JALMOND
October 16th, 2013, 01:05 AM
I took an extra day off to try to figure out what happened to my Portland State team at Southern Utah last week. Some separation within the conference games as we approach the halfway point in the season. The contenders and pretenders are slowly becoming more apparent. Still, a lot of football left to be played so it is not truly set in stone. Here at this week's power rankings for the Big Sky Conference (last week's rankings in parenthesis). All are just my opinion only.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---A slight scare thrown at the Eagles last weekend at North Dakota, but they eventually left with a win. This weekend they bring in Southern Utah to their red field. This should be an easy game, but Southern Utah did catch the Eagles napping last season.
2. Montana (2)---The Grizzlies headed down the road to UC-Davis and came back with a resounding victory, showing that, especially after their loss at Northern Arizona, they can dominate on the road. They won't need that this weekend as they stay home to host Cal Poly.
3. Montana State (3)---The Bobcats took last weekend off with a chance to get as healthy as they could before the meat of the conference season starts. This weekend they head out to Weber State for a conference tilt. No road conference games are easy.
4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Lumberjacks were able to get a close win last week at Sacramento State, resurrecting their season and staying afloat. They will need to find someone they can get a decent win against. Maybe this weekend as they get Idaho State at home.
5. Cal Poly (5)---The Mustangs were able to put their odd home loss to Yale with a sound victory over Weber State last weekend. They needed something to gain momentum for the rest of the season, especially as they go on the road this weekend at Montana.
6. Sacramento State (7)---The Hornets gave Northern Arizona a great scare last weekend, finally coming up short at the end. They still think they may be able to make more noise in the conference but they need to win. This weekend finds them at North Dakota.
7. Southern Utah (10)---The Thunderbirds defense shut down a strong Portland State offense and took advantage of turnovers to save the offense and get a decent win last weekend. They will need more offensive firepower this weekend as they head to Eastern Washington.
8. Portland State (6)---The Vikings potent offense could not get anything positive going against Southern Utah last weekend, continually shooting themselves in the proverbial foot. They are taking this weekend off to figure out how to play without the turnovers and penalties.
9. North Dakota (9)---The former Sioux stayed within shouting distance of Eastern Washington for most of the game last weekend, finally losing it in the fourth quarter. No heavyweights left on the schedule, they have a good chance to make a decent showing. This weekend they bring in Sacramento State.
10. UC-Davis (8)---The Aggies had their fanbase thinking reloading instead of rebuilding this season until they ran into a stout Montana team last weekend. Still, the season is shaping up to be a good one considering what it looked like at the start. This weekend they go to struggling Northern Colorado.
11. Idaho State (13)---The Bengals found someone at the FCS level that they can beat up on last weekend as they gave Northern Colorado a rude welcome to the Bengals home dome. Is there a chance they can sustain it? This weekend they face hot and cold Northern Arizona on the road.
12. Weber State (12)---The Wildcats put up a good fight at Cal Poly last weekend but still could not find their victory. Definitely a rebuilding year for the Wildcats. This weekend they bring in Montana State to their home turf. Can they get a decent surprise?
13. Northern Colorado (11)---The Bears once promising season has officially gone down the tubes with a loss last week at Idaho State. Now they just are playing out the string and get ready for next year. There is still chances for wins, but they are becoming rather few. This weekend they face UC-Davis at home.
RECAP: 1-3 in the lead, 4-5 running behind, 6-10 a ways back, 11-13 in the rear.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---A slight scare thrown at the Eagles last weekend at North Dakota, but they eventually left with a win. This weekend they bring in Southern Utah to their red field. This should be an easy game, but Southern Utah did catch the Eagles napping last season.
2. Montana (2)---The Grizzlies headed down the road to UC-Davis and came back with a resounding victory, showing that, especially after their loss at Northern Arizona, they can dominate on the road. They won't need that this weekend as they stay home to host Cal Poly.
3. Montana State (3)---The Bobcats took last weekend off with a chance to get as healthy as they could before the meat of the conference season starts. This weekend they head out to Weber State for a conference tilt. No road conference games are easy.
4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Lumberjacks were able to get a close win last week at Sacramento State, resurrecting their season and staying afloat. They will need to find someone they can get a decent win against. Maybe this weekend as they get Idaho State at home.
5. Cal Poly (5)---The Mustangs were able to put their odd home loss to Yale with a sound victory over Weber State last weekend. They needed something to gain momentum for the rest of the season, especially as they go on the road this weekend at Montana.
6. Sacramento State (7)---The Hornets gave Northern Arizona a great scare last weekend, finally coming up short at the end. They still think they may be able to make more noise in the conference but they need to win. This weekend finds them at North Dakota.
7. Southern Utah (10)---The Thunderbirds defense shut down a strong Portland State offense and took advantage of turnovers to save the offense and get a decent win last weekend. They will need more offensive firepower this weekend as they head to Eastern Washington.
8. Portland State (6)---The Vikings potent offense could not get anything positive going against Southern Utah last weekend, continually shooting themselves in the proverbial foot. They are taking this weekend off to figure out how to play without the turnovers and penalties.
9. North Dakota (9)---The former Sioux stayed within shouting distance of Eastern Washington for most of the game last weekend, finally losing it in the fourth quarter. No heavyweights left on the schedule, they have a good chance to make a decent showing. This weekend they bring in Sacramento State.
10. UC-Davis (8)---The Aggies had their fanbase thinking reloading instead of rebuilding this season until they ran into a stout Montana team last weekend. Still, the season is shaping up to be a good one considering what it looked like at the start. This weekend they go to struggling Northern Colorado.
11. Idaho State (13)---The Bengals found someone at the FCS level that they can beat up on last weekend as they gave Northern Colorado a rude welcome to the Bengals home dome. Is there a chance they can sustain it? This weekend they face hot and cold Northern Arizona on the road.
12. Weber State (12)---The Wildcats put up a good fight at Cal Poly last weekend but still could not find their victory. Definitely a rebuilding year for the Wildcats. This weekend they bring in Montana State to their home turf. Can they get a decent surprise?
13. Northern Colorado (11)---The Bears once promising season has officially gone down the tubes with a loss last week at Idaho State. Now they just are playing out the string and get ready for next year. There is still chances for wins, but they are becoming rather few. This weekend they face UC-Davis at home.
RECAP: 1-3 in the lead, 4-5 running behind, 6-10 a ways back, 11-13 in the rear.