Big Sky Power Rankings 10-22

[kalm]

Yeah...we'll call it honey...

SE and SD apparently forgot how to spell....

Damn...SH is bitch slapping some folks this week.

[kalm]

No arguments here. Well done J.

EWU has almost completed its Walkover Tour.

Yeah, Idaho and Montana hurt our SOS.

[uofmman1122]

EWU has almost completed its Walkover Tour.

Yeah, Idaho and Montana hurt our SOS.

Okay, Capt. "Montana is a playoff team this year".

[Grizalltheway]

Yeah, Idaho and Montana hurt our SOS.

Okay, Capt. "Montana is a playoff team this year".

To be fair, we ARE a playoff caliber team, we just haven't been applying ourselves.

[CPAlum]

More of an entertaining weekend last week in the Big Sky as Southern Utah's state of Montana hangover was bigger than Eastern Washington's state of Montana hangover and thus gave the last winless conference team, Weber State, their first win of the year. Here are this week's power rankings (last week rank in parenthesis). As usual, all are my opinion only and all are open for discussion. Here they are.

1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles woke up just in time to close the door last week on Sacramento State. They are finding out that being the top bird in the conference is a tough bill. This week, more birds as they head down to Southern Utah.

2. Montana State (2)---A bye week was a welcome relief for the Bobcats after falling at home to Eastern Washington in that epic struggle. Now is the time to get refocused as they welcome strong North Dakota to their house.

3. Cal Poly (3)---The Mustangs struggled a bit against Portland State at home, but that pounding style paid off in the fourth quarter for their win. Now that they have a great season brewing, they need to prevent a trap game this weekend at Sacramento State.

4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Lumberjacks gave a glimpse that this year is different than the others as, when the offense is not clicking, the defense will still come up big for the win. Not the shootout some predicted but they did just enough at home against UC-Davis. This weekend is a trip to Northern Colorado.

5. North Dakota (7)---In a game the Dakotans had circled as a pivitual game, they watched Montana come back to take a lead, then snatched control of the game late for the win. Still time for them to make some noise but this weekend finds them at Montana State.

6. Sacramento State (5)---The Hornets gave a strong performance last week at Eastern Washington only to finally give it up at the end. They could also make some noise but time is running out. This weekend, they are at home against Cal Poly.

7. Montana (8)---The Grizzlies showed that they can still make things interesting and that they are still the team everyone wants to beat, but last week at North Dakota, they could not hold the lead late. The Grizzlies are getting desperate for a win, and they have Idaho State coming into town.

8. Weber State (11)---Given how the Wildcats had played for the most part this year, they had been close but could not break through. Then they got a great performance last week at Southern Utah. Now they take the week off to bask in their glory.

9. Southern Utah (6)---What is going on with the Thunderbirds this year? Good performances are then followed with head scratchers as last week's loss at home to previously winless Weber State can attest to. Things don't get any better this weekend as they host Eastern Washington.

10. Portland State (9)---The Vikings followed up their bye week by getting pounded by Cal Poly's offensive attack. They were able to stay with the Mustangs for three quarters, then didn't have the strenght to continue. This weekend they are back on the road at UC-Davis.

11. UC-Davis (10)---Last week marked a return to that great Aggie defense as they did all they could to stay in the game at Northern Arizona. It also marked a return to the offense disappearing. More consistency is needed as Portland State comes calling.

12. Northern Colorado (12)---It was a long time coming but last week the Bears got their first conference win in two years with a strong performance against lowly Idaho State. Hopefully they won't have to wait as long for the next one, but this weekend Northern Arizona arrives.

13. Idaho State (13)---Another game, another loss for the Bengals, this time a lackluster game against basement-mate Northern Colorado. Have they already mailed in the season. Things are not rosy on the horizon either as this week, they fact that mean Montana team.

RECAP: 1-4 still close, 5-6 putting some distance over 7, 8-12 crowded together, and 13 off the pace.

I appreciate that you do this and earlier in the season I thought it was pretty spot on but each team has a resume at this point in the season and I think its a bit father from my opinion now than it was before.

Poly should be above Montana State and probably NAU as well. Montana State has a DII win and has not really laid the wood to the D1 teams they have played. Cal Poly has only two games where they won by less than double digits, FBS, Wyoming on the road and UC Davis which is a rivalry game.

I'd put Sac above UND. Both teams are a few bounces away from being contenders but Sac just gave EWU a run for their money and UND beat a down Montana team at home. Both UND and NAU seem to get a lot of love after Montana wins. (sorry Griz fans I'm a fan and I know you all will be back).

UC Davis is better than you have them here. I really cant see how Weber is that high.

I guess Id go ....

EWU
Cal Poly
NAU
Montana St
Sac St
UND
Montana
SUU
UC Davis
Portland St
Weber St
UNC
Idaho St

[Rich K]

Okay, Capt. "Montana is a playoff team this year".

To be fair, we ARE a playoff caliber team, we just haven't been applying ourselves.

Maybe the Griz need another pep talk from a former Bobcat coach.

[SoCalAg]

Davis beat Weber by 25 and it could have been much worse. The Ags then play top-15 NAU tough on the road (albeit we lost by 14) and Weber gets their first win and moves to #8. Everything looks good except Weber at #8 and UCd at #11 should be flip-flopped

[Grizalltheway]

To be fair, we ARE a playoff caliber team, we just haven't been applying ourselves.

Maybe the Griz need another pep talk from a former Bobcat coach.

Maybe he should give one to the cats before they play us. Whatever Ash has been saying appears not to be working.

[Wildcat Ryan]

Davis beat Weber by 25 and it could have been much worse. The Ags then play top-15 NAU tough on the road (albeit we lost by 14) and Weber gets their first win and moves to #8. Everything looks good except Weber at #8 and UCd at #11 should be flip-flopped

[dbackjon]

More of an entertaining weekend last week in the Big Sky as Southern Utah's state of Montana hangover was bigger than Eastern Washington's state of Montana hangover and thus gave the last winless conference team, Weber State, their first win of the year. Here are this week's power rankings (last week rank in parenthesis). As usual, all are my opinion only and all are open for discussion. Here they are.

1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles woke up just in time to close the door last week on Sacramento State. They are finding out that being the top bird in the conference is a tough bill. This week, more birds as they head down to Southern Utah.

2. Montana State (2)---A bye week was a welcome relief for the Bobcats after falling at home to Eastern Washington in that epic struggle. Now is the time to get refocused as they welcome strong North Dakota to their house.

3. Cal Poly (3)---The Mustangs struggled a bit against Portland State at home, but that pounding style paid off in the fourth quarter for their win. Now that they have a great season brewing, they need to prevent a trap game this weekend at Sacramento State.

4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Lumberjacks gave a glimpse that this year is different than the others as, when the offense is not clicking, the defense will still come up big for the win. Not the shootout some predicted but they did just enough at home against UC-Davis. This weekend is a trip to Northern Colorado.

5. North Dakota (7)---In a game the Dakotans had circled as a pivitual game, they watched Montana come back to take a lead, then snatched control of the game late for the win. Still time for them to make some noise but this weekend finds them at Montana State.

6. Sacramento State (5)---The Hornets gave a strong performance last week at Eastern Washington only to finally give it up at the end. They could also make some noise but time is running out. This weekend, they are at home against Cal Poly.

7. Montana (8)---The Grizzlies showed that they can still make things interesting and that they are still the team everyone wants to beat, but last week at North Dakota, they could not hold the lead late. The Grizzlies are getting desperate for a win, and they have Idaho State coming into town.

8. Weber State (11)---Given how the Wildcats had played for the most part this year, they had been close but could not break through. Then they got a great performance last week at Southern Utah. Now they take the week off to bask in their glory.

9. Southern Utah (6)---What is going on with the Thunderbirds this year? Good performances are then followed with head scratchers as last week's loss at home to previously winless Weber State can attest to. Things don't get any better this weekend as they host Eastern Washington.

10. Portland State (9)---The Vikings followed up their bye week by getting pounded by Cal Poly's offensive attack. They were able to stay with the Mustangs for three quarters, then didn't have the strenght to continue. This weekend they are back on the road at UC-Davis.

11. UC-Davis (10)---Last week marked a return to that great Aggie defense as they did all they could to stay in the game at Northern Arizona. It also marked a return to the offense disappearing. More consistency is needed as Portland State comes calling.

12. Northern Colorado (12)---It was a long time coming but last week the Bears got their first conference win in two years with a strong performance against lowly Idaho State. Hopefully they won't have to wait as long for the next one, but this weekend Northern Arizona arrives.

13. Idaho State (13)---Another game, another loss for the Bengals, this time a lackluster game against basement-mate Northern Colorado. Have they already mailed in the season. Things are not rosy on the horizon either as this week, they fact that mean Montana team.

RECAP: 1-4 still close, 5-6 putting some distance over 7, 8-12 crowded together, and 13 off the pace.

I appreciate that you do this and earlier in the season I thought it was pretty spot on but each team has a resume at this point in the season and I think its a bit father from my opinion now than it was before.

Poly should be above Montana State and probably NAU as well. Montana State has a DII win and has not really laid the wood to the D1 teams they have played. Cal Poly has only two games where they won by less than double digits, FBS, Wyoming on the road and UC Davis which is a rivalry game.

I'd put Sac above UND. Both teams are a few bounces away from being contenders but Sac just gave EWU a run for their money and UND beat a down Montana team at home. Both UND and NAU seem to get a lot of love after Montana wins. (sorry Griz fans I'm a fan and I know you all will be back).

UC Davis is better than you have them here. I really cant see how Weber is that high.

I guess Id go ....

EWU
Cal Poly
NAU
Montana St
Sac St
UND
Montana
SUU
UC Davis
Portland St
Weber St
UNC
Idaho St

Great analysis and ranking

[AZGrizFan]

I'd put Sac above UND. Both teams are a few bounces away from being contenders but Sac just gave EWU a run for their money and UND beat a down Montana team at home. Both UND and NAU seem to get a lot of love after Montana wins. (sorry Griz fans I'm a fan and I know you all will be back).

Using that logic the Griz are about 6 plays from being 6-2.

[SDHornet]

I'd put Sac above UND. Both teams are a few bounces away from being contenders but Sac just gave EWU a run for their money and UND beat a down Montana team at home. Both UND and NAU seem to get a lot of love after Montana wins. (sorry Griz fans I'm a fan and I know you all will be back).

Using that logic the Griz are about 6 plays from being 6-2.

I thought they were 6 plays away from beating UND?

[JALMOND]

I guess Id go ....

EWU
Cal Poly
NAU
Montana St
Sac St
UND
Montana
SUU
UC Davis
Portland St
Weber St
UNC
Idaho St

You've got some good points here. You should stay at this.

Part of the problem I'm having is with the schedule, where no one plays everyone. I like Montana State because they have played EWU and I have something there. But they do not play CP or NAU, so are they really better than those two? You could make an argument for (as I did) or against (as you so excellently put it).

I'm thinking UND and Sac State are pretty equal at this point, but UND beat the Hornets pretty good at Sacramento. Was that an abhoration or are they that much better than the Hornets? Once again, you make a good counter argument.

I actually had Weber moving two spots after their road win at Southern Utah, but then I realized that put them right behind the Thunderbirds in a too close to call spot. I moved Weber ahead of them at that point. I didn't think I could move Portland State or UC-Davis past them two as both did lose (but they both put up quite a fight against two of the big dogs).

Keep at them. You have some great opinions.

[LDopaPDX]

I'd put Sac above UND. Both teams are a few bounces away from being contenders but Sac just gave EWU a run for their money and UND beat a down Montana team at home. Both UND and NAU seem to get a lot of love after Montana wins. (sorry Griz fans I'm a fan and I know you all will be back).

Using that logic the Griz are about 6 plays from being 6-2.

The Eagles are 6 plays away from being 2-6.... quite literally. The Big Sky is just extremely tight this year.

[CPAlum]

I guess Id go ....

EWU
Cal Poly
NAU
Montana St
Sac St
UND
Montana
SUU
UC Davis
Portland St
Weber St
UNC
Idaho St

You've got some good points here. You should stay at this.

Part of the problem I'm having is with the schedule, where no one plays everyone. I like Montana State because they have played EWU and I have something there. But they do not play CP or NAU, so are they really better than those two? You could make an argument for (as I did) or against (as you so excellently put it).

I'm thinking UND and Sac State are pretty equal at this point, but UND beat the Hornets pretty good at Sacramento. Was that an abhoration or are they that much better than the Hornets? Once again, you make a good counter argument.

I actually had Weber moving two spots after their road win at Southern Utah, but then I realized that put them right behind the Thunderbirds in a too close to call spot. I moved Weber ahead of them at that point. I didn't think I could move Portland State or UC-Davis past them two as both did lose (but they both put up quite a fight against two of the big dogs).

Keep at them. You have some great opinions.

Thanks Jalmond...like you said it could be argued either way. I think we will have answers to to the biggest of the questions above Saturday. My guess is that MSU will have a very tough game with UND. I'm picking MSU but UND could pull the upset. If Poly beats The Hornets in Sac their résumé becomes impossible to ignore and they should be in anyone's top 10 nationally.

Conversely, if Sac pulls the upset they should see votes in the top 25 and move into playoff contention.

[kalm]

Using that logic the Griz are about 6 plays from being 6-2.

The Eagles are 6 plays away from being 2-6.... quite literally. The Big Sky is just extremely tight this year.

Accuracy.