Big Sky Power Rankings 9-19

[JALMOND]

For most of the Big Sky schools, non-conference play wrapped up last week and the conference season starts this weekend. As a whole the Big Sky fared well against the FBS Mountain West conference, but did not do well against the Pac-12. But all that changes and everyone has a brand new slate as conference play begins, and conference play will dictate the playoff representation. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). As usual, all up for discussion. Good luck to everyone.

1. Montana (2)---Last week won at Indiana State (Missouri Valley) 49-14, this week Portland State at home---The Grizzlies are looking explosive on both sides of the ball in each of their three non-conference wins. They are clearly ready to play and the rest of the Big Sky better be on notice as they look to regain their top spot.

2. Weber State (3)---Last week beat Utah Tech (WAC) at home 44-14, this week at UC Davis---The Wildcats rode their combination of FBS, FCS and Division II opponents all the way to a perfect record and they are also looking good on both sides of the ball. The only Big Sky team to get an FBS scalp (so far) they are ascending as well.

3. Montana State (1)---Last week lost at Oregon State (FBS Pac-12) 68-28, this week at Eastern Washington---Like most of the Big Sky teams this season, the Bobcats were looking good until they met up with a Pac-12 opponent last weekend, who took them for a backyard beatdown. They will need to recover as conference season starts.

4. Sacramento State (4)---Last week won at Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley) 37-21, this week at Colorado State (FBS Mtn West)---Something good going on in Sac-Town? The Hornets didn't bat a wing as they traveled to the Missouri Valley and got a good win. They will hold off starting conference play as they move up a level to the Mtn West.

5. UC Davis (5)---Last week beat San Diego (Pioneer) at home 43-13, this week Weber State at home---Feeling good now that the Aggies got their first win of the season after playing two tough road games, they will start the conference season with yet another tough game, this time at home, and possibly move up the standings.

6. Eastern Washington (6)---Last week bye, this week Montana State at home---Having a week off to regain their composure and their moxie before starting in on conference play, the Eagles are hoping to start conference play better than the non-conference schedule went. They get a good home test right off the bat.

7. Idaho (7)---Last week beat Drake (Pioneer) at home 42-14, this week at Northern Arizona---The Vandals put together what was probably the best effort a Big Sky team had against the Pac-12, then followed it up with another good showing against the Power 5. Could they be the sleeper in the conference this year? This weekend is a good test.

8. Northern Arizona (8)---Last week lost to North Dakota (Missouri Valley) at home 27-24, this week Idaho at home---The Lumberjacks had a good non-conference home win in their grasp only to see it wiggle away. Still, a good road win has them thinking good thoughts as conference play starts. A good test for them as well.

9. Portland State (9)---Last week bye, this week at Montana---The Vikings took a week off to recover from their Pac-12 beatdown and to get focused on the conference play ahead. The question, did playing two money games to start the season prepare them for conference play, especially in one of the toughest places in the conference?

10. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week won at Lamar (Southland) 21-14, this week Idaho State at home---The Bears went 1-1 against the Southland and had a relatively good performance against the Mountain West between them. One bad game out of the way, they've looked better the last two games. How will that translate to conference play?

11. Cal Poly (10)---Last week lost at South Dakota (Missouri Valley) 38-21, this week bye---The Mustangs closed out their non-conference slate with a tough loss to the Missouri Valley. They have looked fine in games, but the only win was due to some late game heroics in eking out a win over a non-scholly school. They take this week off.

12. Idaho State (12)---Last week lost to Central Arkansas (ASUN) at home 31-16, this week at Northern Colorado---Playing two Mountain West games, then following it up with a home game against a tough opponent still has the Bengals going in to conference play looking for their first win. But they are starting fresh and they could win the opener.

RECAP: 1-5 contenders, 6-9 hopeful, 10-12 anything is possible.

[SDHornet]

1. Weber
2. Sac State
3 - 12: Everyone else

[SuperHornet]

1. BBQ
2. Montana
3. Sac
4. EWU
5. MT State
6. Manure Pile
7. NAU
8. Idalol
9. PSU
10. UNC
11. Cow Poly
12. ID State

[AZGrizFan]

1) Montana
2) Sac
3) Weber
4-12 Interchangeable

[Wildcat Ryan]

My not so educated rankings.
1. Weber State
2. Montana
3. Sac State
4. Montana State
5. UC Davis
6. Idaho
7. Northern Arizona
8. Eastern Washington
9. Cal Poly
10. Portland State
11. Northern Colorado
12. Idaho State

[SDHornet]

1) Montana
2) Sac
3) Weber
4-12 Interchangeable

Bottom 3 look like locks at this point, but yeah a lot to get ironed out still.

[BlackFalkin]

The Big Sky standings entering conference play:

T-1. Montana 3-0
T-1. Weber State 3-0
3. Sacramento State 2-0
4. Montana State 2-1
5. Eastern Washington 1-1
T-6. Cal Poly 1-2
T-6. Idaho 1-2
T-6. Northern Arizona 1-2
T-6. Northern Colorado 1-2
T-6. UC Davis 1-2
11. Portland State 0-2
12. Idaho State 0-3

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