Big 10
PASS: Ohio State,
Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Indiana, Penn State, Iowa
Ohio State wasn’t
exactly overwhelmingly dominant against Western Michigan in a 38-12 win, but
the Buckeyes are still winning. At this point, it’s important to note that OSU
is heading into Big 10 play, where games may be more challenging than a non con
slate that included Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Hawaii, and a highly
average Virginia Tech team.
Michigan State, as
good as they can often be, also had an iffy non con season, and are now heading
into Big 10 play where the environment will be tougher on a weekly basis. The
win over Oregon still resonates, but the rest of their slate so far has many
wondering if they can stay focused.
Wisconsin is
just getting by, but is coming off a shutout win over Hawaii, 28-0, in which
they were missing Corey Clement at RB. The Badgers will be severely tested from
here on out with conference play kicking off.
One has to give Rutgers
credit for not crumpling this week in a 27-14 win over hapless Kansas. Kyle
Flood is still out one more week, but just winning against anyone right now
with the program n the state that it’s in is a miracle.
I have to hand it to Indiana
at this point, as they are an ugly 4-0 right now. If the Hoosiers can
straighten out their QB issues, they may actually have something going, but
they get Ohio State this week, and that’s where the wall can come crashing
down.
Penn State didn’t
look perfect, but they handled a trap game at home with San Diego State 37-21.
The Lions have largely struggled this season, but there’s no time like to now
to put something together.
Nobody figured Iowa
to be 4-0 at this point, but they are after a 62-16 drubbing of North
Texas. The Hawkeyes, of all teams in the West, actually look most like the team
to beat in a watered down division heading into conference play.
FAIL:
Northwestern, Purdue, Nebraska, Maryland, Minnesota, Illinois
Sure, Northwestern
beat Ball State 24-19, but that score is what I am worried about. The
Wildcats are winning on pure defensive intensity right now, but the offense is
largely a mess from top to bottom. The Cats may be the most overrated team in
the conference heading into league play.
If you think that Darrell Hazell should still be the
coach at Purdue next season, than I
have no idea what you have been watching. The Boilers had a largely winnable
non con schedule, but are still just 1-3 after losing to Bowling Green 35-28.
They may not get any better than this in league play.
Nebraska is a
mess as well, and the Huskers don’t seem to be adjusting to Mike Riley’s system
all too well right now. The Huskers, coming off a head scratching loss to
Miami, should have overpowered Southern Miss early, but somehow allowed the
Eagles to hang around all day in a 36-28 Nebraska win. I wouldn’t bet all my
chickens on the Huskers right now in any area.
Maryland has
now been blasted by West Virginia, and was also blasted out of town by Bowling
Green. Randy Edsell just found his way onto the Hot Seat this week, and it may
get far worse as the season moves on.
I really was a believer in Minnesota as the season kicked off, but they have been one of my
most disappointing teams in the nation thus far. Sure they are 3-1, but what is
killing me is that they are averaging just 19.25 points per game, and they are
barely beating teams they should be wrecking in Kent State, Ohio, and Colorado
State.
After cruising through their first two games, Illinois has been all the dud the last
two weeks in a blowout loss to North Carolina and a narrow home win over Middle
Tennessee this week, a 27-25 win that was a missed FG away from being a loss.
The gas gained from Tim Beckman’s firing looks like it is running out fast.
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