MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 1-26-14

This Sunday's power rankings don't deviate much from the actual standings but there's definitely some interesting things going on out there.

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

The Cardinals strengthened their grip on the top spot after thumping Bethel on Wednesday night and then going up to St. Joe yesterday and knocking off the Blazers in Claire Lynch.  But this coming week will pose another yet another big challenge again - surging St. Olaf on Wednesday night and then Concordia on Saturday - both at home in Winona.  If they somehow get through these two games unscathed, the only other daunting aspect of their schedule would then be the return game in St. Paul against UST.  The bottom line is that they're finding ways to win games, even on the road, and there just might be no stopping this train now.  Meanwhile, the Cobbers had to go to overtime yesterday to hold off pesky GAC but got the job done and UST still looks very strong; very solid after convincing victories this last week.  Bethel's fortunes, however, took a tumble after road stumblings at both St. Olaf and SMU this last week.  They still look solid, though, after yesterday's blowout of Macalester but the way things are shaping up now they most likely are locked into the fourth spot and there probably won't be much they can do about it, IMHO.

Don't look now but St. Olaf has quietly reeled off five straight wins and, at the moment anyway, appears to be in pretty good shape wrt getting that fifth spot.  But this week will be a challenging one for them as they go to Winona on Wednesday night to take on SMU and then have to travel over to St. Peter on Saturday to take on GAC; a place where they haven't had much success.  CSB LOOKS to be the one team that has the best shot of getting that sixth and final playoff spot.  The bottom may have fallen out on Augsburg's playoff hopes after absorbing a thumping at home against UST and then taking it on the chin yesterday at St. Olaf.  On paper anyway, the Auggies can only realistically count on four more wins so, somewhere along the line, they're going to HAVE to find a way to steal a game or two (or three) against some teams that they normally wouldn't beat in order to have a shot.  GAC's faltering hopes fell further after an overtime loss to Concordia up in Moorhead yesterday and I simply don't see any way out of the canyon they've dug for themselves.  It really seems hard to believe that since the MIAC playoff formula was started back in 2001 that this most likely will be the first time that the Gusties won't be a part of it.  After looking good in December, Carleton now finds themselves in the all too familiar position of playing out the string and hoping to spring an upset or two and it surprises me from what I saw of them back in December.  I just somehow expected more from them. 

Stay warm out there.  :)