Big Sky Power Rankings 10-4
Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:26 pm
Hard to believe but we are quickly approaching the halfway point of the season and the conference is getting some separation in the middle between those that are really good and those that are not too good right now. One thing for sure, out of the ones that are pretty good, put two of them on national television and just step aside for a really good show. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parentheses). All are my opinion only.
1. Eastern Washington (3)---Last week, beat Montana at home 34-28, this week at Northern Colorado---The once unstoppable Eagle offense looked to be stopped but how were we to know they were just getting started. A strong come from behind win propels them to the top. They take their show on the road this weekend for a game in the Front Range.
2. Montana (1)---Last week, lost at Eastern Washington 34-28, this week Dixie State (FCS transitional) at home---The Grizzlies contained the high powered Eastern Washington offense for 3 quarters but could to get it down for the whole game. This week, they hope to get back on the winning ways by bringing in an FCS patsy.
3. UC Davis (2)---Last week, beat Idaho at home 27-20, this week at Idaho State---It took the Aggies three quarters before they decided they had had enough and finally put away their opponent in the fourth last week. They now head out on the road to a tough place to play in the conference, even if the home team hasn't won yet.
4. Montana State (4)---Last week, beat Northern Colorado at home 40-7, this week Cal Poly at home---While the good teams were playing things close, the Bobcats were really never threatened in their win last weekend. In what is shaping up to be a really good season, they get another conference test at home again this weekend.
5. Weber State (6)---Last week, won at Cal Poly 38-7, this week bye---Hard to point to the game this past weekend as a must win but the Wildcats needed to start piling up some victories after a rough start to the year and they came through with a good conference road win. They will take this week off before a Friday night tilt the following week.
6. Sacramento State (5)---Last week bye, this week Southern Utah at home---The Hornets were fortunate to get a bye last weekend to regroup and get ready for the stretch run. Eager to stay near the top of the conference, they will take advantage of the bye week and hopefully get back to their winning ways in the conference.
7. Idaho (7)---Last week, lost at UC Davis 27-20, this week Portland State at home---The Vandals went on the road to what seemed to be a better foe and controlled the game for the first three quarters. But the game is four quarters and they could not hold on. They return home this weekend with a winnable game in their building.
8. Northern Arizona (9)---Last week, beat Idaho State at home 48-17, this week bye---After a terrible start to the conference season, the Lumberjacks bounced back with a strong home win. This should prepare them for a good finish in the conference as they take a bye this weekend to get ready for it.
9. Portland State (11)---Last week, won at Southern Utah 20-13, this week at Idaho---The defense had been AWOL all season for the Vikings, but it showed up at a good time last weekend in preserving a conference road win. The question is can it be sustained. They have another tough conference road game this weekend.
10. Northern Colorado (8)---Last week, lost at Montana State 40-7, this week Eastern Washington at home---After good feelings from their first conference game ended up as a win, the Bears headed out to play one of the better teams in the conference and got steamrolled. Now they go back home but they have to play the best team.
11. Cal Poly (10)---Last week, lost to Weber State at home 38-7, this week at Montana State---The Mustangs took another beating last weekend, this time in a home game against one of the heavy hitters in the conference. No time to catch their breaths, they hit the road again with another trip to Big Sky Country in a tough tussle.
12. Southern Utah (12)---Last week, lost to Portland State at home 20-13, this week at Sacramento State---In what was supposed to be their gimme game, the Thunderbirds took one on the chin in their own backyard last weekend. This don't get easier as this weekend, they draw one of the tough teams coming off a bye week and on the road. Yikes!
13. Idaho State (13)---Last week, lost at Northern Arizona 48-17, this week UC Davis at home---The good news is that the Bengals stayed in the game on the road for one quarter, but the last three were not good. They do return home this weekend looking for their first win and hoping to get it against one of the tougher teams.
RECAP: 1-4 moving ahead, 5-6 within reach, 7-8 trying to keep up, 9-13 off the pace.
1. Eastern Washington (3)---Last week, beat Montana at home 34-28, this week at Northern Colorado---The once unstoppable Eagle offense looked to be stopped but how were we to know they were just getting started. A strong come from behind win propels them to the top. They take their show on the road this weekend for a game in the Front Range.
2. Montana (1)---Last week, lost at Eastern Washington 34-28, this week Dixie State (FCS transitional) at home---The Grizzlies contained the high powered Eastern Washington offense for 3 quarters but could to get it down for the whole game. This week, they hope to get back on the winning ways by bringing in an FCS patsy.
3. UC Davis (2)---Last week, beat Idaho at home 27-20, this week at Idaho State---It took the Aggies three quarters before they decided they had had enough and finally put away their opponent in the fourth last week. They now head out on the road to a tough place to play in the conference, even if the home team hasn't won yet.
4. Montana State (4)---Last week, beat Northern Colorado at home 40-7, this week Cal Poly at home---While the good teams were playing things close, the Bobcats were really never threatened in their win last weekend. In what is shaping up to be a really good season, they get another conference test at home again this weekend.
5. Weber State (6)---Last week, won at Cal Poly 38-7, this week bye---Hard to point to the game this past weekend as a must win but the Wildcats needed to start piling up some victories after a rough start to the year and they came through with a good conference road win. They will take this week off before a Friday night tilt the following week.
6. Sacramento State (5)---Last week bye, this week Southern Utah at home---The Hornets were fortunate to get a bye last weekend to regroup and get ready for the stretch run. Eager to stay near the top of the conference, they will take advantage of the bye week and hopefully get back to their winning ways in the conference.
7. Idaho (7)---Last week, lost at UC Davis 27-20, this week Portland State at home---The Vandals went on the road to what seemed to be a better foe and controlled the game for the first three quarters. But the game is four quarters and they could not hold on. They return home this weekend with a winnable game in their building.
8. Northern Arizona (9)---Last week, beat Idaho State at home 48-17, this week bye---After a terrible start to the conference season, the Lumberjacks bounced back with a strong home win. This should prepare them for a good finish in the conference as they take a bye this weekend to get ready for it.
9. Portland State (11)---Last week, won at Southern Utah 20-13, this week at Idaho---The defense had been AWOL all season for the Vikings, but it showed up at a good time last weekend in preserving a conference road win. The question is can it be sustained. They have another tough conference road game this weekend.
10. Northern Colorado (8)---Last week, lost at Montana State 40-7, this week Eastern Washington at home---After good feelings from their first conference game ended up as a win, the Bears headed out to play one of the better teams in the conference and got steamrolled. Now they go back home but they have to play the best team.
11. Cal Poly (10)---Last week, lost to Weber State at home 38-7, this week at Montana State---The Mustangs took another beating last weekend, this time in a home game against one of the heavy hitters in the conference. No time to catch their breaths, they hit the road again with another trip to Big Sky Country in a tough tussle.
12. Southern Utah (12)---Last week, lost to Portland State at home 20-13, this week at Sacramento State---In what was supposed to be their gimme game, the Thunderbirds took one on the chin in their own backyard last weekend. This don't get easier as this weekend, they draw one of the tough teams coming off a bye week and on the road. Yikes!
13. Idaho State (13)---Last week, lost at Northern Arizona 48-17, this week UC Davis at home---The good news is that the Bengals stayed in the game on the road for one quarter, but the last three were not good. They do return home this weekend looking for their first win and hoping to get it against one of the tougher teams.
RECAP: 1-4 moving ahead, 5-6 within reach, 7-8 trying to keep up, 9-13 off the pace.
