MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 2-2-14

Here are my MIAC Power Rankings on this Super Bowl Sunday as some more shuffling takes place:

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

The Cardinals still own that perch on the mountain top on this Super Bowl Sunday as they not only took care of business against St. Olaf but also got a huge victory over visiting Concordia; edging the Cobbers 72-69.  Both SMU and UST need to be careful to not look too far ahead but everything seems to be pointing to this next week Saturday for the showdown in St. Paul which will almost certainly determine the regular season champion and the holder of that precious #1 seed.  Bethel, while getting thumped up in Moorhead by the Corn on Wednesday night, came back on Saturday on the road in St. Joe to knock off CSB and complete the season sweep of the Blazers and appears to be in good shape wrt hosting a playoff game. 

St. Olaf, which had been riding a nice little five-game win streak, must have been listening to Molly Hatchet's "Flirtin' With Disaster" this last week as they dropped not only the contest down in Winona against SMU but also absorbed a costly, costly "L" yesterday over in St. Peter against GAC.  While I still think the Oles will make the MIAC playoffs this time around, they need to hunker down as games at both Concordia and UST remain and they find both CSB and GAC nipping at their heels.  Definitely not a time to go into a tailspin if you wear the Black and Old Gold.  The Gusties; still managing to find a lifeline in this mess, travel up to St. Joe on Monday night to play CSB and follow that up with road games at both Macalester and Carleton.  The latter two appear winnable on paper anyway but the way things have gone for GAC this year you certainly don't want to take ANYTHING for granted.  The Gusties need to come out prepared and ready to take care of business - plain, pure and simple.  Augsburg's hopes; while arguably alive with respiratory help, still can factor into things if they play up to their potential as they did yesterday at St. Kate's and get strong performances from senior Jill Tichy who poured in 26 points in their easy win.