Montana faces Wisconsin in March Madness first round. Is Montana a tougher team and state?

Thursday morning, the Montana Grizzlies will face the Wisconsin Badgers in an NCAA first round tournament game in Denver, Colorado.  The Griz are the champions of the Big Sky Conference and their automatic ticket to the big dance comes as a #14 seed in the West Region.  I'm a bit disappointed at the seeding as Montana has been on an absolute tear over the last half of conference play and into the Big Sky Tournament running a 10-game winning streak in the process, but it is what it is.  Wisconsin is a Big 10 team and are not going to be easy.  But I believe that Montana has a team that truly wants to be there and will rise to the challenge.  Players like Kai Johnson, Joe Pridgen, Malik Moore and Austin Patterson transferred to Montana this year for one common reason--to win, and when you add them to the heart and soul of the team, players like Brandon Whitney and Money Williams, well, when they get going, they are hard to stop.

I am taking Montana over Wisconsin.  Partly because of the team.  Partly because, well, I believe Montana is just a tougher state altogether.  Let's do some other comparisons, shall we?

MASCOTS - A GRIZZLY VS. A BADGER

While badgers are notoriously tough and ill-mannered, they are no match for a mighty grizzly bear.  Plus, who ever heard of buying "badger spray"?  ADVANTAGE - MONTANA.

HIT TV SHOWS - HAPPY DAYS VS. YELLOWSTONE

Happy Days, set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tells the story of a suburban All-American family living in the carefree 1950s era of drive-ins and sock hops.  Yellowstone, set near Bozeman, Montana, tells the story of a dysfunctional ranching family dealing with dirty politicians, murder and bloodlust in present day America.  ADVANTAGE - MONTANA.  

CHIEF AGRIGULTURAL EXPORT - BEEF VS. CHEESE

Now while we love a good slice of cheddar cheese as well as the next person, can you really compare it to a juicy t bone?  ADVANTAGE - MONTANA.

While none of this will have anything whatsoever to do with the game's outcome, we do realize that Montana is a big underdog, but that's part of what makes it so exciting.  Let's hope for a good game and GO GRIZ!