Big Sky Power Rankings -- 4

This is where we size up all 13 teams in the Big Sky and evaluate each based on a combination of factors.

This week's slate of games in the Big Sky is absolutely ridiculous. LSU vs. Alabama and USC vs. Oregon are attracting a lot of attention nationally, but how about Eastern Washington vs. Cal Poly and Sacramento State vs. Montana State.

Four Big Sky teams appear in the Sports Network FCS Top-25 College Football Poll this week. Montana State is at No. 3, Eastern Washington falls six spots to No. 7 after losing their first conference game, Northern Arizona continues to climb up the polls — and even received two first-place votes — to No. 12 and Cal Poly, whose fans were crying foul the Mustangs were only at No. 11 when they were undefeated, drop to No. 16 after losing on the road to Sacramento State.

Sacramento State and Southern Utah both received votes (once again, the committee (of one) is assuming that the pollsters who put Southern Utah in their top-25 ballot assumed their 4-5 record was a typo — it's not).
Without further ado ...

1. Montana State Bobcats, 7-1, 4-1 (PF: 302, PA: 176) (previously: 2)
Last week: beat Northern Dakota at home 55-10This week: at Sacramento State

Another week of rankings and another new No. 1. The top spot in these rankings is cursed like the Defense of the Dark Arts teaching position at Hogwarts. Now that the we've decided to move the Bobcats back to No. 1 in the Big Sky Power Rankings, MSU fans can expect a big "L" in Sacramento. Your welcome, Bozeman.

The committee (of one) has put MSU in the top spot over contenders like Northern Arizona (undefeated in conference play), Eastern Washington (beat the Cats in Bozeman two weeks ago) and Cal Poly (a sterling 7-1 record). But we're impressed by the Cats' conference-best winning margin (126 points). Offensively, Montana State is dynamic, but it's the defense that's doing the job. MSU allows 286 yards per game. Second best? Northern Arizona, which allows 331.

If MSU can limit offensive turnovers, the Cats are elite.

2. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 7-1, 5-0 (PF:235 , PA: 173 ) (previously: 4)

Last week: beat Northern Colorado 12-10 on the road

This week: at Idaho State

We hesitate to put the Lumberjacks at No. 2 ahead of Eastern Washington, but NAU has won seven in a row after dropping their opener 63-6 to Arizona State. Since that game, the Lumberjacks have outscored their opponents 229-110, good enough for an average winning margin of 14.85.

NAU has the conference's best running back, Zach Bauman (976 yards and eight touchdowns), and a quarterback, Cary Grossart, who puts their offense in positive situations.

But, as indicated, we hesitate to call the Lumberjacks elite. Northern Arizona escaped Greeley, Colo., despite three offensive turnovers and Bauman only averaged 3.5 yards per carry.

Yes, NAU has seven wins but they're against the likes of Fort Lewis, Montana, Portland State, North Dakota and the aforementioned Bears of Northern Colorado. Fact is, they just don't have a signature win ... yet.

We all thought beating Montana in Missoula was a great victory but the Grizzlies are 2-4 in the Big Sky.

And as we've harped on it every single week, Northern Arizona has the best conference schedule in the Big Sky. NAU doesn't play a team in the Big Sky with a winning record until Nov. 17 when they host Cal Poly.

3. Eastern Washington Eagles, 6-2, 5-1 (PF: 244 PA: 178) (previously: 1)

Last week: lost to Southern Utah 30-27 in Cedar City, Utah

This week: vs. Cal Poly

In the last Big Sky Power Rankings, we sang the praises of Eastern Washington. We loved freshman quarterback Vernon Adams and we declared that Eastern would beat Montana State on the road.

They did, 27-24. But EWU had a blocked punt for a touchdown and a pick six, both in the fourth quarter to escape with a win despite the Cats outgaining Eastern 365-211. Montana State had 27 first downs, Eastern had 13.

Adams, who we have to remember is a freshman, finished 12-of-29 for 140 yards and two picks.

Since that game, Eastern has deployed a two-pronged quarterback system, reincorporating SMU transfer Kyle Padron. Why? We have no idea. The only thing worst than having two quarterbacks is having Tim Tebow as your QB.

Padron hasn't been bad but it seems like neither he nor Adams has been able to take full advantage of Eastern's lethal group of receivers.

We move them down to three, ahead of Cal Poly at No. 4, because despite losing at Cedar City, we still think the Eagles will take care of business at home in Cheney Saturday.

4. Cal Poly Mustangs, 7-1, 5-1 (PF: 295 PA: 184) (previously: 3)
Last week: lost to Sacramento State 35-29 on the road
This week: at Eastern Washington

Earlier, we said Northern Arizona's Zach Bauman is the conference's best running back, but we'd be remiss not to point out that Cal Poly's Deonte Williams, who has 1,094 yards, is the league's leading rusher. And he was great in a losing effort against Sac. State, compiling 168 yards on 22 carries.

In fact, in Cal Poly's first loss of the season, the Mustangs offense wasn't the problem. Cal Poly racked up 387 yards on the ground but defensively, they had no answer for Sac. State's Garrett Safron (31-38-303). And a rushing team like Cal Poly (they threw the ball 10 times against the Hornets) is always going to struggle to overcome a 28-17 halftime deficit — especially when the opponent doesn't turnover the ball (which Sac. State didn't).

Now Cal Poly travels to the red turf  to take on EWU. If the Mustangs win then they'll be in great position to take the Big Sky. And while Cheney, Wash., isn't exactly an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams, we have to believe Eastern wins at home where they're undefeated in 2012.

5. Sacramento State Hornets 6-3, 4-2 (PF: 253 PA: 256) (previously 5)
Last week: beat Cal Poly 35-29 at home
This week: vs. Montana State

How good is Sacramento State? The Hornets are three games above .500, but they've been outscored for the season ... ?

In just about every statistical category (total yards allowed per game, pass efficiency, turnover differential) Sac. State is dead in the middle of the Big Sky — neither particularly good or bad.

What the Hornets do seem to consistently do is win; winning margins for Sac. State: 2, 11, 5, 5, 5, 6. They find a way or at least they have so far.

If the No. 1 team in our rankings can avoid the curse of the Big Sky Power Rankings then the Cats should trounce Sac. State 42-17. But if the Hornets can get a couple turnovers, stay in the game till the fourth quarter then they might have a shot.

But it's a long shot. Right now, by our estimation, the Big Sky has a clear cut top four. Everyone else beyond that is a step below.

6. Southern Utah Thunderbirds, 4-5, 3-3 (PF: 249 PA: 271) (previously: 7)

Last week: beat Eastern Washington 30-27 at home
This week: at North Dakota

Can anyone explain how the Thunderbirds can lose to Weber State one weekend and then beat Eastern Washington the next? ... Oh, and both games were at home ... ?

Has to be a frustrating season for Southern Utah Fans. All three of their conference losses have been at home and by a combined 11 points. And if Cal Poly and NAU won the schedule lottery this season then SUU lost it. Games against MSU, Sac. State, Eastern and NAU. Not to mention, the Birds had to travel to Montana and this week they'll have the pleasure of finding their way from Cedar City, Utah, to Grand Forks, North Dakota. That's about a 1,400 mile trip, according to our good friend Google.

Welcome to the Big Sky Conference.

7. Portland State Vikings, 3-5, 2-3 (PF: 291 PA: 258) (previously: 8)
Last week: beat Idaho State 77-10 at home
This week: bye

The committee (of one) briefly considered putting Montana at No. 7. We considered an argument around the idea that, yes, the Vikings were technically ahead of the Griz in the standings but PSU hasn't beat anyone at all good this year.

Portland's  three wins: Carrol College, Idaho State and UC Davis. 

But then we looked at Montana's four wins: South Dakota, Liberty, Northern Colorado and Idaho State. The combined win-loss of Montana's opponents is 7-25.

So, yeah, neither has beaten from the FCS with a winning record. As far as we're concerned, this is an absolute toss-up, take your pick. 


8. Montana Grizzlies, 4-5, 2-4 (PF: 317 PA: 257) (previously: 6)
Last week: beat Idaho State by a million points at home
This week: at Weber State

The Griz tallied 605 total yards and 70 points in their win against Idaho State last Saturday. We'd tell you this was good but Idaho State is a walking abomination on defense (more on that below).

At least for Montana fans the win was a break from a sub .500 reality. This week, the Griz are at Weber State (where they've lost their last two) then, after a bye week, it's Montana State in the season finale. At this point, the Griz are out of playoff contention but Montana could still put a damper on MSU's playoff forecast with an upset.

9. North Dakota, 4-5, 2-4 (PF: 309 PA: 323) (previously: 10)

Last week: lost to Montana State 55-10 on the road
This week: vs. Southern Utah

UND has had its fair share of ups and downs in its inaugural season in the Big Sky. They won at Sac. State by 22 points and they beat Montana at home. Junior wide receiver Greg Hardin has 988 receiving yards and 13 — 13! — touchdowns through the air. He's been spectacular. 

But they're defense hasn't. Only ISU has given up more points this season. Against FCS competition, the fewest points UND has allowed is 35 against Cal Poly. 

On the bright side, if the Mascot-less North Dakotans can beat Southern Utah at home and get one on the road at Northern Colorado, they'd finish 6-5 and at .500 in the conference — which isn't too bad at all.

(and maybe then the committee (of one) wouldn't be dumb enough to put UND a spot below Montana after they beat them head-to-head only two weekends ago)

10. UC Davis Aggies, 3-6, 2-4 (PF: 240 PA: 264) (previously: 9) Last week: lost to Portland State 49-21 at home This week: bye Through nine games, we think we know who this UC Davis team is. They're not bad but they're not really good either (ladies and gentlemen, that's our succinct, detailed analysis!). The Aggies' two conference wins have come at the expense of the two worse teams (Weber State and Idaho State). Their four losses are all to better teams. Right now, UC Davis just doesn't have the playmakers on either side of the ball to compete at an elite level. 11. Northern Colorado Bears, 2-6, 1-4 (PF: 180 PA: 235) (previously: 11) Last week: lost to Northern Arizona 12-10 at home in a game that we're sure was as boring to watch as it sounds This week: at Portland State

The Bears football team isn't very good. But they've actually been pretty competitive this season. That, however, isn't what we want to use this space to talk about.


Instead, we feel like the injustice that is Northern Colorado's uniforms deserves a few moments of our time.

Old Uniform

New Uniform 
  
Look at that stripe down the leg ... ? What in the world did they do to their shoulder pads? And what about that stripe down the back of their legs! It's awful. It's a catastrophe. There are only two things worse than Northern Colorado's new uniforms. Southern Utah's mascot and Idaho State's defense. 

12. Weber State Wildcats, 1-7, 1-4 (PF: 144 PA: 272) (previously: 12)
Last week: bye
This week: vs. Montana

Everything about Weber State indicates they really stink but here in Pocatello, we're getting a different look at what bad really is. So that's our message to you Wildcat fans. At least you're not Idaho State.

13. Idaho State Bengals, 1-7, 0-5 (PF: 190 PA: 432) (previously: 13)
Last week: lost to Montana 70-24 on the road
This week: vs. UC Davis

ISU gave up 70 points at Montana. What's remarkable is that's it's the third time they've given up 70 or more points this season.