Big Sky Power Rankings 11-7

JALMOND · Post by **JALMOND** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:26 pm

Things are beginning to clear up as we get close to the end. As a result there is not much movement in these rankings. Perhaps things are getting clearer, perhaps there is a set order to this season in the conference. Or perhaps we are getting ready for a huge shakeup in the conference. This weekend, it is up to the non-Big Sky Country schools to provide the fireworks. Here are this week's power rankings (last week). All are my opinions only and all are open for discussion.

1. Montana State (1)---After a slow first half last week in the snow at Weber State, the Bobcats turned on the heat and got out with the win. This sets up a showdown in two weeks with in-state rival, Montana on the Bobcats home turf. In the meantime, the conference powers to be gave the Bobcats this week off to prepare for the Grizzlies. How nice.

2. Montana (2)---Last week, the Grizzlies welcomed a DII team, Western Oregon for what was supposed to be a quick tuneup for their last game against Montana State. However, the Grizzlies could not totally shake the DII team and, while they got good film on everyone, the score showed the game was a bit closer. But a win is still a win. Now, like the Bobcats, the Grizzlies also have the week off to prepare. Again, how nice.

3. Portland State (3)---After looking great for most of the season, and playing well to earn wins, the Vikings did pretty much what they could to hand the game last week to Sacramento State. Luckily, the Hornets didn't want the game either and the Vikings' good season rolls on. This weekend will find them on the road one last time as they face Northern Colorado. Even with playing the Bears, the Vikings will need to play better this week to get the win.

4. Eastern Washington (4)---An off week to work out the fact that their season was put to rest at home against Portland State two weeks ago. Hopefully, they will put that aside and finish the year on a great note. The extra week was undoubtably used to prepare for a trip to face a good Cal Poly team. The Eagles had their season ruined in their last game, can they ruin the Mustangs year?

5. Northern Arizona (6)---Good fortunes for the Lumberjacks as their season is finally rolling along. After a good showing at home against Montana, they have eliminated Sacramento State from the playoffs and also rolled past Northern Colorado last week, who was playing good football of late. This weekend, they head north to face Weber State outdoors in the cold.

6. Sacramento State (5)---Nothing left to play for has reduced the Hornets season to just ho-hum. Last week at Portland State, the Hornets looked ugly, yet had numerous chances to steal the win but could not come through. Well, they have a chance to resurrect the season with a home game against Idaho State before their big rivalry game in two weeks against UC-Davis.

7. Weber State (7)---A promising season for the Wildcats, like everyone else, is slowly slipping away from them. Last week, they had a good chance to salvage their season by playing Montana State close for the first half. Then, they could not get going in the second half and fell big. Now a chance to right the ship as they welcome Northern Arizona to their home.

8. Idaho State (8)---And the rebuilding of the Bengals continue. An off week was needed to get ready for a good finish. Their stretch run starts this weekend with a trip to Sacramento State. A big win somewhere at the end of the year would go a long way to restoring this program. The problem is, can the Bengals get it over a reeling Hornet team?

9. Northern Colorado (9)---The Bears were playing good football of late and staying close to some of the better teams in the conference. Then they fell victim to Northern Arizona last week in a game where nothing seemed to go right. Have they thrown in the towel on the season early? Just one more game left, this weekend at home against Portland State. The last chance for a win this year.

RECAP: 1, then 2, then 3, then 4-7 a bit behind, then 8 and 9 bringing up the rear together.

GrizMonster · Post by **GrizMonster** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:39 pm

I like the Power Rankings, I always look forward to reading them. I think there isn't a better 6 D1 team in the country. I just wish you guys would have got a chance at another D! team. PSU is a playoff team. Nigel Burton is a great coach. (Full Disclosure I have been at every PSU home game wearing my griz hat and hoodie, and t-shirt, and other clothing items I am not willing to disclose)

CatMan · Post by **CatMan** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:56 pm

agreed Jalmond does a fantastic job on the PR's, as well as making picks. thinking you should move to vegas probably make a killing at the sports book.

JALMOND · Post by **JALMOND** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:58 pm

GrizMonster wrote:I like the Power Rankings, I always look forward to reading them. I think there isn't a better 6 D1 team in the country. I just wish you guys would have got a chance at another D! team. PSU is a playoff team. Nigel Burton is a great coach. (Full Disclosure I have been at every PSU home game wearing my griz hat and hoodie, and t-shirt, and other clothing items I am not willing to disclose)

Thanks for your support. The only way we can draw is to appeal to the casual football fan in Portland, whether they are primarily Ducks or Beavers (or Griz, or Eagles, Bobcats, Aggies, Hornets, etc.)

GrizMonster · Post by **GrizMonster** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:04 pm

JALMOND wrote:
GrizMonster wrote:I like the Power Rankings, I always look forward to reading them. I think there isn't a better 6 D1 team in the country. I just wish you guys would have got a chance at another D! team. PSU is a playoff team. Nigel Burton is a great coach. (Full Disclosure I have been at every PSU home game wearing my griz hat and hoodie, and t-shirt, and other clothing items I am not willing to disclose)
Thanks for your support. The only way we can draw is to appeal to the casual football fan in Portland, whether they are primarily Ducks or Beavers (or Griz, or Eagles, Bobcats, Aggies, Hornets, etc.)

Well I go to all the PSU home games. I love Jeld Wen. I think its just a matter of appealing to the Portland crowd. I feel like there are loads of football fans here that just aren't that aware of the Vikings. Get a win over the Cats or the Griz and I feel like the Vikes should draw 11,000 plus. They have the best stadium in the FCS, and perhaps the best up and coming coach. The pistol is gonna give the Big Sky fits for a the next few years, especially if you can keep recruiting insane running backs at RB/QB.

GrizMonster · Post by **GrizMonster** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:06 pm

And by 6 D1 team I meant six wins. Had the Vikings been able to schedule an ooc FCS team they would be a lock for the playoffs. Also, congrats on that pretty god damn convincing win over the Eagles this year. You guys are gonna have the Griz, Cats, Eagles, and Wildcats on the ropes the next couple of years. Plus, the Vikings gotta be the most fun to watch out of the Big Sky this year.

Post by **Grizalltheway** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:08 pm

GrizMonster wrote:
JALMOND wrote:
Thanks for your support. The only way we can draw is to appeal to the casual football fan in Portland, whether they are primarily Ducks or Beavers (or Griz, or Eagles, Bobcats, Aggies, Hornets, etc.)

Well I go to all the PSU home games. I love Jeld Wen. I think its just a matter of appealing to the Portland crowd. I feel like there are loads of football fans here that just aren't that aware of the Vikings. Get a win over the Cats or the Griz and I feel like the Vikes should draw 11,000 plus. They have the best MLS stadium in the FCS, and perhaps the best up and coming coach. The pistol is gonna give the Big Sky fits for a the next few years, especially if you can keep recruiting insane running backs at RB/QB.

Fixed it.

GrizMonster · Post by **GrizMonster** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:11 pm

Grizalltheway wrote:
GrizMonster wrote:
Well I go to all the PSU home games. I love Jeld Wen. I think its just a matter of appealing to the Portland crowd. I feel like there are loads of football fans here that just aren't that aware of the Vikings. Get a win over the Cats or the Griz and I feel like the Vikes should draw 11,000 plus. They have the best MLS stadium in the FCS, and perhaps the best up and coming coach. The pistol is gonna give the Big Sky fits for a the next few years, especially if you can keep recruiting insane running backs at RB/QB.
Fixed it.

No way. Attend a game there. They benefited from the Timbers, but it is a top notch stadium with the best sports medicine facility in the FCS as well as the best seats. Not nearly as loud as WA-GRIZ, or as good as an atmosphere, but PSU really benefited from the Timbers coming to town. I am not kidding. It is great for American football as well.

JALMOND · Post by **JALMOND** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:16 pm

GrizMonster wrote:
JALMOND wrote:
Thanks for your support. The only way we can draw is to appeal to the casual football fan in Portland, whether they are primarily Ducks or Beavers (or Griz, or Eagles, Bobcats, Aggies, Hornets, etc.)

Well I go to all the PSU home games. I love Jeld Wen. I think its just a matter of appealing to the Portland crowd. I feel like there are loads of football fans here that just aren't that aware of the Vikings. Get a win over the Cats or the Griz and I feel like the Vikes should draw 11,000 plus. They have the best stadium in the FCS, and perhaps the best up and coming coach. The pistol is gonna give the Big Sky fits for a the next few years, especially if you can keep recruiting insane running backs at RB/QB.

The coverage around Portland this year has been better than it was last year. Last week the Beavs were playing Stanford at home, yet we had the lead story in Saturday's Oregonian. I still think we need to educate the casual fan here about the Big Sky and the FCS in general, and we are not going to do that by playing Oregon one week and Willamette the next. Case in point, we knew for two years that our baseball stadium was being refurbished into a state of the art soccer/football stadium and the best opponent we could get to open it up (for us) was Southern Oregon? San Diego opened the same weekend against Azusa Pacific. I don't think it would have been that difficult for us to swap opponents that week. U of Portland boosters know about San Diego, playing basketball in the same conference. The baseball team was a farm team of the Padres so people here know a lot about the city of San Diego. That would have given us a counter, and if we had to promise a game next year in San Diego, so be it.

GrizMonster · Post by **GrizMonster** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:25 pm

JALMOND wrote:
GrizMonster wrote:
Well I go to all the PSU home games. I love Jeld Wen. I think its just a matter of appealing to the Portland crowd. I feel like there are loads of football fans here that just aren't that aware of the Vikings. Get a win over the Cats or the Griz and I feel like the Vikes should draw 11,000 plus. They have the best stadium in the FCS, and perhaps the best up and coming coach. The pistol is gonna give the Big Sky fits for a the next few years, especially if you can keep recruiting insane running backs at RB/QB.
The coverage around Portland this year has been better than it was last year. Last week the Beavs were playing Stanford at home, yet we had the lead story in Saturday's Oregonian. I still think we need to educate the casual fan here about the Big Sky and the FCS in general, and we are not going to do that by playing Oregon one week and Willamette the next. Case in point, we knew for two years that our baseball stadium was being refurbished into a state of the art soccer/football stadium and the best opponent we could get to open it up (for us) was Southern Oregon? San Diego opened the same weekend against Azusa Pacific. I don't think it would have been that difficult for us to swap opponents that week. U of Portland boosters know about San Diego, playing basketball in the same conference. The baseball team was a farm team of the Padres so people here know a lot about the city of San Diego. That would have given us a counter, and if we had to promise a game next year in San Diego, so be it.

I think Jeld Wen should be a draw. It is a premiere stadium on any level (It is a professional stadium) Why can't you guys get a Southern Utah or even Texas State to come in? I realize this year you kind of got screwed with buy outs, but Jesus Jeld Wen is nice, and you have a hell of a football team. San Diego would be nice, I just feel like if you had one more D1 game at home this year, you guys would be a shoo-in the play-offs. I feel like PSU isn't marketing them correctly. I live in NW around PSU and there is almost zero marketing about what is a real, real good football team. My only question is why can't the university market them? They should have gameday posters up everywhere. Its an inSANe stadium, a real scary football team, and an awesome young coach. I realize its Portland, but if it were Missoula with that coach they would be expanding the seating to 35,000 right now.

GrizMonster · Post by **GrizMonster** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:26 pm

Also Jalmond, what do you think of getting rid of dumbass Canzano. All he cares about is talking about how the Vikes didn't beat Montana....Give me a break. He is about 1.5 blocks from PSU, he should have insane coverage of them.

Northcoast · Post by **Northcoast** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:45 pm

Good rankings, thanks for all your work this year!

frinq · Post by **frinq** » Tue Nov 08, 2011 12:42 am

Good rankings, Jalmond. I wouldn't quibble with any of them. PSU's rise has more than a few flummoxed. This CS.com has PSU polled in 24th. FCSnow.com also has them in 24th. TSN, however, has PSU in 29th - going by Sagarin that's about where they ought to be. I guess. In any case, we should beat UNC - but it's a big should. We should be able to run on them. But if we look past them to Weber, let down for an "easy" game, UNC will make us pay. You're right; we have to play better than we did against Sac.

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