSU–Northern (52–0).
    • W at Rocky Mountain (35–21).
    • W vs. #20 Dickinson State (41–21).
    • Trend: Three straight wins, offense averaging 41 PPG in victories, defense stout against unranked foes.
  • Southern Oregon (1–3):
  • W vs. Simpson (CA) (59–0).
  • L at Western Oregon (27–7).
  • L vs. #7 Montana Tech (37–14).
  • L at Dakota State (Sept. 27).
  • Trend: Struggled against ranked and higher‑division opponents, offense averaging just 18 PPG in losses.

Series History

  • All‑Time Head‑to‑Head: Montana Western leads the recent series.
  • Recent Meetings:
    • 2024: Montana Western defeated SOU.
    • 2023: Montana Western won by double digits.
  • Trend: UMW has won 4 straight vs. SOU.

Betting Trends

  • Montana Western Bulldogs:
    • 3–1 ATS this season.
    • 3 of last 4 games have gone over due to offensive explosiveness.
  • Southern Oregon Raiders:
  • 1–3 ATS this season.
  • 3 of last 4 games have gone under due to offensive inconsistency.

Historical Betting Results

  • 2024: UMW –10, won 35–17 → Cover, Under.
  • 2023: UMW –7, won 28–14 → Cover, Under.
  • 2022: UMW –6, won 31–20 → Cover, Over.

Game Odds

Montana Western Bulldogs        – 15.5

Southern Oregon Raiders             50.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, October 3, 2025