Big Sky Power Rankings 10-18
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:00 pm
So what do you get when the top three teams all play on the road the same weekend. The late Benny Parsons summed it up best, "There's gonna be a huge wreck." The top three did struggle on the road but at the end, Montana State was the only one who stumbled. Both Montana and Eastern Washington were able to escape with late wins. As a result, more teams were bunched together, which makes Parsons' syaing even more meaningful this weekend. This week's power rankings. As usual, all are my opinion only and all are open for discussion. This week (last week). Good discussion, I can feel it.
1. Montana (2)---After the dust settled, the Grizzlies find themselves back on the top of the rankings, possibly by default. The Grizzlies were able to do just enough for a road win at Portland State, causing the Vikings pistol offense to cough up the ball 7 times, and recovered 4 of them. The offense finally came to life on a quick final drive for the winning field goal. This week, they return home for a game against Northern Arizona. They usually have the Jacks' number, but NAU comes in after totally shutting down Montana State. The Grizzlies will need to play better to get this one even at home.
2. Montana State (1)---Maybe a feeling of invincibility was beginning to creep into the minds of the Bobcats, because they left Bozeman brimming with confidence, only to leave Northern Arizona with their tails between their legs. Nothing will come easy in this conference, no matter what the record is and road games will especially be tough, no matter who it is. The Bobcats are still looking for four complete quarters of play, last week they didn't get one. This weekend, they are back home to play Northern Colorado, a game that looked awfully onesided last week, but now the Bobcats just want a win.
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Right now, the Eagles are probably thankful that Jones can still play. When he plays, the Eagles are great. When he doesn't, the Eagles are average. A game that should not have been that close, even on the road at Northern Colorado, Jones did a little bit of everything and the Eagles surely needed all of it. The Eagles have probably the best chance to win out, but last week opened a bit of doubt in that aspect. This week, they return home to face Sacramento State. Not the best chance to right the ship, but not the worse.
4. Northern Arizona (5)---Needing a big win to make a statement that they are still alive, the Jacks absolutely smoked Montana State, considered one of the better teams in the Big Sky. Even with the close loss on the road to Eastern Washington, the Jacks have climbed back into the picture with this win and also gave them confidence needed to show that late swoons may not happen this year. This week is a trip to Montana to face the mighty Grizzlies, but after that, the schedule is rather favorable. No swoon on the horizon?
5. Sacramento State (4)---While everyone was spinning out and debris all over, the Hornets took a bye, sat back and observed all that was happening. Two weeks removed from their big win against Northern Colorado, who gave Eastern Washington all they could handle, the Hornets find themselves hitting the road to that same Eastern Washington team that had the problems against Northern Colorado. That alone should provide some confidence for the Hornets, even if the game is on the road.
6. Portland State (7)---The Vikings lose and yet move a spot. After staying within striking distance of Montana last week and having a win go right through their grasp in the last seconds, the Vikings can feel pretty good about themselves. Still, moral victories is not what they want and, while they might have had a shot, they would have preferred the win. This week, they go on the road to Weber State, looking for that win to propel them for the last few games this year.
7. Weber State (6)---The good news was that the Wildcats beat Idaho State last week. The bad news was that the close road wins did not only affect the top teams, but was felt down at the bottom of the standings. The Wildcats were able to keep the pesky Idaho State team at bay but it was definitely not easy. The Wildcats had their hands full the whole game in a game that was not supposed to be close. What does it mean for the Wildcats this weekend as the upstart Portland State team comes calling.
8. Northern Colorado (8)---The win was right there for the Bears, right within their grasp. They had the lead on the mighty Eastern Washington team in the fourth quarter, Jones and all, and also had the ball. Yet, fate was once again cruel as Eastern Washington turned to Jones to save the day and the Bears fell again. So close, yet the same result. Things have to get easier, but maybe not this weekend as they head up to Montana State. They have beaten the Bobcats before, but things do not look too positive this weekend.
9. Idaho State (9)---Flying under the radar, no one really gave the Bengals much chance in any of their remaining games, let alone last week against Weber State. But, even in a loss, the Bengals served notice that they will not just lay down for anyone, especially at home. They were able to stay within striking distance against Weber State, they just were not able to get the elusive win. This week, they get the bye, hopefully to plan on getting a win and ruining other team's seasons.
Where they are now...UM, MSU and EWU nearly even, NAU in front of three others (Sac State, PSU and WSU) gaining on the leaders, UNC behind and ISU behind.
1. Montana (2)---After the dust settled, the Grizzlies find themselves back on the top of the rankings, possibly by default. The Grizzlies were able to do just enough for a road win at Portland State, causing the Vikings pistol offense to cough up the ball 7 times, and recovered 4 of them. The offense finally came to life on a quick final drive for the winning field goal. This week, they return home for a game against Northern Arizona. They usually have the Jacks' number, but NAU comes in after totally shutting down Montana State. The Grizzlies will need to play better to get this one even at home.
2. Montana State (1)---Maybe a feeling of invincibility was beginning to creep into the minds of the Bobcats, because they left Bozeman brimming with confidence, only to leave Northern Arizona with their tails between their legs. Nothing will come easy in this conference, no matter what the record is and road games will especially be tough, no matter who it is. The Bobcats are still looking for four complete quarters of play, last week they didn't get one. This weekend, they are back home to play Northern Colorado, a game that looked awfully onesided last week, but now the Bobcats just want a win.
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Right now, the Eagles are probably thankful that Jones can still play. When he plays, the Eagles are great. When he doesn't, the Eagles are average. A game that should not have been that close, even on the road at Northern Colorado, Jones did a little bit of everything and the Eagles surely needed all of it. The Eagles have probably the best chance to win out, but last week opened a bit of doubt in that aspect. This week, they return home to face Sacramento State. Not the best chance to right the ship, but not the worse.
4. Northern Arizona (5)---Needing a big win to make a statement that they are still alive, the Jacks absolutely smoked Montana State, considered one of the better teams in the Big Sky. Even with the close loss on the road to Eastern Washington, the Jacks have climbed back into the picture with this win and also gave them confidence needed to show that late swoons may not happen this year. This week is a trip to Montana to face the mighty Grizzlies, but after that, the schedule is rather favorable. No swoon on the horizon?
5. Sacramento State (4)---While everyone was spinning out and debris all over, the Hornets took a bye, sat back and observed all that was happening. Two weeks removed from their big win against Northern Colorado, who gave Eastern Washington all they could handle, the Hornets find themselves hitting the road to that same Eastern Washington team that had the problems against Northern Colorado. That alone should provide some confidence for the Hornets, even if the game is on the road.
6. Portland State (7)---The Vikings lose and yet move a spot. After staying within striking distance of Montana last week and having a win go right through their grasp in the last seconds, the Vikings can feel pretty good about themselves. Still, moral victories is not what they want and, while they might have had a shot, they would have preferred the win. This week, they go on the road to Weber State, looking for that win to propel them for the last few games this year.
7. Weber State (6)---The good news was that the Wildcats beat Idaho State last week. The bad news was that the close road wins did not only affect the top teams, but was felt down at the bottom of the standings. The Wildcats were able to keep the pesky Idaho State team at bay but it was definitely not easy. The Wildcats had their hands full the whole game in a game that was not supposed to be close. What does it mean for the Wildcats this weekend as the upstart Portland State team comes calling.
8. Northern Colorado (8)---The win was right there for the Bears, right within their grasp. They had the lead on the mighty Eastern Washington team in the fourth quarter, Jones and all, and also had the ball. Yet, fate was once again cruel as Eastern Washington turned to Jones to save the day and the Bears fell again. So close, yet the same result. Things have to get easier, but maybe not this weekend as they head up to Montana State. They have beaten the Bobcats before, but things do not look too positive this weekend.
9. Idaho State (9)---Flying under the radar, no one really gave the Bengals much chance in any of their remaining games, let alone last week against Weber State. But, even in a loss, the Bengals served notice that they will not just lay down for anyone, especially at home. They were able to stay within striking distance against Weber State, they just were not able to get the elusive win. This week, they get the bye, hopefully to plan on getting a win and ruining other team's seasons.
Where they are now...UM, MSU and EWU nearly even, NAU in front of three others (Sac State, PSU and WSU) gaining on the leaders, UNC behind and ISU behind.
