Big Sky Power Rankings 9-19

[WeberAlum02]

Believe me, I hope this is the year, but 12 straight losses over 24 years doesn't lie.

Weber has two HUGE things going against it in the UM game:

1) the game is in Missoula, a place where Weber has struggled, as you pointed out
2) It's Montana's NINTH game of the year...that gives them five more games to work out the kinks and wrinkles against (lets face it) lesser competition prior to closing with Weber/D-II/MSU.

As you point out, Weber will be Montana's 9th game. But they have no bye prior to that game. On the other hand, Weber will have had a bye in week 6, 3 weeks prior to the game with UM. Will this have any effect on the game? Will UM be banged up and worn down after 8 straight weeks without a break?

[mlbowl]

#2 Allen Brown (DB for EWU) got clipped by #57 Charles Burton (OL for UM) big time on that play! Always the same thing in Missoula!

ARE YOU F'N SERIOUS??? How many times did your O-line chop block?

[Grizalltheway]

#2 Allen Brown (DB for EWU) got clipped by #57 Charles Burton (OL for UM) big time on that play! Always the same thing in Missoula!

ARE YOU F'N SERIOUS??? How many times did your O-line chop block?

More times than they were called for it...

[mlbowl]

ARE YOU F'N SERIOUS??? How many times did your O-line chop block?

More times than they were called for it...

Exactly!

[native]

Weber has two HUGE things going against it in the UM game:

1) the game is in Missoula, a place where Weber has struggled, as you pointed out
2) It's Montana's NINTH game of the year...that gives them five more games to work out the kinks and wrinkles against (lets face it) lesser competition prior to closing with Weber/D-II/MSU.

As you point out, Weber will be Montana's 9th game. But they have no bye prior to that game. On the other hand, Weber will have had a bye in week 6, 3 weeks prior to the game with UM. Will this have any effect on the game? Will UM be banged up and worn down after 8 straight weeks without a break?

If the BEAST is healthy, our chances are significantly improved. Weber has more depth than the average Big Sky or FCS team, but the Montana has more depth than Weber.

IMHO, the bye will not be a factor.

[native]

...credit is due, WSU (and mainly Hoke) looks a lot better than what I expected, especially at this point in the season. If they can maintain a balanced attack (which they should with their OL), WSU will have a good season....

Thank you for the gracious words, SDHornet.

Congrats on the Sac State beat down of the Griz and for being the only other poster to correctly predict all five Big Sky games this past weekend.

[native]

Big Sky Conference Standings (Not Power Rankings) after Week 3:

TEAM, CONF, OVERALL

1. Portland State, 1-0, 2-0
(Tie) Idaho State, 1-0, 2-1
(Tie) Montana, 1-0, 2-1
(Tie) Weber State, 1-0, 1-2

5. Montana State, 0-0, 2-1

6. Northern Arizona, 0-1, 1-2
(Tie) Sacramento State, 0-1, 1-2
(Tie) Eastern Washington, 0-1, 0-3
(Tie) Northern Colorado, 0-1, 0-3

Native's Predicted BSC Conference Standings after Week Four:

TEAM, CONFERENCE, OVERALL

1. Weber State 2-0, 2-2

2. Portland State 1-0, 2-1
(Tie) Montana State 1-0, 3-1

4. Idaho State 1-1, 2-2
(Tie) Montana 1-1, 2-2 (Big surprise!)
(Tie) Northern Arizona 1-1, 2-2
(Tie) Sacramento State 1-1, 2-2

8. Eastern Washington 0-2, 0-4 (Big surprise!)
(Tie) Northern Colorado 0-2, 0-4

so, I find it very interesting that you feel the Bobcats will go into Cheney and defeat the struggling national champions (a team, incidently, that the 'scats have beaten just ONCE since 2002, and only TWICE in Spokane/Cheney since 1982 when the series resumed), whereas you feel the Griz will go into Sacramento and LOSE to a struggling Suck State team----a team the Griz have NEVER lost to, in either Missoula OR Sacramento...a team the Griz routinely blow out of the stadium...a team that up until last year (Griz's worst team in 25 years) had not stayed within 14 points of the Griz since 1993.

Makes me wonder if this is what you THINK will happen, or what you HOPE will happen.

[SDHornet]

so, I find it very interesting that you feel the Bobcats will go into Cheney and defeat the struggling national champions (a team, incidently, that the 'scats have beaten just ONCE since 2002, and only TWICE in Spokane/Cheney since 1982 when the series resumed), whereas you feel the Griz will go into Sacramento and LOSE to a struggling Suck State team----a team the Griz have NEVER lost to, in either Missoula OR Sacramento...a team the Griz routinely blow out of the stadium...a team that up until last year (Griz's worst team in 25 years) had not stayed within 14 points of the Griz since 1993.

Makes me wonder if this is what you THINK will happen, or what you HOPE will happen.

[AZGrizFan]

so, I find it very interesting that you feel the Bobcats will go into Cheney and defeat the struggling national champions (a team, incidently, that the 'scats have beaten just ONCE since 2002, and only TWICE in Spokane/Cheney since 1982 when the series resumed), whereas you feel the Griz will go into Sacramento and LOSE to a struggling Suck State team----a team the Griz have NEVER lost to, in either Missoula OR Sacramento...a team the Griz routinely blow out of the stadium...a team that up until last year (Griz's worst team in 25 years) had not stayed within 14 points of the Griz since 1993.

Makes me wonder if this is what you THINK will happen, or what you HOPE will happen.

BZ, Native. As of right now, owning the conference tie-breaker with EWU isn't looking like it's worth much....

[SDHornet]

...credit is due, WSU (and mainly Hoke) looks a lot better than what I expected, especially at this point in the season. If they can maintain a balanced attack (which they should with their OL), WSU will have a good season....

Thank you for the gracious words, SDHornet.

Congrats on the Sac State beat down of the Griz and for being the only other poster to correctly predict all five Big Sky games this past weekend.

Hey I was impressed with WSU. I expected a drop off with all the players WSU lost but that didn't happen. I'm even more impressed with the ball control and decision making Hoke has shown. If they can keep this level of play up all season long they will knock off quite a bit of teams.

And the Montana beat down was very very enjoyable. Having watched the EWU-UM game, I knew there was no way they could or can play catch-up as they are a run first team but I was surprised that the Griz D was as weak as they were. Our OL dominated the front 7 of UM and opened up plenty of room for Hilliard and Co. Our team finally played an entire game since week 1 and I hope we can keep this up all season long.

And I think this was the first and probably last time I will ever pick all the right BSC wins.

[native]

... And I think this was the first and probably last time I will ever pick all the right BSC wins.

Me, too. I am thinking about retiring from predictions while I'm ahead, to protect my perfect record.

[cats2506]

... And I think this was the first and probably last time I will ever pick all the right BSC wins.

Me, too. I am thinking about retiring from predictions while I'm ahead, to protect my perfect record.

are you Bobby Hauck?

[native]

...As of right now, owning the conference tie-breaker with EWU isn't looking like it's worth much....

By the time the end of October rolls around, I figure Montana will have fixed a few problems and that Weber will be bruised and bloodied from the SUU game. If the Griz are 5-1 in conference play and the Wildcats are 4-0, as I expect, then the 29th in Missoula should be one helluva game!

If I get paid on our outstanding invoices in time, I would sure like to be there.

Every DI win counts for something. If the Griz can beat either Weber State or Montana State and end up with 7 DI wins, I expect Montana to receive an at-large bid to the post season. If Weber stays healthy and runs the table I expect a top 4 regional seed for the post season, so we might even see you again in December - in Ogden this time.

Lots of football between now and then, though.

[native]

Me, too. I am thinking about retiring from predictions while I'm ahead, to protect my perfect record.

are you Bobby Hauck?

Nope; I try not to lie, cheat or steal... besides, it's a little late for Bobby, isn't it?

[Wildcat Ryan]

Right now, My power rankings are looking something like this

1. Montana State
2. Weber State
3. Sacramento State
4. Montana
5. Portland State
6. Eastern Washington
7. Northern Arizona
8. Idaho State
9. Northern Colorado

[SDHornet]

Right now, My power rankings are looking something like this

1. Montana State
2. Weber State
3. Sacramento State
4. Montana
5. Portland State
6. Eastern Washington
7. Northern Arizona
8. Idaho State
9. Northern Colorado

I agree with the top 3 and bottom 2. The rest is up for grabs right now.

[AZGrizFan]

Right now, My power rankings are looking something like this

1. Montana State
2. Weber State
3. Sacramento State
4. Montana
5. Portland State
6. Eastern Washington
7. Northern Arizona
8. Idaho State
9. Northern Colorado

I agree with the top 3 and bottom 2. The rest is up for grabs right now.

I think it's pretty cut and dried, actually.

1. Weber State
2. Montana State
3. Sacramento State
4. Montana
5. Portland State
6. NAU
7. Idaho State
8. EWU
9. Northern Colorado

[SuperHornet]

I'm thinking we're overreacting a bit on EWU right now. Certainly, they're not championship caliber material right now. But their losses for the most part have been fairly competitive, particularly their loss to UW of barely a FG. Whereas ISU lost big to a lackluster (at best) Wazzu, beat a mediocre D-II (big whoop) and a poor UNC, and barely mustered a FG against NAU in their first real test.

So, while EWU has definitely dropped, I can't justify for dropping them below ISU.

[CatBlitz22]

I agree with the top 3 and bottom 2. The rest is up for grabs right now.

I think it's pretty cut and dried, actually.

1. Weber State
2. Montana State
3. Sacramento State
4. Montana
5. Portland State
6. NAU
7. Idaho State
8. EWU
9. Northern Colorado

Well you got one of those correct. Did you s*** that out tonight?

[SuperHornet]

1. MSU (Yuck!)
2. BBQ
3. Sac
4. PSU
5. Montana
6. EWU
7. NAU
8. ISU
9. UNC

[native]

9/24 Conference Standings:

Team, W-L, PF, PA
Weber State (2-0) 94, 38
Montana State (1-0) 36, 21
Portland State (1-0) 31, 29
Sacramento State (1-1) 59, 77
Montana (1-1) 45, 56
Northern Arizona (1-1) 49, 34
Idaho State (1-1) 53, 40
Eastern Washington (0-2) 35, 53
Northern Colorado (0-2) 41, 95

In BSC conference play, Weber State is #1 in average "points for" with 47, and #1 in average "points against" with 19.
Montana State is #2 in PF and #2 in PA.
PSU is #3 in PF and #4 in PA.
Montana is #3 in PA.