JALMOND
October 20th, 2024, 11:27 PM
AS October closes, the playoffs are just around the corner and the Big Sky picture is becoming clear. The top team is really good, and the second team is also good in their own right. As you get further down, however, things start to turn rather soggy. Some teams may get to the playoffs, most won't, so there is a lot of work to be done for those teams. This week, half the conference teams are off so they have a couple weeks to get it right. Here are my power rankings for this week (last week in parenthesis). Not much movement, in my opinion.
1. Montana State (1)---Last week won at Portland State 44-14, this week bye---A couple late scores by their opponent made the score seem closer than the game was for the Bobcats, but they continue to roll on whoever is put in front of them. Things may change in the next few weeks, but heading into the bye week, they look like the class of the conference.
2. UC Davis (2)---Last week won at Eastern Washington 48-38, this week bye---After a season opening loss to their big brothers of the ACC, the Aggies have done nothing but get wins and look strong. They head into the bye week full of confidence and hoping for a major showdown in four weeks with the other top team.
3. Idaho (3)---Last week beat Cal Poly at home 34-29, this week Eastern Washington at home---The Vandals did not get off to a good start last week in playing a perennial cellar dweller of the conference at home, but in the end they did what they had to and emerged victorious. They have one more game, a tough test, before their bye week.
4. Montana (4)---Last week, bye, this week at Northern Colorado---The Grizzlies had their bye week this past weekend, enjoying the results from around the conference. They still have work to do as their usually solid defense has looked suspect lately. Two weeks should be enough to get it right, as well as playing one of the lower teams.
5. Northern Arizona (5)---Last week beat Idaho State 30-26 at home, this week bye---The Lumberjacks had to work extra hard to secure a home win against one of the more feisty teams in the conference last week, but they did get the job done. Maybe the surprise team of the conference so far, they head to the bye week with confidence.
6. Sacramento State (7)---Last week beat Weber State at home 51-48 (2OT), this week at Idaho State---It took double overtime to get it done, bue the Hornets secured their first conference win of the season last week, becoming the last conference team to do so. Having taking their bye week already, they hit the road at a tough place to play.
7. Weber State (6)---Last week lost at Sacramento State 51-48 (2OT), this week bye---A couple of perplexing losses by the Wildcats have their once promising season now teetering on the brink. They do have the chance to save it, but they need to start winning again. They have probably the most to do on this bye week.
8. Eastern Washington (9)---Last week lost to UC Davis at home 48-38, this week at Idaho---The Eagles gave up a big quarter to one of the conference best teams and could not recover after that, taking a tough loss after a good road win the week before. No bye week for them as they already had it earlier, but a road test against their rival.
9. Portland State (8)---Last week lost to Montana State at home 44-14, this week bye---After playing some good football the last two weeks, the Vikings brought in the top dog in the conference and never showed up until the last quarter. There's still some football to be played on their tough docket so they better be ready after the bye week.
10. Idaho State (10)---Last week lost at Northern Arizona at home 30-26, this week Sacramento State at home---The Bengals have been running both hot and cold all season. Coming off a tough home loss to one of their equals, they give the conference darling all they can handle on the road. They have one more home game before their bye.
11. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week bye, this week Montana at home---After their surprising strong road win to weeks ago, the Bears took their week off to possibly continue surprising conference teams. They get one of the heavyweights this week, and may be catching them at the right time. Stranger things have happened.
12. Cal Poly (12)---Last week lost at Idaho 34-29, this week bye---The Mustangs have been looking pretty good in recent weeks, aside from their cellar battle two weeks ago. They went on the road and gave one of the bigwigs all they could handle last week. They approach their bye week with a bit of confidence to throw some scares.
RECAP: 1, then 2, then 3-5, with 6-7 just behind, then 8-12 in a bunch at the back.
1. Montana State (1)---Last week won at Portland State 44-14, this week bye---A couple late scores by their opponent made the score seem closer than the game was for the Bobcats, but they continue to roll on whoever is put in front of them. Things may change in the next few weeks, but heading into the bye week, they look like the class of the conference.
2. UC Davis (2)---Last week won at Eastern Washington 48-38, this week bye---After a season opening loss to their big brothers of the ACC, the Aggies have done nothing but get wins and look strong. They head into the bye week full of confidence and hoping for a major showdown in four weeks with the other top team.
3. Idaho (3)---Last week beat Cal Poly at home 34-29, this week Eastern Washington at home---The Vandals did not get off to a good start last week in playing a perennial cellar dweller of the conference at home, but in the end they did what they had to and emerged victorious. They have one more game, a tough test, before their bye week.
4. Montana (4)---Last week, bye, this week at Northern Colorado---The Grizzlies had their bye week this past weekend, enjoying the results from around the conference. They still have work to do as their usually solid defense has looked suspect lately. Two weeks should be enough to get it right, as well as playing one of the lower teams.
5. Northern Arizona (5)---Last week beat Idaho State 30-26 at home, this week bye---The Lumberjacks had to work extra hard to secure a home win against one of the more feisty teams in the conference last week, but they did get the job done. Maybe the surprise team of the conference so far, they head to the bye week with confidence.
6. Sacramento State (7)---Last week beat Weber State at home 51-48 (2OT), this week at Idaho State---It took double overtime to get it done, bue the Hornets secured their first conference win of the season last week, becoming the last conference team to do so. Having taking their bye week already, they hit the road at a tough place to play.
7. Weber State (6)---Last week lost at Sacramento State 51-48 (2OT), this week bye---A couple of perplexing losses by the Wildcats have their once promising season now teetering on the brink. They do have the chance to save it, but they need to start winning again. They have probably the most to do on this bye week.
8. Eastern Washington (9)---Last week lost to UC Davis at home 48-38, this week at Idaho---The Eagles gave up a big quarter to one of the conference best teams and could not recover after that, taking a tough loss after a good road win the week before. No bye week for them as they already had it earlier, but a road test against their rival.
9. Portland State (8)---Last week lost to Montana State at home 44-14, this week bye---After playing some good football the last two weeks, the Vikings brought in the top dog in the conference and never showed up until the last quarter. There's still some football to be played on their tough docket so they better be ready after the bye week.
10. Idaho State (10)---Last week lost at Northern Arizona at home 30-26, this week Sacramento State at home---The Bengals have been running both hot and cold all season. Coming off a tough home loss to one of their equals, they give the conference darling all they can handle on the road. They have one more home game before their bye.
11. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week bye, this week Montana at home---After their surprising strong road win to weeks ago, the Bears took their week off to possibly continue surprising conference teams. They get one of the heavyweights this week, and may be catching them at the right time. Stranger things have happened.
12. Cal Poly (12)---Last week lost at Idaho 34-29, this week bye---The Mustangs have been looking pretty good in recent weeks, aside from their cellar battle two weeks ago. They went on the road and gave one of the bigwigs all they could handle last week. They approach their bye week with a bit of confidence to throw some scares.
RECAP: 1, then 2, then 3-5, with 6-7 just behind, then 8-12 in a bunch at the back.