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Are things really beginning to clear up? Possibly and with only a couple weeks left, they should be. These last two weeks should be really interesting as they shape up the conference race. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). Hang on, this is getting good.

1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles were the better team last week in their home win against their pesky arch-rival Montana. Now they get a welcomed relief this weekend, earning a bye before their last game against Portland State and then the playoffs.

2. Montana State (3)---The Bobcats turned back a gritty Portland State squad at home last weekend to return to their winning ways after their loss to Cal Poly. Things get more difficult this weekend as they stay home and welcome upstart Idaho State.

3. Idaho State (4)---The Bengals showed they can play against the best of the conference, besting Cal Poly at home last weekend. This weekend will be a real test as they hit the road and play at Montana State, a good test to see if they are for real.

4. Cal Poly (2)---The Mustangs were hoping to continue their magical run, but they hit a pothole in the road last weekend at Idaho State. They hope they don't get a letdown, playing their last conference game this weekend at home against UC-Davis.

5. Montana (5)---The Grizzlies, trying to stay relevant this season, took one on the chin last weekend at mighty Eastern Washington. They now have to get a road win this weekend at Southern Utah, something they have struggled with so far.

6. Northern Arizona (6)---Yes the Lumberjacks got the win at home last weekend, but it was very unimpressive against lowly UC-Davis. This weekend, they have to go on the road, something they have not been all that great so far, by heading out to North Dakota.

7. Sacramento State (7)---The Hornets, realizing there is no playoffs to play for, woke up and got a win last weekend at home against Southern Utah. They stay home this weekend and play an equally underperforming team in Portland State.

8. Southern Utah (8)---The Thunderbirds, clearly feeling the idea of nothing left to play for, looked uninspired on the road at Sacramento State last weekend. They get a great chance a spoiler this weekend, playing at home to mighty Montana.

9. Northern Colorado (9)---Someone had to sit out in conference play each week and this weekend, Northern Colorado stayed home and rested. This weekend they get to hit the road and play a tough matchup at Weber State.

10. Portland State (10)---The Vikings headed out to Montana State last weekend and put together a game effort but still came home with a loss. Seeking to end the season strong, they head out to Sacramento State this weekend.

11. Weber State (12)---The Wildcats finally broke through last weekend and got a tough road win at North Dakota. Now that they got that first win, they are looking for another and this weekend, they get Northern Colorado at home.

12. North Dakota (11)---The No-Names had no-game last weekend at home against previously winless Weber State. Playing out the string has been tough but this weekend they have a good chance to play spoiler with Northern Arizona coming to town.

13. UC-Davis (13)---The Aggies did not fold last weekend at Northern Arizona, staying in the game pretty much the whole time. Looking to carry on from this effort, they have to go out on the road to play Cal Poly this weekend.

RECAP: 1 pulling away, 2-3 trying to keep up, 4 losing ground, 5-6 falling, 7-10 bunched together, 11-13 not far behind.

I'm a homer but mine would look more like this...

1. EWU -with VA this is the best of the Big Sky

2. Cal Poly- All DI schedule and yes they lost to a very good ISU on the road by 2

3. Montana State- beaten soundly by Cal Poly

4. Idaho State- Count Simon Frasier and DII in the win column; best road win against Portland St

5. NAU - Really bad loses, no good road wins...but squeaked by Cal Poly and a VAless EWU at home

6. Montana- I think they are better than Sac State

1. EWU
2. ISU
3. Cal Poly
4. MSU
5. UM
6. NAU

1. EWU
2. ISU
3. CP
4. MSU
5. Montana
6. NAU
7. Sac
8. SUU
9. UNC
10. PSU
11. Weber
12. Davis
13. UND

I'm curious as to why everyone has UM behind MSU. What is it about their season that makes you feel that way?

AZGrizFan wrote:I'm curious as to why everyone has UM behind MSU. What is it about their season that makes you feel that way?

Their collapse isn't complete...yet.

AZGrizFan wrote:I'm curious as to why everyone has UM behind MSU. What is it about their season that makes you feel that way?

I'm not entirely confident we're the better team, that's all.

uofmman1122 wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:I'm curious as to why everyone has UM behind MSU. What is it about their season that makes you feel that way?

I'm not entirely confident we're the better team, that's all.

Just odd, because our record against common opponents is identical.

Both lost to EWU (them by 1 at home, us by 10 @ EWU)
Both lost to CP (them by 8 @ CP, us by 20 @ CP)
Both beat UND (them by 11 at home, us by 3 @ UND)
Both beat UCD (them by 40 @ UCD, us by 14 @ home)
Both beat Sac St. (them by 3 @ Sac, us by 18 @ home)

AZGrizFan wrote:

uofmman1122 wrote: I'm not entirely confident we're the better team, that's all.

Just odd, because our record against common opponents is identical.

Both lost to EWU (them by 1 at home, us by 10 @ EWU)
Both lost to CP (them by 8 @ CP, us by 20 @ CP)
Both beat UND (them by 11 at home, us by 3 @ UND)
Both beat UCD (them by 40 @ UCD, us by 14 @ home)
Both beat Sac St. (them by 3 @ Sac, us by 18 @ home)

I think one could make a case for either team, but I personally don't see anything that says the Griz are better aside from the fact that we have them at home.

Honestly I'd rather put them at 5.A and 5.B.

AZGrizFan wrote:I'm curious as to why everyone has UM behind MSU. What is it about their season that makes you feel that way?

That is a good question and probably worthy of some discussion. To be honest, it's probably a toss up for me.

It took some offensive heroics for us to win both games. We had a healthy Adams playing against MSU and we beat them by 1 on the road on a 2-point conversion. Against UM, Adams was probably only at 75% (limited mobility and a little rusty after not playing for several weeks), but that game was at home.

I feel like the MSU offense was quite a bit better than the UM offense we played.

The UM defense we played was quite a bit better than the MSU defense we played.

The EWU defense I think has progressed a lot over the year and the one UM played is better than the one MSU played.

At the end of the day, it probably comes down to the fact that MSU has the better overall record and not much else.

But does anyone actually believe they would have beat Wyoming or NDSU? I think they'd be sitting at 6-4 with our schedule.

EWURanger wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:I'm curious as to why everyone has UM behind MSU. What is it about their season that makes you feel that way?

That is a good question and probably worthy of some discussion. To be honest, it's probably a toss up for me.

It took some offensive heroics for us to win both games. We had a healthy Adams playing against MSU and we beat them by 1 on the road on a 2-point conversion. Against UM, Adams was probably only at 75% (limited mobility and a little rusty after not playing for several weeks), but that game was at home.

I feel like the MSU offense was quite a bit better than the UM offense we played.

The UM defense we played was quite a bit better than the MSU defense we played.

The EWU defense I think has progressed a lot over the year and the one UM played is better than the one MSU played.

At the end of the day, it probably comes down to the fact that MSU has the better overall record and not much else.

Which is interesting, because it appears their offense is a shell of its former self without Johnson at RB.

AZGrizFan wrote:

EWURanger wrote:
That is a good question and probably worthy of some discussion. To be honest, it's probably a toss up for me.

It took some offensive heroics for us to win both games. We had a healthy Adams playing against MSU and we beat them by 1 on the road on a 2-point conversion. Against UM, Adams was probably only at 75% (limited mobility and a little rusty after not playing for several weeks), but that game was at home.

I feel like the MSU offense was quite a bit better than the UM offense we played.

The UM defense we played was quite a bit better than the MSU defense we played.

The EWU defense I think has progressed a lot over the year and the one UM played is better than the one MSU played.

At the end of the day, it probably comes down to the fact that MSU has the better overall record and not much else.

Which is interesting, because it appears their offense is a shell of its former self without Johnson at RB.

Good point. It hasn't been nearly as good without him. When is he supposed to return?

Come to think of it, there has been a noticable lack of MSU posters around here. Coincidence?

EWURanger wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Which is interesting, because it appears their offense is a shell of its former self without Johnson at RB.

Good point. It hasn't been nearly as good without him. When is he supposed to return?

Come to think of it, there has been a noticable lack of MSU posters around here. Coincidence?

OH, they KNOW what's about to come down.

Grizalltheway wrote:But does anyone actually believe they would have beat Wyoming or NDSU? I think they'd be sitting at 6-4 with our schedule.

Agreed.

Grizalltheway wrote:But does anyone actually believe they would have beat Wyoming or NDSU? I think they'd be sitting at 6-4 with our schedule.

Wyoming possibly; they're not good.

NDSU, no chance.

EWURanger wrote:

Grizalltheway wrote:But does anyone actually believe they would have beat Wyoming or NDSU? I think they'd be sitting at 6-4 with our schedule.

Wyoming possibly; they're not good.

NDSU, no chance.

Weber and PSU aren't good, either, and they struggled with them at home. Granted, those were after they lost Johnson (I think), but still.

AZGrizFan wrote:I'm curious as to why everyone has UM behind MSU. What is it about their season that makes you feel that way?

What's the difference at this point?

I guess it is kind of like arguing over who's the smartest kid on the short bus.

1.EWU
2.ISU
3.NAU
4.CAL POLY
5.MSU
6.UM

Then the rest

Sapper wrote:1.EWU
2.ISU
3.NAU
4.CAL POLY
5.MSU
6.UM

Then the rest

I like.

Sapper wrote:1.EWU
2.ISU
3.NAU
4.CAL POLY
5.MSU
6.UM

Um… no.

NAU better than msu and um but lost to unc.

Sapper wrote:NAU better than msu and um but lost to unc.

NAU is not better than UM or MSU. I think both Montanas would beat NAU by 7-10 if they played. They would also lost to CP by double digits if they played again right now.

1. EWU
2. ISU
3. Cal Poly
4. MSU
5. UM
6. NAU
7-13. Everyone else.

If we are talking about playing teams again ISU would beat EWU by at least a TD as we are way better than when we played you. But we are not talking hypothetically. NAU beat EWU I would put them at the top but they lost to UNC. I know VA was hurt but if you are so dependent on one player than are you really that good? If VA is that important than that shows a lack of balance and shows a team that should be ranked 3rd or 4th.