JALMOND
October 1st, 2013, 09:35 PM
Another interesting week for the Big Sky last week and not all of it good. Looking at the standings after one week of conference action, Sacramento State and UC-Davis are at the top and Montana and Portland State are near the bottom. Thank goodness the season is not decided after one week. Here are this week's power rankings for the Big Sky. As usual, all are my opinion only and should make for some great discussion. This week's rankings (last week in parenthesis). Have at it.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---The high flying Eagles were grounded last week in the only non-conference game involving Big Sky teams last week. They came up on the short end against a great Sam Houston State team. This week they start their conference season at home against Weber State.
2. Montana (2)---The Grizzlies were feeling great after a blowout win on the road at North Dakota, then they complete fell on their face last week at Northern Arizona. What came so easy one week was so difficult the next. Maybe it is parity. Either way, they return home for a game against Portland State.
3. Montana State (4)---A return for the Bobcats top quarterback and a return to flashy wins as evident by their blowout win on the road at North Dakota. Amazing what one player can do for a team. The Bobcats will need that and then some this weekend as they entertain Northern Arizona.
4. Cal Poly (3)---The Mustangs got the week started last Thursday with an impressive win at Portland State. Ball control offense leads to the occasional pass and the defense comes through as well. This week, they draw the short straw and play out of conference at home against Ivy League team, Yale.
5. Northern Arizona (8)---The Lumberjacks got a shot in the arm finally from their offense and still rode their strong defense to a shocking win at home over Montana that not many people saw coming. Whether this is a sign of things to come remains to be seen, they hit the road with a game at Montana State.
6. Portland State (6)---The Vikings continue to be their own worst enemy, staying within shouting distance of Cal Poly all the way to the end, but still could not get over the hump. They will need to get it together this weekend as they head into Montana where they have not won since joining the conference.
7. Southern Utah (7)---The Thunderbirds got a tough win on the road last weekend at Northern Colorado but it was far from easy. Still, they are finding just enough to win ball games. This weekend they stay home and play UC-Davis.
8. North Dakota (5)---Surprising, the season that the former Sioux were to make noise in the conference has taken a major step backward after two blowout losses to Montana and Montana State. They need a jumpstart to the season. Maybe they get it this weekend as they head over to Idaho State, but nothing is easy this year.
9. Sacramento State (11)---Maybe the season is beginning to come around for the Hornets. They certainly looked like it last week with a convincing road win at Weber State. Conference season could not have come at a better time and this weekend they bring in Northern Colorado.
10. UC-Davis (13)---An impressive win over a struggling Idaho State team was just what the rebuilding Aggies needed to get the season started. Encouraging might be the word this year. However, this weekend they go down the road to Southern Utah.
11. Northern Colorado (9)---The Bears were hoping for some good things to happen this year. Instead they seem to be having trouble as evident by their game last week, a loss at home to Southern Utah. They need to get things going this week at a rejuvenated Sacramento State team.
12. Weber State (10)---The Wildcats seem to be struggling for an identity. After a great win to start the year, they have looked very ordinary, including last week at home against Sacramento State. They will need to find something and soon. This week they hit the road at Eastern Washington.
13. Idaho State (12)---The Bengals can win, as long as the opposition is DII. Playing DI competition has proven to be a bit more difficult, including last week on the road at UC-Davis. They were supposed to start the conference season with a win, now they need a win this week at home against North Dakota.
RECAP: 1-2 out front, 3-5 gaining, 6 on an island, 7-8 a bit behind and 9-13 all bringing up the rear.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---The high flying Eagles were grounded last week in the only non-conference game involving Big Sky teams last week. They came up on the short end against a great Sam Houston State team. This week they start their conference season at home against Weber State.
2. Montana (2)---The Grizzlies were feeling great after a blowout win on the road at North Dakota, then they complete fell on their face last week at Northern Arizona. What came so easy one week was so difficult the next. Maybe it is parity. Either way, they return home for a game against Portland State.
3. Montana State (4)---A return for the Bobcats top quarterback and a return to flashy wins as evident by their blowout win on the road at North Dakota. Amazing what one player can do for a team. The Bobcats will need that and then some this weekend as they entertain Northern Arizona.
4. Cal Poly (3)---The Mustangs got the week started last Thursday with an impressive win at Portland State. Ball control offense leads to the occasional pass and the defense comes through as well. This week, they draw the short straw and play out of conference at home against Ivy League team, Yale.
5. Northern Arizona (8)---The Lumberjacks got a shot in the arm finally from their offense and still rode their strong defense to a shocking win at home over Montana that not many people saw coming. Whether this is a sign of things to come remains to be seen, they hit the road with a game at Montana State.
6. Portland State (6)---The Vikings continue to be their own worst enemy, staying within shouting distance of Cal Poly all the way to the end, but still could not get over the hump. They will need to get it together this weekend as they head into Montana where they have not won since joining the conference.
7. Southern Utah (7)---The Thunderbirds got a tough win on the road last weekend at Northern Colorado but it was far from easy. Still, they are finding just enough to win ball games. This weekend they stay home and play UC-Davis.
8. North Dakota (5)---Surprising, the season that the former Sioux were to make noise in the conference has taken a major step backward after two blowout losses to Montana and Montana State. They need a jumpstart to the season. Maybe they get it this weekend as they head over to Idaho State, but nothing is easy this year.
9. Sacramento State (11)---Maybe the season is beginning to come around for the Hornets. They certainly looked like it last week with a convincing road win at Weber State. Conference season could not have come at a better time and this weekend they bring in Northern Colorado.
10. UC-Davis (13)---An impressive win over a struggling Idaho State team was just what the rebuilding Aggies needed to get the season started. Encouraging might be the word this year. However, this weekend they go down the road to Southern Utah.
11. Northern Colorado (9)---The Bears were hoping for some good things to happen this year. Instead they seem to be having trouble as evident by their game last week, a loss at home to Southern Utah. They need to get things going this week at a rejuvenated Sacramento State team.
12. Weber State (10)---The Wildcats seem to be struggling for an identity. After a great win to start the year, they have looked very ordinary, including last week at home against Sacramento State. They will need to find something and soon. This week they hit the road at Eastern Washington.
13. Idaho State (12)---The Bengals can win, as long as the opposition is DII. Playing DI competition has proven to be a bit more difficult, including last week on the road at UC-Davis. They were supposed to start the conference season with a win, now they need a win this week at home against North Dakota.
RECAP: 1-2 out front, 3-5 gaining, 6 on an island, 7-8 a bit behind and 9-13 all bringing up the rear.