Big Sky Power Rankings 9-25

[JALMOND]

The first week of conference play is in the books in the Big Sky and things did go pretty much as expected with the notable exception being Northern Arizona's win over Montana. Questions are beginning to be answered as the games begin to count and what was thought to be a six-team sprint is turning into a three or four team race to the top. Another round of conference games this weekend with all the teams playing, and those at home last week are all on the road. Here are this week's power rankings for the conference (last week's rankings in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Here we go.

1. Montana State (2)---Last week won at Weber State 40-0, this week Portland State at home---Did you know that the Bobcats quarterback is down with an injury? You wouldn't know it after last week when they went on the road and dismantled a good conference foe. They return home this week for a game that should not be as difficult as last week, which was not much difficulty.

2. Idaho (3)---Last week beat Sacramento State at home 36-27, this week at Eastern Washington---The Vandals have a good team. That is for sure. They didn't bat an eye last week, welcoming one of the heavy hitters into their cozy confines and getting a strong win. Now they head out for a short trip to play the conference upstart. Can they keep the good feelings going on the road?

3. Sacramento State (1)---Last week lost at Idaho 36-27, this week Northern Arizona at home---Feeling good after beating up on the Pac-12 and starting conference play, but the Hornets took one on the chin last weekend. Returning home smarting from the loss, they need to refocus as a strong conference opponent comes calling with an impressive win already under their belt.

4. Eastern Washington (5)---Last week won at UC Davis 27-24, this week Idaho at home---No one was talking much about the Eagles heading into the season, but after a daunting non-conference and now an impressive conference road win, they are finally getting some recognition. With another tough game on the horizon, they will look to make even more noise within the conference walls.

5. UC Davis (7)---Last week lost to Eastern Washington at home 27-24, this week at Cal Poly---What to make of this Aggies team? After an up and down non-conference slate, they were poised to get the year off to a good start with a home date against the conference upstart, but it was them that took a loss. Now they head out on the road for a game that they should win. They should win.

6. Montana (4)---Last week lost at Northern Arizona 28-14, this week Idaho State at home---Heading into a place where weird things are known to happen, but the Grizzlies just seemed to find ways to win and they were expected to come back home with a win. However, things did not go as planned and they now seek their first conference win at home this weekend. This was a gimme, but is it now?

7. Weber State (6)---Last week lost to Montana State at home 40-0, this week at Northern Colorado---Coming home after their thrashing to the Pac-12 was supposed to be a good thing for the Wildcats, but the game was anything but good for them. Playing one of the top conference teams at home, they needed that game and they didn't get it. They should get that conference win this weekend.

8. Portland State (8)---Last week beat Cal Poly at home 59-21, this week at Montana State---Playing the FBS twice then the NAIA means a lot of questions are not resolved, but the Vikings came out and were dominate at home in their conference opener. Playing one of the conference bottom dwellers is one thing, but they now head out on the road and play one of the conference heavyweights.

9. Northern Arizona (9)---Last week beat Montana at home 28-14, this week at Sacramento State---It seemed like the Lumberjacks were going through the motions in non-conference, then they put away one of the conference powers with a strong home win. You want to be playing your best in conference play and they did that last week. They have to keep it up this weekend with another power on the docket.

10. Idaho State (10)---Last week beat Northern Colorado at home 35-21, this week at Montana---Guess what? The Bengals are 1-0 in conference play after their win last weekend, which puts them at the top of the conference standings. Can they stay there? They have to get by a tough road date this weekend against one of the conference mainstays. But there is a chance, right?

11. Cal Poly (11)---Last week lost at Portland State 59-21, this week UC Davis at home---Any chance that the Mustangs had in emerging victorious last weekend disappeared right after the opening kickoff, with things going sour soon after that. They will have a chance to right the ship and get a win, but it may prove to be more difficult than last week, even with the game at home.

12. Northern Colorado (12)---Last week lost at Idaho State 35-21, this week Weber State at home---In the conference battle for the basement, the Bears came out on the bottom and therefore earned the right to claim the basement as their own. How long they stay there remains to be seen. Things do not seem to be improving as they get one of the conference bigwigs this weekend.

RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4 keeping up, 5-9 in a bunch, then 10-11 with 12 a step behind.

[uofmman1122]

I would move Montana to #9 and bump up Weber, PSU and NAU.