JALMOND
November 13th, 2007, 12:46 AM
Ok, happy Veteran's Day to all the veterans. After last week, the Big Sky picture is becoming clear. Clearly a case of the have's and have not's. Some surprises from the beginning of the year, but the right teams have earned where they are (some good, some bad). So, here are this week's power rankings for the conference. All are my opinion and all are open for discussion. This week (last week)
1. Montana (1)---Griz keep plugging along through the conference slate. Last week, after wrapping pretty much everything the previous week, they scrapped and clawed their way to a road win at Idaho State to stay undefeated. This week, the Brawl of the Wild, as the Griz go to Montana State. Always a fun game and this year will be no exception.
2. Eastern Washington (2)---A stong win on the road for the Eagles last week at Northern Arizona made a playoff spot look a little bit better. Still, they have some more work to do this week as they welcome the unpredictable Weber State, who are playing some great football this late in the year. Can the Eagles stay focused at home, get the win and maybe some luck from the committee?
3. Northern Arizona (3)---A disappointing loss at home to Eastern Washington has shut the door on the Jacks for the year. 6-5 will not be good enough for a look from the committee, but what a year it was. This week, the odd team out means the Jacks season is over. Close to a spot in the playoff, but they will be home for Thanksgiving.
4. Weber State (4)---Last week, the Wildcats found themselves punishing Fort Lewis for the leftover frustration of starting this year with no offense and four straight DI losses, effectively ending the season right there. Yet they have been the spoilers, going 4-1 in their last five conference games. This week, a trip to Eastern Washington to face the last best shot the conference has at an at-large. Do the Wildcats have another win up their sleeve?
5. Montana State (5)---Well, the offense showed up in the fourth quarter (as usual) for the Cats in the game last week at Portland State, putting up 36 of the total 50 points. Just like the wins earlier in the season, the defense kept the team in the game until the offense could get rolling. This week the Cats welcome in state rival Montana to Bozeman for the Brawl of the Wild. Can they put a blemish on the Griz undefeated year?
6. Idaho State (7)---Good but not good enough last week for the Bengals in the home loss to Montana. They put a scare into the Griz, but by the end, that was all they could do. This week, a road trip to Sacramento State. The Bengals are playing good football, can they close out the year with a road win?
7. Portland State (6)---Late in the year and the Vikings are finding out that they cannot stop anyone. 36 points in the final quarter to the offensively challenged Montana State meant another home loss for Portland State. This week, another game against another offensively challenged team in Northern Colorado. Can the Vikings slow down the Bears, like everyone else has all year?
8. Sacramento State (8)---With all the close games the Hornets have played, its hard to imagine that they needed the game last week to stay out of the basement. But, when the chips are down, they rose to the top and got the win in Northern Colorado to stay out. This week, they welcome Idaho State to town. Can they insure a ticket out of the cellar?
9. Northern Colorado (9)---It looked like the Bears were finally going to escape the cellar. Then a late score by Sacramento State and they were back at the bottom. As crazy as it sounds, the Bears get to try it again as they welcome Portland State. Conference win number two?
How they stack, Montana #1, EWU alone at #2, NAU pretty good lead over WSU for 3-4. MSU pretty much by themselves at #5. ISU a good lead at #6 over the last three, which is a close bunch at 7-9.
1. Montana (1)---Griz keep plugging along through the conference slate. Last week, after wrapping pretty much everything the previous week, they scrapped and clawed their way to a road win at Idaho State to stay undefeated. This week, the Brawl of the Wild, as the Griz go to Montana State. Always a fun game and this year will be no exception.
2. Eastern Washington (2)---A stong win on the road for the Eagles last week at Northern Arizona made a playoff spot look a little bit better. Still, they have some more work to do this week as they welcome the unpredictable Weber State, who are playing some great football this late in the year. Can the Eagles stay focused at home, get the win and maybe some luck from the committee?
3. Northern Arizona (3)---A disappointing loss at home to Eastern Washington has shut the door on the Jacks for the year. 6-5 will not be good enough for a look from the committee, but what a year it was. This week, the odd team out means the Jacks season is over. Close to a spot in the playoff, but they will be home for Thanksgiving.
4. Weber State (4)---Last week, the Wildcats found themselves punishing Fort Lewis for the leftover frustration of starting this year with no offense and four straight DI losses, effectively ending the season right there. Yet they have been the spoilers, going 4-1 in their last five conference games. This week, a trip to Eastern Washington to face the last best shot the conference has at an at-large. Do the Wildcats have another win up their sleeve?
5. Montana State (5)---Well, the offense showed up in the fourth quarter (as usual) for the Cats in the game last week at Portland State, putting up 36 of the total 50 points. Just like the wins earlier in the season, the defense kept the team in the game until the offense could get rolling. This week the Cats welcome in state rival Montana to Bozeman for the Brawl of the Wild. Can they put a blemish on the Griz undefeated year?
6. Idaho State (7)---Good but not good enough last week for the Bengals in the home loss to Montana. They put a scare into the Griz, but by the end, that was all they could do. This week, a road trip to Sacramento State. The Bengals are playing good football, can they close out the year with a road win?
7. Portland State (6)---Late in the year and the Vikings are finding out that they cannot stop anyone. 36 points in the final quarter to the offensively challenged Montana State meant another home loss for Portland State. This week, another game against another offensively challenged team in Northern Colorado. Can the Vikings slow down the Bears, like everyone else has all year?
8. Sacramento State (8)---With all the close games the Hornets have played, its hard to imagine that they needed the game last week to stay out of the basement. But, when the chips are down, they rose to the top and got the win in Northern Colorado to stay out. This week, they welcome Idaho State to town. Can they insure a ticket out of the cellar?
9. Northern Colorado (9)---It looked like the Bears were finally going to escape the cellar. Then a late score by Sacramento State and they were back at the bottom. As crazy as it sounds, the Bears get to try it again as they welcome Portland State. Conference win number two?
How they stack, Montana #1, EWU alone at #2, NAU pretty good lead over WSU for 3-4. MSU pretty much by themselves at #5. ISU a good lead at #6 over the last three, which is a close bunch at 7-9.