JALMOND
November 21st, 2013, 09:51 PM
One week left and that is rivalry week. Throw out the rankings and the records and just go out and play. Pretty similar to what I almost did with the rankings. Playoff picture in the Big Sky is fairly clear, but some are going to have to rely on winning their rival game, and that can be pretty difficult at times. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only and open for discussion. Good luck all.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles took care of business last weekend at Cal Poly early on, then hung on for the win. Gunning for a shot at a seed in the playoffs, the Eagles have not lost yet in conference play. Perfection against their rival is expected this weekend at home against Portland State.
2. Northern Arizona (3)---The Lumberjacks kept Northern Colorado at arms distance last weekend, doing just enough for a win. Clearly not the old Lumberjacks, this team looks poised for a run in the playoffs. It all can still come crashing down this weekend, playing at Southern Utah.
3. Montana (4)---The Grizzlies have had some hiccups so far, but relatively speaking have been rolling right along. Dispatching Weber State last week at home, this weekend they hope to end Montana State's chances at the playoffs, heading down the road.
4. Southern Utah (6)---The Thunderbirds are convincing people that they are real this year. They avoided a major hurdle last week, winning at Montana State and putting them on the edge of the playoffs. This weekend, they need a home win against Northern Arizona.
5. Montana State (2)---Quickly, things change. The playoffs and maybe a run to the championship for this Bobcats team took a major hit last week, losing at home to Southern Utah. Now in danger of missing the playoffs completely, they need a win at home against Montana for any shot.
6. Cal Poly (5)---The Mustangs role as spoiler did not happen last weekend when Eastern Washington came to town and jumped on them from the start. Still, a good season is in the works as they go out to Northern Colorado this weekend.
7. Sacramento State (8)---A victory from the jaws of defeat, the Hornets rallied late to steal a win at Portland State last week. Who says they don't have anything to play for? This weekend, they bring in UC-Davis for their annual Causeway Classic.
8. Portland State (7)---The Vikings seemed to have the game at home last week against Sacramento State in hand before allowing two scores late to come out on the short end. Still, a good season is a possibility, but they have to beat Eastern Washington on the road.
9. UC-Davis (9)---Rebuilding? How about reloading. The Aggies sent North Dakota packing last week with a great home win. Now they make the short trip over to Sacramento State for a shot at momentum building for next year.
10. North Dakota (10)---This was supposed to be a better time of the season for the former Sioux, but the loss on the road to UC-Davis was par for the season. Unable to make headway, they are not going anywhere but home for Thanksgiving. Their season is done.
11. Idaho State (11)---The Bengals took a late season break from the conference season and moved up a level to play Brigham Young. Of course they came back with a resounding loss. Now back to playing in the FCS, they hit the road to play struggling Weber State.
12. Northern Colorado (12)---The Bears played Northern Arizona close the whole game but could never get an advantage in it. Playing a bit better than at the beginning of the year, this weekend they host Cal Poly and a shot at a conference win.
13. Weber State (13)---The Wildcats took another one on the chin last weekend, losing at Montana. Their win against Stephen F Austin seems so long ago, but the season would feel a whole lot better if they can beat Idaho State at home this weekend.
RECAP: 1 frontrunner, 2-5 just behind, 6 on an island, 7 just behind 6, 8-9 fading, 10-13 in the back.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---The Eagles took care of business last weekend at Cal Poly early on, then hung on for the win. Gunning for a shot at a seed in the playoffs, the Eagles have not lost yet in conference play. Perfection against their rival is expected this weekend at home against Portland State.
2. Northern Arizona (3)---The Lumberjacks kept Northern Colorado at arms distance last weekend, doing just enough for a win. Clearly not the old Lumberjacks, this team looks poised for a run in the playoffs. It all can still come crashing down this weekend, playing at Southern Utah.
3. Montana (4)---The Grizzlies have had some hiccups so far, but relatively speaking have been rolling right along. Dispatching Weber State last week at home, this weekend they hope to end Montana State's chances at the playoffs, heading down the road.
4. Southern Utah (6)---The Thunderbirds are convincing people that they are real this year. They avoided a major hurdle last week, winning at Montana State and putting them on the edge of the playoffs. This weekend, they need a home win against Northern Arizona.
5. Montana State (2)---Quickly, things change. The playoffs and maybe a run to the championship for this Bobcats team took a major hit last week, losing at home to Southern Utah. Now in danger of missing the playoffs completely, they need a win at home against Montana for any shot.
6. Cal Poly (5)---The Mustangs role as spoiler did not happen last weekend when Eastern Washington came to town and jumped on them from the start. Still, a good season is in the works as they go out to Northern Colorado this weekend.
7. Sacramento State (8)---A victory from the jaws of defeat, the Hornets rallied late to steal a win at Portland State last week. Who says they don't have anything to play for? This weekend, they bring in UC-Davis for their annual Causeway Classic.
8. Portland State (7)---The Vikings seemed to have the game at home last week against Sacramento State in hand before allowing two scores late to come out on the short end. Still, a good season is a possibility, but they have to beat Eastern Washington on the road.
9. UC-Davis (9)---Rebuilding? How about reloading. The Aggies sent North Dakota packing last week with a great home win. Now they make the short trip over to Sacramento State for a shot at momentum building for next year.
10. North Dakota (10)---This was supposed to be a better time of the season for the former Sioux, but the loss on the road to UC-Davis was par for the season. Unable to make headway, they are not going anywhere but home for Thanksgiving. Their season is done.
11. Idaho State (11)---The Bengals took a late season break from the conference season and moved up a level to play Brigham Young. Of course they came back with a resounding loss. Now back to playing in the FCS, they hit the road to play struggling Weber State.
12. Northern Colorado (12)---The Bears played Northern Arizona close the whole game but could never get an advantage in it. Playing a bit better than at the beginning of the year, this weekend they host Cal Poly and a shot at a conference win.
13. Weber State (13)---The Wildcats took another one on the chin last weekend, losing at Montana. Their win against Stephen F Austin seems so long ago, but the season would feel a whole lot better if they can beat Idaho State at home this weekend.
RECAP: 1 frontrunner, 2-5 just behind, 6 on an island, 7 just behind 6, 8-9 fading, 10-13 in the back.