JALMOND
November 6th, 2013, 09:49 PM
I'm a bit late with these, pretty tough all around. Last week was supposed to be mainly blowouts yet most of the games were pretty close (some too close). As we come down the stretch, here are this week's power rankings (last week's in parenthesis). As usual, all are my opinion only and this week should foster some great discussion. Here they are.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles went to Idaho State last week and found out that the game may not have been as easy as they thought. Still, they did come up with the win and now can focus on Montana State this weekend. Should be the conference game of the week.
2. Montana State (2)---The Bobcats scored early last week at Northern Colorado and begun to focus on the game this week at Eastern Washington. However, come the fourth quarter they found themselves behind and only a rally saved them from an upset and kept this week's game as a premier game.
3. Northern Arizona (4)---The Lumberjacks were able to put away the struggling North Dakota team last week, showing signs that they are not going to fade like Lumberjacks of the past. This weekend they have off to prepare to make some noise coming down the stretch.
4. Montana (3)---The Grizzlies found themselves needing overtime to put away a feisty Sacramento State bunch that will not say die. They take a break from the conference slate with a non-conference tilt against the Missouri Valley's own South Dakota team.
5. Sacramento State (6)---The Hornets gave Montana all they could handle, forcing overtime before finally succumbing in defeat. They will need some of that and more this weekend as they head out on the road to play Cal Poly.
6. Cal Poly (5)---The Mustangs put aside their ill feelings toward their previous close losses and took out some pent up frustration against UC-Davis, garnering a win. This week, playing out the string as they welcome Sacramento State, thinking of what could have been.
7. Southern Utah (7)---While the rest of the conference were letting the bad teams play with the good, the Thunderbirds found themselves close to the middle and therefore without a dance partner. They get back in the swing of things playing at Weber State this weekend.
8. Portland State (8)---Have the Vikings rediscovered their offense? It sure looked like it last weekend at home against Weber State. Too bad there is not much left to play for. This weekend they head out on the road to play Idaho State, a place that has not been friendly for the Vikings in recent years.
9. UC-Davis (9)---The Aggies gave Cal Poly a bit of a tussle but could not quite get ahead in the game. Still, a better season is on the horizon for what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Aggies. They get this weekend off to prepare to make it better.
10. North Dakota (10)---The former Sioux could not match Northern Arizona last weekend and went home with a loss. Fairly disappointing for the former Sioux in a season that was supposed to be better. They get a chance for a win this weekend playing Northern Colorado at home.
11. Idaho State (11)---The Bengals gave Eastern Washington quite a game before running out of gas in the fourth quarter. Still, the results were very encouraging, and this weekend they play Portland State at home, a team that has had troubles in the Bengal's barn.
12. Northern Colorado (13)---The Bears did not roll over when Montana State scored quick and early last week and they actually were winning late into the fourth quarter. Has to be encouraging especially being that they play North Dakota this weekend. Could be the best shot for a win all year.
13. Weber State (12)---While everyone was putting up a great shot against better competition, the Wildcats had Portland State rediscover their offense and put them away. Their lone win seems so long ago. This weekend they bring in a strong Southern Utah team.
RECAP: 1-2 out front, 3-4 gaining, 5-6 closing in, 7-10 fading and 11-13 in the back.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles went to Idaho State last week and found out that the game may not have been as easy as they thought. Still, they did come up with the win and now can focus on Montana State this weekend. Should be the conference game of the week.
2. Montana State (2)---The Bobcats scored early last week at Northern Colorado and begun to focus on the game this week at Eastern Washington. However, come the fourth quarter they found themselves behind and only a rally saved them from an upset and kept this week's game as a premier game.
3. Northern Arizona (4)---The Lumberjacks were able to put away the struggling North Dakota team last week, showing signs that they are not going to fade like Lumberjacks of the past. This weekend they have off to prepare to make some noise coming down the stretch.
4. Montana (3)---The Grizzlies found themselves needing overtime to put away a feisty Sacramento State bunch that will not say die. They take a break from the conference slate with a non-conference tilt against the Missouri Valley's own South Dakota team.
5. Sacramento State (6)---The Hornets gave Montana all they could handle, forcing overtime before finally succumbing in defeat. They will need some of that and more this weekend as they head out on the road to play Cal Poly.
6. Cal Poly (5)---The Mustangs put aside their ill feelings toward their previous close losses and took out some pent up frustration against UC-Davis, garnering a win. This week, playing out the string as they welcome Sacramento State, thinking of what could have been.
7. Southern Utah (7)---While the rest of the conference were letting the bad teams play with the good, the Thunderbirds found themselves close to the middle and therefore without a dance partner. They get back in the swing of things playing at Weber State this weekend.
8. Portland State (8)---Have the Vikings rediscovered their offense? It sure looked like it last weekend at home against Weber State. Too bad there is not much left to play for. This weekend they head out on the road to play Idaho State, a place that has not been friendly for the Vikings in recent years.
9. UC-Davis (9)---The Aggies gave Cal Poly a bit of a tussle but could not quite get ahead in the game. Still, a better season is on the horizon for what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Aggies. They get this weekend off to prepare to make it better.
10. North Dakota (10)---The former Sioux could not match Northern Arizona last weekend and went home with a loss. Fairly disappointing for the former Sioux in a season that was supposed to be better. They get a chance for a win this weekend playing Northern Colorado at home.
11. Idaho State (11)---The Bengals gave Eastern Washington quite a game before running out of gas in the fourth quarter. Still, the results were very encouraging, and this weekend they play Portland State at home, a team that has had troubles in the Bengal's barn.
12. Northern Colorado (13)---The Bears did not roll over when Montana State scored quick and early last week and they actually were winning late into the fourth quarter. Has to be encouraging especially being that they play North Dakota this weekend. Could be the best shot for a win all year.
13. Weber State (12)---While everyone was putting up a great shot against better competition, the Wildcats had Portland State rediscover their offense and put them away. Their lone win seems so long ago. This weekend they bring in a strong Southern Utah team.
RECAP: 1-2 out front, 3-4 gaining, 5-6 closing in, 7-10 fading and 11-13 in the back.