Big Sky Power Rankings 10-8

[JALMOND]

Most of the fireworks going on this weekend in the Big Sky, but there was some movement from last week's games. After this week, though, we will have a clear top team in the conference, unless Cal Poly has something to say about it. But first the recap from last week before we get to this week and how it impacted the rankings. Here are this week's power rankings for the Big Sky. As usual all are my opinion only and should make for some great discussion. This week (last week).

1. Montana State (1)---Once again, the Bobcats got a win from the jaws of defeat as they took down a rejuvinated UC-Davis team on the road, messing up the Aggies homecoming plans. Win at home and get by on the road is just what the Bobcats are doing. This weekend, they welcome Eastern Washington to their cozy home.

2. Eastern Washington (2)---The Eagles brushed up on their gameplan for Montana State this weekend by taking down a good North Dakota team at home. Whether it works or not remains to be seen but this is truly a great opportunity for the Eagles.

3. Cal Poly (3)---All the focus may be on the top two teams, but the Mustangs are also undefeated, having put away Weber State on the road last weekend. This weekend they welcome the improving Northern Colorado team to their home field. Flying under the radar while everyone is paying attention to the top two.

4. Northern Arizona (4)---While everyone else was playing, the Lumberjacks took the weekend off, a well deserved break after their impressive start. One thing about a break is that it may be tough keeping the momentum going. This weekend, they head on the road to North Dakota.

5. Montana (7)---The Grizzlies finally broke into the win column in conference play last weekend, getting a good road win at Northern Colorado. Maybe this is what they need to get the season started. This weekend they get back home to face Southern Utah.

6. North Dakota (5)---Visions of being an upper level Big Sky team came crashing down for the Dakotans last week at Eastern Washington as nothing went right. Still some work to do but they can still make some noise this weekend by taking down Northern Arizona at home.

7. Sacramento State (8)---The Hornets have shown they are two different teams when they are at home as to when they are away. They seem to be much better away than at home as evident by their win on the road last week at Southern Utah. This week they have a chance to correct that as they welcome Weber State to their home.

8. Southern Utah (6)---Just on the edge of being included in the talks of one of the conference's elite, the Thunderbirds took a dive last week at home against Sacramento State. Things will get a bit difficult now as they head to play the big bad Montana team in hostile territory.

9. UC-Davis (9)---Things are looking up for the Aggies now that they seem to have found ways to score. Last week they gave Montana State all they could handle before finally succumbing at the end. Now they go on the road and play at struggling Idaho State.

10. Portland State (10)---Just when the Vikings were sliding quietly down the standings, they put on a scoring performance that would make Mouse Davis proud in destroying Idaho State last week. Have they now become an offensive juggernaut? They will have one week to think it over.

11. Northern Colorado (11)---The Bears looked good at home against Montana for about a half last week, then they let things get back to normal. They are clearly improved but time is running out and now is time for wins to show. This weekend they head to Cal Poly.

12. Weber State (13)---The Wildcats had some good moments Friday night at home against Cal Poly, but then they lost it in the fourth. Their lack of wins may be a cause for concern but they seem to be getting better every week. This week they go to Sacramento State.

13. Idaho State (12)---What would happen to the Bengals if the one thing they do well at, the passing game, does not show up became really painful to watch as that was just what happened last week at Portland State. Things need to get better in a hurry as they have UC-Davis coming to town this weekend.

RECAP: 1-2 pretty even, 3-4 behind, 5-8 bunched together, 9-10 behind them, then 11-13 trailing.

[SuperHornet]

Wait a minute. I get having UND in front of Sac on head-to-head despite Sac's better conference record (not to mention overall record). But putting BOTH of them behind a 1-conference win team?!? Additionally, it might just be a little too soon to describe the Hornets as schizo based on game location, given that Sac has played FOUR road games, and only two home games, one of which was a win. Let's get Weber and CP out of the way before we make THAT judgment, shall we?

I think you might have blown that one, JALMOND.

[SDHornet]

You know J, the gimp has a point. Montana has 0 quality wins and at this point they are just hanging onto past lore. Their reign is over. (The hook has been baited, let's see if it catches the usual's.)

I wouldn't change much on you rankings though. I’d swap EWU and MSU and then put UM in the 7 spot and slide up UND and Sac. Not really sure how a win over UNC gives them a 2 spot bump. After that I don’t really have any arguments. Great job as always J.

[JALMOND]

That same UNC team Montana beat rather convincingly on the road is the same UNC team that gave Sac State some trouble in Sacramento, aren't they?

Really, 5-8 all are rather equal.

[SDHornet]

That same UNC team Montana beat rather convincingly on the road is the same UNC team that gave Sac State some trouble in Sacramento, aren't they?

Really, 5-8 all are rather equal.

It read like UM let UNC hang around as well. Still not a quality win for either team.

Just checked the box score. It was 10-0 UM at half and 24-10 UM after 3. Definitely a far cry from the typical UM blowouts we are use to. So UM got some style points in the end, BFD.

[JALMOND]

That same UNC team Montana beat rather convincingly on the road is the same UNC team that gave Sac State some trouble in Sacramento, aren't they?

Really, 5-8 all are rather equal.

It read like UM let UNC hang around as well. Still not a quality win for either team.

Just checked the box score. It was 10-0 UM at half and 24-10 UM after 3. Definitely a far cry from the typical UM blowouts we are use to. So UM got some style points in the end, BFD.

This is not your typical Griz team. Besides, they finally put the Bears away in the second half on the road. Can you really say the Hornets ever put the Bears away at home? Road wins are tough to come by and conference road wins are tougher. Sac State had a good road win at Southern Utah and I moved them up. But it would have been tough to move them ahead of UND due to UND's sound win at Sac State, nor would it have been tough to move them ahead of Montana due to the Grizzlies impressive road win at UNC, a team the Hornets couldn't quite put away at home. As the season progresses, maybe things will be different, but right now that is where I feel comfortable.

5. Griz
6. UND
7. Sac State
8. S Utah

[Grizalltheway]

That same UNC team Montana beat rather convincingly on the road is the same UNC team that gave Sac State some trouble in Sacramento, aren't they?

Really, 5-8 all are rather equal.

It read like UM let UNC hang around as well. Still not a quality win for either team.

Just checked the box score. It was 10-0 UM at half and 24-10 UM after 3. Definitely a far cry from the typical UM blowouts we are use to. So UM got some style points in the end, BFD.

Give it a rest. So we put up 40 on them instead of our usual 50+, WGAF?

[SDHornet]

It read like UM let UNC hang around as well. Still not a quality win for either team.

Just checked the box score. It was 10-0 UM at half and 24-10 UM after 3. Definitely a far cry from the typical UM blowouts we are use to. So UM got some style points in the end, BFD.

This is not your typical Griz team. Besides, they finally put the Bears away in the second half on the road. Can you really say the Hornets ever put the Bears away at home? Road wins are tough to come by and conference road wins are tougher. Sac State had a good road win at Southern Utah and I moved them up. But it would have been tough to move them ahead of UND due to UND's sound win at Sac State, nor would it have been tough to move them ahead of Montana due to the Grizzlies impressive road win at UNC, a team the Hornets couldn't quite put away at home. As the season progresses, maybe things will be different, but right now that is where I feel comfortable.

5. Griz
6. UND
7. Sac State
8. S Utah

Fair enough. I never advocated us being put ahead of UND and I agree that they should be ahead of us. UNC wasn’t going to score on us. They had 1 offensive TD all game and Lobato isn’t good enough to lead UNC back against anyone. The Hornets slept through much of the game and still won by 2 possessions. I’m just not understanding the considerable bump on a win against a bad team that wasn’t put away until the 4th quarter.

And SH check your PM’s.

[SDHornet]

It read like UM let UNC hang around as well. Still not a quality win for either team.

Just checked the box score. It was 10-0 UM at half and 24-10 UM after 3. Definitely a far cry from the typical UM blowouts we are use to. So UM got some style points in the end, BFD.

Give it a rest. So we put up 40 on them instead of our usual 50+, WGAF?

Supposedly UM wasn’t going to skip a beat heading into this season…at least according to AZ and some of the other griz usuals.

[kalm]

It read like UM let UNC hang around as well. Still not a quality win for either team.

Just checked the box score. It was 10-0 UM at half and 24-10 UM after 3. Definitely a far cry from the typical UM blowouts we are use to. So UM got some style points in the end, BFD.

This is not your typical Griz team. Besides, they finally put the Bears away in the second half on the road. Can you really say the Hornets ever put the Bears away at home? Road wins are tough to come by and conference road wins are tougher. Sac State had a good road win at Southern Utah and I moved them up. But it would have been tough to move them ahead of UND due to UND's sound win at Sac State, nor would it have been tough to move them ahead of Montana due to the Grizzlies impressive road win at UNC, a team the Hornets couldn't quite put away at home. As the season progresses, maybe things will be different, but right now that is where I feel comfortable.

5. Griz
6. UND
7. Sac State
8. S Utah

Having seen both UM and UND play in person the last two weeks I think the Griz are better, and UND beat SAC on the road.

[Grizalltheway]

Give it a rest. So we put up 40 on them instead of our usual 50+, WGAF?

Supposedly UM wasn’t going to skip a beat heading into this season…at least according to AZ and some of the other griz usuals.

We can skip a beat, or three, and still be top 5 in the conference. We're just that good.

[putter]

So a young Griz team plays App tough on the road, gets unlucky on the road against EWU who then blows out UND..beats UNC by 30 on the road and people are bitching???? Yes the Griz are not having the usual Griz year, however, they are a young team that has played everyone tough and these games have been on the road. Just based on performance, not wins, I can put them in the middle of the pack in the conference.

[Kadeezy]

I like Jalmond's work, but the Griz at #5 is a joke.

BSC playoff locks...

EWU
MSU
CPU

Other teams with best chances (in order)

NAU
SAC
UM

[Brock Landers]

Why? Our 3 losses combined were nearly the same margin of defeat as your home loss to UND

ASU, EWU, NAU >>>> NMSU >>> UND