The Southern Conference has long been known as a running league and the University of Montana's opponent in the first round of the FCS playoffs fits that bill to a "T."

The SoCon champion Wofford Terriers ran for 3,497 yards with a run-to-pass ratio of 4-to-1. They're not only good, they're experienced as the entire backfield is made up of seniors. But it still boils down to one thing for Montana: Get an early lead.

College football fans know from watching option teams over the years that they have a hard time playing catch up.

A good example was SoCon member Furman losing to Montana State last year. MSU grabbed a lead forcing Furman to pass and it simply couldn't function in that capacity. That's a common trait among option teams.

If they get a lead the Grizzlies (11-0) will take advantage of its large contingent of loyal and loud fans. Once teams are forced to throw the ball in Washington-Grizzly Stadium the din builds and the critical timing element of any passing game is thrown off. Having thrown just 88 passes all year it's probably safe to say Wofford starting quarterback Josh Collier is no Tom Brady.

UM brings some sizeable momentum into the fray as they are coming off perhaps their best all-around game of the year beating rival MSU 41-20, getting key contributions from all phases of its game and committing no turnovers.

UM isn't the only Big Sky team in the FCS playoffs as Eastern Washington, the team that came closest to beating the Grizzlies this year, will travel to Lake Charles, La. to face second-seeded McNeese State.

The Cowboys (11-0) are a run-first machine that, like Montana, enjoys a favorable home field advantage. They have six players with over 235 yards rushing and each of them averages over 5.0 yards per carry.

Quarterback Derrick Fourroux is effective if not flashy. He completes just under 60 percent of his passes and has a 16-to-5 touchdown to interception ratio. He has thrown for 1,878 yards on just 194 attempts (9.7 yards per attempt) and certainly doesn't hurt a team that relies on its defense to set it up in good field position.

Eastern had to scratch and claw its way into the field after losing back-to-back games to UM and Portland State. They won five straight FCS games to get to 8-3 and grab an at-large berth.

While they may not come into the playoffs with Montana's status, the Eagles may just be the most potent team in the Big Sky. They've scored 90 points in their last two games against two of the hottest teams n Northern Arizona and Weber State n in the league. NAU had won four of five games with its only loss coming from UM (21-16) before EWU dismantled the Lumberjacks 52-24 in Flagstaff in a game that both had to win to stay alive. WSU went to Cheney on a three-game winning streak having scored 173 points in those wins only to fall to the Eagles 38-16.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Nichols is by far the league's top quarterback and is next to impossible to stop once he gets rolling. Nichols threw for 30 touchdowns and just six interceptions compiling a quarterback rating of 161.4. Aaron Boyce is his No. 1 target hauling in 75 passes for 1,230 yards and nine TDs. The Eagles can run the ball adequately with Dale Morris gaining 731 yards on 160 carries.

Predictions: UM will put the ball in the hands of Lex Hilliard and the sure-handed back will keep it away from Wofford's electric running game. Once UM gets ahead by 10 points the game is over as UM's defense is too good for a team that relies on the run to come back on. Montana 27, Wofford 10

Eastern Washington will record the biggest upset of the first round by knocking off McNeese State. The underrated Eagles will score at will behind Nichols' golden arm as their defense holds the Cowboys in check. Eastern Washington 42, McNeese State 31.