JALMOND
October 29th, 2018, 09:13 PM
What a wacky season this has been in the Big Sky, and most teams still have three games left. Four teams have clearly risen to the top, but there are enough good teams behind them that could still generate some havoc for those four. Just don't go anywhere as you will undoubtedly miss something. This is going to be a good stretch run. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. This was tough and of course it could all change next week.
1. UC Davis (1)---Last week won at Montana 49-21, this week Northern Arizona at home---Down at the mighty Montana den entering the 4th, no problem for the Aggies. Just go out and score 36 points like nobody's business. Now they come home feeling good, but can't overlook this game.
2. Idaho State (2)---Last week beat Montana State at home 24-17, this week at Portland State---The Bengals held on for a good home victory against Montana State and keep their hold on 2nd. They go back on the road to face an impressive Portland State squad. This may not be as easy as it seemed a bit ago.
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Last week beat Idaho at home 38-14, this week at Northern Colorado---No Gubrud, no problem for the Eagles as they continue to roll on after a slight slip a couple weeks back. But, could there be a trap game this week? They can't look past anyone.
4. Weber State (4)---Last week won at North Dakota 35-30, this week Sacramento State at home---The Wildcats playoff hopes are looking much better after a good road win at North Dakota. However, like everyone else, this game this weekend could be dangerous.
5. Montana State (5)---Last week, lost at Idaho State 24-17, this week Cal Poly at home---The Bobcats tried to recover last week but could not emerge as the winner. They now need to return to their winning ways at home against a rejuvenated Cal Poly team who would love to knock them off.
6. Portland State (7)---Last week won at Sacramento State 41-14, this week Idaho State at home---Hard to think that the Viks were supposed to win thei game considering where they were just 4 weeks ago but the road is about to get really tough here at the end of the season.
7. Idaho (6)---Last week lost at Eastern Washington 48-14, this week North Dakota at home---Just when it seemed the Vandals had turned a corner and were moving up, they ran into a buzzsaw last week. They return home this weekend, but the same type of opponent awaits.
8. Cal Poly (10)---Last week won at Northern Arizona 38-28, this week at Montana State---The Mustangs took advantage of a depleted Lumberjacks team and pounded them mercilessly. Did they take advantage of injuries or are they ready to make a run upwards?
9. Montana (8)---Last week lost to UC Davis at home 49-21, this week at Southern Utah---The Grizzlies had a big home win in their grasp last weekend but it seemed like they forgot to play the 4th quarter. They'll take a win this weekend but it may not be easy.
10. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week won at Southern Utah 42-39, this week Eastern Washington at home---Confidence is a good thing and the Bears are feeling confident now, with the help of two wins. This weekend, they will see how far confidence will take them.
11. Northern Arizona (9)---Last week lost to Cal Poly at home 38-28, this week at UC Davis---The Lumberjacks could use the injuries as an excuse but they still have games left to play. Last week was terrible, and now they have to go on the road and play the top dog.
12. Southern Utah (12)---Last week, lost to Northern Colorado at home 42-39, this week Montana at home---On paper, the Thunderbirds are better than this. But the games are showing a different picture. Another tough loss and a formidable opponent coming up.
13. Sacramento State (13)---Last week lost to Portland State at home 41-14, this week at Weber State---Have the Hornets given up? They had some good feelings coming in to this season but now are dealing with damage control. Things are not getting easier, too.
RECAP: 1-4 pulling away, 5-6 trying to keep up, 7-9 a bit further back, 10-13 fading.
1. UC Davis (1)---Last week won at Montana 49-21, this week Northern Arizona at home---Down at the mighty Montana den entering the 4th, no problem for the Aggies. Just go out and score 36 points like nobody's business. Now they come home feeling good, but can't overlook this game.
2. Idaho State (2)---Last week beat Montana State at home 24-17, this week at Portland State---The Bengals held on for a good home victory against Montana State and keep their hold on 2nd. They go back on the road to face an impressive Portland State squad. This may not be as easy as it seemed a bit ago.
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Last week beat Idaho at home 38-14, this week at Northern Colorado---No Gubrud, no problem for the Eagles as they continue to roll on after a slight slip a couple weeks back. But, could there be a trap game this week? They can't look past anyone.
4. Weber State (4)---Last week won at North Dakota 35-30, this week Sacramento State at home---The Wildcats playoff hopes are looking much better after a good road win at North Dakota. However, like everyone else, this game this weekend could be dangerous.
5. Montana State (5)---Last week, lost at Idaho State 24-17, this week Cal Poly at home---The Bobcats tried to recover last week but could not emerge as the winner. They now need to return to their winning ways at home against a rejuvenated Cal Poly team who would love to knock them off.
6. Portland State (7)---Last week won at Sacramento State 41-14, this week Idaho State at home---Hard to think that the Viks were supposed to win thei game considering where they were just 4 weeks ago but the road is about to get really tough here at the end of the season.
7. Idaho (6)---Last week lost at Eastern Washington 48-14, this week North Dakota at home---Just when it seemed the Vandals had turned a corner and were moving up, they ran into a buzzsaw last week. They return home this weekend, but the same type of opponent awaits.
8. Cal Poly (10)---Last week won at Northern Arizona 38-28, this week at Montana State---The Mustangs took advantage of a depleted Lumberjacks team and pounded them mercilessly. Did they take advantage of injuries or are they ready to make a run upwards?
9. Montana (8)---Last week lost to UC Davis at home 49-21, this week at Southern Utah---The Grizzlies had a big home win in their grasp last weekend but it seemed like they forgot to play the 4th quarter. They'll take a win this weekend but it may not be easy.
10. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week won at Southern Utah 42-39, this week Eastern Washington at home---Confidence is a good thing and the Bears are feeling confident now, with the help of two wins. This weekend, they will see how far confidence will take them.
11. Northern Arizona (9)---Last week lost to Cal Poly at home 38-28, this week at UC Davis---The Lumberjacks could use the injuries as an excuse but they still have games left to play. Last week was terrible, and now they have to go on the road and play the top dog.
12. Southern Utah (12)---Last week, lost to Northern Colorado at home 42-39, this week Montana at home---On paper, the Thunderbirds are better than this. But the games are showing a different picture. Another tough loss and a formidable opponent coming up.
13. Sacramento State (13)---Last week lost to Portland State at home 41-14, this week at Weber State---Have the Hornets given up? They had some good feelings coming in to this season but now are dealing with damage control. Things are not getting easier, too.
RECAP: 1-4 pulling away, 5-6 trying to keep up, 7-9 a bit further back, 10-13 fading.