JALMOND
October 14th, 2019, 09:06 PM
Don't look now but there is another contender emerging from the depths of the conference. Still only mid-October but Sacramento State is looking like a force to be reckoned with. When the season started, all eyes were on the other Causeway school but the Hornets have had a nice run so far. Here are this week's power rankings in the Big Sky (last week's ranking in parenthesis). All are my opinion as usual. Some good games coming up.
1. Montana (1)---Last week bye, this week at Sacramento State---The Grizzlies surged to the top of the rankings and were rewarded with a week off. Now, with two week to prepare, they head to Sacramento State and face the darlings of the conference so far.
2. Weber State (2)---Last week beat Southern Utah at home 29-14, this week Northern Arizona at home---The Wildcats kept their in state brethren at bay last week and got a surprising tough win. They stay at home this week and welcome a strong Lumberjack team.
3. Sacramento State (4)---Last week won at Montana State 34-21, this week Montana at home---Did the Hornets gain for themselves a place in the conference hierarchy with the win last week? They sure did open some eyes, but the schedule is about to get much tougher.
4. Montana State (3)---Last week lost to Sacramento State at home 34-21, this week bye---A great start to the season for the Bobcats hit a speed bump at home last week. Can they right the ship and get back on track? They have an off week to get ready.
5. UC Davis (5)---Last week beat Cal Poly at home 48-24, this week at Southern Utah---Are the Aggies poised to run the table in conference play? They got a good win last week. They may need some more and they can't look past anyone, not even this week.
6. Eastern Washington (7)---Last week beat Northern Colorado at home 54-21, this week bye---The Eagles finally came alive and showed what they are capable of as the defense stepped up and the offense sizzled. They will take a week off to regroup and refocus.
7. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week bye, this week at Weber State---The Lumberjacks had two weeks to prepare to jumpstart their season as they hit the road against a tough Weber State team. The defense will need to come to play and shut down one of the conference elite.
8. Idaho State (9)---Last week beat North Dakota at home 55-20, this week at Idaho---The Bengals looked really good at home last week like they have all year. They now have a rivalry game on the road and that may be somewhat tough for them.
9. Portland State (11)---Last week beat Idaho at home 24-0, this week at Northern Colorado---The Vikings defense came through last week, keeping them in the game and recording their first DI shutout in 12 years. They have had troubles on the road so this week may not be easy.
10. Cal Poly (8)---Last week lost at UC Davis 48-24, this week North Dakota at home---The Mustangs took another one on the chin last week on the road at the hands of one of their in state brethren. They come home for a tough one this weekend, one that they need.
11. Idaho (10)---Last week lost at Portland State 24-0, this week Idaho State at home---Absolutely no offense from the Vandals last week as they could not crack the scoreboard. Thins do not get any easier, even at home, as they face their rival looking for blood.
12. Northern Colorado (12)---Last week lost at Eastern Washington 54-21, this week Portland State at home---When the Bears' defense plays they have a chance. When they don't, their offense can't seem to keep up. Now they face a defense that shut out a conference foe last week.
13. Southern Utah (13)---Last week lost at Weber State 29-14, this week UC Davis at home---The Thunderbirds had a small chance last week playing their in state rivals to the north and giving them quite a tussle. They would love to put the Aggies away this weekend.
RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4 just behind, 5-7 keeping up, 8-11 a step back, 12-13 lagging behind.
1. Montana (1)---Last week bye, this week at Sacramento State---The Grizzlies surged to the top of the rankings and were rewarded with a week off. Now, with two week to prepare, they head to Sacramento State and face the darlings of the conference so far.
2. Weber State (2)---Last week beat Southern Utah at home 29-14, this week Northern Arizona at home---The Wildcats kept their in state brethren at bay last week and got a surprising tough win. They stay at home this week and welcome a strong Lumberjack team.
3. Sacramento State (4)---Last week won at Montana State 34-21, this week Montana at home---Did the Hornets gain for themselves a place in the conference hierarchy with the win last week? They sure did open some eyes, but the schedule is about to get much tougher.
4. Montana State (3)---Last week lost to Sacramento State at home 34-21, this week bye---A great start to the season for the Bobcats hit a speed bump at home last week. Can they right the ship and get back on track? They have an off week to get ready.
5. UC Davis (5)---Last week beat Cal Poly at home 48-24, this week at Southern Utah---Are the Aggies poised to run the table in conference play? They got a good win last week. They may need some more and they can't look past anyone, not even this week.
6. Eastern Washington (7)---Last week beat Northern Colorado at home 54-21, this week bye---The Eagles finally came alive and showed what they are capable of as the defense stepped up and the offense sizzled. They will take a week off to regroup and refocus.
7. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week bye, this week at Weber State---The Lumberjacks had two weeks to prepare to jumpstart their season as they hit the road against a tough Weber State team. The defense will need to come to play and shut down one of the conference elite.
8. Idaho State (9)---Last week beat North Dakota at home 55-20, this week at Idaho---The Bengals looked really good at home last week like they have all year. They now have a rivalry game on the road and that may be somewhat tough for them.
9. Portland State (11)---Last week beat Idaho at home 24-0, this week at Northern Colorado---The Vikings defense came through last week, keeping them in the game and recording their first DI shutout in 12 years. They have had troubles on the road so this week may not be easy.
10. Cal Poly (8)---Last week lost at UC Davis 48-24, this week North Dakota at home---The Mustangs took another one on the chin last week on the road at the hands of one of their in state brethren. They come home for a tough one this weekend, one that they need.
11. Idaho (10)---Last week lost at Portland State 24-0, this week Idaho State at home---Absolutely no offense from the Vandals last week as they could not crack the scoreboard. Thins do not get any easier, even at home, as they face their rival looking for blood.
12. Northern Colorado (12)---Last week lost at Eastern Washington 54-21, this week Portland State at home---When the Bears' defense plays they have a chance. When they don't, their offense can't seem to keep up. Now they face a defense that shut out a conference foe last week.
13. Southern Utah (13)---Last week lost at Weber State 29-14, this week UC Davis at home---The Thunderbirds had a small chance last week playing their in state rivals to the north and giving them quite a tussle. They would love to put the Aggies away this weekend.
RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4 just behind, 5-7 keeping up, 8-11 a step back, 12-13 lagging behind.