Big Sky Power Rankings 10-27

[JALMOND]

Now it is the end of October and the jostling has begun. Teams are gearing up for the playoffs and those in the Big Sky are no different from others across the country. Both Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona got impressive conference road wins that showed they are ready for a push. How about the rest. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion as usual.

1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles had perhaps their biggest game since their opening day win at Oregon State, downing the fierce Montana team. They may be looking ahead at another big game against Montana State coming up, but first they hit the road and play an eager Idaho State team. Should be easy, but will it?

2. Montana State (2)---The Bobcats took care of feisty UC-Davis at home to keep tabs on the runner up position. They, too, are looking forward to that matchup soon at Eastern Washington, but first they have to make the trip to Northern Colorado. Like the Eagles, it should be easy, but will it?

3. Montana (3)---The Grizzlies started to play last week against Eastern Washington a bit too late, trying to dig out of a pretty big hole. They did make things interesting, but in the end, the deficit proved too big. This week, they head out to upstart Sacramento State.

4. Northern Arizona (5)---The Lumberjacks showed that they can get a big road win, edging out Cal Poly on the road last week. Their schedule should start to get a bit easier starting this weekend at home against struggling North Dakota. They've had a penchant for fading down the stretch, but with the remaining schedule, this may not be the old Lumberjacks.

5. Cal Poly (4)---The Mustangs hope for the playoffs took a serious hit at home last week in a close loss to Northern Arizona. They will need to start winning and get some help. It starts this weekend out on the road at the eager UC-Davis team. Do they still have something left?

6. Sacramento State (6)---The Hornets took a much deserved week off last week to gear up for the stretch run and a chance to continue this good season so far. They need to come out this week and make a statement so the rest of the conference takes notice. They have the opponent coming into town in the mighty Montana squad.

7. Southern Utah (7)---The Thunderbirds once again relied on their defense to hold Idaho State down so their offense can score just enough for the win. Sooner or later they are going to have to find where their offense went. They have this week off to find it.

8. Portland State (8)---Similar to Southern Utah, the Vikings offense seems to have gone away. The difference is that their offense was pretty potent early in the season. They needed two short fields to just nip North Dakota at the end. They will need some form of offense this week when Weber State comes to town.

9. UC-Davis (9)---The Aggies put up a gallant effort last week at Montana State before finally coming up short in the end. This season has been not one of rebuilding, but of gaining confidence for next year. This week, they have the opportunity to put the final nail in Cal Poly's season, entertaining them at home.

10. North Dakota (10)---The former Sioux had the game in hand last week at Portland State, but could not close it out. With the season pretty much done now, they can still spoil it for quite a few teams. This week they head out to Northern Arizona, who has history of fading against weaker teams. Could it happen here?

11. Idaho State (11)---The Bengals kept things close last week but could not crack through the Southern Utah defense. This week they get their shot at Eastern Washington at home. Certainly they would like to show the Eagles just who's boss in Pocatello.

12. Weber State (12)---Last week the Wildcats rested and refocused themselves on winning the close games and not keep coming up short. This weekend they try this new philosophy on the road at Portland State. Possibly a Damian Lillard sighting happening?

13. Northern Colorado (13)---This was to be a breakthrough season for the Bears, now it is a season to forget. They took last week to regroup and finish positively. This weekend they stay home and play the mighty Montana State team. Do they have enough for an upset, or will they settle for close.

RECAP: 1-2 edging out front, 3-4 just behind, 5-6 fading a bit, 7-10 falling, 11-13 out.

[SuperHornet]

Um...your #6 won going away in their last game (on the road, no less), but they're "fading?!?"

[Mvemjsunpx]

Um...your #6 won going away in their last game (on the road, no less), but they're "fading?!?"

Huh? The only team he used the word "fading" for was NAU.

[JALMOND]

Um...your #6 won going away in their last game (on the road, no less), but they're "fading?!?"

They were on an "island" last week. They caught up to Poly who is fading.

I should have said they have company on that island from last week. Sorry.

[Mvemjsunpx]

5. Cal Poly (4)---The Mustangs hope for the playoffs took a serious hit at home last week in a close loss to Northern Arizona. They will need to start winning and get some help. It starts this weekend out on the road at the eager UC-Davis team. Do they still have something left?

Serious hit? Cal Poly is 3-5. Their playoff hopes are gone… dead… nonexistent… fictional… kaput…

[SuperHornet]

Um...your #6 won going away in their last game (on the road, no less), but they're "fading?!?"

They were on an "island" last week. They caught up to Poly who is fading.

I should have said they have company on that island from last week. Sorry.

Thank you, JAL.

Um...your #6 won going away in their last game (on the road, no less), but they're "fading?!?"

Huh? The only team he used the word "fading" for was NAU.

Venus: Reference was to THIS:

RECAP: 1-2 edging out front, 3-4 just behind, 5-6 fading a bit, 7-10 falling, 11-13 out.

[uofmman1122]

Queue dbackjon to tell us how you're full of it because NAU is lower than Montana.

[JALMOND]

They were on an "island" last week. They caught up to Poly who is fading.

I should have said they have company on that island from last week. Sorry.

Thank you, JAL.

The life preserver Poly brought won't get you off the island. However, Grizzly skin will fit perfect on that raft I hope you were building on your off week. If you "beat" it good, it should float nicely.

[Mvemjsunpx]

They were on an "island" last week. They caught up to Poly who is fading.

I should have said they have company on that island from last week. Sorry.

Thank you, JAL.

Huh? The only team he used the word "fading" for was NAU.

Venus: Reference was to THIS:

RECAP: 1-2 edging out front, 3-4 just behind, 5-6 fading a bit, 7-10 falling, 11-13 out.

Yeah I missed that.

[dbackjon]

Queue dbackjon to tell us how you're full of it because NAU is lower than Montana.

Yup Jalmond - seriously, how the hell do you come up with that?

Montana lost AGAIN.


Worthless, seriously. I think SH picks teams better.

[JALMOND]

Queue dbackjon to tell us how you're full of it because NAU is lower than Montana.

Yup Jalmond - seriously, how the hell do you come up with that?

Montana lost AGAIN.


Worthless, seriously. I think SH picks teams better.

True, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even with the head to head win (in Flagstaff) I still think Montana is just a bit better. Montana just stayed with Eastern Washington and has solid wins, both home (Portland State) and away (UC-Davis). Northern Arizona seems to let the lower teams hang around. They did get a good win at Cal Poly after by all rights the Mustangs should have won the game in Missoula. It should all work itself out this week with the Grizzlies playing Sacramento State, a team Northern Arizona got a great win against. The Hornets will be hungrier in this game as they want a good statement game so they may even be more up for this game than the NAU game. NAU being better than Montana would be bolstered obviously with a Hornet win.

[kalm]

NAU should definitely be ahead of UM and you have SUU too low again. They may not be prototypical BSC elites but both play good defense. Shouldn't have to apologize for winning. We went through a whole season and then some of close games a few years ago.

EWU
MSU
NAU
UM
SUU
Poly
Sac
Davis
PSU

[SuperHornet]

Hmm...so kalm puts no stock in the actual standings.

[kalm]

Hmm...so kalm puts no stock in the actual standings.

You could interchange Sac and Poly. You have beat WSU, UNC, UND, and gave up 56 to an NAIA. You have no quality wins and neither does Poly although they are just two special teams mistakes away from beating Montana and NAU the last two weeks.

I just think they're better on both sides of the ball and the statistics, both conference only and overall, back that notion up.

Go pound sand SH!

[Vidav]

Queue dbackjon to tell us how you're full of it because NAU is lower than Montana.

Yup Jalmond - seriously, how the hell do you come up with that?

Montana lost AGAIN.


Worthless, seriously. I think SH picks teams better.

One head to head victory does not make them a better team. A lot of factors come into play each week. If they played a series, like in baseball, which team would win it? I think that says more about who is the better team.

If football is strictly about head to head wins then we can say the Cowboys from '09 were better than the Saints, even though the Saints won the Super Bowl and the Cowboys didn't even make the playoffs. There are plenty of similar examples, this one just quickly came to mind.

[Robsnotes4u]

NAU should definitely be ahead of UM and you have SUU too low again. They may not be prototypical BSC elites but both play good defense. Shouldn't have to apologize for winning. We went through a whole season and then some of close games a few years ago.

EWU
MSU
NAU
UM
SUU
Poly
Sac
Davis
PSU

That is how I would have it


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[dbackjon]

Yup Jalmond - seriously, how the hell do you come up with that?

Montana lost AGAIN.


Worthless, seriously. I think SH picks teams better.

One head to head victory does not make them a better team. A lot of factors come into play each week. If they played a series, like in baseball, which team would win it? I think that says more about who is the better team.

If football is strictly about head to head wins then we can say the Cowboys from '09 were better than the Saints, even though the Saints won the Super Bowl and the Cowboys didn't even make the playoffs. There are plenty of similar examples, this one just quickly came to mind.

NAU has a better conference record. And if there are equal teams, only a fool would ignore head to head. Why play the games if you ignore the results?


If the schools were reversed, no one would rate NAU above Montana. FACT.

[grizzaholic]

NAU should definitely be ahead of UM and you have SUU too low again. They may not be prototypical BSC elites but both play good defense. Shouldn't have to apologize for winning. We went through a whole season and then some of close games a few years ago.

EWU
MSU
NAU
UM
SUU
Poly
Sac
Davis
PSU

While you are messing with the lists....why isn't SUU ahead of Montana?

[Grizalltheway]

One head to head victory does not make them a better team. A lot of factors come into play each week. If they played a series, like in baseball, which team would win it? I think that says more about who is the better team.

If football is strictly about head to head wins then we can say the Cowboys from '09 were better than the Saints, even though the Saints won the Super Bowl and the Cowboys didn't even make the playoffs. There are plenty of similar examples, this one just quickly came to mind.

NAU has a better conference record. And if there are equal teams, only a fool would ignore head to head. Why play the games if you ignore the results?


If the schools were reversed, no one would rate NAU above Montana. FACT.

You're getting all flustered and butthurt about some dude from Portland's OPINION on who the best teams in the conference are. Fact.

[AZGrizFan]

If the schools were reversed, no one would rate NAU above Montana. FACT.

Well no. That would be foolish. Just as it would be foolish to do so now.

[Cap'n Cat]

If the schools were reversed, no one would rate NAU above Montana. FACT.

Well no. That would be foolish, y'all. Just as it would be foolish to do so now, y'all..

FIFY

[AZGrizFan]

Well no. That would be foolish, y'all. Just as it would be foolish to do so now, y'all..

FIFY

Thank you.

[Robsnotes4u]

It is just a poll that means nothing, an opinion. Nothing matters until selection day


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[dbackjon]

NAU has a better conference record. And if there are equal teams, only a fool would ignore head to head. Why play the games if you ignore the results?


If the schools were reversed, no one would rate NAU above Montana. FACT.

You're getting all flustered and butthurt about some dude from Portland's OPINION on who the best teams in the conference are. Fact.

It's a message board. We could I guess talk about D1B's latest bowel movement, or Grizo's nuts

[Grizalltheway]

You're getting all flustered and butthurt about some dude from Portland's OPINION on who the best teams in the conference are. Fact.

It's a message board. We could I guess talk about D1B's latest bowel movement, or Grizo's nuts

Just sayin', NAU will have their chance to prove they're for real, regardless of where Jalmond ranks them in October. And then you can rub it in his face (no homo) if he turns out to be wrong.