JALMOND
October 4th, 2011, 01:20 AM
Hard to believe that we are quickly approaching the halfway point of the season and there still is a ton of things to work out in the Big Sky. Parity is the rule as the conference has one great team (Montana State) and one bad team (Northern Colorado). That seems to be the only sure things. The rest of us are somewhere in the middle. Here are this week's Big Sky power rankings. This week (last week). All are still my opinion only and all are open for discussion. This should stimulate some great discussion.
1. Montana State (1)---So I kind of gave this one away. The Bobcats have taken control of the conference after winning on the road at Eastern Washington and solidified their hold with a win at home against Sacramento State last week. Other teams have had moments of greatness followed by times of woe, but the Bobcats seem to be a model of consistency. This week, they had back on the road to play Portland State.
2. Montana (4)---Impressive win for the Grizzlies at home against the lowly Northern Colorado team last week, but playing against the Bears is hard not to look impressive. The Grizzlies broke open a semi-close game with a strong third quarter and never looked back. The main thing is that the Grizzlies are still looking for a road win and they get another chance this weekend at Idaho State, where anything can happen, and usually does.
3. Eastern Washington (5)---The Eagles stumbled out of the gate to a murderous schedule, but was able to finally break into the win column by defeating a strong Weber State team. Battered and bruised, they were finally able to earn a big (and first) win. Whether they can build on it remains to be seen as they go on the road this weekend to Northern Arizona. The first win is usually the toughest so do things get easy from here?
4. Weber State (2)---As a great season was building for the Wildcats, they headed into the Inferno at Eastern Washington to do what everyone else had done in beating the defending champions. However, when the smoke cleared, it was the Wildcats who were on the short end. Now they may be unsure of where this season is going. They do get a bye week this week to regroup and come back out strong.
5. Sacramento State (3)---The Hornets ventured into Montana State last week with a bit of a swagger after dispatching Montana the previous week. However that swagger was soon displaced and they left Bozeman on the short end. A great effort but a loss nonetheless and the Hornets are left with trying to salvage their magical season. This weekend, they stay on the road and play the conference doormat, Northern Colorado. Can they regroup?
6. Portland State (6)---Last week, the Vikings went into Idaho State's place and emerged victorious for the first time since 1999, keeping their conference record unblemished along with Montana State. The Vikings had to overcome 21 penalties, mainly due to the effects of the crowd noise in the Bengals minidome. This week, a matchup of the two undefeateds as the Vikings welcome Montana State to their house. Only one will be left.
7. Northern Arizona (7)---Everyone else was moving along last week and the Lumberjacks took a much needed break. Putting the win two weeks ago at home against Idaho State behind them, the Lumberjacks had this time to prepare for the defending national champions Eastern Washington and a chance to right the season. Can they destroy the Eagles season and keep their hopes alive?
8. Idaho State (8)---Things were looking great for the Bengals as they played Portland State last week, a team the Bengals had not lost to in Pocatello since 1999. However, after having many chances to put them away, the Bengals finally succumbed to the Vikings strong rushing attack. In order to improve on their last few seasons, they need to get some wins. But with the mighty Montana team coming into their building, that might not happen.
9. Northern Colorado (9)---Then there is the last team. The Bears looked competitive against Montana for the first few minutes. Then the Grizzlies walked all over the Bears. The Bears need to find someone to stop the bleeding. This week, they have the conference upstart, Sacramento State, coming into their house. Can the Bears pull out a victory or will they let it go away?
1. Montana State (1)---So I kind of gave this one away. The Bobcats have taken control of the conference after winning on the road at Eastern Washington and solidified their hold with a win at home against Sacramento State last week. Other teams have had moments of greatness followed by times of woe, but the Bobcats seem to be a model of consistency. This week, they had back on the road to play Portland State.
2. Montana (4)---Impressive win for the Grizzlies at home against the lowly Northern Colorado team last week, but playing against the Bears is hard not to look impressive. The Grizzlies broke open a semi-close game with a strong third quarter and never looked back. The main thing is that the Grizzlies are still looking for a road win and they get another chance this weekend at Idaho State, where anything can happen, and usually does.
3. Eastern Washington (5)---The Eagles stumbled out of the gate to a murderous schedule, but was able to finally break into the win column by defeating a strong Weber State team. Battered and bruised, they were finally able to earn a big (and first) win. Whether they can build on it remains to be seen as they go on the road this weekend to Northern Arizona. The first win is usually the toughest so do things get easy from here?
4. Weber State (2)---As a great season was building for the Wildcats, they headed into the Inferno at Eastern Washington to do what everyone else had done in beating the defending champions. However, when the smoke cleared, it was the Wildcats who were on the short end. Now they may be unsure of where this season is going. They do get a bye week this week to regroup and come back out strong.
5. Sacramento State (3)---The Hornets ventured into Montana State last week with a bit of a swagger after dispatching Montana the previous week. However that swagger was soon displaced and they left Bozeman on the short end. A great effort but a loss nonetheless and the Hornets are left with trying to salvage their magical season. This weekend, they stay on the road and play the conference doormat, Northern Colorado. Can they regroup?
6. Portland State (6)---Last week, the Vikings went into Idaho State's place and emerged victorious for the first time since 1999, keeping their conference record unblemished along with Montana State. The Vikings had to overcome 21 penalties, mainly due to the effects of the crowd noise in the Bengals minidome. This week, a matchup of the two undefeateds as the Vikings welcome Montana State to their house. Only one will be left.
7. Northern Arizona (7)---Everyone else was moving along last week and the Lumberjacks took a much needed break. Putting the win two weeks ago at home against Idaho State behind them, the Lumberjacks had this time to prepare for the defending national champions Eastern Washington and a chance to right the season. Can they destroy the Eagles season and keep their hopes alive?
8. Idaho State (8)---Things were looking great for the Bengals as they played Portland State last week, a team the Bengals had not lost to in Pocatello since 1999. However, after having many chances to put them away, the Bengals finally succumbed to the Vikings strong rushing attack. In order to improve on their last few seasons, they need to get some wins. But with the mighty Montana team coming into their building, that might not happen.
9. Northern Colorado (9)---Then there is the last team. The Bears looked competitive against Montana for the first few minutes. Then the Grizzlies walked all over the Bears. The Bears need to find someone to stop the bleeding. This week, they have the conference upstart, Sacramento State, coming into their house. Can the Bears pull out a victory or will they let it go away?