JALMOND
November 11th, 2019, 09:04 PM
Happy Veterans Day to all our veterans out there and thank you for your service. Veterans Day on the calendar usually means we are getting into the thick of things in the conference races and the Big Sky is no exception. Two weeks left and the title has come down to basically three teams. Any one of those teams feels like they have the inside track and any one of those teams could get it. So where does that put the power rankings this week. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Here we go.
1. Weber State (1)---Last week beat North Dakota at home 30-27, this week at Montana---The Wildcats avoided a slip up last week in getting a good home win. They now can focus on the task at hand in a game that will do a lot to determine the conference champion.
2. Sacramento State (2)---Last week won at Northern Arizona 38-34, this week at Idaho---The Hornets returned to their winning ways with an impressive recovery up in the thin air of Northern Arizona. Trying to see it to the end, another tough road game awaits them.
3. Montana (3)---Last week beat Idaho at home 42-17, this week Weber State at home---Once again, a slow start for the Grizzlies but a fast finish and a good recovery puts them in the driver's seat, hosting one of the conference leaders this week.
4. Montana State (4)---Last week won at Northern Colorado 45-15, this week at UC Davis---All eyes on the top 3 in the conference, but the Bobcats are holding steady, and the conference should get four teams in, but a tough game awaits this weekend on the road.
5. Eastern Washington (5)---Last week won at Idaho State 48-5, this week at Cal Poly---Did the Eagles finally find their defense? An impressive showing on both sides of the ball last weekend, but road games have been tough, regardless of the opponent.
6. UC Davis (7)---Last week won at Portland State 45-28, this weekend Montana State at home---The Aggies broke through and got a good conference win last week. Their backs against the wall and still harboring playoff hopes, they have a big game this weekend.
7. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week lost to Sacramento State at home 38-34, this week at Southern Utah---A tough loss and a big blow for the Lumberjacks last week now means no playoffs. How will they start playing for pride against a lesser opponent this weekend.
8. Portland State (8)---Last week lost to UC Davis at home 45-28, this week bye---A sad end to what was supposed to be a promising season for the Vikings as they took a tough home loss. They now get two weeks to prepare for the Dam Cup.
9. Idaho (9)---Last week lost at Montana 42-17, this week Sacramento State at home---The game started impressive and strong for the Vandals but like most teams, they could not sustain it. They get the conference darlings at home this week to get a good win.
10. Northern Colorado (10)---Last week lost to Montana State at home 45-14, this week at North Dakota---A tough way to fall to one of the conference heavies for the Bears. They will get another chance to play spoiler on the road against the conference castoffs.
11. Southern Utah (11)---Last week bye, this week Northern Arizona at home---The Thunderbirds took two weeks to prepare for another rival, Northern Arizona at home this weekend. They are only playing for pride but they would love to get a win this week.
12. Cal Poly (13)---Last week bye, this week Eastern Washington at home---The Mustangs took last week off, giving them a extra week to prepare for the high flying (somewhat) Eagles team. They would love to get an impressive win to salvage the season.
13. Idaho State (12)---Last week lost to Eastern Washington at home 48-5, this week at Brigham Young (FBS Independent)---For as bad as the Bengals have been on the road, they used to be able to offset that with good home games. Not any more and now they have to go up a level and back on the road.
RECAP: 1-3, 4 keeping up, 5-7 bunched together, 8-9 fading, 10-13 behind.
1. Weber State (1)---Last week beat North Dakota at home 30-27, this week at Montana---The Wildcats avoided a slip up last week in getting a good home win. They now can focus on the task at hand in a game that will do a lot to determine the conference champion.
2. Sacramento State (2)---Last week won at Northern Arizona 38-34, this week at Idaho---The Hornets returned to their winning ways with an impressive recovery up in the thin air of Northern Arizona. Trying to see it to the end, another tough road game awaits them.
3. Montana (3)---Last week beat Idaho at home 42-17, this week Weber State at home---Once again, a slow start for the Grizzlies but a fast finish and a good recovery puts them in the driver's seat, hosting one of the conference leaders this week.
4. Montana State (4)---Last week won at Northern Colorado 45-15, this week at UC Davis---All eyes on the top 3 in the conference, but the Bobcats are holding steady, and the conference should get four teams in, but a tough game awaits this weekend on the road.
5. Eastern Washington (5)---Last week won at Idaho State 48-5, this week at Cal Poly---Did the Eagles finally find their defense? An impressive showing on both sides of the ball last weekend, but road games have been tough, regardless of the opponent.
6. UC Davis (7)---Last week won at Portland State 45-28, this weekend Montana State at home---The Aggies broke through and got a good conference win last week. Their backs against the wall and still harboring playoff hopes, they have a big game this weekend.
7. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week lost to Sacramento State at home 38-34, this week at Southern Utah---A tough loss and a big blow for the Lumberjacks last week now means no playoffs. How will they start playing for pride against a lesser opponent this weekend.
8. Portland State (8)---Last week lost to UC Davis at home 45-28, this week bye---A sad end to what was supposed to be a promising season for the Vikings as they took a tough home loss. They now get two weeks to prepare for the Dam Cup.
9. Idaho (9)---Last week lost at Montana 42-17, this week Sacramento State at home---The game started impressive and strong for the Vandals but like most teams, they could not sustain it. They get the conference darlings at home this week to get a good win.
10. Northern Colorado (10)---Last week lost to Montana State at home 45-14, this week at North Dakota---A tough way to fall to one of the conference heavies for the Bears. They will get another chance to play spoiler on the road against the conference castoffs.
11. Southern Utah (11)---Last week bye, this week Northern Arizona at home---The Thunderbirds took two weeks to prepare for another rival, Northern Arizona at home this weekend. They are only playing for pride but they would love to get a win this week.
12. Cal Poly (13)---Last week bye, this week Eastern Washington at home---The Mustangs took last week off, giving them a extra week to prepare for the high flying (somewhat) Eagles team. They would love to get an impressive win to salvage the season.
13. Idaho State (12)---Last week lost to Eastern Washington at home 48-5, this week at Brigham Young (FBS Independent)---For as bad as the Bengals have been on the road, they used to be able to offset that with good home games. Not any more and now they have to go up a level and back on the road.
RECAP: 1-3, 4 keeping up, 5-7 bunched together, 8-9 fading, 10-13 behind.