Final Big Sky Power Rankings
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 10:37 am
And that is a wrap on the regular season. So many surprises and so many heartbreaks. Eastern Washington, Montana and Montana State move on to the playoffs and whether Idaho State should have as well will continue to be debated. Here are the final Big Sky power rankings for 2014. Good luck to the Eagles, Griz and Cats.
1. Eastern Washington Eagles (1)---The Eagles finally pulled away from their Dam Cup rivals Portland State in the second half on the road last weekend to get a strong win. They now have a bye in the first round and wait for the winner between Montana and San Diego.
2. Montana Grizzlies (4)---The Grizzlies may have needed a win over Montana State in the Brawl of the Wild to get in and they did not put any doubt into in, closing that door in a hurry. They are now in and play a home playoff game against San Diego.
3. Montana State Bobcats (2)---The Bobcats must have felt like they were in anyway and did not bother to show up for their Brawl of the Wild game at Montana. They still made it in the playoffs and will play Missouri Valley power South Dakota State at home.
4. Idaho State Bengals (3)---Last weekend, the Bengals had to contend with rejuvenated Weber State, getting a home win. Still, even with close losses on the road at both Eastern Washington and Montana State, the Bengals ended up on the outside of the playoffs.
5. Cal Poly Mustangs (5)---The Mustangs chances for the playoffs as well as their conference season went away with a loss two weeks ago against UC-Davis, leaving them to take care of Pioneer League representative, San Diego last week. Their season is done.
6. Sacramento State Hornets (7)---The Hornets took care of business in the Causeway Classic in great fashion, putting away their rival, UC-Davis. They end the season in a good way, finishing with three straight wins and prepare for next year.
7. Southern Utah Thunderbirds (8)---It seems the Thunderbirds had been trying to wreck someone's season, yet came up short so many times this year. However, in their last game at Northern Arizona, they set back the Lumberjacks to close out with a win.
8. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (6)---Even with their struggles on the road this season, the Lumberjacks had a shot at the conference title and the playoffs heading in to their last game of the season. However, they could not put away Southern Utah at home and their season came to a painful end.
9. North Dakota (10)---The No-Names, with nothing to lose, headed out to Northern Colorado for their last game of the season and got a good road win. That and their win the previous week against Northern Arizona has them feeling good heading in to next year.
10. Weber State Wildcats (9)---The Wildcats tried to get the upset win last weekend at Idaho State but could not get over the top. Still, they recovered nicely at the end of the year and they have to feel good about themselves going into next season.
11. UC-Davis Aggies (11)---The Aggies put up quite the struggle against their Causeway Classic rival Sacramento State last weekend but could not come out on top. Still, this game and their road win the previous week has them feeling good.
12. Portland State Vikings (12)---A tall order for the Vikings last Friday heading into the Dam Cup against Eastern Washington, but like so many games this season, they were in still in it in the third quarter. So many what-ifs for this team will make a long offseason.
13. Northern Colorado Bears (13)---Some good things and so many bad things did the Bears in, culminating in their home loss in the last game to North Dakota. Not really the way they wanted to go out and they also have questions going in the offseason.
RECAP: 1, then 2-4 too close to call, 5 alone, then 6-8 too close to call, 9-11 in a group behind them, then 12-13 in back.
1. Eastern Washington Eagles (1)---The Eagles finally pulled away from their Dam Cup rivals Portland State in the second half on the road last weekend to get a strong win. They now have a bye in the first round and wait for the winner between Montana and San Diego.
2. Montana Grizzlies (4)---The Grizzlies may have needed a win over Montana State in the Brawl of the Wild to get in and they did not put any doubt into in, closing that door in a hurry. They are now in and play a home playoff game against San Diego.
3. Montana State Bobcats (2)---The Bobcats must have felt like they were in anyway and did not bother to show up for their Brawl of the Wild game at Montana. They still made it in the playoffs and will play Missouri Valley power South Dakota State at home.
4. Idaho State Bengals (3)---Last weekend, the Bengals had to contend with rejuvenated Weber State, getting a home win. Still, even with close losses on the road at both Eastern Washington and Montana State, the Bengals ended up on the outside of the playoffs.
5. Cal Poly Mustangs (5)---The Mustangs chances for the playoffs as well as their conference season went away with a loss two weeks ago against UC-Davis, leaving them to take care of Pioneer League representative, San Diego last week. Their season is done.
6. Sacramento State Hornets (7)---The Hornets took care of business in the Causeway Classic in great fashion, putting away their rival, UC-Davis. They end the season in a good way, finishing with three straight wins and prepare for next year.
7. Southern Utah Thunderbirds (8)---It seems the Thunderbirds had been trying to wreck someone's season, yet came up short so many times this year. However, in their last game at Northern Arizona, they set back the Lumberjacks to close out with a win.
8. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (6)---Even with their struggles on the road this season, the Lumberjacks had a shot at the conference title and the playoffs heading in to their last game of the season. However, they could not put away Southern Utah at home and their season came to a painful end.
9. North Dakota (10)---The No-Names, with nothing to lose, headed out to Northern Colorado for their last game of the season and got a good road win. That and their win the previous week against Northern Arizona has them feeling good heading in to next year.
10. Weber State Wildcats (9)---The Wildcats tried to get the upset win last weekend at Idaho State but could not get over the top. Still, they recovered nicely at the end of the year and they have to feel good about themselves going into next season.
11. UC-Davis Aggies (11)---The Aggies put up quite the struggle against their Causeway Classic rival Sacramento State last weekend but could not come out on top. Still, this game and their road win the previous week has them feeling good.
12. Portland State Vikings (12)---A tall order for the Vikings last Friday heading into the Dam Cup against Eastern Washington, but like so many games this season, they were in still in it in the third quarter. So many what-ifs for this team will make a long offseason.
13. Northern Colorado Bears (13)---Some good things and so many bad things did the Bears in, culminating in their home loss in the last game to North Dakota. Not really the way they wanted to go out and they also have questions going in the offseason.
RECAP: 1, then 2-4 too close to call, 5 alone, then 6-8 too close to call, 9-11 in a group behind them, then 12-13 in back.
