Big Sky Power Rankings 11-2

[JALMOND]

Finally we are getting some things straight. Or one thing anyway. The top dog is pretty much decided, but the fight is behind them. Hang on. We only have three weeks to sort all this out. Teams will be delighted and others will be upset. This week's power rankings in the Big Sky. All are my opinion only and all are open for discussion. This week (last week).

1. Montana (1)---Winner of THE big game in the conference, maybe all year. The Grizzlies pretty much did not give Weber State any chance, jumping on them from the start. As a result, the Grizzlies are firmly entrenched in the driver's seat. It is not a given, but it is pretty much in the bag. Hope for the conference is for the Grizzlies to start losing games. This week is Idaho State. Not much hope.

2. Weber State (2)---Says a lot about the Montana mystique for the Wildcats to totally blow the game last week against Montana, yet still stay in the number two position. The Wildcats picked the worst time to play probably their worst game of the year. The also have to win out in order to try to get an at large berth in the playoffs. Tall order for sure. They will get an extra week this week to think about the Montana game. Is that really a good thing?

3. Eastern Washington (4)---How do you end a three game losing streak to an opposing team? Jump on them from the start and not let them get anything going. That is just how the Eagles ended their streak against the Vikings last week. Seattle was very kind for the Eagles and the trip home was a joyful one. Also, no more postseason ban on the team so that feels good, too. The Eagles will take this weekend off to enjoy this feeling.

4. Northern Arizona (3)---Not being mentioned much last week was the notion that the Jacks had started last year on a tear, and then from Halloween on, they could not get anything going right. Ironically, last weekend was Halloween, and last weekend, they lost on the road to Sacramento State. The beginning of the end? The Jacks hope not, but this looks very familiar. Can they get back on the good side? This week, they head to SEC country and Herrick's old school, Mississippi. Not too promising, is it.

5. Montana State (5)---The token Idaho State opponent last weekend, and consequently, a win for the Bobcats. To put as many points on the board (41) that the Bobcats did looks like the offense is finally on track. Or it could be that the Idaho State defense gave up those points as usual. Which was it? This week, the Bobcats try to keep in the midst of a playoff berth as they head to Portland State. Bobcats keep rolling?

6. Sacramento State (6)---Every week the Hornets felt like they needed a big win. Every week they get closer than the previous week. Then last weekend, they finally put it all together and got a great win at home against Northern Arizona. Surprising, maybe, but they have to think they finally have it going. This weekend they head to Northern Colorado to try to keep it rolling. Will they?

7. Northern Colorado (8)---After a year of struggling to get a win, sometimes it feels good to go against someone you know you can beat. That is what the Bears found themselves in last week, playing South Dakota at home, where they have not lost to the Coyotes since 1988. In the end, the streak continues and the Bears got the win. The question is, can they build on it? This weekend, they welcome Sacramento State to Greeley. Have they turned the corner?

8. Portland State (7)---So how do you get 10 points without a touchdown? How about the crazy idea of 2 field goals and 2 safeties. Lost in the notion of the Vikings scoring 10 points last weekend was the fact that the once mighty offense did not score a touchdown against Eastern Washington. Obvious, that the Vikings have no one to steer the ship. This weekend, Montana State comes to town, and with them, the idea that the Vikings may have more of a terrible offense than the Bobcats at this point. Hard to imagine.

9. Idaho State (9)---The Bengals come in to Montana State winless, and they leave Montana State, still winless. They showed no offense and combined it with no defense against a team that was struggling as well. A new game can bring new opportunities for a win, especially when you have nothing to lose. Maybe that is what the Bengals need. This week they host Montana. Maybe opportunity can only take you so far.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Looks good Jalmond, but why do you not have Weber dropping one? They got crushed by the Griz...

[JALMOND]

Looks good Jalmond, but why do you not have Weber dropping one? They got crushed by the Griz...

I was thinking about it, then I realized if I did, I would be dropping them below the team they throttled on the road. EWU still has not done anything to warrant moving them above Weber, not with the thrashing in Cheney the Wildcats gave them. Weber's loss, however bad at Montana, was at Montana, a tough place for any team to play (any team other than EWU), and was not as bad as EWU's loss at home to the same Weber team.

I thought the only team I could move past Weber if they lost to Montana was NAU. Then the Jacks lost to Sac State so I saw that I could still keep Weber at #2, particularly after moving EWU to #3. Both WSU and EWU having bye weeks, I don't think they will be moving this week, but you never know. Montana could lose to Idaho State ( ). Then again, likely not.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Looks good Jalmond, but why do you not have Weber dropping one? They got crushed by the Griz...

I was thinking about it, then I realized if I did, I would be dropping them below the team they throttled on the road. EWU still has not done anything to warrant moving them above Weber, not with the thrashing in Cheney the Wildcats gave them. Weber's loss, however bad at Montana, was at Montana, a tough place for any team to play (any team other than EWU), and was not as bad as EWU's loss at home to the same Weber team.

I thought the only team I could move past Weber if they lost to Montana was NAU. Then the Jacks lost to Sac State so I saw that I could still keep Weber at #2, particularly after moving EWU to #3. Both WSU and EWU having bye weeks, I don't think they will be moving this week, but you never know. Montana could lose to Idaho State ( ). Then again, likely not.

Oh. I guess I was always under the impression that you ranked them according to what they did that week, not comprehensively. Even so, I'd argue a 21 point loss by #2 to #1 equalizes an 18 point loss by #3 to #2. Then #3's win over #5 would bump them ahead of #2's loss to #5 (Weber's home loss too).

[BlackFalkin]

1. Montana .............(5-0) 8-0
2. Eastern Washington...(5-2) 6-3
...Weber State ...........(5-2) 5-4
4. Northern Arizona.......(4-2) 5-3

Hey Jalmond, wtf are you talking about? Eastern & Weber are tied for second....Weber has 4 losses. Oh yea Weber fans... remember what I said last week about losing 2 of your next 3 games. Cal Poly & NAU coming up... One more loss & Eastern sneaks in the back door & and you're done...

[grizband]

1. Montana .............(5-0) 8-0
2. Eastern Washington...(5-2) 6-3
...Weber State ...........(5-2) 5-4
4. Northern Arizona.......(4-2) 5-3

Hey Jalmond, wtf are you talking about? Eastern & Weber are tied for second....Weber has 4 losses. Oh yea Weber fans... remember what I said last week about losing 2 of your next 3 games. Cal Poly & NAU coming up... One more loss & Eastern sneaks in the back door & and you're done...

I believe the tie breaker is head to head conference games, not total number of loses. In this instance, since Weber beat EWU, they have the tiebreaker for second place in the conference standings.

[JALMOND]

I was thinking about it, then I realized if I did, I would be dropping them below the team they throttled on the road. EWU still has not done anything to warrant moving them above Weber, not with the thrashing in Cheney the Wildcats gave them. Weber's loss, however bad at Montana, was at Montana, a tough place for any team to play (any team other than EWU), and was not as bad as EWU's loss at home to the same Weber team.

I thought the only team I could move past Weber if they lost to Montana was NAU. Then the Jacks lost to Sac State so I saw that I could still keep Weber at #2, particularly after moving EWU to #3. Both WSU and EWU having bye weeks, I don't think they will be moving this week, but you never know. Montana could lose to Idaho State ( ). Then again, likely not.

Oh. I guess I was always under the impression that you ranked them according to what they did that week, not comprehensively. Even so, I'd argue a 21 point loss by #2 to #1 equalizes an 18 point loss by #3 to #2. Then #3's win over #5 would bump them ahead of #2's loss to #5 (Weber's home loss too).

Beginning of the year is a lot of speculation, by the end of the year, the speculation has turned to fact. I do consider a past win, and a past road win gets a lot of consideration. Takes a lot to try to evaluate if a past win was a fluke. Right now, my opinion is Weber's win at Cheney was no fluke (and still isn't) regardless of how they did against the Griz. Same reasoning for not moving MSU up past NAU (something I did consider after NAU's loss to Sac State). Both MSU and EWU had big wins over less that stellar competition (the two bottom teams), but should that be enough to look past the two home losses to WSU and NAU? I'd say give it another week or two.

[BlackFalkin]

1. Montana .............(5-0) 8-0
2. Eastern Washington...(5-2) 6-3
...Weber State ...........(5-2) 5-4
4. Northern Arizona.......(4-2) 5-3

Hey Jalmond, wtf are you talking about? Eastern & Weber are tied for second....Weber has 4 losses. Oh yea Weber fans... remember what I said last week about losing 2 of your next 3 games. Cal Poly & NAU coming up... One more loss & Eastern sneaks in the back door & and you're done...

I believe the tie breaker is head to head conference games, not total number of loses. In this instance, since Weber beat EWU, they have the tiebreaker for second place in the conference standings.

Grizband dont be an idiot, if Weber losses ONE MORE GAME, ewu slides into second. next time read the entire post.

[native]

Nice job once again, JALMOND.

Not surprised to see Weber hold on to #2, but the Eagles fans are correct that is a precarious position that could be easily lost.

Even this late in the season, there are still BIG games for both WSU and EWU which will determine of the Big Sky is to have a snowball's chance to get a second bid to the post season. One of these two teams MUST win out. If it's Weber, then Weber gets the nod due to the head-to-head. If Weber slips once more and Eastern Washington wins out, the Eagles should get the at-large.

Great game, Griz! Kick the crap out of everyone else in the post season until you get to see us again.

Congrats to the Hornets for pulling off the upset of NAU, proving once again that the Big Sky is a tough conference!

Special CONGRATS to the Northern Colorado Bears for winning a second out of conference game and boosting the conference strength of the Big Sky!

[putter]

nice analysis Jalmond. EWU and Weber hold their fate in their hands. Both need to win our and win out convincingly to make a statement to the commmittee. The Big Sky needs to get 2 into the playoffs

[weberwildcat]

1. Montana .............(5-0) 8-0
2. Eastern Washington...(5-2) 6-3
...Weber State ...........(5-2) 5-4
4. Northern Arizona.......(4-2) 5-3

Hey Jalmond, wtf are you talking about? Eastern & Weber are tied for second....Weber has 4 losses. Oh yea Weber fans... remember what I said last week about losing 2 of your next 3 games. Cal Poly & NAU coming up... One more loss & Eastern sneaks in the back door & and you're done...

Ya nice prediction Blackfalcon you really told us...what about us blowing you away for your homecoming? So what happens if we tie for 2nd? So one more WSU loss and EWU "sneaks in the back door and WSU's done"?

Uh, I believe EWU still has games left: @ SUU, @ NAU. Why woudl you assume those are wins?

[weberwildcat]

I believe the tie breaker is head to head conference games, not total number of loses. In this instance, since Weber beat EWU, they have the tiebreaker for second place in the conference standings.

Grizband dont be an idiot, if Weber losses ONE MORE GAME, ewu slides into second. next time read the entire post.

And its not possible that EWU will lose to either @ SUU or @ NAU

[weberwildcat]

I don't think NAU will roll over and die for WSU and EWU.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

1. Montana .............(5-0) 8-0
2. Eastern Washington...(5-2) 6-3
...Weber State ...........(5-2) 5-4
4. Northern Arizona.......(4-2) 5-3

Hey Jalmond, wtf are you talking about? Eastern & Weber are tied for second....Weber has 4 losses. Oh yea Weber fans... remember what I said last week about losing 2 of your next 3 games. Cal Poly & NAU coming up... One more loss & Eastern sneaks in the back door & and you're done...

Ya nice prediction Blackfalcon you really told us...what about us blowing you away for your homecoming? So what happens if we tie for 2nd? So one more WSU loss and EWU "sneaks in the back door and WSU's done"?

Uh, I believe EWU still has games left: @ SUU, @ NAU. Why woudl you assume those are wins?

Great fact checking there... we beat MSU for our homecoming you fucknut. EWU's performance against WSU was equivalent to WSU's performance against UM... choked. EWU on the other hand beat MSU unlike Dweeber, and we actually gave the Griz a game in Missoula. Storyline of the WSU season: Shitting their pants when the game's on the line. (Well except for this last weekend... the team would have had to shown up first before they could shit their pants. Instead, they just left the team in Ogden).


I'm not assuming wins against SUU and NAU, but I feel confident that we can win and that the team is in the right mindset to do so. NAU choked against Sac, whereas EWU crushed them (both games in Sacramento). SUU barely lost to NAU, so that puts them a fraction below them. Like I said, I like our chances.

[weberwildcat]

Ya nice prediction Blackfalcon you really told us...what about us blowing you away for your homecoming? So what happens if we tie for 2nd? So one more WSU loss and EWU "sneaks in the back door and WSU's done"?

Uh, I believe EWU still has games left: @ SUU, @ NAU. Why woudl you assume those are wins?

Great fact checking there... we beat MSU for our homecoming you ****. EWU's performance against WSU was equivalent to WSU's performance against UM... choked. EWU on the other hand beat MSU unlike Dweeber, and we actually gave the Griz a game in Missoula. Storyline of the WSU season: Shitting their pants when the game's on the line. (Well except for this last weekend... the team would have had to shown up first before they could **** their pants. Instead, they just left the team in Ogden).


I'm not assuming wins against SUU and NAU, but I feel confident that we can win and that the team is in the right mindset to do so. NAU choked against Sac, whereas EWU crushed them (both games in Sacramento). SUU barely lost to NAU, so that puts them a fraction below them. Like I said, I like our chances.

My trash talking was only intended for Blackfalcon who's always running his mouth to everyone. I would love to have a real convo with fans over the age of 14 though any day. I would really love these forums if we had a rule that you had to be 18 to use them. There is no way to monitor this though.

I'm not saying EWU's a joke, you have a very good team. I have no reason to not want to see big sky teams succeed. All of our school have immature fans, I am trying to ignore them.

[kalm]

I would love to have a real convo with fans over the age of 14 though any day. I would really love these forums if we had a rule that you had to be 18 to use them. There is no way to monitor this though.

I'm not saying EWU's a joke, you have a very good team. I have no reason to not want to see big sky teams succeed. All of our school have immature fans, I am trying to ignore them.

Says the over 14 year old that uses the word "convo".

I understand Jalmond's point but would probably rank EWU and Weber as a tie.

And what about MSU? They run the table and we're definitely talking about 2 at large bids.

The same might be true for an 11-0 Griz, 8-3 EWU, and 7-4 Weber.

[DukeJack]

I believe the tie breaker is head to head conference games, not total number of loses. In this instance, since Weber beat EWU, they have the tiebreaker for second place in the conference standings.

Alright, I've been trying my best going into grad school with an open mind about the Big Sky, but I still have some questions. How can head-to-head be the tiebreaker when for there are eight conference games for each school? For example, School A goes 7-1 including a victory over School B but lost to School C. School B beat School C, but lost to A. In this case, shouldn't A be the outright champion or am I missing something painfully easy?

I know this exact scenario played out last season, but don't understand why Weber wasn't the champion, instead of co-champs, as head-to-head would suggest. It's easy enough for this kind of thing to happen in the CAA, but in a conference schedule where everyone plays everyone else, I don't understand how it happens or what rules allow it to be.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I believe the tie breaker is head to head conference games, not total number of loses. In this instance, since Weber beat EWU, they have the tiebreaker for second place in the conference standings.

Alright, I've been trying my best going into grad school with an open mind about the Big Sky, but I still have some questions. How can head-to-head be the tiebreaker when for there are eight conference games for each school? For example, School A goes 7-1 including a victory over School B but lost to School C. School B beat School C, but lost to A. In this case, shouldn't A be the outright champion or am I missing something painfully easy?

I know this exact scenario played out last season, but don't understand why Weber wasn't the champion, instead of co-champs, as head-to-head would suggest. It's easy enough for this kind of thing to happen in the CAA, but in a conference schedule where everyone plays everyone else, I don't understand how it happens or what rules allow it to be.

They share the Championship by virtue of tying but the auto bid is awarded to the team that won the head to head competition. The NCAA doesn't follow BSC rules as they have their own rankings that they keep for the playoff committee and the Griz lost to Weber in the early part of the season and had a chance to climb back up in their rankings while Weber lost in the final game to knock themselves out of a possible seed in the playoffs.

[DukeJack]

They share the Championship by virtue of tying but the auto bid is awarded to the team that won the head to head competition. The NCAA doesn't follow BSC rules as they have their own rankings that they keep for the playoff committee and the Griz lost to Weber in the early part of the season and had a chance to climb back up in their rankings while Weber lost in the final game to knock themselves out of a possible seed in the playoffs.

Right, I understand the NCAA operates in a vacuum in the way they administrate and decide things, but I don't think you really answered my question, or I just couldn't pull it out of your response. Montana and Weber tied, both finishing 7-1 in conference, but Weber beat Montana.

So to rephrase, does head-to-head determine the Big Sky champ or not in such a case? This would seem to indicate that it doesn't.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

They share the Championship by virtue of tying but the auto bid is awarded to the team that won the head to head competition. The NCAA doesn't follow BSC rules as they have their own rankings that they keep for the playoff committee and the Griz lost to Weber in the early part of the season and had a chance to climb back up in their rankings while Weber lost in the final game to knock themselves out of a possible seed in the playoffs.

Right, I understand the NCAA operates in a vacuum in the way they administrate and decide things, but I don't think you really answered my question, or I just couldn't pull it out of your response. Montana and Weber tied, both finishing 7-1 in conference, but Weber beat Montana.

So to rephrase, does head-to-head determine the Big Sky champ or not in such a case? This would seem to indicate that it doesn't.

Head to head determines who gets the autobid but if they have an equal BSC record then they share the championship. The extra reward for winning the head to head is that you get the autobid.

[cats2506]

They share the Championship by virtue of tying but the auto bid is awarded to the team that won the head to head competition. The NCAA doesn't follow BSC rules as they have their own rankings that they keep for the playoff committee and the Griz lost to Weber in the early part of the season and had a chance to climb back up in their rankings while Weber lost in the final game to knock themselves out of a possible seed in the playoffs.

Right, I understand the NCAA operates in a vacuum in the way they administrate and decide things, but I don't think you really answered my question, or I just couldn't pull it out of your response. Montana and Weber tied, both finishing 7-1 in conference, but Weber beat Montana.

So to rephrase, does head-to-head determine the Big Sky champ or not in such a case? This would seem to indicate that it doesn't.

In the Big Sky, teams with the same record that tie for first are awarded Co-Champions, the head to head doesnt count. But for the Auto bid the head to head does count, if 3 or mor tie they will eliminate any based on head to head before moving to other criteria.

so the answer is no, head to head does not determine the champ, but it does determine the autobid.

[DukeJack]

In the Big Sky, teams with the same record that tie for first are awarded Co-Champions, the head to head doesnt count. But for the Auto bid the head to head does count, if 3 or mor tie they will eliminate any based on head to head before moving to other criteria.

so the answer is no, head to head does not determine the champ, but it does determine the autobid.

Got it, thanks. Doesn't sit perfectly will with me, but that's the answer I was looking for.

[cats2506]

In the Big Sky, teams with the same record that tie for first are awarded Co-Champions, the head to head doesnt count. But for the Auto bid the head to head does count, if 3 or mor tie they will eliminate any based on head to head before moving to other criteria.

so the answer is no, head to head does not determine the champ, but it does determine the autobid.

Got it, thanks. Doesn't sit perfectly will with me, but that's the answer I was looking for.

It doesnt sit perfectly with me either but, it is what it is. Of course if the head to head counted for the championship um couldnt claim the string of conference championships that they do.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Got it, thanks. Doesn't sit perfectly will with me, but that's the answer I was looking for.

It doesnt sit perfectly with me either but, it is what it is. Of course if the head to head counted for the championship um couldnt claim the string of conference championships that they do.

Yeah but they do, so we can. You guys play in the same conference as we do don't you? You must have a pretty impressive string yourselves playing under the same format huh? I'm almost sure you guys play in our conference.

[cats2506]

It doesnt sit perfectly with me either but, it is what it is. Of course if the head to head counted for the championship um couldnt claim the string of conference championships that they do.

Yeah but they do, so we can. You guys play in the same conference as we do don't you? You must have a pretty impressive string yourselves playing under the same format huh? I'm almost sure you guys play in our conference.

Yeah, you have a pretty good string of CO-CHAMPIONSHIPS.