About the only thing that wasn't much of a shocker in conference last week was Montana State's win over Cal Poly. The Bobcats are the tops so far and the Mustangs are the bottom. The rest, well, what was a "mushy" 5-team middle last week has now expanded to include almost all the rest of the teams. To be blunt, the conference got blown up by teams such as Idaho State and Portland State, and also got a resurgence from Montana. Parity does abound this year, that is for sure. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Quite a bit of shuffling around this week should make for some great discussion.
1. Montana State (1)---Last week beat Cal Poly at home 59-19, this week at Sacramento State---The Bobcats took care of business last week, putting any notion of a upset here to rest early and often. They are still the cream at the top. But, things could change and they do have a tough conference road game this weekend.
2. Sacramento State (3)---Last week won at Northern Colorado 21-13, this week Montana State at home---Maybe the Hornets were caught looking ahead but they never could get any distance last week, but they still found a way to get a win on the road. They return home this weekend, but they have a formidable foe waiting.
3. Montana (6)---Last week won at Idaho 23-21, this week bye---It must be something about national television that brings out the best of the Grizzlies because they went in to hostile territory and took it to the Vandals right off the bat. Never apologize for wins at this point as they now have 5. They get this week off as a reward.
4. Idaho (2)---Last week lost to Montana at home 23-21, this week bye---The Vandals were looking like world beaters and had a national television audience watching, and then they laid an egg at their place. Still very much in the hunt, they are taking this week off to hopefully recapture their magic from the start.
5. Portland State (8)---Last week won at Northern Arizona 45-21, this week Idaho State at home---Questions about who the Vikings were may have got answered last weekend as they emerged from a hostile dome atmosphere against the conference darling and got a good conference road win. They have any interesting matchup this week.
6. Eastern Washington (4)---Last week lost at Idaho State 42-41, this week Weber State at home---The Eagles were up big and looked like they were going to get a strong conference road win. Then the wheels came off and they ended up flat on their faces. Not much time to regroup, they come home and play a team with something to prove.
7. UC Davis (7)---Last week won at Weber State 17-16, this week bye---The Aggies kept their season alive with a nail-biting conference win on the road last week. They get to stay alive heading into their bye week. They will get regroup and refocus on what they need to do if they want to get to the playoffs this year.
8. Idaho State (10)---Last week beat Eastern Washington at home 42-41, this week at Portland State---Never say die must be the Bengals motto as they mounted an impressive comeback in the final minutes to steal a victory at home. They are now knocking at the top of the conference and a win this week would get them closer.
9. Northern Arizona (5)---Last week lost to Portland State at home 45-21, this week bye---Riding a strong start to conference play, the Lumberjacks looked like they were poised to make some noise. Then they played at home last week and it looked like they started their vacation early. They will need to capture that magic again.
10. Weber State (9)---Last week lost to UC Davis at home 17-16, this week at Eastern Washington---What was supposed to be a promising season has transformed into gathering up the pieces. Wins in conference have been hard to come by for the Wildcats and they get to go out on the road and play a team hurting from their own defeat.
11. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week lost to Sacramento State at home 21-13, this week at Cal Poly---With all that happened in the topsy-turvy week of the conference last week, maybe a Bears win was expected. Still, to play one of the conference heavies as tough as they did bodes well for this week's game, even if it is on the road.
12. Cal Poly (12)---Last week lost at Montana State 59-19, this week Northern Colorado at home---The Mustangs do have two wins, but they have been getting murdered in conference play. They do get a chance this week as their fellow basement dweller comes calling. But, that team has been looking really good.
RECAP: 1 out front, then 2-5 behind with 6-10 just a step back, 11 with a slight edge over 12 for the basement.