Big Sky Power Rankings 9-9

[JALMOND]

I think I'm OK this week as everyone plays on Saturday. Interesting week in the Big Sky. Montana State didn't get the big win at SMU but came pretty close. The big loss may be the Bobcats as well depending on how soon McGhee can come back. Here are this week's power rankings in the Big Sky (last week in parenthesis). As usual, all are my opinion only. Should be some great discussion.

1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles didn't skip a beat this weekend as they put away DII Western Oregon. No chance for a letdown after their big win at Oregon State the first week. This week, they return to the big boys as they head to Toledo. Can they beat the FBS again?

2. Montana (3)---The Grizzlies had the week off last week, getting healthy for a non-conference tilt against conference foe North Dakota. That seems strange, but the week off after their big win over Appalachian State should prove beneficial.

3. Montana State (2)---The Bobcats led SMU through most of the game before coming out on the losing end right at the end. The big loss happened at the end as well as McGhee was hurt on the last play. A new quarterback will come in as they host DII Colorado Mesa.

4. Southern Utah (6)---The Thunderbirds had no letdown after their big win at South Alabama, putting DII Fort Lewis away early. The question surrounding them is whether they are on of the elite in the conference. A tall order this week as they play surprising Pac-12 foe, Washington State.

5. Cal Poly (4)---The Mustangs came in to Fresno State hoping for a great showing and a possible win. They left with neither, although two late scores made the final look reasonable. This week, they stay with the big boys, moving over to Colorado State. Maybe a bit more manageable.

6. North Dakota (5)--The former Sioux showed some staying power as they tried to come back late against the Missouri Valley power South Dakota State, only to eventually fall at the end. This week, a date with Montana in what is considered a non-conference game.

7. Northern Arizona (7)---The Lumberjacks took last week off after their shutout loss at Arizona. They will kick off conference play this weekend, technically the first conference game of the year, as they head on the road to UC-Davis.

8. Portland State (11)---The Vikings gave the Pac-12's Cal team all they could handle before finally succumbing to the bigger opponent. Their effort in trying to get the conference's second win over the Pac-12 finally faded down the stretch. This week, a chance to return to winning as they host DII's Humboldt State.

9. Northern Colorado (8)---The Bears thought they scheduled easy in this year that they were to make noise in the conference. Then last week, they ran into a buzzsaw in CSU-Pueblo, putting a sizeable dent in their plans. Now they move up to play an improving Wyoming team.

10. Weber State (10)---After looking strong the first week at home against Stephen F Austin, the Wildcats ran into their bigger, stronger brethren from the Pac-12, Utah team, who put the pasting on them. They looked good, for half the first quarter. This week, they play their other big brother, Utah State.

11. Sacramento State (9)---Two games against the big teams, San Jose State and Arizona State, and the Hornet offense still has not scored a point. Where will the offense come from? A boost from the schedule has them playing NAIA's Southern Oregon this week, they should be able to get some points.

12. Idaho State (13)---Better stop and look, the Bengals are 1-0 after beating DII Dixie State in their first game this season. Don't know how long this good fortune will last. It should last a bit longer as they stay down in the lower divisions this week, welcoming DII Western State.

13. UC-Davis (12)---Rebuilding is painful and the Aggies are experiencing it firsthand. Other conference schools are putting up good performances against the FBS division, yet last week, they were shellacked by Nevada. This week, they start the conference slate at home against Northern Arizona.

RECAP: 1-3 pulling away, 4-7 fading a bit, 8-11 a ways behind, 12-13 bringing up the rear.

[uofmman1122]

Mostly agreed.

Although I might have UND higher. I think they played pretty well against a good SDSU team.

[goroute]

The NAU - UCD game is non-conference.

[Brock Landers]

Dunno how good SJSU and ASU will end up being, but I expected a lot more from SSU this year

[Mvemjsunpx]

I don't think there's any way SUU is truly in the top-4.

[AZGrizFan]

How can MSU be "pulling away" when they just lost their starting QB and their all-world transfer from Nevada?

[Catattack]

How can MSU be "pulling away" when they just lost their starting QB and their all-world transfer from Nevada?

Wow. Thanks. It's nice you consider a back-up WR as all-world.

[Sapper]

How can you have Northern Colorado at #9 I don't think so. UNC lost to a DII school and gave up 300+ yds to a NAIA school. Until UNC starts beating BSC schools they are #13

[SDHornet]

Dunno how good SJSU and ASU will end up being, but I expected a lot more from SSU this year

Safron looked "meh" at SJSU and absolutely horrible at ASU. If he doesn't bounch back I would be ok with starting our FR recruit and writting off the rest of the season.

As far as the power rankings go, I'd put us ahead of UNC and maybe tied with Weber. Other than that no real complaints here.

[Mvemjsunpx]

How can you have Northern Colorado at #9 I don't think so. UNC lost to a DII school and gave up 300+ yds to a NAIA school. Until UNC starts beating BSC schools they are #13

Idaho State hasn't beaten a Big Sky team in 2 years. Also, CSU-Pueblo & Dixie State aren't even close to the same quality of DII.

[JALMOND]

I don't think there's any way SUU is truly in the top-4.

At first, I didn't think so either. Then I looked at it closer. I had them with Cal Poly, NAU and North Dakota. Against those four, I had two teams (CP and ND) that needed a couple late scores to make their games look good (albeit losses). Then I had to deal with a team (NAU) that the only body of work is a shutout loss to the Pac-12. SUU has a win over a FBS school (transition however) and also took care of a DII the way a Big Sky school should. That group of four, I had to put SUU at the top. I believe I can justify them at #4 better than trying to explain why they aren't. Someone has to be #4.

[Mvemjsunpx]

I don't think there's any way SUU is truly in the top-4.

At first, I didn't think so either. Then I looked at it closer. I had them with Cal Poly, NAU and North Dakota. Against those four, I had two teams (CP and ND) that needed a couple late scores to make their games look good (albeit losses). Then I had to deal with a team (NAU) that the only body of work is a shutout loss to the Pac-12. SUU has a win over a FBS school (transition however) and also took care of a DII the way a Big Sky school should. That group of four, I had to put SUU at the top. I believe I can justify them at #4 better than trying to explain why they aren't. Someone has to be #4.

It's only two weeks in. Basing the rankings entirely on games played (especially when half of them were mismatches) is a futile effort.

[EWURanger]

I'd have UNC much lower. Until they prove they can beat an FCS opponent, they deserve to be planted firmly in the #12 or #13 spot.

I think I'd also have MSU in the #2 spot still.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AZGrizFan]

How can MSU be "pulling away" when they just lost their starting QB and their all-world transfer from Nevada?

Wow. Thanks. It's nice you consider a back-up WR as all-world.

Well, he was all-world when he transferred....'scat fan egriz posts confirmed that.

[SloStang]

Jalmond, Cal Poly gave up two TDs on punt returns (first since 2007) and fumbled at their own 28 yard line in the first half and dug too deep of a hole. We actually outgained Fresno State 416 yards to 370. That is a Fresno State team that put up over 550 yards and 52 points on a good Rutgers team. We also lost our starting QB for the season, but probably found a better one in soph. Chris Brown. In 17 minutes of game time he threw for 189 yards and a TD and rushed for 58 yards and two TDs with a two point conversion. I would not dismiss the Mustangs just yet.

Watch this video of "touch down Chris Brown" and see what you think:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=play ... ytGo_ta4aM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AZGrizFan]

My Power Rankings:

1) EWU
2) UM
3) Cal Poly
4) SUU
5) MSU
6) UND
7) PSU
8) NAU
9) Sac State
10) Weber St
11) UNC
12) UC-Davis
13) ISU

1-3 Pulling Away
4-8 Bunched together
9-13 Should go form their own D-II conference

[Catattack]

Wow. Thanks. It's nice you consider a back-up WR as all-world.

Well, he was all-world when he transferred....'scat fan egriz posts confirmed that.

and (insert childish name for the griz) fan posts on BN said the exact opposite.

[Wildcat Ryan]

My Power Rankings:

1) EWU
2) UM
3) Cal Poly
4) SUU
5) MSU
6) UND
7) PSU
8) NAU
9) Sac State
10) Weber St
11) UNC
12) UC-Davis
13) ISU

1-3 Pulling Away
4-8 Bunched together
9-13 Should go form their own D-II conference

Ouch

[AZGrizFan]

My Power Rankings:

1) EWU
2) UM
3) Cal Poly
4) SUU
5) MSU
6) UND
7) PSU
8) NAU
9) Sac State
10) Weber St
11) UNC
12) UC-Davis
13) ISU

1-3 Pulling Away
4-8 Bunched together
9-13 Should go form their own D-II conference

Ouch

[CPAlum]

Jalmond, Cal Poly gave up two TDs on punt returns (first since 2007) and fumbled at their own 28 yard line in the first half and dug too deep of a hole. We actually outgained Fresno State 416 yards to 370. That is a Fresno State team that put up over 550 yards and 52 points on a good Rutgers team. We also lost our starting QB for the season, but probably found a better one in soph. Chris Brown. In 17 minutes of game time he threw for 189 yards and a TD and rushed for 58 yards and two TDs with a two point conversion. I would not dismiss the Mustangs just yet.

Watch this video of "touch down Chris Brown" and see what you think:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=play ... ytGo_ta4aM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well yes what Slo said and then there is the fundamental logic of bumping an FCS team down a spot for losing by 16 points on the road to a FBS school receiving top 25 votes.....Not to mention bumping SUU up two spots for beating a DII school at home

[Sapper]

1) EWU
2) MSU
3) UM
4) Cal POLY
5) SUU
6) UND
7) PSU
8) NAU
9) Sac State
10) Weber St
11) UC-Davis
12) ISU
13) UNC

[Cujo]

1) EWU
2) MSU
3) UM
4) Cal POLY
5) NAU
6) UND
7) PSU
8) SUU
9) Weber
10) Sac St
11) UC-Davis
12) ISU
13) UNC

[AZGrizFan]

1) EWU
2) MSU
3) UM
4) Cal POLY

1) EWU
2) MSU
3) UM
4) Cal POLY

I would agree with that pre-McGhee injury....now, I don't think so.

[Cujo]

1) EWU
2) MSU
3) UM
4) Cal POLY

1) EWU
2) MSU
3) UM
4) Cal POLY

I would agree with that pre-McGhee injury....now, I don't think so.

i won't rank a team down based on an injury until i see the replacement.

[uofmman1122]

I would agree with that pre-McGhee injury....now, I don't think so.

i won't rank a team down based on an injury until i see the replacement.

I'd say McGhee was one of the only semi-legit reasons one could justify keeping them in the top 2.

Without him, the Bobcats don't scare me at all. They'll win this weekend, but I highly doubt they win the next three after that.