In what could be a preview to this year's I-AA national championship game, the Montana Grizzlies host the Maine Black Bears in a non conference affair at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula today at 1 p.m.

Earlier this week, UM coach Bobby Hauck called the Black Bears perhaps the top team the Griz will face this year. After Thursday night's loss by No. 1 Delaware, an Atlantic 10 foe of Maine, Hauck may be on to something.

"Maine returns a lot of players from a very good team of a year ago," Hauck said in UM's press release. "They could be the best, or one of the best, teams we play all season."

Today's game is the season opener for both squads and UM has won 14 of its last 16 season opening games. Montana beat Maine 30-20 in the first game for both teams last year in Orono, Maine.

Hauck will be matching wits with longtime Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove, who is 60-66 in 12 seasons. Cosgrove's teams are 27-11 over the last three years. UM was 9-4 in Hauck's first season at the helm.

Montana will have to deal with running back Marcus Williams, who last season ran for 12 TDs, nearly 1,300 yards and was good for 5.2 yards per carry. Quarterback Ron Whitcomb's first career start was against UM last year. He went on to be the Atlantic 10 newcomer of the year and passed for 21 touchdowns against just 11 interceptions.

Ryan Waller (53 receptions for 528 yards and five TDs) and Christian Pereira (52-820-10) are Whitcomb's favorite targets.

Defensive back Brandon McGowan and linebacker Jermaine Waller -- a pair of 80-plus tackle men -- are both back to spearhead Maine's defense.

"Maine is a very physical football team," Hauck added. "You need to be prepared to stand toe-to-toe with them and slug it out. If you are not ready for that they could just run over you. They are a team that could come out of the gate fast."

Montana quarterback Craig Ochs is slated to start today, but he has been nursing a sore thumb on his throwing hand. Should Ochs not be ready fellow senior Jeff Disney is expected to take his place.

Dan Carpenter, a true freshman out of Helena High, has won the kicker spot for Montana.

Senior Justin Green mans the running back slot after an impressive 2003. Jefferson Heidleberger, Levander Segars and Jon Talmage are the wide outs.

Sophomore Chris Clark was expected to man one of the corners for the Griz defense, but he has been replaced by Tuff Harris. Lance Spencer was also expected to start for Montana, but he was not listed on the two-deep chart on the UM Web site this week.

Helena Capital's Shane MacIntyre is the starting strong side linebacker.

There are three other Big Sky teams in action today. Southern Utah is at Weber State, Idaho State is at San Diego State and Northern Arizona is at Arizona. All three games are in the evening. Montana State and Sacramento State are both off until next week.

Portland State drubbed Western State, Colo., 38-0, while Eastern Washington lost to Nichols State 37-14 on Thursday night.