JALMOND
November 10th, 2009, 01:54 AM
Well, the season is finally coming to a close. This week, three teams play their last regular season game (ISU, UNC and PSU) while two others (Sac State and WSU) play their last conference game. Do we have anything left to settle? Even with the scare in Pocatello last week, the Griz still are the team to beat. The main question is, will the Big Sky get one or maybe two more teams in to the playoff field? Here are this week's power rankings. As usual, these are strictly my opinion only and all are open for discussion. This week (last week).
1. Montana (1)---OK, sure, the Grizzlies got the win at Idaho State last week, but it was definitely not how they thought they would do it, needing a field goal in the last minutes of the game. Losing to the Bengals might not have cost them the top spot (hard to say), but it definitely gave some hope to those teams the Grizzlies still have to play. This week, Northern Colorado comes to town. Before and on paper a sure win. But now?
2. Weber State (2)---The Wildcats took advantage of a rest in their season to gear up for the last two games of the year. For them, simple. Just win and hope to get selected for an at large bid into the playoffs. First off, the last conference game of the year as Northern Arizona comes to town. Well, no one said it was going to be easy.
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Just like Weber State, the Eagles took last week off to gear up for a dash to the finish. Hard to imagine that they could leapfrog over Weber State somehow and earn an at large, but stranger things have happened. One thing for sure, they need to win and this week, they stay out of conference and head down to the Great West's Southern Utah.
4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Jacks took some time away from Big Sky play and moved up for a week to play some SEC competition, heading over to Mississippi. As expected, they lost, but there really was nothing unexpected, nor spectacular about the game. Just a loss, and not much worse than the opening loss to Arizona. This week, back to where the games count and they head up to Weber State. Someone will have their season destroyed.
5. Montana State (5)---The rain and the cold put a damper on the Bobcats second half performance last week against Portland State, yet the defense held on for the win. By the second half, no one really could get anything going and the Bobcats were glad to return victorious. This week, they stay at home and face the upstart Sacramento State team. This is the first of a two game home stand to finish the year, can they close out strong?
6. Sacramento State (6)---Great first half performance by the Hornets at Northern Colorado last week. However, things got interesting in the second half, but fortunately they were far enough in front to stymie the Bears' comeback attempt. The Hornets are rolling and hope to continue. This week, the final conference game finds them on the road at Montana State. Can they win out in conference?
7. Northern Colorado (7)---Great time to start playing for real is right after halftime, and the Bears stormed back against Sacramento State. However, they spotted the Hornets too big of a lead and therefore their rally fell short. Maybe they need to play a full game. They only have one more game left on their schedule and that is against Montana. The Bears might be feeling a little better heading in there after what Idaho State did last week.
8. Portland State (8)---Are the Vikings still playing or just playing out the string. A few good moments on the defense, but a terrible offensive performance enabled Montana State to leave with the win. The rain and the cold may have had something to do with it, but the Bobcats had to deal with it, too. This week, no weather issues as they head to Idaho State. Yet, after last week, this game is no gimme.
9. Idaho State (9)---Confidence. The Bengals have to have it now after coming so close to upsetting Montana last week. Somehow finding a way to keep the score down and having a chance to win is probably the best thing for the Bengals. They get to try one more time for a win, as they welcome a team that is equally struggling, Portland State. Can the Bengals go out winners?
1. Montana (1)---OK, sure, the Grizzlies got the win at Idaho State last week, but it was definitely not how they thought they would do it, needing a field goal in the last minutes of the game. Losing to the Bengals might not have cost them the top spot (hard to say), but it definitely gave some hope to those teams the Grizzlies still have to play. This week, Northern Colorado comes to town. Before and on paper a sure win. But now?
2. Weber State (2)---The Wildcats took advantage of a rest in their season to gear up for the last two games of the year. For them, simple. Just win and hope to get selected for an at large bid into the playoffs. First off, the last conference game of the year as Northern Arizona comes to town. Well, no one said it was going to be easy.
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Just like Weber State, the Eagles took last week off to gear up for a dash to the finish. Hard to imagine that they could leapfrog over Weber State somehow and earn an at large, but stranger things have happened. One thing for sure, they need to win and this week, they stay out of conference and head down to the Great West's Southern Utah.
4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Jacks took some time away from Big Sky play and moved up for a week to play some SEC competition, heading over to Mississippi. As expected, they lost, but there really was nothing unexpected, nor spectacular about the game. Just a loss, and not much worse than the opening loss to Arizona. This week, back to where the games count and they head up to Weber State. Someone will have their season destroyed.
5. Montana State (5)---The rain and the cold put a damper on the Bobcats second half performance last week against Portland State, yet the defense held on for the win. By the second half, no one really could get anything going and the Bobcats were glad to return victorious. This week, they stay at home and face the upstart Sacramento State team. This is the first of a two game home stand to finish the year, can they close out strong?
6. Sacramento State (6)---Great first half performance by the Hornets at Northern Colorado last week. However, things got interesting in the second half, but fortunately they were far enough in front to stymie the Bears' comeback attempt. The Hornets are rolling and hope to continue. This week, the final conference game finds them on the road at Montana State. Can they win out in conference?
7. Northern Colorado (7)---Great time to start playing for real is right after halftime, and the Bears stormed back against Sacramento State. However, they spotted the Hornets too big of a lead and therefore their rally fell short. Maybe they need to play a full game. They only have one more game left on their schedule and that is against Montana. The Bears might be feeling a little better heading in there after what Idaho State did last week.
8. Portland State (8)---Are the Vikings still playing or just playing out the string. A few good moments on the defense, but a terrible offensive performance enabled Montana State to leave with the win. The rain and the cold may have had something to do with it, but the Bobcats had to deal with it, too. This week, no weather issues as they head to Idaho State. Yet, after last week, this game is no gimme.
9. Idaho State (9)---Confidence. The Bengals have to have it now after coming so close to upsetting Montana last week. Somehow finding a way to keep the score down and having a chance to win is probably the best thing for the Bengals. They get to try one more time for a win, as they welcome a team that is equally struggling, Portland State. Can the Bengals go out winners?