Big Sky Power Rankings 10-8

[JALMOND]

Once again, here we go with this week's Big Sky power rankings. Last week's results were just the beginning for the biggest conference game before the Montana/Montana State game. We will finally see who is the top team in the conference now (subject to change later, of course). But with the results, here are the power rankings for this week. This week (last week). As usual, all are my opinion only and should be able to have some good discussion. Here they are, have at them.

1. Montana State (1)---Once again the Bobcats had to come back in the fourth quarter to catch UC-Davis for the win on the road. This is getting to be something they are used to now. Whether they can build on that or not this weekend remains to be seen, but they have Eastern Washington at home this weekend.

2. Eastern Washington (2)---The Eagles warmed up to the challenge this weekend, on the road at Montana State, by giving North Dakota a very rude Big Sky welcome at the Inferno. They appear to be ready and have had success before against Montana State, but with the game on the road, there are no guarantees.

3. Cal Poly (3)---Everyone will be paying attention to Montana State and Eastern Washington, the Mustangs seem to be flying under the radar. They disposed of Weber State on the road last Friday to stay undefeated so far. This weekend they put that on the line, staying home to face Northern Colorado.

4. Northern Arizona (4)---With all the hype surrounding the top of the conference, the Lumberjacks were taking their time, having the weekend off. The question for them, they had a good rhythm going and can they continue that after the break? They head to North Dakota this weekend.

5. Montana (7)---The Grizzlies got a good shot in the arm last weekend, getting a good road win at Northern Colorado. Is this the jump start they have been waiting for and can they continue it through the season? This weekend they entertain Southern Utah in their cozy den.

6. North Dakota (5)---A minor casualty in the quest for the top of the conference was the Dakotans, who were steamrolled by Eastern Washington on the road last week. Their dreams of being among the conference elite took a big hit. This week, however, they get another chance as they welcome Northern Arizona.

7. Sacramento State (8)---In a rather surprising game, the Hornets last week went into Southern Utah last weekend and emerged victorious. The Hornets have looked great on the road and rather ordinary at home. This weekend, they stay home and play Weber State.

8. Southern Utah (6)---Welcome, Thunderbirds, to the Big Sky where the road to respectability sometimes comes with the occasional pothole as they found out last weekend, somehow losing at home to Sacramento State. The road does not get any better as now they head out to Montana for a conference tilt.

9. UC-Davis (9)---Now it looks like the Aggies have found a way to score, Montana State found ways to score themselves on that strong Aggie defense. Unable to get stops, the Aggies had to finally succumb to the Bobcats. This weekend, a chance to get a road win as they head out to Idaho State.

10. Portland State (10)---And now introducing the newest offensive squad in the conference, the Vikings scored virtually at will over Idaho State. Whether they can continue their explosive offensive ways will have to wait as the Vikings have an off week this week.

11. Northern Colorado (11)---A good tussle for the Bears in the first half gradually gave way to an assault at the hands of the Montana team. Still, there is improvement here but it is time for some wins. This weekend, they have to go on the road to Cal Poly.

12. Weber State (13)---Still winless, the Wildcats did give Cal Poly a test for awhile on Friday before losing the game late. Hard to imagine the Wildcats keeping the o-fer for the whole season. This weekend is another chance for a win (maybe) as they head to Sacramento State.

13. Idaho State (12)---The Bengals showed last weekend what would happen if the only thing they do well, throwing the ball, is taken away from them, and it was not pretty at Portland State. The Bengals could not get anything positive on offense and the defense could not stop anyone. Things must change and this weekend, they are at home against UC-Davis.

RECAP: 1-2 fairly even, 3-4 just behind them, 5-8 bunched together, 9-10 a bit further behind, 11-13 bringing up the rear.

[coover]

Once again, here we go with this week's Big Sky power rankings. Last week's results were just the beginning for the biggest conference game before the Montana/Montana State game. We will finally see who is the top team in the conference now (subject to change later, of course). But with the results, here are the power rankings for this week. This week (last week). As usual, all are my opinion only and should be able to have some good discussion. Here they are, have at them.

1. Montana State (1)---Once again the Bobcats had to come back in the fourth quarter to catch UC-Davis for the win on the road. This is getting to be something they are used to now. Whether they can build on that or not this weekend remains to be seen, but they have Eastern Washington at home this weekend.

2. Eastern Washington (2)---The Eagles warmed up to the challenge this weekend, on the road at Montana State, by giving North Dakota a very rude Big Sky welcome at the Inferno. They appear to be ready and have had success before against Montana State, but with the game on the road, there are no guarantees.

3. Cal Poly (3)---Everyone will be paying attention to Montana State and Eastern Washington, the Mustangs seem to be flying under the radar. They disposed of Weber State on the road last Friday to stay undefeated so far. This weekend they put that on the line, staying home to face Northern Colorado.

4. Northern Arizona (4)---With all the hype surrounding the top of the conference, the Lumberjacks were taking their time, having the weekend off. The question for them, they had a good rhythm going and can they continue that after the break? They head to North Dakota this weekend.

5. Montana (7)---The Grizzlies got a good shot in the arm last weekend, getting a good road win at Northern Colorado. Is this the jump start they have been waiting for and can they continue it through the season? This weekend they entertain Southern Utah in their cozy den.

6. North Dakota (5)---A minor casualty in the quest for the top of the conference was the Dakotans, who were steamrolled by Eastern Washington on the road last week. Their dreams of being among the conference elite took a big hit. This week, however, they get another chance as they welcome Northern Arizona.

7. Sacramento State (8)---In a rather surprising game, the Hornets last week went into Southern Utah last weekend and emerged victorious. The Hornets have looked great on the road and rather ordinary at home. This weekend, they stay home and play Weber State.

8. Southern Utah (6)---Welcome, Thunderbirds, to the Big Sky where the road to respectability sometimes comes with the occasional pothole as they found out last weekend, somehow losing at home to Sacramento State. The road does not get any better as now they head out to Montana for a conference tilt.

9. UC-Davis (9)---Now it looks like the Aggies have found a way to score, Montana State found ways to score themselves on that strong Aggie defense. Unable to get stops, the Aggies had to finally succumb to the Bobcats. This weekend, a chance to get a road win as they head out to Idaho State.

10. Portland State (10)---And now introducing the newest offensive squad in the conference, the Vikings scored virtually at will over Idaho State. Whether they can continue their explosive offensive ways will have to wait as the Vikings have an off week this week.

11. Northern Colorado (11)---A good tussle for the Bears in the first half gradually gave way to an assault at the hands of the Montana team. Still, there is improvement here but it is time for some wins. This weekend, they have to go on the road to Cal Poly.

12. Weber State (13)---Still winless, the Wildcats did give Cal Poly a test for awhile on Friday before losing the game late. Hard to imagine the Wildcats keeping the o-fer for the whole season. This weekend is another chance for a win (maybe) as they head to Sacramento State.

13. Idaho State (12)---The Bengals showed last weekend what would happen if the only thing they do well, throwing the ball, is taken away from them, and it was not pretty at Portland State. The Bengals could not get anything positive on offense and the defense could not stop anyone. Things must change and this weekend, they are at home against UC-Davis.n e

RECAP: 1-2 fairly even, 3-4 just behind them, 5-8 bunched together, 9-10 a bit further behind, 11-13 bringing up the rear.
An excellent job (again) as always. Next week I expect Eastern Washington to jump to the top with Cal Poly 2nd.

Eastern Washington beats Montana State easily. There will be a 2 TD difference.

Cal Poly has fun at home with Northern Colorado in a fairly high scoring game. Poly wins by at least 3 TDs.

North Dakota is mad about it's last 2 defeats and will beat Northern Arizona by 10.

Montana will find Brad Sorensen difficult, but will beat Southern Utah by 10.

Sacramento State will keep the out of control but talented Weber State winless and will beat them by 6.

UC Davis will love it in Idaho State and will win by 17.

Portland State will beat Bye by an insurmountable amount. They can literally choose the score. About the only teams that may not beat Bye this year in the Big Sky is Weber State and/or Idaho State.

[wapiti]

1. Eastern Washington---EWU is rolling and should earn a seed for the playoffs.

2. Montana State --- Cardiac Cat's. Turnover's have plagued the Cat's this year, especially the past two games. If they do not fix this issue they will fall in the rankings.

3. Cal Poly ---CP also has a fair chance of earning a seed for the playoffs and a just a smidgen behind MSU in my rankings.

4. Northern Arizona --- A nice surprise with NAU doing well this year. A favorable rest of schedule will probably result in dancing this winter for NAU.

5. Montana ---UM did well against UNC, but so has everyone else against UNC. When was the last time UM placed 7th in BSC standings? They still have 5 games left to move up that list and I think they will move up.

6. North Dakota ---ND was looking good this year. Now they have two L's in a row and must win out to make the playoff's. Not looking good with their schedule.

7. Sacramento State ---Sac state has been playing tough this year, except for one game. They still have room for 2 L's and make the 7 win playoff mark.

8. Southern Utah ---SUU cannot make the 7 win mark this year. With the preseason accolades some of their players received I thought SUU would have made more noise in conference play this year then they have. But with 2 FBS's and a Div 2 on the schedule they scheduled themselves out of the playoffs.

9. UC-Davis ---Close, but no W. That has been for 3 games for UCD this year. Now they too cannot make the 7 win mark.

10. Portland State ---PSU took ISU to the woodshed. The frustration of 4 L's in a row was taken out on ISU. With very little chance of playoffs this year PSU is building for next year.

11. Weber State ---I see BBQ earning 2 W's this year, but not till the last 2 games of the year. They are definitely in a rebuilding process.

12. No 12'th place team this week.

T13. Northern Colorado---They have much work to do.

T13. Idaho State ---I suppose I was expecting too much from the Kramer lead Bengals. He still has another year or two to get the Bengals better.

[Walkon79]

Nice job Jalmond, Again.

It's gonna be ROCKIN in the Rockies this weekend in Bozeman!!!

[wapiti]

I do not intend smack. But what happened to BBQ, UNC, and ISU?
So why is Weber, Northern Colorado, and Idaho State so terrible this year?

Weber had the HC changeover issue which also probably resulted in some assistant and position coah changes too.
I think BBQ will rebuild, but it may take a year or two or three.

UNC, just two years ago UNC had become a middle of the pack BSC team. What happened?

Idaho State. ISU has been terrible for many years now. They used to be a middle of the BSC team and not such a push over?
Was it a previous HC? Is it recuriting? Is it the AD or the president of the University? or just not enough interest in Pocatello?