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A day late as I took some time to heal my wounds from the punishment Southern Utah did on my Portland State team. Some space and separation beginning to come about in the Big Sky and more coming up just this weekend. Meanwhile, here are this week's power rankings (last week's in parenthesis). All are my opinion only and all open for discussion. Halfway through the season and some clarity so far.

1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles struggled a bit early on last weekend at North Dakota given how well Montana and Montana State did there. Still, a win is a win and going to North Dakota is no small matter. This weekend find them at home entertaining Southern Utah, a team that got them last year. Payback time?

2. Montana (2)---The Grizzlies continued to roll on, dismantling UC-Davis last weekend and asserting themselves as one of the top dogs in the conference. Whether they can keep it up remains to be seen, but they get Cal Poly at their house this weekend.

3. Montana State (3)---Everyone else was involved in games last weekend except for the Bobcats, who took advantage of the week off to get as healthy as they can and prepare for the stretch run. It starts this weekend at Weber State for the Bobcats.

4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Lumberjacks held off a stubborn Sacramento State team last weekend and got a well deserved win. Perhaps they have righted the ship after some peculiar play up to now. They need to keep getting wins and this weekend should be no problem as they stay home to face Idaho State.

5. Cal Poly (5)---The Mustangs recovered from their strange loss to Yale with a sound beating of Weber State last weekend. Momentum may be back on their side and they are perhaps ready to make some noise in the conference. What a better time than now to face Montana on the road.

6. Sacramento State (7)---The Hornets did everything they could to get a win over Northern Arizona yet could not actually get the win. Now they face a tall order to get back in the groove. This weekend does not get easier as they head out to the plains and face North Dakota.

7. Southern Utah (10)---The Thunderbirds put their perplexing loss the week before to UC-Davis behind them with a strong defensive effort against Portland State. However, they will surely need more from their offense this weekend as they head to Eastern Washington, a team they surprised last year.

8. Portland State (6)---All the talk about how no one could stop the Vikings offense came to an abrupt halt last weekend at Southern Utah as the offense continually shot themselves in the foot. They need some time to figure out how to play without penalties and turnovers. They are off this weekend.

9. North Dakota (9)---The former Sioux actually stayed with Eastern Washington for most of the game last weekend, finally succumbing in the fourth quarter. No more heavyweights on the schedule, this weekend they bring in Sacramento State for a chance to get things going.

10. UC-Davis (8)---The Aggies upstart season came to a crashing halt last weekend at home against the mighty Montana team. This season was supposed to be rebuilding but the early success had them wanting more. This weekend they hit the road with a game at Northern Colorado.

11. Idaho State (13)---The Bengals finally found someone they can beat up on at the FCS level, staying out in front of Northern Colorado the whole game last weekend. Finally their first conference win and now they want more. This weekend they head down to Northern Arizona for a tough game.

12. Weber State (12)---The Wildcats headed out to Cal Poly last weekend and promptly came away with a defeat. They will be better but probably not this season. This weekend they get the strong Montana State team. A possible surprise in the making?

13. Northern Colorado (11)---The Bears have had a tough road this season, including falling last weekend at Idaho State. They need to find the winning solution and find it quick to salvage a dismal year. This weekend, they get UC-Davis at their house.

RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4-5 just behind, 6-10 lagging, 11-13 at the back.

Dont see how SUU is behind Sac State, other then that they look good.

I'd probably have SUU in the #5 spot ahead of NAU and Sac. And probably Cal Poly at #4.


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EWURanger wrote:I'd probably have SUU in the #5 spot ahead of NAU and Sac. And probably Cal Poly at #4.


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Poly, NAU, and SUU are all pretty equal at this point. NAU and SUU each have a quality win. Poly had a ton of starters returning. I'd probably list them NAU, SUU, then Poly. Sac State is close, but their defense has really played poorly all season.

kalm wrote:

EWURanger wrote:I'd probably have SUU in the #5 spot ahead of NAU and Sac. And probably Cal Poly at #4.


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Poly, NAU, and SUU are all pretty equal at this point. NAU and SUU each have a quality win. Poly had a ton of starters returning. I'd probably list them NAU, SUU, then Poly. Sac State is close, but their defense has really played poorly all season.

Not quite, kalm. The Hornet defense has had its moments, most notably the incredible down-the-middle pick 6 against NAU. It issue seems to be spectacular breakdowns at inopportune times. The last quarter-and-a-half of the NAU game is also a key example. That second half is perhaps our season in microcosm. Glimpses of excellence followed by disaster. But we HAVE some good to our credit. Just not enough to amount to much right now....

SuperHornet wrote:

kalm wrote:
Poly, NAU, and SUU are all pretty equal at this point. NAU and SUU each have a quality win. Poly had a ton of starters returning. I'd probably list them NAU, SUU, then Poly. Sac State is close, but their defense has really played poorly all season.

Not quite, kalm. The Hornet defense has had its moments, most notably the incredible down-the-middle pick 6 against NAU. It issue seems to be spectacular breakdowns at inopportune times. The last quarter-and-a-half of the NAU game is also a key example. That second half is perhaps our season in microcosm. Glimpses of excellence followed by disaster. But we HAVE some good to our credit. Just not enough to amount to much right now....

You're near the bottom of the BSC in most defensive statistics. You gave up 56 points to an NAIA. The other 3 teams have each shown signs they can stop people.

kalm wrote:

SuperHornet wrote:
Not quite, kalm. The Hornet defense has had its moments, most notably the incredible down-the-middle pick 6 against NAU. It issue seems to be spectacular breakdowns at inopportune times. The last quarter-and-a-half of the NAU game is also a key example. That second half is perhaps our season in microcosm. Glimpses of excellence followed by disaster. But we HAVE some good to our credit. Just not enough to amount to much right now....

You're near the bottom of the BSC in most defensive statistics. You gave up 56 points to an NAIA. The other 3 teams have each shown signs they can stop people.

56 points to an NAIA Team.......

grizcountry420 wrote:

kalm wrote:
You're near the bottom of the BSC in most defensive statistics. You gave up 56 points to an NAIA. The other 3 teams have each shown signs they can stop people.

56 points to an NAIA Team.......

Playing an NAIA team...

Grizalltheway wrote:

grizcountry420 wrote:
56 points to an NAIA Team.......

Playing an NAIA team...

Being taken to OT by an NAIA team...

AZGrizFan wrote:

Grizalltheway wrote:
Playing an NAIA team...

Being taken to OT by an NAIA team...

But but, the pick six against NAU!

Vidav wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Being taken to OT by an NAIA team...

But but, the pick six against NAU!

You're right. My bad. Sac is top 3.

SuperHornet wrote:

kalm wrote:
Poly, NAU, and SUU are all pretty equal at this point. NAU and SUU each have a quality win. Poly had a ton of starters returning. I'd probably list them NAU, SUU, then Poly. Sac State is close, but their defense has really played poorly all season.

Not quite, kalm. The Hornet defense has had its moments, most notably the incredible down-the-middle pick 6 against NAU. It issue seems to be spectacular breakdowns at inopportune times. The last quarter-and-a-half of the NAU game is also a key example. That second half is perhaps our season in microcosm. Glimpses of excellence followed by disaster. But we HAVE some good to our credit. Just not enough to amount to much right now....

I didn't think anyone was stupid enough to defend our horrible defense...and then there is you.

No arguments on the rankings J, although I agree SUU should be up a notch or 2.

Really glad my subliminal messages about SUU have finally sunk in

Hi all- new to the board. Was reading this thread, and definitely think SUU should be higher than Sac. State, but not sure about Cal Poly and NAU yet, that remains to be seen.

Hi all, new to the board. Looking at the rankings, I would definitely have SUU over Sac. Not sure about NAU and Poly yet..... A few weeks ago before the Davis debacle I would have said probably yes, but now to me SUU still has some proving of themselves to do. Time will tell.

AZGrizFan wrote:

Grizalltheway wrote:
Playing an NAIA team...

Being taken to OT by an NAIA team...

Nice run you guys had there. But seriously an NAIA team should be put away by the 2nd qtr. SUU shd def be ahead of Sacramento State. I wish this conference would have a EWU, UM, MSU, CPSLO games at the end of conf schedule EVERY YEAR like they used to have msu and um games. but I think they would have been playing at the end anyway bc of rivalry week.. but still again ewu and msu are um's rivals so..... We all know one of the three will have the title anyway. except for the 3 flukes of weber08, nau03 and isu02or03 when has it been any different??

BlackFalkin wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Being taken to OT by an NAIA team...

Nice run you guys had there. But seriously an NAIA team should be put away by the 2nd qtr.

Like on this day:

http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=302540331

SDHornet wrote:

BlackFalkin wrote:

Nice run you guys had there. But seriously an NAIA team should be put away by the 2nd qtr.

Like on this day:

http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=302540331

Central Washington is Division II, not NAIA.

AZGrizFan wrote:

SDHornet wrote: Like on this day:

http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=302540331

Central Washington is Division II, not NAIA.

Don't feel bad SD, I recently made a similar mistake. But yes CWU is a bit different. Not only did they beat us fairly recently we went down to the wire with them during our NC season only winning by 3. And IIRC, Reilly led them into Wa-Griz and also narrowly lost to a Montana playoff team.

They'd compete for PFL titles many years.

Big-Bird wrote:Hi all- new to the board. Was reading this thread, and definitely think SUU should be higher than Sac. State, but not sure about Cal Poly and NAU yet, that remains to be seen.

Let me welcome you...

Couple of things.

Don't take anything personal, have a thick skin
If you come in contact with SE174, don't touch. He bites
Towsonend State University-Commonwealth is over rated.

grizzaholic wrote:

Big-Bird wrote:Hi all- new to the board. Was reading this thread, and definitely think SUU should be higher than Sac. State, but not sure about Cal Poly and NAU yet, that remains to be seen.

Let me welcome you...

Couple of things.

Don't take anything personal, have a thick skin
If you come in contact with SE174, don't touch. He bites
Towsonend State University-Commonwealth is over rated.

93 told me no-this isn't the Big Sky.

FWIW, SOU is ALSO NCAA D-II. At least we didn't lose to them like some other schools I could mention....

SuperHornet wrote:FWIW, SOU is ALSO NCAA D-II. At least we didn't lose to them like some other schools I could mention....

Southern Oregon is NAIA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_O ... s_football


Their QB (Austin Dodge) has thrown for 7546 yards and 71 TDs in the last 1.5 years, though.

AZGrizFan wrote:

SDHornet wrote: Like on this day:

http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=302540331

Central Washington is Division II, not NAIA.

NAIA has less strict academic requirements than D2 no? So an NAIA could potentially be stacked with D1 non-qualifiers yes?

FWIW SOU was ranked entering the season and made a playoff run last season.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:

SuperHornet wrote:FWIW, SOU is ALSO NCAA D-II. At least we didn't lose to them like some other schools I could mention....

Southern Oregon is NAIA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_O ... s_football


Their QB (Austin Dodge) has thrown for 7546 yards and 71 TDs in the last 1.5 years, though.

You're not helping their cause.