We've come to the halfway point for most teams in the conference (Weber State and Cal Poly are actually over the halfway point of their schedules) and about the only thing we know is Montana State is very good. Still, the conference will surely get more than one team in the playoffs but the middle is a big pile of mush. The second half will clear up a bunch of things and there is still time for some teams to get hot, but those teams that still have to play the Bobcats may be at a bit of a disadvantage. Here are this week's power rankings (last week's rankings in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Here we go.
1. Montana State (1)---Last week won at Sacramento State 42-30, this week at Idaho---The Bobcats continue to roll along, leaving carnage behind them. Last week was a strong conference road win over a formidable foe. But, a similar game awaits them this week, another strong conference matchup on the road.
2. Montana (3)---Last week bye, this week Northern Colorado at home---The Grizzlies seem to have put their early season troubles behind them and, more importantly, found themselves a quarterback in the process. It does not bode well for the rest of the conference. The Battle of the Bears this weekend at the Grizzlies's den.
3. Idaho (4)---Last week bye, this week Montana State at home---Still smarting from the defeat the Vandals suffered before their bye week had them tasting it for two weeks. Hopefully, they came out of it eager to prove they belong as they entertain the top of the conference this weekend at their place.
4. Sacramento State (2)---Last week lost to Montana State at home 42-30, this week Idaho State at home---The Hornets had a good gameplan last week at home against the top team in the conference, but lost traction when it turned into a track meet. Things don't get easy when the new conference upstart comes calling.
5. Eastern Washington (6)---Last week beat Weber State at home 31-23, this week at Portland State---The Eagles returned to their winning ways last week with a home win against a reeling conference foe. They are eager to continue their wins and ride it to the playoffs, but this week's game will be tough.
6. Idaho State (8)---Last week won at Portland State 38-24, this week at Sacramento State---Take a bow if you had the Bengals near the top of the conference at the halfway point when the season began. They are now riding the momentum of two impressive wins onto the road against a tough top opponent.
7. Portland State (5)---Last week lost to Idaho State at home 38-24, this week Eastern Washington at home---What exactly happened last week? The Vikings were looking good heading into the game, then were totally shut down and never really in it. They will need to wake up as their season is in jeopardy this weekend.
8. UC Davis (7)--Last week bye, this week at Northern Arizona---The Aggies punched one in the win column before their bye week last week. A week rest could have done them some good. Trying to get back in the playoff picture, they have a tough conference road game this week, at elevation and in a dome.
9. Northern Arizona (9)---Last week bye, this week UC Davis at home---The Lumberjacks playoff hopes took a serious jolt right before their bye week with a tough home loss. They had two weeks and the understanding that they need to win out and have lots of luck for a shot, but they cannot drop any home games.
10. Weber State (10)---Last week lost at Eastern Washington 31-23, this week bye---Maybe it is good that the Wildcats have this off week as the season has been really hard on them. Really nothing left to play for and no hope of reaching the playoffs, they will need to refocus and become a tough spoiler for others to navigate.
11. Cal Poly (12)---Last week beat Northern Colorado at home 24-17, this week bye---No matter how your season is going, it always feels good to head into a bye week with a win, and on top of that the Mustangs really needed a win. Are they ready to wreck havoc from the bottom of the conference? We'll see when they resume playing.
12. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week lost at Cal Poly 24-17, this week at Montana---The Bears let what maybe was their best chance at a win slip right through their grasp and they came home with a loss. Now comes the tough part, starting with a trip on the road to one of the hostile venues in the conference.
RECAP: 1, then 2-4 hanging on with 5-6 a step back, 7-10 fading, 11-12 bringing up the rear.