MIAC Power Rankings For Monday 1-16-12

Another interesting week and weekend in the MIAC has resulted in some re-shuffling in my lastest MIAC Power Rankings:

1.  UST
2.  GAC
3.  St. Olaf
4.  SMU
5.  Bethel
6.  Concordia
7.  Augsburg
8.  CSB
9.  Hamline
10.  Macalester
11. Carleton
12.  St. Kate's

UST needed Kelly Brandenburg's heroics with just five ticks left on the clock to lift them past the Corn up in Moorhead on Saturday - and to hang on to the top spot in the power rankings.  GAC, meanwhile, overcame a feisty challenge by always dangerous Macalester in the first half to cruise to an easy win in the second half.  St. Olaf, despite looking like (expletive deleted) on Wedensday night at Augsburg, took care of business at home against CSB so I'll let them hang on to the third spot.

It's really, really hard for me to do this but I simply have no choice but to shove SMU up to the fourth spot.  Why?  Well, simply because they've found ways to win games on the road that they really probably should have lost.  Can they hang on to this spot?  We'll see.  Meanwhile, Bethel, which was riding high coming into the first of the year is suddenly reeling after that disastrous three-game homestand and needed a scoring outburst from Taylor Sheley to overcome a 27-18 halftime deficit at Hamline.  With UST visiting the Robertson Center tonight and GAC likewise this next Saturday, the Royals somehow have to make a stand to avoid yet another January swoon.  Concordia blew a big chance to pull off a huge upset of UST at home and this young squad is going to have to find some consistency if they want to entertain thoughts of hosting a conference playoff game.  Ditto for Augsburg which has improved tremendously under new Head Coach Bill McKee.  They looked very good against St. Olaf this last Wednesday night but inexplicably let down against SMU at home on Saturday.  This week is a big chance for the Auggies to right the ship with a trip to Northfield tonight to take on Carleton and then home dates with CSB and St. Kate's on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively.  Speaking of CSB, isn't it weird to see them on life-support this season?