Big Sky Power Rankings 9-9

[JALMOND]

Strange things happen when the conference moves up to play the Mountain West conference and this past week was no exception. Sacramento State, Idaho State and even Northern Colorado all had their Mountain West opponents on the ropes late into the games, only to come up on the short end. Good performances bode well for when conference play begins, but before that, we still have some non-conference games left. Here are this week's power rankings for the conference (last week's rankings in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Two teams sit out this week.

1. Montana (1)---Last week, beat Central Washington (DII) at home 42-17, this week North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) at home---Late to the party, but the Grizzlies got their season started with a solid win at home over a lower division foe. They stay home this week, but the level of competition steps up in a big way with a ranked opponent coming to town.

2. Montana State (2)---Last week lost to South Dakota State (FCS Missouri Valley) at home 30-24 (2OT), this week San Diego (FCS Pioneer)---One cannot fault the Bobcats for toughening up their schedule so far this season, first playing a top tier FBS program then following it up with a top tier FCS program. They bring in a non-scholly team this weekend.

3. Northern Arizona (3)---Last week beat Utah Tech (FCS United) at home 38-31, this week at Southern Utah (FCS United)---The Lumberjacks had their game pretty much locked up early, but had some scary moments down the stretch. They will have to keep their foot on the pedal this weekend as they hit the road for a tough opponent.

4. Sacramento State (5)---Last week lost at Nevada (FBS Mountain West) 20-17, this week Mercyhurst (FCS Northeast)---The Hornets looked to have the game in hand as they were pretty much in control throughout, but a costly late interception sealed their fate. They return to the FCS and bring in an opponent from the Northeast for a tussle.

5. Idaho (4)---Last week beat St. Thomas (FCS Pioneer) at home 37-30, this week Utah Tech (FCS United) at home---The Vandals had to withstand a stubborn team from the non-scholly Pioneer team, but they did emerge with a win. Maybe not what they were expecting after a good showing the week before, but they have another game squad coming in.

6. UC Davis (6)---Last week lost at Washington (FBS Big 10) 70-10, this week bye---While it looks on paper that there might not be a big difference between the Big Sky and the Mountain West, there is a big difference between the Big Sky and the Big 10 and the Aggies had a front row seat for it. They will take this week off to regroup after that assault.

7. Idaho State (8)---Last week lost at New Mexico (FBS Mountain West) 32-22, this week bye---The Bengals looked good in their return to playing a Mountain West opponent, but ultimately dying down the stretch. Instead of playing the FCS, maybe the Bengals should just play all the Mountain West. They will take a week to think about that.

8. Eastern Washington (7)---Last week lost at Boise State (FBS Mountain West) 51-14, this week at Northern Iowa (FCS Missouri Valley)---The Big Sky showed they cam play with most of the Mountain West teams, but as the Eagles found out, Boise State is not one of them. The game was over in a hurry. They head out to Missouri Valley country for a tough one.

9. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week lost at Colorado State (FBS Mountain West) 21-17, this week at South Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley)---The hapless Bears headed next door to their bigger brothers and gave them a much tougher game than what was expected. Have they turned a corner? They head out to a tough Missouri Valley squad this weekend.

10. Weber State (9)---Last week lost at Arizona (FBS Big 12) 48-3, this week at McNeese (FCS Southland)---A tough game awaited the Wildcats last week in another FBS tussle which found themselves on the short end and never recovered. This week marks the start of their FCS slate, heading out to the Southland. This should be a little bit easier.

11. Cal Poly (10)---Last week lost at Utah (FBS Big 12) 63-9, this week Western Oregon (DII) at home---The game Mustangs squad headed out to play a ranked FBS opponent in a tough FBS venue and came up way short. Still, a good measuring stick for this improving team. They bring in a lower division opponent this week for a much easier game.

12. Portland State (12)---Last week lost at North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) 50-20, this week at Hawaii (FBS Mountain West)---The Vikings finally cracked the scoreboard last weekend but still looked really bad overall. They still need a lot of help in all areas. But hey, a trip to Hawaii in awaiting them. Too bad they have to play a football game.

RECAP: 1-6 bunched up with 7-9 just behind. 10-11 falling and 12 in park.

[kalm]

Strange things happen when the conference moves up to play the Mountain West conference and this past week was no exception. Sacramento State, Idaho State and even Northern Colorado all had their Mountain West opponents on the ropes late into the games, only to come up on the short end. Good performances bode well for when conference play begins, but before that, we still have some non-conference games left. Here are this week's power rankings for the conference (last week's rankings in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Two teams sit out this week.

1. Montana (1)---Last week, beat Central Washington (DII) at home 42-17, this week North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) at home---Late to the party, but the Grizzlies got their season started with a solid win at home over a lower division foe. They stay home this week, but the level of competition steps up in a big way with a ranked opponent coming to town.

2. Montana State (2)---Last week lost to South Dakota State (FCS Missouri Valley) at home 30-24 (2OT), this week San Diego (FCS Pioneer)---One cannot fault the Bobcats for toughening up their schedule so far this season, first playing a top tier FBS program then following it up with a top tier FCS program. They bring in a non-scholly team this weekend.

3. Northern Arizona (3)---Last week beat Utah Tech (FCS United) at home 38-31, this week at Southern Utah (FCS United)---The Lumberjacks had their game pretty much locked up early, but had some scary moments down the stretch. They will have to keep their foot on the pedal this weekend as they hit the road for a tough opponent.

4. Sacramento State (5)---Last week lost at Nevada (FBS Mountain West) 20-17, this week Mercyhurst (FCS Northeast)---The Hornets looked to have the game in hand as they were pretty much in control throughout, but a costly late interception sealed their fate. They return to the FCS and bring in an opponent from the Northeast for a tussle.

5. Idaho (4)---Last week beat St. Thomas (FCS Pioneer) at home 37-30, this week Utah Tech (FCS United) at home---The Vandals had to withstand a stubborn team from the non-scholly Pioneer team, but they did emerge with a win. Maybe not what they were expecting after a good showing the week before, but they have another game squad coming in.

6. UC Davis (6)---Last week lost at Washington (FBS Big 10) 70-10, this week bye---While it looks on paper that there might not be a big difference between the Big Sky and the Mountain West, there is a big difference between the Big Sky and the Big 10 and the Aggies had a front row seat for it. They will take this week off to regroup after that assault.

7. Idaho State (8)---Last week lost at New Mexico (FBS Mountain West) 32-22, this week bye---The Bengals looked good in their return to playing a Mountain West opponent, but ultimately dying down the stretch. Instead of playing the FCS, maybe the Bengals should just play all the Mountain West. They will take a week to think about that.

8. Eastern Washington (7)---Last week lost at Boise State (FBS Mountain West) 51-14, this week at Northern Iowa (FCS Missouri Valley)---The Big Sky showed they cam play with most of the Mountain West teams, but as the Eagles found out, Boise State is not one of them. The game was over in a hurry. They head out to Missouri Valley country for a tough one.

9. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week lost at Colorado State (FBS Mountain West) 21-17, this week at South Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley)---The hapless Bears headed next door to their bigger brothers and gave them a much tougher game than what was expected. Have they turned a corner? They head out to a tough Missouri Valley squad this weekend.

10. Weber State (9)---Last week lost at Arizona (FBS Big 12) 48-3, this week at McNeese (FCS Southland)---A tough game awaited the Wildcats last week in another FBS tussle which found themselves on the short end and never recovered. This week marks the start of their FCS slate, heading out to the Southland. This should be a little bit easier.

11. Cal Poly (10)---Last week lost at Utah (FBS Big 12) 63-9, this week Western Oregon (DII) at home---The game Mustangs squad headed out to play a ranked FBS opponent in a tough FBS venue and came up way short. Still, a good measuring stick for this improving team. They bring in a lower division opponent this week for a much easier game.

12. Portland State (12)---Last week lost at North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) 50-20, this week at Hawaii (FBS Mountain West)---The Vikings finally cracked the scoreboard last weekend but still looked really bad overall. They still need a lot of help in all areas. But hey, a trip to Hawaii in awaiting them. Too bad they have to play a football game.

RECAP: 1-6 bunched up with 7-9 just behind. 10-11 falling and 12 in park.

I’d move Idaho. I wanted to see interesting against WAZZU was a fluke or how indicative of how bad the Cougs would be but then they go out and dominate SDSU. St. Thomas has given several quality FCS teams fits despite the schollies.

I like where you have NAU and Montana.