JALMOND
September 17th, 2018, 09:31 PM
Finally, most of the non-conference games are complete (aside from teams playing North Dakota) and conference play can start. Still, most teams have questions, old and new, and most are trying to decipher what they have from watching teams play up a level or down. Everyone in the conference plays this weekend so it should be a great start for the conference. Heading into this week, here are the power rankings (last week in parenthesis). As usual, all are my opinion only. Here we go, heading into the conference to decide a winner.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week, lost at Washington State (FBS Pac-12) 59-24, this week Cal Poly at home---The Eagles took care of business in the non-conference, taking down both the DII ranks and the FCS, as well as hanging tough with the Pac-12. They get their conference home opener this weekend.
2. Weber State (3)---Last week, beat South Dakota (Missouri Valley) 27-10, this week Northern Colorado at home---The Wildcats have been biding their time in the non-conference while they find a new quarterback. They got the only conference win over the Valley last week and hope to carry it forward.
3. Sacramento State (4)---Last week, won at Northern Colorado 28-25, this week at Montana---The Hornets got a strong road win over a conference foe setting the stage for an even tougher conference road game this weekend. Have they ever won in Missoula? Could this be the year?
4. UC-Davis (6)---Last week, lost at Stanford (FBS Pac-12) 30-10, this week Idaho at home---Stanford is more powerful than most FBS schools, yet the Aggies went toe to toe with them in the first half, then the lack of strength began to show. Should be no worries as they won't meet anyone that strong in the conference.
5. Montana (2)---Last week lost at Western Illinois (Missouri Valley) 31-27, this week Sacramento State at home---The Grizzlies seemed to have the game all sewn up, but two late scores did them in. Still going 1-1 against the Valley is good enough that they should enjoy being home for their first conference game.
6. Montana State (7)---Last week beat Wagner (Northeast ) 47-24, this week at Portland State---The Bobcats woke up soon enough to put away a strong Wagner team from the Northeast. Conference road games can be tricky, but the Bobcats should have an easy one this weekend.
7. Idaho (8)---Last week, bye, this week at UC-Davis---New to the conference, the Vandals took an extra week to prepare for the rigors of conference play. They will start off their conference season on the road against what is all of a sudden a formidable foe.
8. Northern Arizona (5)---Last week, lost at Missouri State (Missouri Valley) 40-8, this week Southern Utah at home---No Cookus and no Butler makes the Lumberjacks just a shell of a team, but still getting blown out by a lower tier Valley team does not bode well for conference play. More questions than answers, but they do start off in their friendly confines.
9. Northern Colorado (9)---Last week lost to Sacramento State at home 28-25, this week at Weber State---If the Bears can find a way to close out these close losses and turn them in to wins, they will be on to something. As it is, they've looked good but have nothing to show for it, with a tough game to start conference play.
10. Southern Utah (10)---Last week lost at Arizona (FBS Pac-12) 62-31, this week at Northern Arizona---The Thunderbirds also seem to have more questions than answers. Money games are tough and playing two teams from the Pac-12 was going to be a grind for anyone, but they still thought they'd be competitive (somewhat).
11. Cal Poly (12)---Last week beat Brown (Ivy) at home 44-15, this week at Eastern Washington---The Mustangs finally broke through and got a good FCS win over an Ivy League school. Whether that translate to success in the conference will soon be evident as they head out to play Eastern Washington this week.
12. Idaho State (11)---Last week lost at California (FBS Pac-12) 45-23, this week at North Dakota---The Bengals took a week off and headed up a level where they were administered a strict beatdown. Undaunted, they get to be the first team to face North Dakota as an independent.
13. Portland State (13)---Last week, beat College of Idaho (NAIA) 63-14, this week Montana State at home---So the Vikings finally won a game for the first time in almost two years. It came against a winless NAIA team but winning sure feels good heading in to conference play. Now can they get that conference win?
RECAP: 1, then 2-5, 6-7 right behind, 8-9 holding their own, 10-13 a step back.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week, lost at Washington State (FBS Pac-12) 59-24, this week Cal Poly at home---The Eagles took care of business in the non-conference, taking down both the DII ranks and the FCS, as well as hanging tough with the Pac-12. They get their conference home opener this weekend.
2. Weber State (3)---Last week, beat South Dakota (Missouri Valley) 27-10, this week Northern Colorado at home---The Wildcats have been biding their time in the non-conference while they find a new quarterback. They got the only conference win over the Valley last week and hope to carry it forward.
3. Sacramento State (4)---Last week, won at Northern Colorado 28-25, this week at Montana---The Hornets got a strong road win over a conference foe setting the stage for an even tougher conference road game this weekend. Have they ever won in Missoula? Could this be the year?
4. UC-Davis (6)---Last week, lost at Stanford (FBS Pac-12) 30-10, this week Idaho at home---Stanford is more powerful than most FBS schools, yet the Aggies went toe to toe with them in the first half, then the lack of strength began to show. Should be no worries as they won't meet anyone that strong in the conference.
5. Montana (2)---Last week lost at Western Illinois (Missouri Valley) 31-27, this week Sacramento State at home---The Grizzlies seemed to have the game all sewn up, but two late scores did them in. Still going 1-1 against the Valley is good enough that they should enjoy being home for their first conference game.
6. Montana State (7)---Last week beat Wagner (Northeast ) 47-24, this week at Portland State---The Bobcats woke up soon enough to put away a strong Wagner team from the Northeast. Conference road games can be tricky, but the Bobcats should have an easy one this weekend.
7. Idaho (8)---Last week, bye, this week at UC-Davis---New to the conference, the Vandals took an extra week to prepare for the rigors of conference play. They will start off their conference season on the road against what is all of a sudden a formidable foe.
8. Northern Arizona (5)---Last week, lost at Missouri State (Missouri Valley) 40-8, this week Southern Utah at home---No Cookus and no Butler makes the Lumberjacks just a shell of a team, but still getting blown out by a lower tier Valley team does not bode well for conference play. More questions than answers, but they do start off in their friendly confines.
9. Northern Colorado (9)---Last week lost to Sacramento State at home 28-25, this week at Weber State---If the Bears can find a way to close out these close losses and turn them in to wins, they will be on to something. As it is, they've looked good but have nothing to show for it, with a tough game to start conference play.
10. Southern Utah (10)---Last week lost at Arizona (FBS Pac-12) 62-31, this week at Northern Arizona---The Thunderbirds also seem to have more questions than answers. Money games are tough and playing two teams from the Pac-12 was going to be a grind for anyone, but they still thought they'd be competitive (somewhat).
11. Cal Poly (12)---Last week beat Brown (Ivy) at home 44-15, this week at Eastern Washington---The Mustangs finally broke through and got a good FCS win over an Ivy League school. Whether that translate to success in the conference will soon be evident as they head out to play Eastern Washington this week.
12. Idaho State (11)---Last week lost at California (FBS Pac-12) 45-23, this week at North Dakota---The Bengals took a week off and headed up a level where they were administered a strict beatdown. Undaunted, they get to be the first team to face North Dakota as an independent.
13. Portland State (13)---Last week, beat College of Idaho (NAIA) 63-14, this week Montana State at home---So the Vikings finally won a game for the first time in almost two years. It came against a winless NAIA team but winning sure feels good heading in to conference play. Now can they get that conference win?
RECAP: 1, then 2-5, 6-7 right behind, 8-9 holding their own, 10-13 a step back.