JALMOND
October 26th, 2015, 11:42 PM
Just when it seemed like the top spots in the Big Sky were going to end up being teams from outside the Big Sky Country of Montana, both the Grizzlies and the Bobcats said "Hold on!" and got some impressive wins to put themselves both near the top. Also, Northern Colorado deserves a mention as a team that no one thought had even the talent to compete this year and almost knocks off Eastern Washington. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). As usual, all are my opinion only and all are open to discussion. Should be some good thought this week.
1. Southern Utah (2)---Last week won at UC-Davis 34-6, this week Cal Poly at home---Granted the Thunderbirds may be taking advantage of their schedule, but unlike others in the conference, they are thrashing the weaker teams. The questions everyone has will being to be answered down the stretch.
2. Portland State (3)---Last week, won at Cal Poly 38-35, this week Montana at home---The Vikings season continues to roll on. No one is sure what is more surprising, the fact that they are 6-1 or that they are a 2-point loss from being undefeated. Their brutal schedule continues this week.
3. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week, won at Northern Colorado 43-41, this week Weber State at home---Scary. For a moment all was right for the mighty Eagles as they were putting the pipsqueak Bears back down. Then something terrible happened and they needed a field goal to salvage the win. That was just a dream, was it?
4. Montana (7)---Last week, beat North Dakota at home 42-16, this week at Portland State---Funny how great a win is. The Grizzlies starting their third quarterback, and getting a good solid performance to get back in the mix. Now they move on to some bigger fish to fry.
5. Montana State (6)---Last week, beat East Tennessee State (FCS Independent) 63-7, this week at North Dakota---So the Bobcats recovered nicely with a win and more important, a good strong defensive effort. However, while they have beaten everyone at home, they haven't got that one road win. Can the defense get one this week?
6. Northern Arizona (8)---Last week beat Weber State at home 52-36, this week Northern Colorado at home---The Lumberjacks also jumped out to a huge lead and watched it almost all go back, only to salvage the win with some late game heroics. No more nightmares this weekend.
7. Weber State (4)---Last week, lost at Northern Arizona 52-36, this week at Eastern Washington---The Wildcats dug themselves too big of a hole to try to get out of and consequently could not get back in the game. This week they hit the road again, hoping for a little better showing.
8. Cal Poly (5)---Last week, lost to Portland State at home 38-35, this week at Southern Utah---The Mustangs went toe-to-toe last week, knowing a loss would put them out of any playoff consideration and almost eked out the win. Now this week is the first chance they have at playing spoiler.
9. Northern Colorado (10)---Last week, lost to Eastern Washington at home 43-41, this week at Northern Arizona---There is no quit in this little Bears bunch. They had numerous opportunities to quit last week, yet still kept coming back. You do need talent to win, but the Bears will enjoy scaring the hell out of everyone.
10. North Dakota (9)---Last week, lost at Montana 42-16, this week Montana State at home---The Dakotans vote for a new nickname came about and maybe that is what distracted them. They struck first only to be punched in the mouth and never recovered. They need to be ready this weekend.
11. Sacramento State (13)---Last week beat Idaho State at home 38-13, this week bye---In basically a who cares game, the Hornets actually cared about it and got the win. They will take this week off and try to heal their many injuries.
12. Idaho State (11)---Last week lost at Sacramento State 38-13, this week bye---In basically a who cares game, the Bengals showed they really don't care anymore. Injuries and more injuries which means having a week off is probably a good thing.
13. UC-Davis (12)---Last week lost to Southern Utah at home 34-6, this week bye---The Aggies could not get anything rolling last week and in the process, got rolled themselves. They are taking this week up to heal and get healthy.
RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4-6 gaining, 7-8 falling, 9-10 trying to keep up, 11-13 off the pace.
1. Southern Utah (2)---Last week won at UC-Davis 34-6, this week Cal Poly at home---Granted the Thunderbirds may be taking advantage of their schedule, but unlike others in the conference, they are thrashing the weaker teams. The questions everyone has will being to be answered down the stretch.
2. Portland State (3)---Last week, won at Cal Poly 38-35, this week Montana at home---The Vikings season continues to roll on. No one is sure what is more surprising, the fact that they are 6-1 or that they are a 2-point loss from being undefeated. Their brutal schedule continues this week.
3. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week, won at Northern Colorado 43-41, this week Weber State at home---Scary. For a moment all was right for the mighty Eagles as they were putting the pipsqueak Bears back down. Then something terrible happened and they needed a field goal to salvage the win. That was just a dream, was it?
4. Montana (7)---Last week, beat North Dakota at home 42-16, this week at Portland State---Funny how great a win is. The Grizzlies starting their third quarterback, and getting a good solid performance to get back in the mix. Now they move on to some bigger fish to fry.
5. Montana State (6)---Last week, beat East Tennessee State (FCS Independent) 63-7, this week at North Dakota---So the Bobcats recovered nicely with a win and more important, a good strong defensive effort. However, while they have beaten everyone at home, they haven't got that one road win. Can the defense get one this week?
6. Northern Arizona (8)---Last week beat Weber State at home 52-36, this week Northern Colorado at home---The Lumberjacks also jumped out to a huge lead and watched it almost all go back, only to salvage the win with some late game heroics. No more nightmares this weekend.
7. Weber State (4)---Last week, lost at Northern Arizona 52-36, this week at Eastern Washington---The Wildcats dug themselves too big of a hole to try to get out of and consequently could not get back in the game. This week they hit the road again, hoping for a little better showing.
8. Cal Poly (5)---Last week, lost to Portland State at home 38-35, this week at Southern Utah---The Mustangs went toe-to-toe last week, knowing a loss would put them out of any playoff consideration and almost eked out the win. Now this week is the first chance they have at playing spoiler.
9. Northern Colorado (10)---Last week, lost to Eastern Washington at home 43-41, this week at Northern Arizona---There is no quit in this little Bears bunch. They had numerous opportunities to quit last week, yet still kept coming back. You do need talent to win, but the Bears will enjoy scaring the hell out of everyone.
10. North Dakota (9)---Last week, lost at Montana 42-16, this week Montana State at home---The Dakotans vote for a new nickname came about and maybe that is what distracted them. They struck first only to be punched in the mouth and never recovered. They need to be ready this weekend.
11. Sacramento State (13)---Last week beat Idaho State at home 38-13, this week bye---In basically a who cares game, the Hornets actually cared about it and got the win. They will take this week off and try to heal their many injuries.
12. Idaho State (11)---Last week lost at Sacramento State 38-13, this week bye---In basically a who cares game, the Bengals showed they really don't care anymore. Injuries and more injuries which means having a week off is probably a good thing.
13. UC-Davis (12)---Last week lost to Southern Utah at home 34-6, this week bye---The Aggies could not get anything rolling last week and in the process, got rolled themselves. They are taking this week up to heal and get healthy.
RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4-6 gaining, 7-8 falling, 9-10 trying to keep up, 11-13 off the pace.