Big Sky Week 1: Betting the Board

I’m anxiously waiting for us to get back to conference season so I can cut my writing load in half. This is an AI-free zone, though I may regret that staunch stance very soon. Let’s get into the weekly power rankings.

Big Sky Power Rankings

1. Montana State

T-2. Montana

T-2. UC Davis

4. Northern Arizona

5. Idaho State

Montana and Davis are preseason top three teams that struggled in Week 0, but a win is a win. Remember Mercyhurst, Cat fans?

Idaho State allowed the backdoor cover, so I’m not entirely sure why I have them in the top five. Let’s see how this week goes, or, as always, has gone, because I’m a procrastinator.

Lines via FanDuel.

Drake at Montana

Saturday, 1:00 p.m. | ESPN+

Montana got the ugly win and now gets a team from a very, very, very bad conference. Eli Gillman did his thing while Kealiʻi Ah Yat improved from a duck of a first throw to enough darts to secure a victory over a feisty Southern Utah team. This one won’t be close.

Line: Montana -33.5

Idaho State at Utah State

Saturday, 1:00 p.m. | CBS Sports Network

Idaho State was scoring with ease and then shut things down in the fourth quarter to let VMI sneak through the back door.

This week, the Bengals have a legitimate chance to secure the Big Sky’s first FBS victory. Does it really count, though?

I’m still bitter that Sacramento State’s victory over Utah State helped land the Hornets a higher playoff seed than the Cats a few years back.

Sac slander is always welcome here.

Line: Utah State -13

Northern Iowa at Eastern Washington

Saturday, 5:00 p.m. | ESPN+

Eastern looked great in the first half in the Skydome. Nate Bell led the offense by throwing for more than 300 yards.

Did Craig Haley have Northern Iowa in his preseason top 10? Is that a joke that still works in 2026?

Line: Eastern Washington -6.5

Central Washington at Cal Poly

Saturday, 6:00 p.m. | ESPN+

Cal Poly beat Idaho in what was the game of the week.

The Mustangs piled up more than 500 yards in their upset victory.

Wouldn’t it be the most Cal Poly thing ever if they turned around and lost to a Division II team?

Line: No line available

Weber State at Southern Utah

Saturday, 6:00 p.m. | ESPN+

Weber State is riding high after a big upset win in Greeley, while Southern Utah has to be pretty bummed about blowing a game it largely controlled at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Well, unless you count special teams. And the scoreboard.

Line: Southern Utah -16.5

Utah Tech at BYU

Saturday, 6:00 p.m. | ESPN+

What a schedule for Utah Tech.

Sandwiched between the Montana schools, the Trailblazers now head to Provo. They are going to get soaked.

Line: BYU -51.5

South Dakota at Northern Colorado

Saturday, 6:00 p.m. | ESPN+

South Dakota doesn’t seem to be getting much love in the early polling. Do the Coyotes take those frustrations out on the Bears?

Line: Northern Colorado +21.5

Butler at Montana State

Saturday, 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Night-and-day schedule difference for the defending champs, who started 0-2 last season. This should be another cakewalk.

Is it too early, and was the Week 0 opponent too terrible, to get really excited about Dane Steel?

Line: Montana State -43.5

Northern Arizona at Arizona

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Two years ago, Northern Arizona made this a close game, holding the Wildcats to 22 points. Arizona won’t be fooled again. This one shouldn’t be close.

Line: Arizona -32.5

Portland State at San Diego State

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. | USA Network

The Vikings have to be pretty bummed about last week’s result. UC Davis outscored them 31-0 after halftime.

The other  SDSU will look to continue where the Aggies left off.

Line: San Diego State -29.5

UC Davis at San Diego

Saturday, 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+

Did preseason contender UC Davis get its ugly win out of the way? The Aggies head south to face a sometimes-feisty non-scholarship program in the Big Sky nightcap.

Line: San Diego +16.5