Big Sky Power Rankings 9-6
Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:07 pm
Boring. Tired. "Is it over?" I'll admit these are some of the things I was thinking of as I was seeing the results of the Big Sky games during the first weekend. No surprises, nothing to brag about (did Montana score again?), nothing really to hold the interest of any casual Pac-10/Mtn West/WAC fan who may have happened to catch a glimpse of our conference. The winners won, the losers lost, and you could pretty much do other things after halftime of every game. Here are this week's power rankings for the Big Sky. This week (last week).
1. Montana (1)---Have the Grizzlies scored again since I started writing this? The Grizzlies ended up with 73 points in their opener against Western State, a DII from Gunnison, CO, far exceeding the paltry 38 points they scored in last season's opener against the same Western State. They even allowed Western State to score their only points against the Griz offense, allowing a safety in the first quarter. This week, they head to Cal Poly in a marquee West Coast FCS matchup. Did they learn anything during their glorified scrimmage?
2. Montana State (2)---The score of the Bobcats game against another Colorado DII team, Durango's Fort Lewis, mirrored the Griz game for awhile, although they stopped at 59. A great offensive production and a great opportunity to start the year with a win, instead of starting the year with a money game. This week, the aforementioned money game, so to speak, as they travel to the Pac-10's Washington State. Some think this is a winnable game for the Bobcats and after last week, it could be. Will it be, though?
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Maybe the best game involving a conference member, the Eagles did have their chances against the WAC's Nevada. Still, they did not take full advantage of them and, at the end, found themselves 25 points on the short end. What it did show was that Jones is still a beast, but the jury is still out on Mitchell. This week, the Eagles meet their instate, DII rival, Central Washington, who would like nothing more than to knock big brother down. This week, will Mitchell come alive?
4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Jacks pitiful victim this weekend was DII's Western New Mexico, who hardly put up a wimper. The Jacks called off the dogs at 48 points in a good offensive showing by Herrick and company. Things worked well against Western New Mexico. The question is this week they move up a level and head to Tempe to face Arizona State, coming off a blowout themselves against fellow Big Sky mate Portland State. Will things keep moving smoothly for the Jacks, enough to stay with the Sun Devils?
5. Weber State (5)---The rest of the conference stayed behind in the western part of the country while the Wildcats headed to the east to play Boston College. Good ESPN exposure for the Wildcats as there was a feel-good story involving Boston College's cancer stricken linebacker, but still a loss in what was really not much of a game. This week, they start conference play as they host Northern Colorado. These games count, are they ready?
6. Sacramento State (6)---What may have been surprising was the Hornets scored 17 points against the Pac-10 Stanford team, showing that the offense may have lots of life this year. Unfortunately, the Cardinal scored 52 against the Hornet defense. Could mainly be due to the step up in play, but there were some rumblings that this game was going to be somewhat closer. No matter. This weekend they entertain DII Western Oregon, a game they surely should get a win, as long as they keep focused on this game.
7. Northern Colorado (7)---This is the second full week of the season and the Bears have already won one game. That is true. They won by 44 points, continuing the week's domination of the Big Sky over Colorado's DII schools as they beat Adams State. Obviously the offense and defense are in sync, at least for the first week. Good things in store for the Bears this year? They jump right in to conference play this week as they head to Weber State. Another win could raise some eyebrows, and not just because it would be their second win.
8. Idaho State (9)---Just like Northern Colorado, the Bengals also got a win this weekend as they had no problem beating NAIA's Montana-Western. Going to last season, that means the Bengals are on a two game winning streak (possibly should have been three). Beating an NAIA does not make the Bengals world beaters but it is a step in the right direction for these perennial losers. This week, they head down the road and step up a level as they play the WAC's Utah State. Possibly...don't count out the Bengals.
9. Portland State (8)---In a week of boring and humdrum games, the Vikings were probably the worst. Nothing seemed to go right against the Pac-10's Arizona State and that does not bode well when you are making a step up. The Vikings showed they have the most work still to do in all aspects except the kicking game, where Zach Brown made three field goals, two from long distances. Can they fix it? This week they head down to UC-Davis in what is becoming an annual game (maybe permanent now). Oregon is on the horizon so the Vikings need good things in this game.
Not many changes. Switching ISU and PSU could be debated as one team won against NAIA and one team lost against Pac-10. Burton will get the Vikings to play well, but for now, he has his work cut out for him.
1. Montana (1)---Have the Grizzlies scored again since I started writing this? The Grizzlies ended up with 73 points in their opener against Western State, a DII from Gunnison, CO, far exceeding the paltry 38 points they scored in last season's opener against the same Western State. They even allowed Western State to score their only points against the Griz offense, allowing a safety in the first quarter. This week, they head to Cal Poly in a marquee West Coast FCS matchup. Did they learn anything during their glorified scrimmage?
2. Montana State (2)---The score of the Bobcats game against another Colorado DII team, Durango's Fort Lewis, mirrored the Griz game for awhile, although they stopped at 59. A great offensive production and a great opportunity to start the year with a win, instead of starting the year with a money game. This week, the aforementioned money game, so to speak, as they travel to the Pac-10's Washington State. Some think this is a winnable game for the Bobcats and after last week, it could be. Will it be, though?
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Maybe the best game involving a conference member, the Eagles did have their chances against the WAC's Nevada. Still, they did not take full advantage of them and, at the end, found themselves 25 points on the short end. What it did show was that Jones is still a beast, but the jury is still out on Mitchell. This week, the Eagles meet their instate, DII rival, Central Washington, who would like nothing more than to knock big brother down. This week, will Mitchell come alive?
4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Jacks pitiful victim this weekend was DII's Western New Mexico, who hardly put up a wimper. The Jacks called off the dogs at 48 points in a good offensive showing by Herrick and company. Things worked well against Western New Mexico. The question is this week they move up a level and head to Tempe to face Arizona State, coming off a blowout themselves against fellow Big Sky mate Portland State. Will things keep moving smoothly for the Jacks, enough to stay with the Sun Devils?
5. Weber State (5)---The rest of the conference stayed behind in the western part of the country while the Wildcats headed to the east to play Boston College. Good ESPN exposure for the Wildcats as there was a feel-good story involving Boston College's cancer stricken linebacker, but still a loss in what was really not much of a game. This week, they start conference play as they host Northern Colorado. These games count, are they ready?
6. Sacramento State (6)---What may have been surprising was the Hornets scored 17 points against the Pac-10 Stanford team, showing that the offense may have lots of life this year. Unfortunately, the Cardinal scored 52 against the Hornet defense. Could mainly be due to the step up in play, but there were some rumblings that this game was going to be somewhat closer. No matter. This weekend they entertain DII Western Oregon, a game they surely should get a win, as long as they keep focused on this game.
7. Northern Colorado (7)---This is the second full week of the season and the Bears have already won one game. That is true. They won by 44 points, continuing the week's domination of the Big Sky over Colorado's DII schools as they beat Adams State. Obviously the offense and defense are in sync, at least for the first week. Good things in store for the Bears this year? They jump right in to conference play this week as they head to Weber State. Another win could raise some eyebrows, and not just because it would be their second win.
8. Idaho State (9)---Just like Northern Colorado, the Bengals also got a win this weekend as they had no problem beating NAIA's Montana-Western. Going to last season, that means the Bengals are on a two game winning streak (possibly should have been three). Beating an NAIA does not make the Bengals world beaters but it is a step in the right direction for these perennial losers. This week, they head down the road and step up a level as they play the WAC's Utah State. Possibly...don't count out the Bengals.
9. Portland State (8)---In a week of boring and humdrum games, the Vikings were probably the worst. Nothing seemed to go right against the Pac-10's Arizona State and that does not bode well when you are making a step up. The Vikings showed they have the most work still to do in all aspects except the kicking game, where Zach Brown made three field goals, two from long distances. Can they fix it? This week they head down to UC-Davis in what is becoming an annual game (maybe permanent now). Oregon is on the horizon so the Vikings need good things in this game.
Not many changes. Switching ISU and PSU could be debated as one team won against NAIA and one team lost against Pac-10. Burton will get the Vikings to play well, but for now, he has his work cut out for him.
