MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 2-4-18

Not much in the way of changes in my Power Rankings on this Super Bowl Sunday from U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis but a bit of modification in the middle section:


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


As sure as the sun rises in the east, UST keeps rolling along; having easily disposed of both Macalester and St. Kate's this last week and things don't look overly daunting this week as a home game with Augsburg on Wednesday night plus a roadie down to St. Olaf next Saturday are in the offing.  Likewise for CSB as they did what they were supposed to do this last week with easy wins against both Concordia and St. Olaf.  The Blazers head down to Northfield on Wednesday night to face a sagging Carleton team and then get Augsburg at home next Saturday and it's difficult to envision them not coming out of those two contests without Ws.  GAC, too, looked incredibly solid this last week with big wins over both Carleton at home and at Hamline yesterday.  The Gusties should be able to take care of Macalester without too much fanfare on Wednesday night but then a big one awaits next Saturday with Bethel coming to town.  Speaking of the Royals, they looked awfully good as well this last week; bludgeoning St. Olaf on Wednesday night and then beating SMU yesterday.  They should be able to handle Hamline this coming Wednesday night without too much trouble before the trip down to St. Peter to play GAC.  As we head down the home stretch, it's becoming more and more apparent that the MIAC is likely going to be a two-team scenario in terms of the NCAA Tournament which means UST and whoever is lucky(?) enough to get into the MIAC Championship Game to face them with the two other teams being left out in the cold. 

Augsburg took care of Hamline this last Wednesday as expected but suffered a costly defeat yesterday up in Moorhead against Concordia.  But that still wasn't as bad as SMU's affairs this last week as they dropped an overtime heartbreaker to St. Kate's at home and then promply got smacked yesterday by Bethel.  As such, I had no choice but to reverse Augsburg and SMU in my Power Rankings today.  I can forgive Augsburg if they go 0 for 2 this next week as they go over to UST on Wednesday night and then go to CSB next Saturday.  On paper anyway, the Cardinals would appear to have a much easier week at hand as they must make the long trip up to Moorhead to take on Concordia on Wednesday night and then come up to the Cities next Saturday for a date at Macalester but given how SMU faltered down the stretch last season, you can't put an automatic W in front of those games for them either.  Both Concordia and St. Kate's came away with unexpected splits this last week and I've got them together in the seventh spot.  Macalester at least came away with a split as well this last week but one should be downright disappointed in Carleton; losers of six straight that includes yesterday's overtime loss at home against said Macalester team.  I just expected a lot more from the Knights this season and it simply hasn't happened for them this time around. 

Feel free to fire away with thoughts.