Big Sky Power Rankings 8-31

[JALMOND]

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.

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

I went back and looked and this will be my 12th year of doing these power rankings for the Big Sky Conference

I know I always read them and appreciate the effort.

[Vidav]

I went back and looked and this will be my 12th year of doing these power rankings for the Big Sky Conference

I know I always read them and appreciate the effort.

Agreed. JALMOND, I am always happy to see your power rankings posts.

[mtjack]

Thanks, JALMOND. I've been looking forward to Big Sky Conference talk for the last few weeks.

NAU is starting a freshman at quarterback and play a rough opening 5 game stretch that could break their season early on. This year may be Bizarro World for the Lumberjacks with them starting slow and ending strong?

[dbackjon]

Thanks for doing these, Jalmond!

[AZGrizFan]

That's some funny stuff right there. MSU might give up 500 points on defense this year.

[Grizalltheway]

That's some funny stuff right there. MSU might give up 500 points on defense this year.

Over on BN they're giddy about the prospect of putting up 80 on Fart Lewis.

[AZGrizFan]

That's some funny stuff right there. MSU might give up 500 points on defense this year.

Over on BN they're giddy about the prospect of putting up 80 on Fart Lewis.

Just seems like eeeeeeeeevery year JALMOND starts the season high as a kite on the 'Scats, picking them above the Griz and eeeevery year they let him down and the Griz finish ahead of them in the standings. But he keeps going back to them like a crack whore, picking them again....I'd like to know what they've done this year to make him think they're NOT going to give up 433 points again...

[Gil Dobie]

I like ready Jalmond's BSC rankkings each year too. Very good read, although I don't always agree with the rankings.

[SACCAT]

Over on BN they're giddy about the prospect of putting up 80 on Fart Lewis.

Just seems like eeeeeeeeevery year JALMOND starts the season high as a kite on the 'Scats, picking them above the Griz and eeeevery year they let him down and the Griz finish ahead of them in the standings. But he keeps going back to them like a crack whore, picking them again....I'd like to know what they've done this year to make him think they're NOT going to give up 433 points again...

Well....We will score 1100 points this year, so it doesn't matter what we give up on D. And what else are we going to talk about this week other than scoring 80 on a team that we have no business scheduling. Sure...We would all love to play NDSU the year that they suck ( ) 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.

[AZGrizFan]

Just seems like eeeeeeeeevery year JALMOND starts the season high as a kite on the 'Scats, picking them above the Griz and eeeevery year they let him down and the Griz finish ahead of them in the standings. But he keeps going back to them like a crack whore, picking them again....I'd like to know what they've done this year to make him think they're NOT going to give up 433 points again...

Well....We will score 1100 points this year, so it doesn't matter what we give up on D. And what else are we going to talk about this week other than scoring 80 on a team that we have no business scheduling. Sure...We would all love to play NDSU the year that they suck ( ) 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.

Almost always love your retorts, man. You're almost as funny as CDA on eGriz.

[SACCAT]

Well....We will score 1100 points this year, so it doesn't matter what we give up on D. And what else are we going to talk about this week other than scoring 80 on a team that we have no business scheduling. Sure...We would all love to play NDSU the year that they suck ( ) 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.

Almost always love your retorts, man. You're almost as funny as CDA on eGriz.

Almost always? You son of a bitch..

[AZGrizFan]

Almost always love your retorts, man. You're almost as funny as CDA on eGriz.

Almost always? You son of a bitch..

Whoops. That wasn't supposed to be out loud....

[SACCAT]

Almost always? You son of a bitch..

Whoops. That wasn't supposed to be out loud....

Just read the geniuses over on eGriz talking about how easy it is to stop the triple option...Turns out all you need to do is stop all three options, and you will win.

[grizzaholic]

Thanks, JALMOND. I've been looking forward to Big Sky Conference talk for the last few weeks.

NAU is starting a freshman at quarterback and play a rough opening 5 game stretch that could break their season early on. This year may be Bizarro World for the Lumberjacks with them starting slow and ending strong?

Thing is with a strong opening few weeks, you may drop a couple but the team might gel early on and surprise you.

Gotta always look at a possible special season.....or you could get dump-trucked and the season could be over before it began and you might end up behind UNC.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Thanks, JALMOND. I've been looking forward to Big Sky Conference talk for the last few weeks.

NAU is starting a freshman at quarterback and play a rough opening 5 game stretch that could break their season early on. This year may be Bizarro World for the Lumberjacks with them starting slow and ending strong?

How did that happen? What happened to the two seniors?

[SACCAT]

Thanks, JALMOND. I've been looking forward to Big Sky Conference talk for the last few weeks.

NAU is starting a freshman at quarterback and play a rough opening 5 game stretch that could break their season early on. This year may be Bizarro World for the Lumberjacks with them starting slow and ending strong?

How did that happen? What happened to the two seniors?

Not as good I guess.

[AZGrizFan]

Whoops. That wasn't supposed to be out loud....

Just read the geniuses over on eGriz talking about how easy it is to stop the triple option...Turns out all you need to do is stop all three options, and you will win.

And I've found that the best way to win is to score more points than the opponent.

[kalm]

Just read the geniuses over on eGriz talking about how easy it is to stop the triple option...Turns out all you need to do is stop all three options, and you will win.

And I've found that the best way to win is to score more points than the opponent.

Sometimes you almost always have your moments, Z.

At least every once in awhile.

[grizzaholic]

And I've found that the best way to win is to score more points than the opponent.

Sometimes you almost always have your moments, Z.

At least every once in awhile.

He is the John Madden of this board.

[AZGrizFan]

And I've found that the best way to win is to score more points than the opponent.

Sometimes you almost always have your moments, Z.

At least every once in awhile.

You go read that "Denver Airport" thread on eGriz to see pure comedic genius at work. Granted, it's mostly by other posters, but a least I STARTED the thread...

[kalm]

Sometimes you almost always have your moments, Z.

At least every once in awhile.

You go read that "Denver Airport" thread on eGriz to see pure comedic genius at work. Granted, it's mostly by other posters, but a least I STARTED the thread...

I will only go back to egriz if Downwiththefoe, Playerep, Grizhunter, and Argh! are still posting.

And maybe that alpha guy.

[grizzaholic]

You go read that "Denver Airport" thread on eGriz to see pure comedic genius at work. Granted, it's mostly by other posters, but a least I STARTED the thread...

I will only go back to egriz if Downwiththefoe, Playerep, Grizhunter, and Argh! are still posting.

And maybe that alpha guy.

It is one of threads where you put your coffee/drink down and just read a few pages. Some really funny stuff...not 17 pages funny, but damn close.

[SACCAT]

Just read the geniuses over on eGriz talking about how easy it is to stop the triple option...Turns out all you need to do is stop all three options, and you will win.

And I've found that the best way to win is to score more points than the opponent.

That can't be true..player rep said that is a lie, and he played the game.

[grizzaholic]

And I've found that the best way to win is to score more points than the opponent.

It can't be true that player rep played the game.

FIFY