Big Sky Power Rankings 9-30

[JALMOND]

Opening week of Big Sky conference play and we got a glimpse of what some teams are made of. Granted it is only one week and, while some what to crown the champs right away, there still is a lot of football left to play. Here are this week's Big Sky conference power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only, of course. Snow is already flying in some parts of the conference but we still have a long way to go.

1. Montana (3)---Last week, won at UC Davis 45-20, this week Idaho State at home---Some things may be right. Hauck is back at coaching and the Grizzlies are at the top. The question is can they stay there. After getting a good road win, they come home for a tussle with the Bengals.

2. Weber State (2)---Last week, beat Northern Iowa (Mo Valley) at home 29-17, this week at Idaho---While most of the conference started conference play, the Wildcats were dismantling one of the Valley's best teams at home. They start their play this weekend at a tough place.

3. Montana State (4)---Last week, beat Northern Arizona at home 49-31. this week at Cal Poly---Things were not going well for the Bobcats early on last week but a big fourth quarter saved the win for them. They get a trip to California this weekend to try to continue winning.

4. UC Davis (1)---Last week lost to Montana at home 45-20, this week at North Dakota---The Aggies reign at the top was short lived as they ran into a Montana buzzsaw. They make a return to the state of North Dakota seeking a win to jump start the season.

5. Eastern Washington (5)---Last week beat North Dakota at home 35-20, this week at Sacramento State---The Eagles finally broke through and got a much needed win at home. Has the defense come to life? They'll need them this week as they face a tough Hornet team on the road.

6. Sacramento State (6)---Last week bye, this week Eastern Washington at home---The Hornets have started out fast from the gate and, with two weeks to prepare, they get the mighty Eastern Washington team on their home field. This would be a big win for them.

7. Idaho State (9)---Last week beat Portland State at home 51-24, this week at Montana---The Bengals look to have found a quarterback and, with what they had returning, could be a formidable foe in the coming weeks. They do have to venture on the road for a tough one this week.

8. Northern Arizona (7)---Last week lost at Montana State 49-31, this week Northern Colorado at home---For three quarters the Lumberjacks were feeling really good about themselves. Then a terrible fourth doomed their chances for a win. They come home eager to make up for it.

9. Cal Poly (11)---Last week won at Southern Utah 24-21, this week Montana State at home---The Mustangs clawed their way to a tougher than expected road win last week. They now return home for a date with one of the conference's elite teams hoping for a good showing.

10. Idaho (8)---Last week lost at Northern Colorado 27-24, this week Weber State at home---The highs and lows of the conference. The Vandals were feeling pretty good about themselves after winning at home, then saw victory slip through their grasp on the road. They go home for a tough one.

11. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week beat Idaho at home 27-24, this week at Northern Arizona---The Bears never gave up, both on the season and in last week's game and came through with a good win. But now a road trip awaits them. Can they continue their winning ways?

12. Portland State (10)---Last week lost at Idaho State 51-24, this week Southern Utah at home---The Vikings looked anything but ready to go and were quickly staring at a big deficit on the road. They get their conference home opener this weekend, hoping for a change.

13. Southern Utah (12)---Last week lost to Cal Poly at home 24-21, this week at Portland State---The Thunderbirds gave a game effort last weekend, but still fell a bit short at home. They head out on the road to a struggling Portland State team. Can they get the win?

RECAP: 1-2 virtual dead heat, 3-6 just behind them, 7-8 holding steady, 9-13 bringing up the rear.

[kalm]

Eastern got Keith Moore back at DT and Jack Sendelbach at LB which freed up Dylan Leadbetter and the DE’s. Once OJoh is healthy, the D should be improved by 10 ppg.

[AZGrizFan]

I've come to the conclusion that how a team plays against an FBS opponent is a fairly poor indicator of how they'll do the rest of the season.

[SuperHornet]

BBQ
Griz
Sac
EWU
Kitties
Manure Pile
NAU
Cow Poly
ISU
PSU
Idalol
UNC
SUU