JALMOND
October 15th, 2018, 09:51 PM
I remember a time when things would go pretty much the way they were supposed to. There would be some upsets here and there but the picture would start to become clear about now. However, this season has been really tough to decipher. But what makes it interesting this year is the new blood that has risen to the top. Montana, Northern Arizona and Southern Utah are still kicking but Eastern Washington, UC Davis and Idaho State have stepped up and kept the conference viable on the national stage. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). I'll admit, one of the toughest weeks since I started doing these 15 years ago. I'm sure it will start some great discussion.
1. UC Davis (2)---Last week, beat Idaho State at home 44-37 in OT, this week at Cal Poly---Last week's tussle between the Aggies and Bengals was one of the better games all year. The Aggies came back and garner the top spot this weekend. Now, the question is, can they stay there?
2. Idaho State (3)---Last week, lost at UC Davis 44-37 in OT, this week at Liberty (FBS Independent)---It was a loss for the Bengals last week, but showed that they deserved to be mentioned with the elite this season. Like the Aggies, the question is, can they sustain the success?
3. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week, lost at Weber State 14-6, this week bye---The Eagles came crashing to earth last week without their high flying quarterback at the helm. They get a week off to lick their wounds and get ready for the stretch run.
4. Weber State (5)---Last week, beat Eastern Washington at home 14-6, this week Montana State at home---The Wildcats took advantage of Eastern Washington's injuries to emerge with a strong response to the loss to NAU. They don't get a breather however this week.
5. Montana State (4)---Last week, beat Idaho at home 24-23, this week at Weber State---Trying to get to the elite of the conference, the Bobcats had trouble putting away a pesky Idaho team at home. Could be that they were looking ahead to this strong battle on the road.
6. Northern Arizona (7)---Last week bye, this week at Northern Colorado---Riding the wave of a good win over Weber State, the Lumberjacks entered their bye week on a high note before going on the road for a conference tilt this weekend. Should be easy, but nothing is easy this year.
7. Idaho (10)---Last week lost at Montana State 24-23, this week Southern Utah at home---Hard to imagine a loss that might have jumpstarted the Vandals' season, but they just might have got it last week, almost getting a win in a tough place to do it. They should win this weekend.
8. Portland State (11)---Last week beat Northern Colorado at home 35-14, this week bye---No Grizzly hangover for the Vikings as they jumped on the Bears right away and never let up, An improbable 2-2 in the conference, they head in to the bye week brimming with confidence.
9. Montana (6)---Last week, lost at North Dakota 41-14, this week bye---Talk about crashing down to earth. Looking to rebound from a tough home loss, the Grizzlies instead took a powerful punch last week. Maybe having a week off will be good to regroup.
10. Cal Poly (8)---Last week bye, this week UC Davis at home---The Mustangs are looking to build on an off week after a good win to get an upset of sorts at home this weekend. Might be tough, but this season has shown that anything is certainly possible.
11. Southern Utah (13)---Last week beat Sacramento State at home 48-27, this week at Idaho---Maybe the trick is to put a team down at #13 and watch them bounce upward. The Thunderbirds may have got their season started with a good home win but this weekend will be difficult.
12. Sacramento State (9)---Last week, lost at Southern Utah 48-27, this week North Dakota at home---Coming in to the season the Hornets were ready to make noise and announce that they have arrived. Now they have to regroup and try to get any type of win.
13. Northern Colorado (12)---Last week lost at Portland State 35-14, this week Northern Arizona at home---The Bears can't seem to catch a break. They catch Portland State riding an euphoric wave of emotion, now they get NAU coming off a bye week after an impressive win of their own.
RECAP: 1-3 at the top with 4-5 keeping pace and 6 trying to keep up. Big break to 7-9, with 10-11 just behind them with 12 just behind. 13 fading fast.
1. UC Davis (2)---Last week, beat Idaho State at home 44-37 in OT, this week at Cal Poly---Last week's tussle between the Aggies and Bengals was one of the better games all year. The Aggies came back and garner the top spot this weekend. Now, the question is, can they stay there?
2. Idaho State (3)---Last week, lost at UC Davis 44-37 in OT, this week at Liberty (FBS Independent)---It was a loss for the Bengals last week, but showed that they deserved to be mentioned with the elite this season. Like the Aggies, the question is, can they sustain the success?
3. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week, lost at Weber State 14-6, this week bye---The Eagles came crashing to earth last week without their high flying quarterback at the helm. They get a week off to lick their wounds and get ready for the stretch run.
4. Weber State (5)---Last week, beat Eastern Washington at home 14-6, this week Montana State at home---The Wildcats took advantage of Eastern Washington's injuries to emerge with a strong response to the loss to NAU. They don't get a breather however this week.
5. Montana State (4)---Last week, beat Idaho at home 24-23, this week at Weber State---Trying to get to the elite of the conference, the Bobcats had trouble putting away a pesky Idaho team at home. Could be that they were looking ahead to this strong battle on the road.
6. Northern Arizona (7)---Last week bye, this week at Northern Colorado---Riding the wave of a good win over Weber State, the Lumberjacks entered their bye week on a high note before going on the road for a conference tilt this weekend. Should be easy, but nothing is easy this year.
7. Idaho (10)---Last week lost at Montana State 24-23, this week Southern Utah at home---Hard to imagine a loss that might have jumpstarted the Vandals' season, but they just might have got it last week, almost getting a win in a tough place to do it. They should win this weekend.
8. Portland State (11)---Last week beat Northern Colorado at home 35-14, this week bye---No Grizzly hangover for the Vikings as they jumped on the Bears right away and never let up, An improbable 2-2 in the conference, they head in to the bye week brimming with confidence.
9. Montana (6)---Last week, lost at North Dakota 41-14, this week bye---Talk about crashing down to earth. Looking to rebound from a tough home loss, the Grizzlies instead took a powerful punch last week. Maybe having a week off will be good to regroup.
10. Cal Poly (8)---Last week bye, this week UC Davis at home---The Mustangs are looking to build on an off week after a good win to get an upset of sorts at home this weekend. Might be tough, but this season has shown that anything is certainly possible.
11. Southern Utah (13)---Last week beat Sacramento State at home 48-27, this week at Idaho---Maybe the trick is to put a team down at #13 and watch them bounce upward. The Thunderbirds may have got their season started with a good home win but this weekend will be difficult.
12. Sacramento State (9)---Last week, lost at Southern Utah 48-27, this week North Dakota at home---Coming in to the season the Hornets were ready to make noise and announce that they have arrived. Now they have to regroup and try to get any type of win.
13. Northern Colorado (12)---Last week lost at Portland State 35-14, this week Northern Arizona at home---The Bears can't seem to catch a break. They catch Portland State riding an euphoric wave of emotion, now they get NAU coming off a bye week after an impressive win of their own.
RECAP: 1-3 at the top with 4-5 keeping pace and 6 trying to keep up. Big break to 7-9, with 10-11 just behind them with 12 just behind. 13 fading fast.