JALMOND
October 19th, 2015, 11:23 PM
Are we finally getting some separation at the top of the Big Sky? Maybe, but if that is the case, there are certainly some strange teams emerging at the top this season. The usual suspects are falling by the wayside, being replaced by some odd looking teams. Well, parity is a good thing, isn't it. But there is still a lot of football to be played. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). And as usual, all are my opinion only and all are open for discussion. This should be good.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---last week won at Idaho State 45-28, this week at Northern Colorado---This season, where there is a lot of new blood showing up near the top, the top dog is still the Eagles. Still rolling, still doing what they need to do to win. They have been pretty much the only constant.
2. Southern Utah (2)---last week beat Sacramento State at home 44-0, this week at UC-Davis---Another Saturday, another game, another 44-0 win. Everyone else is beating up on the heavyweights and the Thunderbirds are methodically moving along, building consistency.
3. Portland State (3)---last week beat Montana State at home 59-42, this week at Cal Poly---Yet another big test last week for the Vikings and once again they passed with flying colors. Discovering some offensive power helps when your defense can't slow the other team down.
4. Weber State (6)---last week beat North Dakota at home 25-24, this week at Northern Arizona---Things looked rather bleak for the Wildcats, yet they were able to come back for the victory and keep their magical season rolling. They better keep finding ways to win as they have some heavies coming in.
5. Cal Poly (5)---last week bye, this week Portland State at home---The Mustangs have been beaten up and left for dead, and they probably need to win out for any chance at the playoffs. But things have got to start getting easier, shouldn't they? Well maybe after this week.
6. Montana State (4)---last week lost at Portland State 59-42, this week East Tennessee State (FCS Independent) at home---It is no secret the Bobcats defense is not good, especially away from home. It is also no secret that their quarterback is really awesome. But playing shootouts every week can be taxing and you could find yourself on the losing end more often than you want.
7. Montana (7)---last week bye, this week North Dakota at home---The Grizzlies took the week off to try to recover the speed that they showcased in the opening week against the other North Dakota school. The question here is are they healthy enough to get back in the playoff picture.
8. Northern Arizona (9)---last week bye, this week Weber State at home---The Lumberjacks are also trying to get back in the playoff hunt, something that took a serious blow after losing to UC-Davis. A week off can surely help but they have to be ready now to get after it.
9. North Dakota (8)---last week lost at Weber State 25-24, this week at Montana---The Dakotans had the game last week in their grasp, yet they let it slip away at the end. Still in line for the playoffs, they need to somehow figure out how to win in the hostile confines of Missoula.
10. Northern Colorado (12)---last week beat UC-Davis at home 56-27, this week Eastern Washington at home---What seems really odd about this season is that somehow the Bears are sitting in the middle of this wide open conference race. But do they really have the horses to get the win this week? Well, weird things have happened so far.
11. Idaho State (11)---last week lost to Eastern Washington at home 45-28, this week at Sacramento State---While the defense still seems to be stagnant, the Bengals offense has shown signs of life in the last couple weeks. Maybe a good time as they finally have a game that they should be favored in.
12. UC-Davis (10)---last week lost at Northern Colorado 56-27, this week Southern Utah at home---Now it seems like the Aggies are on a roller coaster and they can't get off. They beat Northern Arizona only to fall to Northern Colorado. Now they entertain the upstart Thunderbirds.
13. Sacramento State (13)---last week lost at Southern Utah 44-0, this week Idaho State at home---Not good for the Hornets as they are hoping for anything at this point. They may have a shot this weekend, but they thought they had a good shot against Northern Colorado.
RECAP: 1-3 inching ahead, 4 trying to keep up, 5-9 falling a bit, 10-13 bringing up the rear.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---last week won at Idaho State 45-28, this week at Northern Colorado---This season, where there is a lot of new blood showing up near the top, the top dog is still the Eagles. Still rolling, still doing what they need to do to win. They have been pretty much the only constant.
2. Southern Utah (2)---last week beat Sacramento State at home 44-0, this week at UC-Davis---Another Saturday, another game, another 44-0 win. Everyone else is beating up on the heavyweights and the Thunderbirds are methodically moving along, building consistency.
3. Portland State (3)---last week beat Montana State at home 59-42, this week at Cal Poly---Yet another big test last week for the Vikings and once again they passed with flying colors. Discovering some offensive power helps when your defense can't slow the other team down.
4. Weber State (6)---last week beat North Dakota at home 25-24, this week at Northern Arizona---Things looked rather bleak for the Wildcats, yet they were able to come back for the victory and keep their magical season rolling. They better keep finding ways to win as they have some heavies coming in.
5. Cal Poly (5)---last week bye, this week Portland State at home---The Mustangs have been beaten up and left for dead, and they probably need to win out for any chance at the playoffs. But things have got to start getting easier, shouldn't they? Well maybe after this week.
6. Montana State (4)---last week lost at Portland State 59-42, this week East Tennessee State (FCS Independent) at home---It is no secret the Bobcats defense is not good, especially away from home. It is also no secret that their quarterback is really awesome. But playing shootouts every week can be taxing and you could find yourself on the losing end more often than you want.
7. Montana (7)---last week bye, this week North Dakota at home---The Grizzlies took the week off to try to recover the speed that they showcased in the opening week against the other North Dakota school. The question here is are they healthy enough to get back in the playoff picture.
8. Northern Arizona (9)---last week bye, this week Weber State at home---The Lumberjacks are also trying to get back in the playoff hunt, something that took a serious blow after losing to UC-Davis. A week off can surely help but they have to be ready now to get after it.
9. North Dakota (8)---last week lost at Weber State 25-24, this week at Montana---The Dakotans had the game last week in their grasp, yet they let it slip away at the end. Still in line for the playoffs, they need to somehow figure out how to win in the hostile confines of Missoula.
10. Northern Colorado (12)---last week beat UC-Davis at home 56-27, this week Eastern Washington at home---What seems really odd about this season is that somehow the Bears are sitting in the middle of this wide open conference race. But do they really have the horses to get the win this week? Well, weird things have happened so far.
11. Idaho State (11)---last week lost to Eastern Washington at home 45-28, this week at Sacramento State---While the defense still seems to be stagnant, the Bengals offense has shown signs of life in the last couple weeks. Maybe a good time as they finally have a game that they should be favored in.
12. UC-Davis (10)---last week lost at Northern Colorado 56-27, this week Southern Utah at home---Now it seems like the Aggies are on a roller coaster and they can't get off. They beat Northern Arizona only to fall to Northern Colorado. Now they entertain the upstart Thunderbirds.
13. Sacramento State (13)---last week lost at Southern Utah 44-0, this week Idaho State at home---Not good for the Hornets as they are hoping for anything at this point. They may have a shot this weekend, but they thought they had a good shot against Northern Colorado.
RECAP: 1-3 inching ahead, 4 trying to keep up, 5-9 falling a bit, 10-13 bringing up the rear.