Big Sky Power Rankings 8-31
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 7:57 pm
I went back and looked and this will be my 12th year of doing these power rankings for the Big Sky Conference, both here and on AGS. Many years of great discussion facilitated by these rankings. Even though Montana jumped the gun, I thought I'd do the first week this week with a full weekend of games on the horizon. Here are the first week of the conference power rankings. Once again, this is all my opinion and all open for discussion.
1. Montana State Bobcats---Last week, n/a-This week, Fort Lewis (DII) at home---Good quarterback play is essential for success in the conference and the Bobcats gained the most when EWU's Adams left the conference. Can they hold off their rivals?
2. Montana Grizzlies---Last week, beat North Dakota State 38-35-This week, Cal Poly at home---The Grizzlies put the conference, and the nation, on notice with the nationally televised home win against North Dakota State. Can they keep up the fast, frenetic pace?
3. Eastern Washington Eagles---Last week, n/a-This week, at Oregon (Pac-12)---National title hopes for the Eagles took a slight detour when they lost their quarterback to the Ducks. In an ironic twist, they will face said quarterback the first game out.
4. Cal Poly Mustangs---Last week, n/a-This week, at Montana---The conference could be well balanced with many teams thinking they have a shot. Count the Mustangs in that group as well, with the game against the new look Grizzlies as a good barometer.
5. Idaho State Bengals---Last week, n/a-This week, Black Hills State (DII) at home---The Bengals arrived last season and hope to continue this year. Some holes to fill, but manageable and what used to be "get us out of the cellar" is now "we can get to the top".
6. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks---Last week, n/a-This week, at Stephen F Austin (Southland)---The Jacks enter the season once again with high aspirations, and they could be one of those teams to contend for the title. Then again, they could fall on their face.
7. Southern Utah Thunderbirds---Last week, n/a-This week, at Utah State (Mountain West)---The Thunderbirds also are looking to move upwards in the conference and may have the horses to do it. They may need to surprise some people, however.
8. Sacramento State Hornets---Last week, n/a-This week, Eastern Oregon (NAIA) at home---The Hornets also are thinking they may have a shot at the top of the conference. Starting with a NAIA opponent should be a good step, but don't remind them of Southern Oregon, however.
9. North Dakota---Last week, n/a-This week, at Wyoming (Mountain West)---UND also believes that they may have a good shot as well, if the breaks go their way. In a conference filled with high powered offenses, UND will need to rely on their defense to go far.
10. Weber State Wildcats---Last week, n/a-This week, at Oregon State (Pac-12)---The Wildcats are still trying to recapture past glory and hope they can make strides toward that goal this season. Starting with Oregon State, they may need Damian Lillard to play, not just watch.
11. UC-Davis Aggies---Last week, n/a-This week, at Nevada (Mountain West)---The Aggies are also hoping this year will be the year they can move up in the conference. However, they may not have enough to make strides forward.
12. Portland State Vikings---Last week, n/a-This week, at Washington State (Pac-12)---Once again, the Vikings look good on paper, but paper does not play the games. The Vikings think they can contend, but after so many years of the same things, the conference says "Show me".
13. Northern Colorado Bears---Last week, n/a-This week Western State (DII) at home---Most conference teams have high goals in the conference this season, but the Bears do not. Hoping to survive, their best bet for a win may be their first game.
Recap: 1-3 bunched together, 4-6 not far behind, 7-9 right there as well, 10-11 a step behind, 12 off the pace, 13 still in the starting gate.
1. Montana State Bobcats---Last week, n/a-This week, Fort Lewis (DII) at home---Good quarterback play is essential for success in the conference and the Bobcats gained the most when EWU's Adams left the conference. Can they hold off their rivals?
2. Montana Grizzlies---Last week, beat North Dakota State 38-35-This week, Cal Poly at home---The Grizzlies put the conference, and the nation, on notice with the nationally televised home win against North Dakota State. Can they keep up the fast, frenetic pace?
3. Eastern Washington Eagles---Last week, n/a-This week, at Oregon (Pac-12)---National title hopes for the Eagles took a slight detour when they lost their quarterback to the Ducks. In an ironic twist, they will face said quarterback the first game out.
4. Cal Poly Mustangs---Last week, n/a-This week, at Montana---The conference could be well balanced with many teams thinking they have a shot. Count the Mustangs in that group as well, with the game against the new look Grizzlies as a good barometer.
5. Idaho State Bengals---Last week, n/a-This week, Black Hills State (DII) at home---The Bengals arrived last season and hope to continue this year. Some holes to fill, but manageable and what used to be "get us out of the cellar" is now "we can get to the top".
6. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks---Last week, n/a-This week, at Stephen F Austin (Southland)---The Jacks enter the season once again with high aspirations, and they could be one of those teams to contend for the title. Then again, they could fall on their face.
7. Southern Utah Thunderbirds---Last week, n/a-This week, at Utah State (Mountain West)---The Thunderbirds also are looking to move upwards in the conference and may have the horses to do it. They may need to surprise some people, however.
8. Sacramento State Hornets---Last week, n/a-This week, Eastern Oregon (NAIA) at home---The Hornets also are thinking they may have a shot at the top of the conference. Starting with a NAIA opponent should be a good step, but don't remind them of Southern Oregon, however.
9. North Dakota---Last week, n/a-This week, at Wyoming (Mountain West)---UND also believes that they may have a good shot as well, if the breaks go their way. In a conference filled with high powered offenses, UND will need to rely on their defense to go far.
10. Weber State Wildcats---Last week, n/a-This week, at Oregon State (Pac-12)---The Wildcats are still trying to recapture past glory and hope they can make strides toward that goal this season. Starting with Oregon State, they may need Damian Lillard to play, not just watch.
11. UC-Davis Aggies---Last week, n/a-This week, at Nevada (Mountain West)---The Aggies are also hoping this year will be the year they can move up in the conference. However, they may not have enough to make strides forward.
12. Portland State Vikings---Last week, n/a-This week, at Washington State (Pac-12)---Once again, the Vikings look good on paper, but paper does not play the games. The Vikings think they can contend, but after so many years of the same things, the conference says "Show me".
13. Northern Colorado Bears---Last week, n/a-This week Western State (DII) at home---Most conference teams have high goals in the conference this season, but the Bears do not. Hoping to survive, their best bet for a win may be their first game.
Recap: 1-3 bunched together, 4-6 not far behind, 7-9 right there as well, 10-11 a step behind, 12 off the pace, 13 still in the starting gate.
) but we play who is on our schedule (unless we don't want to...then WE buy them out) , and this is the first game. We will know more in a couple weeks after we both play Cal Poly, and we have played EWU.
