Big Sky Power Rankings 10-19
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 10:38 pm
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.
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.
get real.