This is easily the hardest week I’ve had to write up thus far. Some wild games last week saw the top three all lose, creating a log jam at the top of the league with now four teams having lost twice.
SFA, SLU, UNO and even Nicholls all have a legitimate case for the top spot in this week’s Power Rankings. And in my head, I had already thought of multiple reasons to put each of those teams at #1. So…here we go:
2017-18 record: 13-9 (7-2) | Last week: 2 
The loss at Sam Houston State doesn’t help their case, but their win at Nicholls State does. Road wins are tough, I give them the edge with that Nicholls win + a win already over SFA. The Louisiana schools will battle it out the remainder of the year (more on that shortly). SLU gets home games versus Corpus and UCA this week.
2017-18 record: 17-4 (6-2) | Last week: 1 
The Lumberjacks have also beaten two of the top four, but both at home. If it weren’t for a historic shooting night from UCA last week, SFA would be #1. A home game versus HBU, before a big trip to Beaumont this weekend is on deck for the ‘Jacks.
2017-18 record: 11-10 (8-2) | Last week: 4
I hear you, Privateer fans. I do. UNO is at the top of the standings, but with an extra game in hand and fairly soft schedule. They’re winning, so it’s hard to fault them in my rankings. They lost their toughest game (SFA) and still have to play both SLU and Nicholls State TWICE. Northwestern State and Nicholls on the schedule this week.
2017-18 record: 13-9 (7-2) | Last week: 3
The Colonels were minutes away from a big win over SLU and remaining the only one loss team left in the Southland. Nicholls is off mid-week before making the trip to New Orleans.
2017-18 record: 12-10 (6-3) | Last week: 5 -
The Bearkats ran into a determined SFA team in front of 7,000 fans, but also knocked off SLU. Sam Houston has the pieces to make a run at the top four. A Tuesday night game at McNeese State won’t be easy. Neither will ACU in Huntsville.
2017-18 record: 12-11 (6-4) | Last week: 9
59.3%. That’s what the Bears shot from long range in a huge upset of SFA last week. Jordan Howard couldn’t be stopped and UCA notched 195 points in their two games. If they are on…they are hard to beat. They’ll need it when they visit Hammond this weekend.
2017-18 record: 13-9 (5-4) | Last week: 7 -
The Cardinals suffered a tough loss at home to Nicholls State, but finished with a decent win over McNeese State. Lamar can’t look ahead to the matchup with SFA—they travel to Abilene first.
2017-18 record: 13-9 (5-4) | Last week: 6
Speaking of Abilene, the Wildcats basically made no appearance last week. Only one game, and an ugly loss to A&M-Corpus Christi. ACU has been very up and down, but they’ll need to be up this week with matchups versus Lamar and Sam Houston.
2017-18 record: 7-10 (4-3) | Last week: 8
A road win at Lamar would have looked good, yet they’re still stuck in this 8/9 area and battling to make the conference tourney. A Tuesday home game versus Sam Houston could get them on track.
2017-18 record: 6-12 (3-5) | Last week: 10 -
That’s two in a row for the Islanders, one more and that’s called a winning streak. So it was at home versus ACU and an OT win against HBU, but they need every win possible if they too want to battle for the conference tournament. Not sure they’ll continue the winning ways when they travel to Hammond.
2017-18 record: 5-17 (1-8) | Last week: 11 -
Well, I got one thing right. The Huskies got their first conference win of the season against UIW, and almost got a second in Corpus. Their reward for last week? A trip to Nacogdoches this week.
2017-18 record: 5-14 (0-9) | Last week: 12 -
A 102-86 loss to Houston Baptist is…not good. I guess the good news for the Cardinals this week is that they only have to play once (Corpus).
2017-18 record: 3-17 (0-9) | Last week: 13 -
Not sure when the Demons will get their first win, if they do at all. A home game against McNeese gives them a decent chance.
