MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 2-3-19

Oh boy, here we are on this Super Bowl Sunday - an incredibly big day for me and my Los Angeles Rams but I've got to get these latest power ranking out as there continue to be changes going on as we get into the home-run stretch of the regular season.


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


Again, no doubt about the first two spots at all.  UST recorded two easy road wins this last week over both Macalester and Hamline and should have no problem at home with St. Olaf when they visit Schoenecker Arena on Wednesday night.  The big one the Tommies must have circled on their calendar comes this next Saturday when Augsburg comes in for the big rematch.  On paper anyway, the Tommies should rise to the challenge but, then again, I'm sure they remember the last time the Auggies came in and had UST on the ropes before the Tommies pulled a rabbit out of their hat to get the victory.  Speaking of Augsburg, they did what they were supposed to do this last week in beating both Concordia on the road and SMU at home yesterday and Monday night's make-up game with Carleton should be a no-brainer.  However, the Auggies make the trip down U.S. Highway 169 and the UP's Mankato Sub portion of the Omaha Route mainline down to St. Peter on Wednesday night to take on a surging GAC team and then the big showdown with said  UST team on Saturday.  Needless to say, this week could be huge wrt Augsburg's NCAA Tournament hopes.  Bethel meanwhile appears to be locked-in at the third spot but their post-season hopes took a serious hit when they got upset at CSB on Thursday night.  While they're in solid shape MIAC Playoff-wise, they're in the same boat they were a year ago wrt their NCAA Tournament hopes as now it's an all-or-nothing proposition for them again.  They responded nicely against St. Kate's yesterday but they've got no margin for error now and they've got to take care of business at home this next week with both SMU and Concordia paying visits to Robertson Center as simply holding on to third place is no longer a guarantee (see below with GAC).

It was just a few short weeks ago that GAC appeared to be all but dead in the water but they're making a Philadelphia Eagle-like late run by winning five out of their last six games and they got convincing victories this last week on the road at Hamline and at home yesterday vs Carleton.  This next week may just be the biggest week of the season for the Gusties as they host a very, very good Augsburg team on Wednesday night and then take on an always-tricky St. Kate's team next Saturday.  If, if the Gusties can hold serve at home this coming week, they just might be peaking at the right time.  CSB propped up their faltering playoff hopes by snaring a huge upset win over Bethel on Thursday night and then surviving a tough challenge from Macalester yesterday.  Though things are far from a done deal yet, the Blazers make the trip up U.S. Highway 10 and the BNSF's Staples Sub mainline to Fargo-Moorhead on Wednesday night to take on Concordia and then go down to Northfield on Saturday to take on a suddenly-improved St. Olaf team.  Tricky, but doable for this team.  Meanwhile it was an utterly disastrous week for SMU as they inexplicably dropped a home game to St. Olaf on Thursday night before yesterday's somewhat predictable loss at Augsburg.  The Cardinals now find themselves hanging on for dear life to that sixth spot and with road games at both Bethel and Macalester this next week, the late-great Tom Petty's "Free Fallin' " could once again be at the top of the charts in Winona. 

St. Kate's came away with a split this last week; getting a win over visiting Concordia on Thursday night before getting dumped by Bethel yesterday which, in all fairness, was a fairly predictable proposition.  But they're not only going to have to take care of business the rest of the way, they're also going to need help - a lot of help - to keep their fast-fading playoff hopes alive.  A home game with Hamline on Wednesday night is entirely doable but the 'Cats must make the pilgrimmage down U.S. Highway 169 and the UP's Mankato Sub on Saturday to take on GAC and simply hoping for a split will probably not be enough......It's been a while since I last made serious mention of St. Olaf on this blog but you have to give props to Head Coach Dave Stromme and the Oles for making a statement this last week with two big road wins this last week - at SMU on Thursday night and then at Concordia yesterday.  Though the playoffs are out of the question at this point and the Oles will likely come crashing back to earth with a roadie at UST on Wednesday night and a home date with CSB next Saturday, you have to give this team credit for fighting back when pride seems to be the only thing at stake for them now. 

And with that, it's time for Super Bowl Sunday.  GO RAMS GO!!!!  BRING THAT LOMBARDI TROPHY BACK HOME TO LA!!!!!!!!