Big Sky Power Rankings 9-7
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 4:25 pm
Wow, what a weekend for the Big Sky. If this is how the season is going to go, this is going to be fun. Great performances abound for almost every team this weekend. Here are this week's power rankings in the Big Sky. Of course all are my opinion only and all open to discussion. I sure there will be plenty of discussion after this past week.
1. Eastern Washington (3)---Last week, lost at Oregon, 61-42, this week at Northern Iowa (Mo Valley)---Even with Adams on the opponent's sideline, the Eagles showed they are not going to relinquish the conference favorite role without a fight. Returning to the FCS this week on the road.
2. Cal Poly (4)---Last week, won at Montana, 20-19, this week at Arizona State (Pac-12)---A game that might have been overlooked as it was the last one of Saturday night's craziness. The Mustangs emerged with a win on the road. Can they carry on the conference's great showing against the Pac-12?
3. Montana (2)---Last week lost to Cal Poly, 20-19, at home, this week, BYE---The Grizzlies followed their great national TV win at home with a puzzling loss at home late. They take a well needed bye before embarking on a trip back East.
4. Montana State (1)---Last week, beat Fort Lewis, 45-14, at home, this week, BYE---The Bobcats overcome a slow start against a DII team at home to get the win. But given how impressive the conference looked last week, they fell down a bit.
5. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week won at Stephen F Austin, 34-28, this week, home against New Mexico Highlands (DII)---The Lumberjacks put the conference on notice that they hope to be near the top by knocking off a strong Southland team. They can't afford to stumble against a DII team, however.
6. Idaho State (5)---Last week, beat Black Hills State, 55-0, this week, home against Portland State---The Bengals got a win as usual at home to a DII team it what amounted to a tune up against the upstart Vikings at home. All of a sudden, this is an important game.
7. North Dakota (9)---Last week won at FBS Wyoming 24-13, this week, home against Drake (Pioneer)---Some may have seen it coming, but still the Dakotans got a very impressive win over an FBS opponent. They need to keep it rolling for a great season, however.
8. Portland State (12)---Last week, won at FBS Washington State, 24-17, this week, at Idaho State---Maybe the Vikings are on to something, like a great season, after getting their first win over the Pac-12, but they need to keep their perspective this weekend.
9. Southern Utah (7)---Last week, lost at Utah State, 12-9, this week, at South Dakota State (Mo Valley)---The Thunderbirds offered a glimpse of things to come in the conference when they came close to beating Utah State. They need to carry it over this weekend for a good win.
10. Sacramento State (8)---Last week, beat Eastern Oregon, 41-20, this week, at Washington (Pac-12)---Big shoes to fill for the Hornets this weekend. After dispatching an NAIA team, they get their turn at the Pac-12, and after this weekend, that bar has been raised.
11. Weber State (10)---Last week, lost at Oregon State, 26-7, this week, at North Dakota State (Mo Valley)---If the Wildcats would have had any semblance of an offense, we could have had another win over the Pac-12. As it is the defense kept the team within striking distance the whole game.
12. UC-Davis (11)---Last week, lost at Nevada, 31-17, this week, home against South Dakota (Mo Valley)---The Aggies put up a strong effort last week that was overshadowed by the outcomes of all the other games. The home opener this weekend, the Aggies need a win.
13. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week, beat Western State, 42-34, this week, at Houston Baptist (Southland)---The Bears are bringing up the rear, but got a win at home last week against a DII team. Things get tough this weekend with their first game against a DI opponent.
Recap: 1, then 2-10 in a big pack, 11-12 not too far behind the pack, 13 a ways off.
1. Eastern Washington (3)---Last week, lost at Oregon, 61-42, this week at Northern Iowa (Mo Valley)---Even with Adams on the opponent's sideline, the Eagles showed they are not going to relinquish the conference favorite role without a fight. Returning to the FCS this week on the road.
2. Cal Poly (4)---Last week, won at Montana, 20-19, this week at Arizona State (Pac-12)---A game that might have been overlooked as it was the last one of Saturday night's craziness. The Mustangs emerged with a win on the road. Can they carry on the conference's great showing against the Pac-12?
3. Montana (2)---Last week lost to Cal Poly, 20-19, at home, this week, BYE---The Grizzlies followed their great national TV win at home with a puzzling loss at home late. They take a well needed bye before embarking on a trip back East.
4. Montana State (1)---Last week, beat Fort Lewis, 45-14, at home, this week, BYE---The Bobcats overcome a slow start against a DII team at home to get the win. But given how impressive the conference looked last week, they fell down a bit.
5. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week won at Stephen F Austin, 34-28, this week, home against New Mexico Highlands (DII)---The Lumberjacks put the conference on notice that they hope to be near the top by knocking off a strong Southland team. They can't afford to stumble against a DII team, however.
6. Idaho State (5)---Last week, beat Black Hills State, 55-0, this week, home against Portland State---The Bengals got a win as usual at home to a DII team it what amounted to a tune up against the upstart Vikings at home. All of a sudden, this is an important game.
7. North Dakota (9)---Last week won at FBS Wyoming 24-13, this week, home against Drake (Pioneer)---Some may have seen it coming, but still the Dakotans got a very impressive win over an FBS opponent. They need to keep it rolling for a great season, however.
8. Portland State (12)---Last week, won at FBS Washington State, 24-17, this week, at Idaho State---Maybe the Vikings are on to something, like a great season, after getting their first win over the Pac-12, but they need to keep their perspective this weekend.
9. Southern Utah (7)---Last week, lost at Utah State, 12-9, this week, at South Dakota State (Mo Valley)---The Thunderbirds offered a glimpse of things to come in the conference when they came close to beating Utah State. They need to carry it over this weekend for a good win.
10. Sacramento State (8)---Last week, beat Eastern Oregon, 41-20, this week, at Washington (Pac-12)---Big shoes to fill for the Hornets this weekend. After dispatching an NAIA team, they get their turn at the Pac-12, and after this weekend, that bar has been raised.
11. Weber State (10)---Last week, lost at Oregon State, 26-7, this week, at North Dakota State (Mo Valley)---If the Wildcats would have had any semblance of an offense, we could have had another win over the Pac-12. As it is the defense kept the team within striking distance the whole game.
12. UC-Davis (11)---Last week, lost at Nevada, 31-17, this week, home against South Dakota (Mo Valley)---The Aggies put up a strong effort last week that was overshadowed by the outcomes of all the other games. The home opener this weekend, the Aggies need a win.
13. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week, beat Western State, 42-34, this week, at Houston Baptist (Southland)---The Bears are bringing up the rear, but got a win at home last week against a DII team. Things get tough this weekend with their first game against a DI opponent.
Recap: 1, then 2-10 in a big pack, 11-12 not too far behind the pack, 13 a ways off.
