JALMOND
September 10th, 2013, 08:23 PM
Better late than never, I guess. A fairly good showing in the conference unless you are in Davis or Greeley, and those in Bozeman are lamenting the possible loss of their stud quarterback. The conference looks like it is going to be really strong and competitive this season. This weekend has some teams facing off against each other so we should begin to see how the conference slate will go. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). Of course, all are my opinion only. Time for some good discussion, have at it.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles followed up their impressive win over BCS Pac-12's Oregon State with a taking care of business win over DII Western Oregon. However, their schedule still is pretty daunting, this week they head up in stature and play FBS level Toledo. They got one win already over the top tier, can they get another?
2. Montana (3)---After their strong showing at home over perennial power Appalachian State, the Grizzlies took last week off. Eager to get things going, this weekend they head on the road to face North Dakota in a non-conference game. Still should be able to show what they can do against conference foes.
3. Montana State (2)---A somewhat disappointing loss at SMU in a game that the Bobcats had in hand for most of the night was further compounded by the loss of their quarterback on the last play of the game. Can't fault the effort and it is always a tall order trying to knock off the upper level on the road. This weekend, they introduce a new quarterback and bring in DII Colorado Mesa.
4. Southern Utah (6)---The Thunderbirds followed up their impressive win over the FBS South Alabama squad with a ho-hum win over DII Fort Lewis, putting Fort Lewis away early. It is unclear if the Thunderbirds are ready to challenge for the title this year but they are looking impressive. This weekend they play another surprising team, Pac-12's Washington State.
5. Cal Poly (4)---The Mustangs were hoping for a great showing last weekend at Fresno State to make some noise here on the conference front. Yet they needed two scores late to make the score look reasonable. They would still like a win over the FBS and they get another shot this weekend at Colorado State.
6. North Dakota (5)---The former Sioux struggled last week at home against Missouri Valley power South Dakota State before rallying in the fourth to make things a bit interesting. Whether they are ready to make some noise within the conference remains to be seen but they can make a statement this weekend with a home win over Montana.
7. Northern Arizona (7)--The Lumberjacks went home after their pasting in the first week at Arizona and took last week off. They are hoping they are ready this weekend as they head on the road to face conference opponent, UC-Davis.
8. Portland State (11)---The Vikings were not supposed to throw a scare into a Pac-12 school such as California, but they stayed in the game all the way through. Some mistakes here and there prevented them from giving the conference a second win this year over the Pac-12. This week they return home to face DII Humboldt State.
9. Northern Colorado (8)---This was to be the Bears year to make some noise and possibly challenge for the title. But that has all changed now after last week's shocking loss at home to DII CSU-Pueblo. Good feelings before the season have changed slightly. They now need a win this weekend at improving Wyoming to get back on track.
10. Weber State (10)---The Wildcats were feeling pretty good after their mildly surprising win against Stephen F Austin the first week. Then reality set in when they moved down to play Utah last week. Remains to be seen if this will be a good year or rebuilding. This weekend they stay up at the top with a game at Utah State.
11. Sacramento State (9)---It was a given that the Hornets were going to struggle a bit opening on the road at both San Jose State and Arizona State. Yet after those games, not only are they searching for their first win, they are looking for their first points. Both should change this weekend as they welcome NAIA's Southern Oregon.
12. Idaho State (13)---Believe it or not, the Bengals are 1-0 with the win coming this past weekend at home against DII's Dixie State. Still a win is a win and the Bengals will take it. This weekend, they stay down in the lower levels as they entertain DII's Western State.
13. UC-Davis (12)---A tall order for a rebuilding team but last week the Aggies ventured into the FBS with a short trip to Nevada. Putting it all on the line, they came up on the losing end. However, they should not be afraid this weekend as conference foe Northern Arizona comes to town.
RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4-7 just behind, 8-11 a bit out followed by 12-13.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles followed up their impressive win over BCS Pac-12's Oregon State with a taking care of business win over DII Western Oregon. However, their schedule still is pretty daunting, this week they head up in stature and play FBS level Toledo. They got one win already over the top tier, can they get another?
2. Montana (3)---After their strong showing at home over perennial power Appalachian State, the Grizzlies took last week off. Eager to get things going, this weekend they head on the road to face North Dakota in a non-conference game. Still should be able to show what they can do against conference foes.
3. Montana State (2)---A somewhat disappointing loss at SMU in a game that the Bobcats had in hand for most of the night was further compounded by the loss of their quarterback on the last play of the game. Can't fault the effort and it is always a tall order trying to knock off the upper level on the road. This weekend, they introduce a new quarterback and bring in DII Colorado Mesa.
4. Southern Utah (6)---The Thunderbirds followed up their impressive win over the FBS South Alabama squad with a ho-hum win over DII Fort Lewis, putting Fort Lewis away early. It is unclear if the Thunderbirds are ready to challenge for the title this year but they are looking impressive. This weekend they play another surprising team, Pac-12's Washington State.
5. Cal Poly (4)---The Mustangs were hoping for a great showing last weekend at Fresno State to make some noise here on the conference front. Yet they needed two scores late to make the score look reasonable. They would still like a win over the FBS and they get another shot this weekend at Colorado State.
6. North Dakota (5)---The former Sioux struggled last week at home against Missouri Valley power South Dakota State before rallying in the fourth to make things a bit interesting. Whether they are ready to make some noise within the conference remains to be seen but they can make a statement this weekend with a home win over Montana.
7. Northern Arizona (7)--The Lumberjacks went home after their pasting in the first week at Arizona and took last week off. They are hoping they are ready this weekend as they head on the road to face conference opponent, UC-Davis.
8. Portland State (11)---The Vikings were not supposed to throw a scare into a Pac-12 school such as California, but they stayed in the game all the way through. Some mistakes here and there prevented them from giving the conference a second win this year over the Pac-12. This week they return home to face DII Humboldt State.
9. Northern Colorado (8)---This was to be the Bears year to make some noise and possibly challenge for the title. But that has all changed now after last week's shocking loss at home to DII CSU-Pueblo. Good feelings before the season have changed slightly. They now need a win this weekend at improving Wyoming to get back on track.
10. Weber State (10)---The Wildcats were feeling pretty good after their mildly surprising win against Stephen F Austin the first week. Then reality set in when they moved down to play Utah last week. Remains to be seen if this will be a good year or rebuilding. This weekend they stay up at the top with a game at Utah State.
11. Sacramento State (9)---It was a given that the Hornets were going to struggle a bit opening on the road at both San Jose State and Arizona State. Yet after those games, not only are they searching for their first win, they are looking for their first points. Both should change this weekend as they welcome NAIA's Southern Oregon.
12. Idaho State (13)---Believe it or not, the Bengals are 1-0 with the win coming this past weekend at home against DII's Dixie State. Still a win is a win and the Bengals will take it. This weekend, they stay down in the lower levels as they entertain DII's Western State.
13. UC-Davis (12)---A tall order for a rebuilding team but last week the Aggies ventured into the FBS with a short trip to Nevada. Putting it all on the line, they came up on the losing end. However, they should not be afraid this weekend as conference foe Northern Arizona comes to town.
RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4-7 just behind, 8-11 a bit out followed by 12-13.