JALMOND
November 2nd, 2015, 10:58 PM
And down the stretch they come! November and a time when the top teams look to cement their positions for the playoffs, and the Big Sky has at least three teams with a great chance at making the playoffs. Maybe not the three that were thought of at the beginning of the season, but three teams nonetheless. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion and all are open for discussion. End of November are the playoffs so we are almost there.
1. Portland State (2)---Last week beat Montana at home 35-16, this week at Northern Colorado---The Vikings last four games were going to give everyone a read as it if they are for real. Well, not only did they do well, they won every contest. But the stretch run is tough as well.
2. Southern Utah (1)---Last week beat Cal Poly at home 54-36, this week at Montana State---The Thunderbirds passed their first true test as a power last week, sort of as Cal Poly didn't have much to play for, but the Thunderbirds still looked impressive. They still have some tough games coming up.
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Last week beat Weber State at home 14-13, this week Northern Arizona at home---Frankly, the Eagles are just winning, not looking overly impressive at it, but wins will get you in the playoffs. They'll take as many wins as they can as the season gets tougher.
4. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week beat Northern Colorado at home 63-21, this week at Eastern Washington---The Lumberjacks are peaking at the right time and put an end to any far hopes Northern Colorado might have had. Teams want to be playing their best at the end of the year and the Lumberjacks seem to be on their way.
5. Weber State (7)---Last week lost at Eastern Washington 14-13, this week UC-Davis at home---Just when the Wildcats are supposed to go away they come up and surprise. They didn't get the win last week but they looked really strong. Their final games, however, are not that strong.
6. Montana (4)---Last week lost at Portland State 35-16, this week at Idaho State---The Grizzlies lost a big one and it hurt them. They now need to win out to have any shot at receiving consideration for the playoffs. They have the schedule to at least look impressive if they do that.
7. North Dakota (10)---Last week beat Montana State at home 44-38, this week bye---Given up for dead, the Dakotans rose to the challenge and are trying to get back in the midst of the playoff talk. They got a good, favorable schedule for it, but this week they drew the short straw and will stay home.
8. Montana State (5)---Last week lost at North Dakota 44-38, this week Southern Utah at home---It just seems like the Bobcats offense has a better chance at scoring more points than their defense gives up when they play at home. They have a strong team coming to their place this weekend.
9. Cal Poly (8)---Last week lost at Southern Utah 54-36, this week Sacramento State at home---The Mustangs are just playing out the string and it showed, painfully, last week. Pride is not something they wanted to be doing at this point in the season, especially after the way it started so promising.
10. Northern Colorado (9)---Last week lost at Northern Arizona 63-21, this week Portland State at home---The upstart Bears' very impressive season took a big hit last week that relegated them back to the bottom of the conference. But, they still can wreck some people's season, like this weekend.
11. Sacramento State (11)---Last week bye, this week at Cal Poly---The Hornets had last week off to rest up and prepare to end their season strong. They still have some heavyweights on the schedule so they could play spoiler if they want to.
12. Idaho State (12)---Last week bye, this week Montana at home---What could bring a down and out season back to life for the Bengals? Having two weeks to prepare for a reeling Montana team and getting the game at home. That would make some fans smile.
13. UC-Davis (13)---Last week bye, this week at Weber State---The Aggies dismal season had a restful period last weekend. Now back to the grindstone with a trip to Weber State. Pride may be good to play for to get ready for next year.
RECAP: 1-2 edging out front, 3 trying to keep up, 4 holding steady, 5-8 falling, 9-10 losing sight, 11-13 fading fast
1. Portland State (2)---Last week beat Montana at home 35-16, this week at Northern Colorado---The Vikings last four games were going to give everyone a read as it if they are for real. Well, not only did they do well, they won every contest. But the stretch run is tough as well.
2. Southern Utah (1)---Last week beat Cal Poly at home 54-36, this week at Montana State---The Thunderbirds passed their first true test as a power last week, sort of as Cal Poly didn't have much to play for, but the Thunderbirds still looked impressive. They still have some tough games coming up.
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Last week beat Weber State at home 14-13, this week Northern Arizona at home---Frankly, the Eagles are just winning, not looking overly impressive at it, but wins will get you in the playoffs. They'll take as many wins as they can as the season gets tougher.
4. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week beat Northern Colorado at home 63-21, this week at Eastern Washington---The Lumberjacks are peaking at the right time and put an end to any far hopes Northern Colorado might have had. Teams want to be playing their best at the end of the year and the Lumberjacks seem to be on their way.
5. Weber State (7)---Last week lost at Eastern Washington 14-13, this week UC-Davis at home---Just when the Wildcats are supposed to go away they come up and surprise. They didn't get the win last week but they looked really strong. Their final games, however, are not that strong.
6. Montana (4)---Last week lost at Portland State 35-16, this week at Idaho State---The Grizzlies lost a big one and it hurt them. They now need to win out to have any shot at receiving consideration for the playoffs. They have the schedule to at least look impressive if they do that.
7. North Dakota (10)---Last week beat Montana State at home 44-38, this week bye---Given up for dead, the Dakotans rose to the challenge and are trying to get back in the midst of the playoff talk. They got a good, favorable schedule for it, but this week they drew the short straw and will stay home.
8. Montana State (5)---Last week lost at North Dakota 44-38, this week Southern Utah at home---It just seems like the Bobcats offense has a better chance at scoring more points than their defense gives up when they play at home. They have a strong team coming to their place this weekend.
9. Cal Poly (8)---Last week lost at Southern Utah 54-36, this week Sacramento State at home---The Mustangs are just playing out the string and it showed, painfully, last week. Pride is not something they wanted to be doing at this point in the season, especially after the way it started so promising.
10. Northern Colorado (9)---Last week lost at Northern Arizona 63-21, this week Portland State at home---The upstart Bears' very impressive season took a big hit last week that relegated them back to the bottom of the conference. But, they still can wreck some people's season, like this weekend.
11. Sacramento State (11)---Last week bye, this week at Cal Poly---The Hornets had last week off to rest up and prepare to end their season strong. They still have some heavyweights on the schedule so they could play spoiler if they want to.
12. Idaho State (12)---Last week bye, this week Montana at home---What could bring a down and out season back to life for the Bengals? Having two weeks to prepare for a reeling Montana team and getting the game at home. That would make some fans smile.
13. UC-Davis (13)---Last week bye, this week at Weber State---The Aggies dismal season had a restful period last weekend. Now back to the grindstone with a trip to Weber State. Pride may be good to play for to get ready for next year.
RECAP: 1-2 edging out front, 3 trying to keep up, 4 holding steady, 5-8 falling, 9-10 losing sight, 11-13 fading fast