Big Sky Power Rankings 9-27
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:22 pm
With all that was pretty much a given last week in the conference, about all that was decided is that Montana State has a pretty good football team. For the rest, a lot more questions remain to be answered, as we start a new month of football action. Actually, for as good as the Bobcats have looked, they still have some questions remaining as well. But it still looks different with the other Montana team on top for a change. This week's Big Sky conference power rankings. This week (last week). Some things cleared up, some still need to be decided.
1. Montana State (1)---Opening up their conference slate in a season that they can sense will be a good one, the Bobcats wanted to make a statement and excise some old demons against Eastern Washington, a team the Bobcats hadn't beaten in eight years. For a season to be great, this fact needed to be rectified and it was in a hurry. Now it is off to Sacramento State, another team that is hoping for great things this year. The Bobcats better not have an EWU hangover.
2. Montana (3)---Reeling a bit from two straight losses, the Grizzlies were able to come back home and get a win over Sacramento State. Naysayers will not be pleased but for how this Grizzly team started, a little home cooking is always good. Hard to determine if this showed that Sacramento State is good or if there is still work to do in Griz-land. They soon will find out as this week, they go back on the road to Northern Colorado. Home cooking is good, but great teams win on the road, too.
3. Eastern Washington (2)---After a big win over Montana, the Eagles had aspirations of a great season, especially going to play Montana State, a team they had beaten eight straight times. However, football can be a cruel game and the Eagles lost control of this game quickly. Taiwan Jones is a beast, but even he can only carry this team so far. The Eagles need others to step up. This week, they are back on the road as they face Weber State. Time for others to take the load off of Jones.
4. Northern Arizona (5)---Flying a little bit under the radar with other marquee games going on in the conference, the Jacks were snuffing out any hopes Idaho State might have this season. Beginning the season strong has never been an issue for the Jacks and this year seems more of the same. This week, they step out of conference and also out of their friendly confines with a short trip to Southern Utah. Might be considered a trap game, but still should be a good indicator of this Jacks team.
5. Sacramento State (4)---The more things change (Montana State vs Eastern Washington), the more they stay the same (Hornets vs Montana). The Hornets came into Montana having never won there, but full of confidence that this could be their year. They never backed down, but came up a bit short at the end. Hopefully it gives the Hornets good things to build on. A good game at Montana is great, but an upset of Montana State would be better, especially with Montana State coming to the Hornet nest.
6. Weber State (6)---After playing two early conference games, the Wildcats stepped out of conference to play future conference member UC-Davis. After some early anxious moments, the Wildcats finally rose to the challenge and put the opponent away. Did they learn enough? This weekend they have Eastern Washington coming to town. The Wildcats are catching them after a tough loss, can they get a great win?
7. Portland State (8)---Last week, the Vikings dealt with a bye, but still saw the team they beat on the road, UC-Davis, give Weber State all they could handle at home. That in itself should give this team some confidence, more so than they shellacking they received at Oregon the week before. 1-2 isn't all great, but it is better than 0-3 that was possible, opening up with three straight road games. This week, the home opener and conference opener as they play Idaho State. Can they get this first game?
8. Northern Colorado (7)---Everyone else in conference were beginning to get ready for conference play and FCS play, yet the Bears headed to Big 10 country and faced Michigan State. Consequently, this game was over in a hurry, as the Big 10 team was far and away the more superior team. Still, the Bears were able to try new things and get indications of what to do as they get ready to entertain Montana at home this weekend. The Battle of the Bears and the Grizzlies are hurting, can the other Bears pull an upset?
9. Idaho State (9)---Good things. Promising things. Yet once again, it seems all this has gone out the window for the Bengals. They had a great opportunity at home in their game against Northern Arizona, yet the Bengals looked woefully pitiful. Now is not the time to take a step backward when you are trying to gain some credibility in the conference. This week another chance, but on the road as they head to Portland State, a team that might be just as woefully pitiful.
As they are...MSU out in front; UM and EWU really close; NAU, Sac State, and WSU pretty much bunched together; PSU and UNC a bit behind and ISU bringing up the rear.
1. Montana State (1)---Opening up their conference slate in a season that they can sense will be a good one, the Bobcats wanted to make a statement and excise some old demons against Eastern Washington, a team the Bobcats hadn't beaten in eight years. For a season to be great, this fact needed to be rectified and it was in a hurry. Now it is off to Sacramento State, another team that is hoping for great things this year. The Bobcats better not have an EWU hangover.
2. Montana (3)---Reeling a bit from two straight losses, the Grizzlies were able to come back home and get a win over Sacramento State. Naysayers will not be pleased but for how this Grizzly team started, a little home cooking is always good. Hard to determine if this showed that Sacramento State is good or if there is still work to do in Griz-land. They soon will find out as this week, they go back on the road to Northern Colorado. Home cooking is good, but great teams win on the road, too.
3. Eastern Washington (2)---After a big win over Montana, the Eagles had aspirations of a great season, especially going to play Montana State, a team they had beaten eight straight times. However, football can be a cruel game and the Eagles lost control of this game quickly. Taiwan Jones is a beast, but even he can only carry this team so far. The Eagles need others to step up. This week, they are back on the road as they face Weber State. Time for others to take the load off of Jones.
4. Northern Arizona (5)---Flying a little bit under the radar with other marquee games going on in the conference, the Jacks were snuffing out any hopes Idaho State might have this season. Beginning the season strong has never been an issue for the Jacks and this year seems more of the same. This week, they step out of conference and also out of their friendly confines with a short trip to Southern Utah. Might be considered a trap game, but still should be a good indicator of this Jacks team.
5. Sacramento State (4)---The more things change (Montana State vs Eastern Washington), the more they stay the same (Hornets vs Montana). The Hornets came into Montana having never won there, but full of confidence that this could be their year. They never backed down, but came up a bit short at the end. Hopefully it gives the Hornets good things to build on. A good game at Montana is great, but an upset of Montana State would be better, especially with Montana State coming to the Hornet nest.
6. Weber State (6)---After playing two early conference games, the Wildcats stepped out of conference to play future conference member UC-Davis. After some early anxious moments, the Wildcats finally rose to the challenge and put the opponent away. Did they learn enough? This weekend they have Eastern Washington coming to town. The Wildcats are catching them after a tough loss, can they get a great win?
7. Portland State (8)---Last week, the Vikings dealt with a bye, but still saw the team they beat on the road, UC-Davis, give Weber State all they could handle at home. That in itself should give this team some confidence, more so than they shellacking they received at Oregon the week before. 1-2 isn't all great, but it is better than 0-3 that was possible, opening up with three straight road games. This week, the home opener and conference opener as they play Idaho State. Can they get this first game?
8. Northern Colorado (7)---Everyone else in conference were beginning to get ready for conference play and FCS play, yet the Bears headed to Big 10 country and faced Michigan State. Consequently, this game was over in a hurry, as the Big 10 team was far and away the more superior team. Still, the Bears were able to try new things and get indications of what to do as they get ready to entertain Montana at home this weekend. The Battle of the Bears and the Grizzlies are hurting, can the other Bears pull an upset?
9. Idaho State (9)---Good things. Promising things. Yet once again, it seems all this has gone out the window for the Bengals. They had a great opportunity at home in their game against Northern Arizona, yet the Bengals looked woefully pitiful. Now is not the time to take a step backward when you are trying to gain some credibility in the conference. This week another chance, but on the road as they head to Portland State, a team that might be just as woefully pitiful.
As they are...MSU out in front; UM and EWU really close; NAU, Sac State, and WSU pretty much bunched together; PSU and UNC a bit behind and ISU bringing up the rear.
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