Big Sky Power Rankings 10-5
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:35 pm
The calendar says it is October and, with the parity that is running rampant through the conference, we still have about eight teams that think they can win the conference title. Each can make a strong case so it will come down to who can win on the road and who can hold serve at home. A win is good, whether by 3 or 30. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). As usual, all are my opinion only and all open for discussion.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week, bye, this week Cal Poly at home---The Eagles avoided the loss last week by not playing, as if that made a difference. They get back in the swing of things this weekend with a home conference game.
2. Montana (4)---Last week, won at UC-Davis 27-13, this week Weber State at home---The Grizzlies broke through and got a road conference win last week. Maybe not quite as pretty as some people want, but still a road win. They need to keep at it this weekend.
3. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week, beat Montana State at home 49-41, this week at UC-Davis---The Lumberjacks burst through last week with a strong conference win at home that really was not as close as the score indicated. They can't afford to lose on the road however.
4. North Dakota (7)---Last week, won at Portland State 19-17, this week Idaho State at home---A great statement win on the road for the Dakotans as their defense prevailed. To keep a possible magical season going, they can't lose at home this weekend.
5. Cal Poly (5)---Last week, beat Idaho State at home 58-26, this week at Eastern Washington---An offensive explosion triggered the Mustangs to a resounding win at home. They are going to need some of that offensive power this weekend, however.
6. Southern Utah (9)---Last week, won at Weber State 44-0, this week bye---In an odd twist that should have foretold what was going to happen in the conference, the Thunderbirds had a strong performance from both sides of the ball to get a big road win. They have the week off to enjoy it.
7. Montana State (2)---Last week, lost at Northern Arizona 49-41, this week Sacramento State at home---The Bobcats philosophy of having their offense outscore the points the defense gives up took a strong hit this weekend. They are going to have to find some sort of defense somewhere to be competitive.
8. Portland State (3)---Last week, lost to North Dakota at home 19-17, this week at North Texas (C-USA)---The Vikings fine season took a bit of a hit as they fell at home in a strong defensive struggle. They move up a level for FBS game number 2, hoping for the same result as in game #1.
9. Weber State (8)---Last week, lost to Southern Utah at home 44-0, this week at Montana---It had looked like the Wildcats were getting things together, then a perplexing home conference loss had many scratching their heads. They need to recover in a place where that is highly unlikely.
10. UC-Davis (11)--Last week, lost to Montana at home, 27-13, this week Northern Arizona at home---The Aggies have played everyone on their schedule pretty tough, yet they have no wins to show for it. The bad news is that this weekend probably is not going to be much better.
11. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week, won at Sacramento State 27-20, this week bye---No more wondering when the Bears will win a conference game as their defense came up big last week. Still a lack of power on offense, but maybe the defense can carry them.
12. Idaho State (12)---Last week, lost at Cal Poly 58-26, this week at North Dakota---My how the Bengals have fallen. Their defense seems like they can't stop anyone anymore. However, they should be able to keep North Dakota under 50 points. Should being the key word.
13. Sacramento State (10)---Last week, lost to Northern Colorado at home 27-20, this week at Montana State---Losing at home to what was considered to be the worst team in the conference means that the Hornets may just be the worst team, even if they held Northern Colorado's offense to just 6 points.
RECAP: 1 in front, 2-8 just behind, 9-10 off the pace, 11-13 trailing.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week, bye, this week Cal Poly at home---The Eagles avoided the loss last week by not playing, as if that made a difference. They get back in the swing of things this weekend with a home conference game.
2. Montana (4)---Last week, won at UC-Davis 27-13, this week Weber State at home---The Grizzlies broke through and got a road conference win last week. Maybe not quite as pretty as some people want, but still a road win. They need to keep at it this weekend.
3. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week, beat Montana State at home 49-41, this week at UC-Davis---The Lumberjacks burst through last week with a strong conference win at home that really was not as close as the score indicated. They can't afford to lose on the road however.
4. North Dakota (7)---Last week, won at Portland State 19-17, this week Idaho State at home---A great statement win on the road for the Dakotans as their defense prevailed. To keep a possible magical season going, they can't lose at home this weekend.
5. Cal Poly (5)---Last week, beat Idaho State at home 58-26, this week at Eastern Washington---An offensive explosion triggered the Mustangs to a resounding win at home. They are going to need some of that offensive power this weekend, however.
6. Southern Utah (9)---Last week, won at Weber State 44-0, this week bye---In an odd twist that should have foretold what was going to happen in the conference, the Thunderbirds had a strong performance from both sides of the ball to get a big road win. They have the week off to enjoy it.
7. Montana State (2)---Last week, lost at Northern Arizona 49-41, this week Sacramento State at home---The Bobcats philosophy of having their offense outscore the points the defense gives up took a strong hit this weekend. They are going to have to find some sort of defense somewhere to be competitive.
8. Portland State (3)---Last week, lost to North Dakota at home 19-17, this week at North Texas (C-USA)---The Vikings fine season took a bit of a hit as they fell at home in a strong defensive struggle. They move up a level for FBS game number 2, hoping for the same result as in game #1.
9. Weber State (8)---Last week, lost to Southern Utah at home 44-0, this week at Montana---It had looked like the Wildcats were getting things together, then a perplexing home conference loss had many scratching their heads. They need to recover in a place where that is highly unlikely.
10. UC-Davis (11)--Last week, lost to Montana at home, 27-13, this week Northern Arizona at home---The Aggies have played everyone on their schedule pretty tough, yet they have no wins to show for it. The bad news is that this weekend probably is not going to be much better.
11. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week, won at Sacramento State 27-20, this week bye---No more wondering when the Bears will win a conference game as their defense came up big last week. Still a lack of power on offense, but maybe the defense can carry them.
12. Idaho State (12)---Last week, lost at Cal Poly 58-26, this week at North Dakota---My how the Bengals have fallen. Their defense seems like they can't stop anyone anymore. However, they should be able to keep North Dakota under 50 points. Should being the key word.
13. Sacramento State (10)---Last week, lost to Northern Colorado at home 27-20, this week at Montana State---Losing at home to what was considered to be the worst team in the conference means that the Hornets may just be the worst team, even if they held Northern Colorado's offense to just 6 points.
RECAP: 1 in front, 2-8 just behind, 9-10 off the pace, 11-13 trailing.
