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Who would have thought that, with how the season began, that two teams near the top of the Big Sky standings in October are Sacramento State and UC-Davis. The Causeway Combatants have held their own through the first two games of the conference season. Now the season starts to get a bit tough for them as well as the rest of the conference as early October fades into mid October. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Pretty interesting this week, should create some great discussion.

1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles continue to look dominate, disposing with Weber State this past weekend. The Eagles seem to have weathered their tough early schedule. This weekend finds them on the road against a struggling North Dakota team.

2. Montana (2)---The Grizzlies rebounded from a disappointing road loss at Northern Arizona with a resounding beatdown of Portland State. The Grizzlies have looked really tough to beat at home, but the road has been different. This weekend finds them back on the road against upstart UC-Davis.

3. Montana State (3)---The Bobcats got their start quarterback back and have returned to their winning ways, beating Northern Arizona last weekend. Things are starting to look up for the Bobcats after it seemed like the season was lost. This weekend, they get rewarded with a week off.

4. Northern Arizona (5)---The Lumberjacks experienced two separate sets of emotions last week. First they were on a high after beating Montana, then they were brought back to earth coming up on the losing end to Montana State. This weekend they face surprising Sacramento State.

5. Cal Poly (4)---After looking good to start the season and getting off to a good start conference-wise, the Mustangs were looking for a breather against Yale. Only thing is that there are no breathers in the FCS and the Mustangs took one on the chin. Hoping to rebound, they welcome Weber State this weekend.

6. Portland State (6)---The Vikings have shown an uncanny ability to do well this season, only to repeatedly fall victim to stupid mistakes and penalties at inopportune times. Last week, Montana took advantage of every Viking mistake and made them pay. This weekend, they head out to Southern Utah.

7. Sacramento State (9)---Don't look now but the Hornets have won their first two conference games, lately besting Northern Colorado at home, and putting the debacle of the early Southern Oregon game behind them. The schedule gets tougher now starting this weekend at home against Northern Arizona.

8. UC-Davis (10)---Don't remind the Aggies that this is supposed to be a rebuilding year as they have come out on fire, last weekend putting away Southern Utah with surprising ease. Can this success be sustained? They will find out soon enough as the strong Montana team comes calling this weekend.

9. North Dakota (8)---The former Sioux finally got a conference victory last week at Idaho State and what was supposed to be a great season finally got a win. Now they have to see if they can keep it rolling. This weekend Eastern Washington comes to town.

10. Southern Utah (7)---A great chance last weekend for the Thunderbirds to go 2-0 to start conference play, yet they could not get past UC-Davis in their house. The season is not lost, but they need a win this weekend when Portland State comes into town.

11. Northern Colorado (11)---The Bears were hoping for a better season this year, but they seem to be unable to win the games. Last weekend they fell at Sacramento State in a game they needed to have. This weekend, they will try again, on the road at Idaho State.

12. Weber State (12)---The Wildcats could not get things going at all last weekend at Eastern Washington and quickly faded. Better things will come for the Wildcats but probably not this season. This weekend, they head over to Cal Poly.

13. Idaho State (13)---The Bengals came close last weekend at home against struggling North Dakota, only to not be able to win the game in the end. Close is good but wins only count. This weekend they get another chance at winning, hosting Northern Colorado.

RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4-10 sandwiched together behind, 11-13 fading fast.

Pretty good, though I'd have another break after 7 or 8.

You're right that the upcoming schedules are going to be tough for both Sac and Davis. I do think, however, that if there's any differentiation at all, Sac has an easier schedule RELATIVE TO DAVIS. I still think we can make some noise this year, but that's probably all it will amount to.

Disagree with 2 & 3 for obvious reasons (not just because I'm a Cat fan). But looks good other than that.

CatBlitz22 wrote:Disagree with 2 & 3 for obvious reasons (not just because I'm a Cat fan). But looks good other than that.

Until you stop having lost to SFA, you'll be below us.

CatBlitz22 wrote:Disagree with 2 & 3 for obvious reasons (not just because I'm a Cat fan). But looks good other than that.

What are the obvious reasons, other than you being a Cat fan?

Grizalltheway wrote:

CatBlitz22 wrote:Disagree with 2 & 3 for obvious reasons (not just because I'm a Cat fan). But looks good other than that.

What are the obvious reasons, other than you being a Cat fan?

Maybe conference record ?

uofmman1122 wrote:

CatBlitz22 wrote:Disagree with 2 & 3 for obvious reasons (not just because I'm a Cat fan). But looks good other than that.

Until you stop having lost to SFA, you'll be below us.

It's a common-opponent question, in my opinion. We both handled UND but NAU is the factor. Performance last week is a far cry from the SFA game considering how many starters were out of that game. Just my opinion.

CatBlitz22 wrote:

uofmman1122 wrote:Until you stop having lost to SFA, you'll be below us.

It's a common-opponent question, in my opinion. We both handled UND but NAU is the factor. Performance last week is a far cry from the SFA game considering how many starters were out of that game. Just my opinion.

Fair enough, but I think we both had one road game where we just didn't really show up. They just happened to be against different opponents.

No arguments with J's rankings. Things are starting to shake out...or at least we think they are.

CatBlitz22 wrote:

uofmman1122 wrote:Until you stop having lost to SFA, you'll be below us.

It's a common-opponent question, in my opinion. We both handled UND but NAU is the factor. Performance last week is a far cry from the SFA game considering how many starters were out of that game. Just my opinion.

I'd bet you $100 right now, if we played NAU again, we'd win going away.

I was skeptical of this until I saw us play PSU.

They surprised us, and we simply weren't ready to play last week.

If you're allowed excuses for why you lost to SFA (a downright awful team), we're allowed some for NAU, as well.

But as of right now you have a worse loss than we do, and just as many good wins.

uofmman1122 wrote:

CatBlitz22 wrote:
It's a common-opponent question, in my opinion. We both handled UND but NAU is the factor. Performance last week is a far cry from the SFA game considering how many starters were out of that game. Just my opinion.

I'd bet you $100 right now, if we played NAU again, we'd win going away.

I was skeptical of this until I saw us play PSU.

They surprised us, and we simply weren't ready to play last week.

If you're allowed excuses for why you lost to SFA (a downright awful team), we're allowed some for NAU, as well.

But as of right now you have a worse loss than we do, and just as many good wins.

Hard to really argue wither I suppose but this would be a way different argument if we had beaten SFA and the NAU games were reversed. The way we look at wins is almost completely disjointed anymore.

CatBlitz22 wrote:

uofmman1122 wrote:I'd bet you $100 right now, if we played NAU again, we'd win going away.

I was skeptical of this until I saw us play PSU.

They surprised us, and we simply weren't ready to play last week.

If you're allowed excuses for why you lost to SFA (a downright awful team), we're allowed some for NAU, as well.

But as of right now you have a worse loss than we do, and just as many good wins.

Hard to really argue wither I suppose but this would be a way different argument if we had beaten SFA and the NAU games were reversed. The way we look at wins is almost completely disjointed anymore.

If that were the case, we'd have nearly identical resumes at this point.

uofmman1122 wrote:

CatBlitz22 wrote:
Hard to really argue wither I suppose but this would be a way different argument if we had beaten SFA and the NAU games were reversed. The way we look at wins is almost completely disjointed anymore.

If that were the case, we'd have nearly identical resumes at this point.

If that were the case and we were ahead in the power rankings I have a good feeling there would be pitch forks and fire from griz fans.

CatBlitz22 wrote:

uofmman1122 wrote:If that were the case, we'd have nearly identical resumes at this point.

If that were the case and we were ahead in the power rankings I have a good feeling there would be pitch forks and fire from griz fans.

Just like the whining and bitching from Cat fans now.

SuperHornet wrote:Pretty good, though I'd have another break after 7 or 8.

You're right that the upcoming schedules are going to be tough for both Sac and Davis. I do think, however, that if there's any differentiation at all, Sac has an easier schedule RELATIVE TO DAVIS. I still think we can make some noise this year, but that's probably all it will amount to.

Both have tough schedules but difficult to say whose is tougher. Sac State still has NAU, UM, CP and MSU while UC Davis has UM, MSU and CP. Fortunately nether gets EWU this year. Should make for an interesting Causeway Classic which earlier looked like it would be a laugher but actually now might get interesting.

uofmman1122 wrote:

CatBlitz22 wrote:
It's a common-opponent question, in my opinion. We both handled UND but NAU is the factor. Performance last week is a far cry from the SFA game considering how many starters were out of that game. Just my opinion.

I'd bet you $100 right now, if we played NAU at home, we'd win going away.

FIFY.


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EWURanger wrote:

uofmman1122 wrote:I'd bet you $100 right now, if we played NAU at home, we'd win going away.

FIFY.


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Getting your excuses ready now, I see.

uofmman1122 wrote:

CatBlitz22 wrote:Disagree with 2 & 3 for obvious reasons (not just because I'm a Cat fan). But looks good other than that.

Until you stop having lost to SFA, you'll be below us.

That doesn't make any sense....

SuperHornet wrote:

uofmman1122 wrote:Until you stop having lost to SFA, you'll be below us.

That doesn't make any sense....

Doesn't it?

Forget the Montana pillow fight for a second. SUU 10th?

Montana St
Montana
E Washington
Portland St
Cal Poly SLO
Northern Arizona
CS Sacramento
UC Davis
Southern Utah
N Colorado
North Dakota
Idaho St
Weber St

uofmman1122 wrote:

SuperHornet wrote:
That doesn't make any sense....

Doesn't it?

I think I know what you're TRYING to say, but it's grammatically confusing, so I don't know for sure.

uofmman1122 wrote:

EWURanger wrote:
FIFY.


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Getting your excuses ready now, I see.

Nope, I think we beat you guys in your place this season.


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Keeper wrote:Montana St
Montana
E Washington
Portland St
Cal Poly SLO
Northern Arizona
CS Sacramento
UC Davis
Southern Utah
N Colorado
North Dakota
Idaho St
Weber St

How do you rank PSU ahead of CP, a team they lost to at home?