JALMOND
October 1st, 2018, 10:02 PM
As we turn the calendar into October, teams are playing games that will mean something come crunch time. Those teams that are decided usually do better than those that are still trying to find themselves at this point. What started out as possibly nine teams thinking they had a shot this year has evolved into one sure team (EWU) and five others that are trying to keep up. Then, as usual, there is one from the 4 "also-mentions", Idaho State, that has emerged as a serious contender in this early season. Here are this week's power rankings in the Big Sky (last week's rankings in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Here we go.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week won at Montana State 34-17, this week Southern Utah at home---The Eagles sit atop the conference after a good, solid conference road win last weekend. They head back to their red field and welcome another worthy opponent.
2. Weber State (2)---Last week bye, this week at Northern Arizona ---The Wildcats got a strong home win two weeks ago, then took last week off. Eager to get back in the swing of things, they go out on the road to meet the reeling Lumberjacks.
3. UC Davis (3)---Last week bye, this week at Northern Colorado---Coming off an impressive home rout of the new kids in the conference, the Aggies took a week off to prepare for the rest of their conference slate. They head out on the road this weekend.
4. Montana (5)---Last week won at Cal Poly 48-28, this week Portland State at home---Every week, the Grizzlies look tougher and tougher and they showed it by getting a conference road win. They'll welcome hapless Portland State to their home field.
5. Montana State (4)---Last week lost to Eastern Washington at home 34-17, this week bye---The Bobcats gave a good fight at home last week but still came out short against a good Eagles team. They get a week off to lick their wounds and rest.
6. Sacramento State (6)---Last week bye, this week Cal Poly at home---After a disappointing showing on the road at a place they've never won, the Hornets took last week off to regroup and hopefully refocus. They should get an easy game this weekend.
7. Idaho State (8)---Last week beat Northern Arizona at home 56-42, this week Idaho at home---Before the big showdown this weekend, the Bengals put any notion of looking ahead to rest as they came out blazing to continue a great season so far. Now comes the game they've been looking forward to.
8. Northern Arizona (7)---Last week lost at Idaho State 56-42, this week Weber State at home---Life without Cookus has not been kind to the Lumberjacks as they continue to spiral out of control. A tough road loss and now a tough opponent comes to town.
9. Idaho (10)---Last week beat Portland State at home 20-7, this week at Idaho State---During a game when their offense was stymied, their defense and special teams rose up and got their conference win. But they get rewarded by meeting up with their in-state brethren.
10. Northern Colorado (9)---Last week lost to North Dakota at home 38-13, this week UC Davis at home---Again, the Bears looked tough for a bit, yet could not get a win. Soon, they have to figure out how to win these games because things don't get easy.
11. Southern Utah (11)---Last week bye, this week at Eastern Washington---The Thunderbirds welcomed a much needed bye to regroup and try to salvage what is left of the season. They were thought of as possible contenders, now they need a win against a strong team.
12. Cal Poly (12)---Last week lost to Montana at home 48-28, this week at Sacramento State---Better things have to happen soon for the Mustangs, but for now they just can't get any traction going. A brutal start to the conference has taken its toll on them.
13. Portland State (13)---Last week lost at Idaho 20-7, this week at Montana---The Vikings defense finally rose up, yet this week it was the offense that sputtered in a loss. Now they hope to recover, but they have to go to hostile grounds to try to win. Not likely.
RECAP: 1, then 2-6 in a bunch with 7 gaining quickly, 8-11 falling, then 12, then 13.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week won at Montana State 34-17, this week Southern Utah at home---The Eagles sit atop the conference after a good, solid conference road win last weekend. They head back to their red field and welcome another worthy opponent.
2. Weber State (2)---Last week bye, this week at Northern Arizona ---The Wildcats got a strong home win two weeks ago, then took last week off. Eager to get back in the swing of things, they go out on the road to meet the reeling Lumberjacks.
3. UC Davis (3)---Last week bye, this week at Northern Colorado---Coming off an impressive home rout of the new kids in the conference, the Aggies took a week off to prepare for the rest of their conference slate. They head out on the road this weekend.
4. Montana (5)---Last week won at Cal Poly 48-28, this week Portland State at home---Every week, the Grizzlies look tougher and tougher and they showed it by getting a conference road win. They'll welcome hapless Portland State to their home field.
5. Montana State (4)---Last week lost to Eastern Washington at home 34-17, this week bye---The Bobcats gave a good fight at home last week but still came out short against a good Eagles team. They get a week off to lick their wounds and rest.
6. Sacramento State (6)---Last week bye, this week Cal Poly at home---After a disappointing showing on the road at a place they've never won, the Hornets took last week off to regroup and hopefully refocus. They should get an easy game this weekend.
7. Idaho State (8)---Last week beat Northern Arizona at home 56-42, this week Idaho at home---Before the big showdown this weekend, the Bengals put any notion of looking ahead to rest as they came out blazing to continue a great season so far. Now comes the game they've been looking forward to.
8. Northern Arizona (7)---Last week lost at Idaho State 56-42, this week Weber State at home---Life without Cookus has not been kind to the Lumberjacks as they continue to spiral out of control. A tough road loss and now a tough opponent comes to town.
9. Idaho (10)---Last week beat Portland State at home 20-7, this week at Idaho State---During a game when their offense was stymied, their defense and special teams rose up and got their conference win. But they get rewarded by meeting up with their in-state brethren.
10. Northern Colorado (9)---Last week lost to North Dakota at home 38-13, this week UC Davis at home---Again, the Bears looked tough for a bit, yet could not get a win. Soon, they have to figure out how to win these games because things don't get easy.
11. Southern Utah (11)---Last week bye, this week at Eastern Washington---The Thunderbirds welcomed a much needed bye to regroup and try to salvage what is left of the season. They were thought of as possible contenders, now they need a win against a strong team.
12. Cal Poly (12)---Last week lost to Montana at home 48-28, this week at Sacramento State---Better things have to happen soon for the Mustangs, but for now they just can't get any traction going. A brutal start to the conference has taken its toll on them.
13. Portland State (13)---Last week lost at Idaho 20-7, this week at Montana---The Vikings defense finally rose up, yet this week it was the offense that sputtered in a loss. Now they hope to recover, but they have to go to hostile grounds to try to win. Not likely.
RECAP: 1, then 2-6 in a bunch with 7 gaining quickly, 8-11 falling, then 12, then 13.