JALMOND
September 4th, 2016, 03:22 PM
Football has always been a nice distraction from the problems of everyday life. Therefore, after a one week hiatus, I am pleased to bring back the Big Sky Power Rankings, however with some changes, mainly due to the personal issues I'm going through. The explanations will be short, the writeup will be the same on both AGS and CS, I'm sure there will be much more discussion as my analysis will be limited, and the days may fluctuate as well. The weeks have been crazy, but the weekends have been fine so here are the first rankings this year. The numbers in parenthesis represent the ranking in the preseason that never did get posted. Have at it!!!
1. Eastern Washington (6)---Last week beat Pac-12 Washington State 45-42, this week at Missouri Valley North Dakota State---Kupp is the real deal, but the Eagles found someone to throw the ball to him.
2. Northern Arizona (1)---Last week lost to Pac-12 Arizona State 44-13, this week at Missouri Valley Western Illinois---Close but not quite as the Lumberjacks could not stay with the bigger Sun Devils.
3. Montana (3)---Last week, beat Northeast St. Francis, 41-31, this week at Missouri Valley Northern Iowa---Grizzlies struggled at home at first, but recovered enough to get the win at home. Tough times coming, though.
4. Portland State (4)---Last week beat DII Central Washington 43-26, this week at Mountain West San Jose State---Vikings struggled early against the lower division foe, but came on late to secure the win. Now they are the hunter this weekend.
5. Cal Poly (8)---Last week lost at Mountain West Nevada 30-27 in OT, this week at home against Pioneer San Diego---The Mustangs looked great as they stayed with Nevada throughout the whole game and on to overtime.
6. North Dakota (2)---Last week lost at CAA Stony Brook 13-9, this week at MAC Bowling Green---The Fighting Hawks, even with quality returnees on offense, still look like they will need to rely on defense again in an offensively charged conference.
7. Northern Colorado (7)---Last week beat NAIA Rocky Mountain 56-27, this week at Southland Abilene Christian---Big Bears had little trouble with the little Bears but things will start to get tough.
8. Weber State (5)---Last week lost to Mountain West Utah State 45-6, this week at Missouri Valley South Dakota---The Wildcats knew they were playing up a level, but they were hoping for a better showing.
9. Montana State (10)---Last week lost to Sun Belt Idaho 20-17, this week at home against Northeast Bryant---The Bobcats fought back from a early deficit against the future Big Sky opponent but could not get the win.
10. Idaho State (12)---Last week beat DII Simon Fraser 47-3, this week at Pac-12 Colorado---The Bengals may not have much but they did what they were supposed to against their lower division foe. Now on to the Pac-12.
11. Southern Utah (9)---Last week lost to Pac-12 Utah 24-0, this week at home against Southland Southeastern Louisiana---Thunderbirds defense shown but the offense could not get going against their bigger Pac-12 brother.
12. UC-Davis (11)---Last week lost to Pac-12 Oregon 53-28, this week at home against NAIA Southern Oregon---The Aggies did about as well as anyone expected, but the Ducks are quite the opponent.
13. Sacramento State (13)---Last week lost to DII Western Oregon 38-30, this week at Mountain West Fresno State---The Hornets struggled from the start with the lower division foe. Think anything will change moving up a level?
RECAP: 1-6 together, 7-9 just off the pace, 10-12 holding tight, 13 falling fast.
1. Eastern Washington (6)---Last week beat Pac-12 Washington State 45-42, this week at Missouri Valley North Dakota State---Kupp is the real deal, but the Eagles found someone to throw the ball to him.
2. Northern Arizona (1)---Last week lost to Pac-12 Arizona State 44-13, this week at Missouri Valley Western Illinois---Close but not quite as the Lumberjacks could not stay with the bigger Sun Devils.
3. Montana (3)---Last week, beat Northeast St. Francis, 41-31, this week at Missouri Valley Northern Iowa---Grizzlies struggled at home at first, but recovered enough to get the win at home. Tough times coming, though.
4. Portland State (4)---Last week beat DII Central Washington 43-26, this week at Mountain West San Jose State---Vikings struggled early against the lower division foe, but came on late to secure the win. Now they are the hunter this weekend.
5. Cal Poly (8)---Last week lost at Mountain West Nevada 30-27 in OT, this week at home against Pioneer San Diego---The Mustangs looked great as they stayed with Nevada throughout the whole game and on to overtime.
6. North Dakota (2)---Last week lost at CAA Stony Brook 13-9, this week at MAC Bowling Green---The Fighting Hawks, even with quality returnees on offense, still look like they will need to rely on defense again in an offensively charged conference.
7. Northern Colorado (7)---Last week beat NAIA Rocky Mountain 56-27, this week at Southland Abilene Christian---Big Bears had little trouble with the little Bears but things will start to get tough.
8. Weber State (5)---Last week lost to Mountain West Utah State 45-6, this week at Missouri Valley South Dakota---The Wildcats knew they were playing up a level, but they were hoping for a better showing.
9. Montana State (10)---Last week lost to Sun Belt Idaho 20-17, this week at home against Northeast Bryant---The Bobcats fought back from a early deficit against the future Big Sky opponent but could not get the win.
10. Idaho State (12)---Last week beat DII Simon Fraser 47-3, this week at Pac-12 Colorado---The Bengals may not have much but they did what they were supposed to against their lower division foe. Now on to the Pac-12.
11. Southern Utah (9)---Last week lost to Pac-12 Utah 24-0, this week at home against Southland Southeastern Louisiana---Thunderbirds defense shown but the offense could not get going against their bigger Pac-12 brother.
12. UC-Davis (11)---Last week lost to Pac-12 Oregon 53-28, this week at home against NAIA Southern Oregon---The Aggies did about as well as anyone expected, but the Ducks are quite the opponent.
13. Sacramento State (13)---Last week lost to DII Western Oregon 38-30, this week at Mountain West Fresno State---The Hornets struggled from the start with the lower division foe. Think anything will change moving up a level?
RECAP: 1-6 together, 7-9 just off the pace, 10-12 holding tight, 13 falling fast.