JALMOND
September 14th, 2010, 01:33 AM
After two weeks in the Big Sky, the dust settling and all the teams have won one game and lost one game. Some have been good games and some have been not so good. As a whole, the conference had many questions coming in to the season and some questions have been answered and some remain. Here are the power rankings for this week. All are my opinions only and all are open for discussion. This week (last week).
1. Montana State (2)---Right up to the end, it looked like the Bobcats were going to get a win over Washington State and give the Big Sky their first win over the Pac-10 since 1996. However, a last minute field goal and a final defensive stand did the Bobcats in. Still, the effort was there and, combined with the blowout win the first week of the season, the Bobcats have moved to the top. This week, they welcome Ash's former team, Drake to their comfy home.
2. Montana (1)---As we all waited for the Grizzlies to pull out another road win, it was for naught. Cal Poly held on and the Grizzlies headed home with a tough loss. Is this just a small pothole this year or a sign of how things will be? We all will soon find out. This week, the start to the conference season as the Grizzlies head out to Eastern Washington. A game that could easily go either way and the last thing the Grizzlies need is another loss.
3. Eastern Washington (3)---A good showing in the first week at FBS Nevada gave the Eagles hope that this could be a great year. Then they followed that up with a lackluster performance in Seattle that almost went bad against DII Central Washington. Which team is the real Eagle team? They better find them soon as this week the powerful Montana team comes calling. Here's hoping the good Eagle team shows up.
4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Jacks preserved some of the conference dignity this past weekend as they took on the Pac-10's Arizona State, just a week after ASU snuffed out Portland State. The Jacks remained pretty competitive throughout and at the end, the score was respectable. This week, a good time for a bye to reflect on the start of the conference season.
5. Sacramento State (6)---Injuries hit the Hornet team hard this past weekend in their win over DII Western Oregon. Some were slight, but there were some serious injuries. Unfortunately, this was the year that the Hornet faithful were hoping to make some waves. Can they overcome the injury bug as they welcome Weber State to their happy hive? A win would show that everything is back on track, is it?
6. Weber State (5)---The Wildcats took their own sweet time last weekend in dispensing with a pesky Northern Colorado team, taking 4 overtimes to finally come out with a great conference win. Higgins is beginning to come into form and the Wildcats are taking shape as well. This weekend they will head to Sacramento State, another upstart who thinks this year is their year. Can the Wildcats knock them down a peg, too.
7. Northern Colorado (7)---Oh, so close as usual. Typical of the Bears when playing Weber State, that they play the game close, and are good enough to win, yet they find themselves on the short end. This game went 4 overtimes before the Bears finally succumbed. This year was supposed to be a good year for the Bears. Now they have to jumpstart it with a game at home against Idaho State.
8. Portland State (9)---After looking dreadful against the Pac-10 Arizona State, the Vikings gave hope to its fans that they can at least play against the FCS, getting a hard fought win on the road at UC-Davis, a team that lost one time at home last year. Getting some good offensive plays and combining them with good defense at times, the Vikings emerged with a victory. This weekend, they go back to the Pac-10 with a game at Oregon.
9. Idaho State (8)---After getting a win in their first game of the season, the Bengals were hoping to continue with a trip to FBS Utah State. Not like Oklahoma of last year (or Arizona State), the Bengals were hoping to remain competitive. However, nothing seemed to go right and the Bengals needed two late scores to make it seem closer. This weekend, a start to the conference season with a trip to Northern Colorado. They got a win in their first game, can they get a win in their first conference game?
1. Montana State (2)---Right up to the end, it looked like the Bobcats were going to get a win over Washington State and give the Big Sky their first win over the Pac-10 since 1996. However, a last minute field goal and a final defensive stand did the Bobcats in. Still, the effort was there and, combined with the blowout win the first week of the season, the Bobcats have moved to the top. This week, they welcome Ash's former team, Drake to their comfy home.
2. Montana (1)---As we all waited for the Grizzlies to pull out another road win, it was for naught. Cal Poly held on and the Grizzlies headed home with a tough loss. Is this just a small pothole this year or a sign of how things will be? We all will soon find out. This week, the start to the conference season as the Grizzlies head out to Eastern Washington. A game that could easily go either way and the last thing the Grizzlies need is another loss.
3. Eastern Washington (3)---A good showing in the first week at FBS Nevada gave the Eagles hope that this could be a great year. Then they followed that up with a lackluster performance in Seattle that almost went bad against DII Central Washington. Which team is the real Eagle team? They better find them soon as this week the powerful Montana team comes calling. Here's hoping the good Eagle team shows up.
4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Jacks preserved some of the conference dignity this past weekend as they took on the Pac-10's Arizona State, just a week after ASU snuffed out Portland State. The Jacks remained pretty competitive throughout and at the end, the score was respectable. This week, a good time for a bye to reflect on the start of the conference season.
5. Sacramento State (6)---Injuries hit the Hornet team hard this past weekend in their win over DII Western Oregon. Some were slight, but there were some serious injuries. Unfortunately, this was the year that the Hornet faithful were hoping to make some waves. Can they overcome the injury bug as they welcome Weber State to their happy hive? A win would show that everything is back on track, is it?
6. Weber State (5)---The Wildcats took their own sweet time last weekend in dispensing with a pesky Northern Colorado team, taking 4 overtimes to finally come out with a great conference win. Higgins is beginning to come into form and the Wildcats are taking shape as well. This weekend they will head to Sacramento State, another upstart who thinks this year is their year. Can the Wildcats knock them down a peg, too.
7. Northern Colorado (7)---Oh, so close as usual. Typical of the Bears when playing Weber State, that they play the game close, and are good enough to win, yet they find themselves on the short end. This game went 4 overtimes before the Bears finally succumbed. This year was supposed to be a good year for the Bears. Now they have to jumpstart it with a game at home against Idaho State.
8. Portland State (9)---After looking dreadful against the Pac-10 Arizona State, the Vikings gave hope to its fans that they can at least play against the FCS, getting a hard fought win on the road at UC-Davis, a team that lost one time at home last year. Getting some good offensive plays and combining them with good defense at times, the Vikings emerged with a victory. This weekend, they go back to the Pac-10 with a game at Oregon.
9. Idaho State (8)---After getting a win in their first game of the season, the Bengals were hoping to continue with a trip to FBS Utah State. Not like Oklahoma of last year (or Arizona State), the Bengals were hoping to remain competitive. However, nothing seemed to go right and the Bengals needed two late scores to make it seem closer. This weekend, a start to the conference season with a trip to Northern Colorado. They got a win in their first game, can they get a win in their first conference game?