Big Sky Power Rankings 10-19

[JALMOND]

We are over halfway through the football season now and the teams coming to the top of the Big Sky might not be the ones people first thought. Eastern Washington is still there, but after that it is rather confusing. Montana, no, NAU, try again, Montana State, wrong. Try Portland State, Southern Utah, even Weber State and darkhorse (??) Northern Colorado (what?). Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinions only and all open for discussion.

1. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week won at Idaho State 45-28, this week at Northern Colorado---There does need to be a familiar name at the top of the conference and the Eagles have emerged as the team to beat. Still some tough games ahead that may give them trouble, but this weekend?

2. Southern Utah (2)---Last week beat Sacramento State 44-0 at home, this week at UC-Davis---Yes, there are the Thunderbirds fighting for the top spot in the conference. Taking advantage of a favorable schedule and a down year in the conference, they are playing their schedule and steamrolling everyone.

3. Portland State (3)---Last week beat Montana State 59-42 at home, this week at Cal Poly---The Vikings are playing a tough schedule yet are a two point loss to North Dakota from being perfect. They continued their offensive explosion this week and it is a good thing.

4. Weber State (6)---Last week beat North Dakota 25-24 at home, this week at Northern Arizona---The Wildcats snatched a win from the jaws of defeat last week. Now they turn their sites to the road and try for a win in a hostile environment.

5. Cal Poly (5)---Last week bye, this week Portland State at home---The Mustangs have played a really tough slate and it won't get any easier this weekend as Walsh and his staff get a call from their former team. A big game in store, are the Mustangs ready?

6. Montana State (4)---Last week lost at Portland State 59-42, this week East Tennessee State (FCS Independent) at home---Having a defense that gives up 50 points is not good, even with an offense that can score 50 points on any night. The Bobcats can get the points on anyone, but can they stop anyone?

7. Montana (7)---Last week bye, this week North Dakota at home---The Grizzlies really needed an off week to get healthy and recapture some of that speed and quickness they had at the start of the season. They will need speed this weekend as they encounter a defense that can slow anyone down.

8. Northern Arizona (9)---Last week bye, this week Weber State at home---The Lumberjacks also took last week off to regroup and get ready for the stretch run. First off, they would love to wreck Weber State's year with a nice home win.

9. North Dakota (8)---Last week lost at Weber State 25-24, this week at Montana---The Dakotan had that game won last weekend only to lose the game late. Now, trying to recover and get back to playoff consideration, they will need to get a win in a very tough place to play.

10. Northern Colorado (12)---Last week beat UC-Davis at home 56-27, this week Eastern Washington at home---The Bears have moved to the middle of the conference race by making the game ugly enough for them to win. If they can continue to do that this weekend, that could really throw a wrench in the whole race.

11. Idaho State (11)---Last week lost to Eastern Washington at home 48-25, this week at Sacramento State---The Bengals offense has begun to show some life but their defense is still reeling which means they were not going to spring the upset last weekend. However, the silver lining is they should get the win this week.

12. UC-Davis (10)---Last week lost at Northern Colorado 56-27, this week Southern Utah at home---After finally getting their first win of the year, the Aggies found the going tough and ugly in their next game. Sadly, things probably aren't going to get better soon.

13. Sacramento State (13)---Last week lost at Southern Utah 44-0, this week Idaho State at home---Sad times on the Causeway for the Hornets as they became yet another victim to the Thunderbirds. Best chance for a DI win may be this weekend which, unfortunately, probably won't happen.

RECAP: 1-3 forging ahead, 4 trying to keep up, 5-9 trailing, 10-13 falling back.

[biobengal]

11. Idaho State (11)---Last week lost to Eastern Washington at home 48-25, this week at Sacramento State---The Bengals offense has begun to show some life but their defense is still reeling which means they were not going to spring the upset last weekend. However, the silver lining is they should get the win this week.

Unfortunately, the ISU offense may be on life support with Sander's possibly finished for the year. Of the eight starting QB's to have played with or against the Bengals this year, three were injured in seven games: Rypien (Boise State), Studsrud (UND), and now Sanders. Vernon Adams was injured in a Bengal game last year.

Head coach Mike Kramer wouldn’t go into specific names, but said that six players are going to have to have season ending surgery after the ninth loss in a row to the Eagles. Kramer said two of the players are going to have to have ACL surgery, one shoulder surgery, two bicep surgeries and an additional player with a surgery he didn’t specify. This on top of the Bengals (2-5, 1-3 Big Sky) losing two all-conference preseason defensive selections before the first snap of the season to ACL and ankle injuries. Speculation is that junior college quarterback Michael Sanders is one of those ACL injuries after he was hit low avoiding the rush and left the game in the second half. Kramer did shed some light on Sanders’ situation. “I doubt he’s going to play anymore this year,”Kramer said.

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[SDHornet]

Should be an interesting game in Sac this week then. The Hornets have been ravaged by injuries at QB. So we’ll have a FR QB making his 2nd start against whoever ISU plays at QB. 6-3 final score?

[Mvemjsunpx]

Should be an interesting game in Sac this week then. The Hornets have been ravaged by injuries at QB. So we’ll have a FR QB making his 2nd start against whoever ISU plays at QB. 6-3 final score?

Come on, you know neither team's defense can pull that off.

[SDHornet]

Should be an interesting game in Sac this week then. The Hornets have been ravaged by injuries at QB. So we’ll have a FR QB making his 2nd start against whoever ISU plays at QB. 6-3 final score?

Come on, you know neither team's defense can pull that off.

Was thinking more along the lines of inept offenses being unable to move the ball...and the Hornet defense hasn't been too bad. Last week was the worst showing of the season.

[biobengal]

Should be an interesting game in Sac this week then. The Hornets have been ravaged by injuries at QB. So we’ll have a FR QB making his 2nd start against whoever ISU plays at QB. 6-3 final score?

Freshman Tanner Gueller will start. He was largely ineffective after Sander's was knocked out during the first drive of the third quarter, but seemed to gain confidence as the game progressed and EWU removed starters? Speculation is that ISU also lost two o-line starters for the season, so he might be on the run. Thankfully, Gueller has better wheels than Sander's who is statuesque in the pocket.

Tanner Gueller at QB:

Drive #1: 4 plays, -2 yards
Drive #2: 6 plays, 17 yards
Drive #3: 13 plays, 50 yards
Drive #4: 13 plays, 75 yards

[SuperHornet]

1. EWU
2. PSU
3. CP
4. UM
5. BBQ
6. UND
7. MSU
8. SUU
9. NAU
10. UNC
11. UCD
12. ISU
13. Sac

[Wildcat Ryan]

1. Portland State
2. Eastern Washington
3. Southern Utah
4. Montana State
5. Cal Poly
6. Weber State
7. Montana
8. North Dakota
9. Northern Arizona
10. Northern Colorado
11. Idaho State
12. UC Davis
13. Sacramento State

[Brock Landers]

1. EWU
2. PSU
3. CP
4. UM
5. BBQ
6. UND
7. MSU
8. SUU
9. NAU
10. UNC
11. UCD
12. ISU
13. Sac

...

[Brock Landers]

1a. EWU
1b. SUU
1c. PSU
4-13. Rest of the crap

[CPAlum]

Its great how you unbiased folks continue to put Cal Poly in a top 5 or even top 3.......I cant do that anymore. If they win this weekend they can start talking about tough schedule and turn around....if they lose half our fans will start beating the drum too replace the coach and the season is toast.

EWU
Portland State
Southern Utah
MSU
Montana
Weber State
Cal Poly
NAU
UND
Idaho State
Davis
UNC
Sac

[free7694]

Its great how you unbiased folks continue to put Cal Poly in a top 5 or even top 3.......I cant do that anymore. If they win this weekend they can start talking about tough schedule and turn around....if they lose half our fans will start beating the drum too replace the coach and the season is toast.

EWU
Portland State
Southern Utah
MSU
Montana
Weber State
Cal Poly
NAU
UND
Idaho State
Davis
UNC
Sac

How are you going to put UNC behind Davis after the beatdown we laid on them last week?

[CPAlum]

Its great how you unbiased folks continue to put Cal Poly in a top 5 or even top 3.......I cant do that anymore. If they win this weekend they can start talking about tough schedule and turn around....if they lose half our fans will start beating the drum too replace the coach and the season is toast.

EWU
Portland State
Southern Utah
MSU
Montana
Weber State
Cal Poly
NAU
UND
Idaho State
Davis
UNC
Sac

How are you going to put UNC behind Davis after the beatdown we laid on them last week?

I got a bit lazy at the end. My bad.....UNC does not suck as bad as Davis but they both suck bad

[ajwildcat]

How are you going to put UNC behind Davis after the beatdown we laid on them last week?

I got a bit lazy at the end. My bad.....UNC does not suck as bad as Davis but they both suck bad

And how can you put Weber below Montana AFTER WSU won in Missoula?

[CPAlum]

I got a bit lazy at the end. My bad.....UNC does not suck as bad as Davis but they both suck bad

And how can you put Weber below Montana AFTER WSU won in Missoula?

In my zeal to disparage my own team, I have apparently offended other fan bases;

Let me clarify

UNC is better than Davis and...I missed that but to be fair both of those teams are terrible

I actually do think that Montana is better than Weber St....please note that Cal Poly also beat Montana in Missoula

[biobengal]

I got a bit lazy at the end.

Whatever, you are forgiven. Does it really matter whether you are 9-10-11-12 or 13 in a 13 team league?

[CPAlum]

I got a bit lazy at the end.

Whatever, you are forgiven. Does it really matter whether you are 9-10-11-12 or 13 in a 13 team league?

Exactly what I had thought before I started ranking but apparently that 11-12 spot is hotly contested

[Wildcat Ryan]

And how can you put Weber below Montana AFTER WSU won in Missoula?

In my zeal to disparage my own team, I have apparently offended other fan bases;

Let me clarify

UNC is better than Davis and...I missed that but to be fair both of those teams are terrible

I actually do think that Montana is better than Weber St....please note that Cal Poly also beat Montana in Missoula

Normally I would agree, but after home losses to both Weber and Cal Poly, not to mention running an offense with a 3rd string QB, as of now I can't see Montana being much better than than 6th or 7th. Montana is not the team they were when they beat the Bison. The Montana team that beat NDSU would most likely have demolished Weber State

[Thundernuts]

1. EWU
2. PSU
3. CP
4. UM
5. BBQ
6. UND
7. MSU
8. SUU WTF?
9. NAU
10. UNC
11. UCD
12. ISU
13. Sac

get real.

[SDHornet]

This is another prime example of how SH might just be the best troll on the internets. If he gives up the ghost and admits to being a paid troll, he wins the internets hands down.

[dbackjon]

This is another prime example of how SH might just be the best troll on the internets. If he gives up the ghost and admits to being a paid troll, he wins the internets hands down.

Unfortunately...

[JALMOND]

And how can you put Weber below Montana AFTER WSU won in Missoula?

In my zeal to disparage my own team, I have apparently offended other fan bases;

Let me clarify

UNC is better than Davis and...I missed that but to be fair both of those teams are terrible

I actually do think that Montana is better than Weber St....please note that Cal Poly also beat Montana in Missoula

Try doing this for 12 years. You'll make everyone upset at you. If you don't, you're doing something wrong.

Cue the UND fans to come in and wonder how all of us can put PSU ahead of UND.

[Jjoey52]

ISU having 6 surgeries after 1 game is historic, never heard of that many season enders before.

[EWURanger]

Portland State
Southern Utah
EWU
Cal Poly
MSU
Weber State
Montana
NAU
UND
UNC
Idaho State
Davis
Sac