JALMOND
October 27th, 2024, 11:33 PM
Halloween week in the conference and while things look calm at the top, one dives into the depths of the conference and it is a real spooky mess where weird things seem to happen every week. Three games in the conference last week and one would have thought that not much would happen, but once again a surprise erupted from the depths that had serious consequences for a couple teams. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. As we head into November where things will eventually become clear.
1. Montana State (1)---Last week bye, this week at Eastern Washington---The Bobcats headed into the bye week on a major roll as they have been steamrolling everyone that comes in front of them. A return to the road this week awaits them, and another trip to the northwest. No trouble, right?
2. UC Davis (2)---Last week bye, this week Northern Colorado at home---Aside from an opening week loss to the FCS the Aggies have been doing what they can to get wins and that has not failed them yet. Fresh off their bye week, they will stay home and entertain one of the cellar dwellers in the conference.
3. Idaho (3)---Last week beat Eastern Washington at home 38-28, this week bye---The Vandals dodged an upset at home last week by keeping their opponent at arms length, but while the game was really never in doubt, there were some anxious moments. Finally the bye week for them to get healthy and ready.
4. Montana (4)---Last week won at Northern Colorado 24-0, this week at Cal Poly---A great way to get both sides back in sync for the Grizzlies' defense to finally awake and earn a shutout, even if it was against one of the perennial cellar dwellers. They stay on the road this week against another bottom feeder.
5. Northern Arizona (5)---Last week bye , this week Weber State at home---After a closer than expected home win for the Lumberjacks, they've had two weeks to refocus in this territory where no one really expected them to be. They play this week at home, against a team that no one thought would be down.
6. Sacramento State (6)---Last week lost at Idaho State 30-27 (OT), this week Portland State at home---The Hornets have been a tough team to figure. They should be somewhat better, but inconsistency has plagued them and they only have one conference win. They will try for two with a home game this weekend.
7. Weber State (7)---Last week bye, this week at Northern Arizona---The Wildcats are also a hard bunch to figure out. They at least had an off week to regroup and try to figure out what is going on as the season is slipping by. They get to tangle with the conference darling who is where they should be now.
8. Idaho State (10)---Last week beat Sacramento State at home 30-27 (OT) this week bye---Another tough team to figure out. The Bengals have shown they can play with anyone, win or lose, and their game have been close. They got a good home win last week to make them feel pretty good heading into the off week.
9. Eastern Washington (8)---Last week lost at Idaho 38-28, this week Montana State at home---The Eagles had their chances at one of their rivals last week but just could not get over the hill. With no chance to rest on what might have been, they come home this week to face the toughest team in the conference.
10. Portland State (9)---Last week bye this week at Sacramento State---The Vikings were playing some good football until the game before their off week showed them just how far from the top they really are. They are back at it this weekend, heading south to face a team that is on the decline. May be a good time to play.
11. Cal Poly (12)---Last week bye, this week Montana at home---The Mustangs have been playing some good football, even if they haven't been able to string some wins. Good things may be coming in the future, but these times are tough right now. Fresh from their off week, they bring in a heavyweight.
12. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week lost to Montana at home 24-0, this week at UC Davis---The Bears were looking decent up until their bye week, then they could not wake up their offense last week and took a tough home loss. Things don't get much better this week, on the road against one of the top teams.
RECAP: 1, then 2, then 3-5 together, then 6-12 in a mess behind.
1. Montana State (1)---Last week bye, this week at Eastern Washington---The Bobcats headed into the bye week on a major roll as they have been steamrolling everyone that comes in front of them. A return to the road this week awaits them, and another trip to the northwest. No trouble, right?
2. UC Davis (2)---Last week bye, this week Northern Colorado at home---Aside from an opening week loss to the FCS the Aggies have been doing what they can to get wins and that has not failed them yet. Fresh off their bye week, they will stay home and entertain one of the cellar dwellers in the conference.
3. Idaho (3)---Last week beat Eastern Washington at home 38-28, this week bye---The Vandals dodged an upset at home last week by keeping their opponent at arms length, but while the game was really never in doubt, there were some anxious moments. Finally the bye week for them to get healthy and ready.
4. Montana (4)---Last week won at Northern Colorado 24-0, this week at Cal Poly---A great way to get both sides back in sync for the Grizzlies' defense to finally awake and earn a shutout, even if it was against one of the perennial cellar dwellers. They stay on the road this week against another bottom feeder.
5. Northern Arizona (5)---Last week bye , this week Weber State at home---After a closer than expected home win for the Lumberjacks, they've had two weeks to refocus in this territory where no one really expected them to be. They play this week at home, against a team that no one thought would be down.
6. Sacramento State (6)---Last week lost at Idaho State 30-27 (OT), this week Portland State at home---The Hornets have been a tough team to figure. They should be somewhat better, but inconsistency has plagued them and they only have one conference win. They will try for two with a home game this weekend.
7. Weber State (7)---Last week bye, this week at Northern Arizona---The Wildcats are also a hard bunch to figure out. They at least had an off week to regroup and try to figure out what is going on as the season is slipping by. They get to tangle with the conference darling who is where they should be now.
8. Idaho State (10)---Last week beat Sacramento State at home 30-27 (OT) this week bye---Another tough team to figure out. The Bengals have shown they can play with anyone, win or lose, and their game have been close. They got a good home win last week to make them feel pretty good heading into the off week.
9. Eastern Washington (8)---Last week lost at Idaho 38-28, this week Montana State at home---The Eagles had their chances at one of their rivals last week but just could not get over the hill. With no chance to rest on what might have been, they come home this week to face the toughest team in the conference.
10. Portland State (9)---Last week bye this week at Sacramento State---The Vikings were playing some good football until the game before their off week showed them just how far from the top they really are. They are back at it this weekend, heading south to face a team that is on the decline. May be a good time to play.
11. Cal Poly (12)---Last week bye, this week Montana at home---The Mustangs have been playing some good football, even if they haven't been able to string some wins. Good things may be coming in the future, but these times are tough right now. Fresh from their off week, they bring in a heavyweight.
12. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week lost to Montana at home 24-0, this week at UC Davis---The Bears were looking decent up until their bye week, then they could not wake up their offense last week and took a tough home loss. Things don't get much better this week, on the road against one of the top teams.
RECAP: 1, then 2, then 3-5 together, then 6-12 in a mess behind.