JALMOND
November 14th, 2013, 10:51 PM
Sorry I'm so late with these, been battling a cold/flu for most of the week. Who knows, it may have influenced some of my choices. Great weekend for the conference as it established a true frontrunner, Eastern Washington. Still a lot of football to be played. Here are this week's power rankings (last week's in parenthesis). Have at it.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles dispatched Montana State last weekend to firmly entrench themselves as the top team in the conference. They can't risk stumbling now. This weekend, however, they hit the road and play a stubborn Cal Poly team.
2. Montana State (2)---The Bobcats stayed with Eastern Washington last weekend for most of three quarters before settling with a loss. They won't have much time to get over it as they bring in a tough Southern Utah team to their home field.
3. Northern Arizona (3)---The Lumberjacks are hoping history does not repeat itself and they can see this great season to the end. They took last week off to prepare for the stretch run starting this weekend at home against struggling Northern Colorado.
4. Montana (4)---The Grizzlies took a break from their conference play to venture into Missouri Valley country and play South Dakota. What may have been an easy win early in the season proved anything but as the Grizzlies escaped with a win. This week, they return home for a game against Weber State.
5. Cal Poly (6)--No quit in this team as the Mustangs aim to finish strong. They took care of a reeling Sacramento State team early on and did not let up in getting a strong win. This weekend they get another chance, bringing in Eastern Washington for a game.
6. Southern Utah (7)---The Thunderbirds kept things rather interesting last week at Weber State but finally pulled out a win. Keeping some slim hopes alive, they will need to win out. Things don't get any easier for them as they go out to Montana State this weekend.
7. Portland State (8)---The Vikings took care of what has been a major problem for them since joining the conference 18 years ago, winning at Idaho State. Now they hope to finish strong. This weekend, they bring in struggling Sacramento State.
8. Sacramento State (5)---The Hornets are a confusing bunch now as evident by their perplexing blowout loss last weekend at Cal Poly. They had a good season, but that can quickly go away. This weekend, they need to win on the road at Portland State.
9. UC-Davis (9)---The Aggies were supposed to be rebuilding this year, but the outcomes have been really surprising. They took last week off to refocus on making this a good season. This weekend, they play host to fading North Dakota.
10. North Dakota (10)---The former Sioux needed a late scramble to snatch a win at home against struggling Northern Colorado last weekend. This was supposed to be a great year, but it has been rather disappointing. This weekend, they need to win at UC-Davis, their last game of the year.
11. Idaho State (11)---The Bengals played well last week at home against Portland State and in a sense, they just ran out of time. Still, this is a much improved team from last year. This weekend, they step out of conference and the FCS to face Brigham Young.
12. Northern Colorado (12)---The Bears had the win in their grasp last weekend at North Dakota only to falter at the end. Better things were expected this season, but they can go out on a high note. This weekend, however, finds them at Northern Arizona.
13. Weber State (13)---A long time has passed since the Wildcats got their win. Last weekend, again, they came up short against Southern Utah. Things don't get much better for them this weekend as they go out to Montana. Things just are not easy.
RECAP: 1 out front, 2-4 just behind, 5-6 not far away, 7-9 lagging, 10-11 losing ground, 12-13 bringing up the rear.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles dispatched Montana State last weekend to firmly entrench themselves as the top team in the conference. They can't risk stumbling now. This weekend, however, they hit the road and play a stubborn Cal Poly team.
2. Montana State (2)---The Bobcats stayed with Eastern Washington last weekend for most of three quarters before settling with a loss. They won't have much time to get over it as they bring in a tough Southern Utah team to their home field.
3. Northern Arizona (3)---The Lumberjacks are hoping history does not repeat itself and they can see this great season to the end. They took last week off to prepare for the stretch run starting this weekend at home against struggling Northern Colorado.
4. Montana (4)---The Grizzlies took a break from their conference play to venture into Missouri Valley country and play South Dakota. What may have been an easy win early in the season proved anything but as the Grizzlies escaped with a win. This week, they return home for a game against Weber State.
5. Cal Poly (6)--No quit in this team as the Mustangs aim to finish strong. They took care of a reeling Sacramento State team early on and did not let up in getting a strong win. This weekend they get another chance, bringing in Eastern Washington for a game.
6. Southern Utah (7)---The Thunderbirds kept things rather interesting last week at Weber State but finally pulled out a win. Keeping some slim hopes alive, they will need to win out. Things don't get any easier for them as they go out to Montana State this weekend.
7. Portland State (8)---The Vikings took care of what has been a major problem for them since joining the conference 18 years ago, winning at Idaho State. Now they hope to finish strong. This weekend, they bring in struggling Sacramento State.
8. Sacramento State (5)---The Hornets are a confusing bunch now as evident by their perplexing blowout loss last weekend at Cal Poly. They had a good season, but that can quickly go away. This weekend, they need to win on the road at Portland State.
9. UC-Davis (9)---The Aggies were supposed to be rebuilding this year, but the outcomes have been really surprising. They took last week off to refocus on making this a good season. This weekend, they play host to fading North Dakota.
10. North Dakota (10)---The former Sioux needed a late scramble to snatch a win at home against struggling Northern Colorado last weekend. This was supposed to be a great year, but it has been rather disappointing. This weekend, they need to win at UC-Davis, their last game of the year.
11. Idaho State (11)---The Bengals played well last week at home against Portland State and in a sense, they just ran out of time. Still, this is a much improved team from last year. This weekend, they step out of conference and the FCS to face Brigham Young.
12. Northern Colorado (12)---The Bears had the win in their grasp last weekend at North Dakota only to falter at the end. Better things were expected this season, but they can go out on a high note. This weekend, however, finds them at Northern Arizona.
13. Weber State (13)---A long time has passed since the Wildcats got their win. Last weekend, again, they came up short against Southern Utah. Things don't get much better for them this weekend as they go out to Montana. Things just are not easy.
RECAP: 1 out front, 2-4 just behind, 5-6 not far away, 7-9 lagging, 10-11 losing ground, 12-13 bringing up the rear.