Big Sky Power Rankings 9-23

[JALMOND]

Interesting week last week at least for those teams that played. The last full week of non-conference action, even if two games involved conference members. This week is the start of conference games, where they begin to mean something. With that in mind, here are this week's power rankings for the Big Sky. All are my opinion only and all are open for discussion. This week's ranking (last week in parenthesis). Have at it.

1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles took a much needed break last week from their tough schedule to rest up and recoup from two tough FBS games. This week, they are the only ones who are not starting their conference schedule, but it is far from easy. They hit the road with a game against the Southland's best, Sam Houston State.

2. Montana (2)---The Grizzlies played a game last week against DII Panhandle State, but it was also more of a breather as well. Everyone got to play and they were able to try some new and exciting things. This week, they start conference play with a trip to Northern Arizona.

3. Cal Poly (4)---The Mustangs also took last week off after two straight tough games against FBS competition. They get back in the swing of things with a trip Thursday to start conference play against Portland State and a return for their head coach.

4. Montana State (3)---The injuries to their defense the Bobcats could look past. But the injury to their star quarterback has almost proven to be a bit too much. Still, giving up 50 points to Stephen F Austin is hard to overlook. They start conference play this week at North Dakota.

5. North Dakota (6)---The former Sioux also took last week off after three games against FCS teams. Are they ready for the grind of the Big Sky conference race? They start things off welcoming Montana State to their humble abode. Ready or not.

6. Portland State (8)---The Vikings high powered offense proved too much for the strong UC-Davis defense, even with the thunder and lightning. Now they get to see if they can keep it going through the conference slate. They are on a short week this week as their season begins Thursday against Cal Poly. At least they don't have to travel.

7. Southern Utah (5)---The Thunderbirds almost let their super start to the season go down the drain at struggling Sacramento State, yet they did find the determination to come through in overtime. Now they start the season this week with a trip to another struggling team, Northern Colorado.

8. Northern Arizona (7)---The Lumberjacks have a strong running game but their woes seem to stem from the lack of a passing game. Yet they seem to find a way to win as shown recently against South Dakota. They need to find some more offense instead of relying too much on the defense and they better find it soon with Montana coming to town this weekend.

9. Northern Colorado (9)---A once promising season seems to be going down the tubes, yet the Bears held their own against the Missouri Valley's power Northern Iowa last weekend. Maybe things are looking up and they can get a fresh start as they bring in Southern Utah to start the conference slate.

10. Weber State (10)----The Wildcats were hoping for a jumpstart to their season after two blowouts at the hands of their bigger instate rivals, yet they ran into a buzzsaw in Southland 's power McNeese State. The game was soon over and they were back on the losing end. This weekend they start the conference season at home against Sacramento State.

11. Sacramento State (13)---The Hornets emerged from their stunning overtime win over NAIA Southern Oregon with another overtime thriller against a strong Southern Utah team, but this time they were on the losing end. However, perhaps they are getting things together just in time for the start of the conference slate as they head out to Weber State.

12. Idaho State (11)---There is a big difference between the FBS and DII and the Bengals found out firsthand. They looked really good against the DII, but when they stepped up to take on Washington, they looked really bad. Hoping to end up somewhere in the middle, they start conference play on the road at UC-Davis.

13. UC-Davis (12)---The Aggies offense has been pretty bad so far, so they have had to rely on their defense to keep them in the game, and they were in the game last week against Portland State for a quarter and a half. Then they just lost it. They will need to find some offense to stay in games soon as this weekend they entertain Idaho State.

RECAP: 1-2 on top, 3-8 running behind, 9-13 bringing up the rear.

[SUUTbird]

Dont know about SUU being that far down after a close road game with Sac State since they played two good FBS schools but no excuses as my T-Birds did play poorly. Mainly I dont agree with Portland State being that low, I think the way Montana State has been playing with their starting QB should be much lower. The Vikings have looked great in the games that have mattered (Cal and UC-Davis) but guess this week should be a good indicator as they play a decent Cal Poly squad.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Dont know about SUU being that far down after a close road game with Sac State since they played two good FBS schools but no excuses as my T-Birds did play poorly. Mainly I dont agree with Portland State being that low, I think the way Montana State has been playing with their starting QB should be much lower. The Vikings have looked great in the games that have mattered (Cal and UC-Davis) but guess this week should be a good indicator as they play a decent Cal Poly squad.

South Alabama isn't a good FBS school.

[kalm]

Dont know about SUU being that far down after a close road game with Sac State since they played two good FBS schools but no excuses as my T-Birds did play poorly. Mainly I dont agree with Portland State being that low, I think the way Montana State has been playing with their starting QB should be much lower. The Vikings have looked great in the games that have mattered (Cal and UC-Davis) but guess this week should be a good indicator as they play a decent Cal Poly squad.

South Alabama isn't a good FBS school.

They may not be good but they are now 2-1 with wins over Tulane and WKU. Not many FCS schools would be able to do that.

[AZGrizFan]

EWU
Montana
Cal Poly
PSU
SUU
UND
MSU
NAU
UNC
WSU
Sac State
ISU
UC-Davis

[Mvemjsunpx]

South Alabama isn't a good FBS school.

They may not be good but they are now 2-1 with wins over Tulane and WKU. Not many FCS schools would be able to do that.

Fair enough, but I'm betting USA would've beaten SUU if they hadn't inexplicably played Brandon Bridge at QB down the stretch (Metheny threw both of their second-half TD passes & has much better #s on the season).

[grizzaholic]

Dont know about SUU being that far down after a close road game with Sac State since they played two good FBS schools but no excuses as my T-Birds did play poorly. Mainly I dont agree with Portland State being that low, I think the way Montana State has been playing with their starting QB should be much lower. The Vikings have looked great in the games that have mattered (Cal and UC-Davis) but guess this week should be a good indicator as they play a decent Cal Poly squad.

shhhh. We will just continue on winning and at the end of the season we will be sitting atop the BSC and rolling into the playoffs to destroy a few teams.

[uofmman1122]

Even with McGhee, the Cats could have easily lost that game.

Bleskin kept them in it until he was forced to take tough throws to get them back at the end.

Their defense was absolutely terrible.

As of right now, I don't know if MSU will even make the playoffs. I'd have them at at least #5. They won't go 6-2 in conference if their defense plays like that, with or without Denarius McGhee.

[grizzaholic]

Even with McGhee, the Cats could have easily lost that game.

Bleskin kept them in it until he was forced to take tough throws to get them back at the end.

Their defense was absolutely terrible.

As of right now, I don't know if MSU will even make the playoffs. I'd have them at at least #5. They won't go 6-2 in conference if their defense plays like that, with or without Denarius McGhee.

I think UND will give them all they can handle next week.....Now watch them go off and hang 50 on UND.

[EWURanger]

Even with McGhee, the Cats could have easily lost that game.

Bleskin kept them in it until he was forced to take tough throws to get them back at the end.

Their defense was absolutely terrible.

As of right now, I don't know if MSU will even make the playoffs. I'd have them at at least #5. They won't go 6-2 in conference if their defense plays like that, with or without Denarius McGhee.

I think UND will give them all they can handle next week.....Now watch them go off and hang 50 on UND.

I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen at all. I think MSU has the potential to be very hot and cold this season.


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[JALMOND]

Even with McGhee, the Cats could have easily lost that game.

Bleskin kept them in it until he was forced to take tough throws to get them back at the end.

Their defense was absolutely terrible.

As of right now, I don't know if MSU will even make the playoffs. I'd have them at at least #5. They won't go 6-2 in conference if their defense plays like that, with or without Denarius McGhee.

The thing that scares me about the Cats can be summed up in one sentence...McGhee does not play defense. The same Stephen F Austin team that scored 40 on Weber State managed to put up 50 on the Cats. When McGhee comes back, will the offense be able to score more than their defense gives up? That remains to be seen.

As far as the talk about the Griz and their lack of a big win, I've had the ability to watch North Dakota play on the TV so far this year and I was really impressed with how they looked against South Dakota State, which is why I thought they would at least stay with the Griz, then the Griz came in there and totally blew them up. Maybe not a signature win, but an impressive win to say the least, which I hope explains why I am still high on North Dakota.

[Beardown]

EWU
Montana
Cal Poly
PSU
SUU
UND
MSU
NAU
UNC
WSU
Sac State
ISU
UC-Davis

I think you had UNC lower last week. What made you change your mind this week?

[AZGrizFan]

EWU
Montana
Cal Poly
PSU
SUU
UND
MSU
NAU
UNC
WSU
Sac State
ISU
UC-Davis

I think you had UNC lower last week. What made you change your mind this week?

The bottom 5 are basically interchangeable.

[formerEag]

EWU
EWU backups
Cal Poly
EWU Scouts
Harvard University-Missoula(Signature win vs. D2 Powerhouse OK Panhandle State!)
PSU
SUU
UND
NAU
UNC
MSU
CSUS
EWU Cheer
WSU
UC-DaviS
Da Bengals

[AZGrizFan]

EWU
EWU backups
Cal Poly
EWU Scouts
Harvard University-Missoula(Signature win vs. D2 Powerhouse OK Panhandle State!)
PSU
SUU
UND
NAU
UNC
MSU
CSUS
EWU Cheer
WSU
UC-DaviS
Da Bengals

[Vidav]

EWU
Montana
ND
PSU
SUU
Cal Poly
NAU
MSU
Weber
Sac
NC
ISU

[Screamin_Eagle174]

EWU
EWU backups
Cal Poly
EWU Scouts
Harvard University-Missoula(Signature win vs. D2 Powerhouse OK Panhandle State!)
PSU
SUU
UND
NAU
UNC
MSU
CSUS
EWU Cheer
WSU
UC-DaviS
Da Bengals

[SDHornet]

I agree with J's rankings...and AZ's prognosis on the bottom 5.