State of the Big Ten (Week 3)
State of the Big Ten (Week 3)
A sub-par week for the Big Ten this week. Iowa beat a quality Arizona team by 10. Other than that Mich St, Northwestern, and Minnesota all fell to BCS opponents. Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State all beat down inferior opponents. However, Purdue lost to Northern Illinois.
What I have been surprised by the first 3 weeks of conference play is that this conference doesn't have the balance I originally expected before the season. I expected the Ohio State and Penn State to lead the pack and have about 7 or 8 teams that are real close to follow. However, that pack behind PSU and OSU is really full of teams that really have completely separate talent levels.
Here is my run down through 3 weeks:
1. Penn State- My confidence with this team is growing by leaps and bounds each week. They very well may have the best defense in the country and we are yet to see their best player in Navarro Bowman. The offense is proficient enough to put up enough points to win every game. Royster had a great day even with the flu but the knee sprain from Lee has me a little concerned going into Iowa. I know Mickey Shular had a TD last week but I don't think the offense is using him enough.
2. Ohio State- As many times as this team has lost tough big games they continue to bounce back and keep the team together. It was a big win over a MAC team but I liked how they have seemed to already have put the USC game behind them and now have focused on making this season as successful as possible.
3. Iowa- Possibly the best resume of any Big Ten team to this point. The close call with Northern Iowa has killed their national perception but played as well in week 2 and 3 as anyone in this conference. Stanzi is playing great QB for this team right now and this team looks to play the role of spoiler for the second straight year when they play at PSU this weekend.
4. Michigan- Even with a pretty big win I had to move them back a little due to the fact they seem to really struggle to play solid defense. With the defenses of the 3 teams ahead of them they can't give up many points and expect to win a lot of Big Ten football games. The offense may be the best in the conference but the defense also is with the worst.
5. Minnesota- Even with the loss to Cal we have seemed to learn a little about this team. They played what is now considered the best team in the PAC 10 tough late into the fourth quarter. Also they showed a lot of character by not rolling over when they fell down a few touchdowns early. This is a program that keeps moving in the right direction.
6. Wisconsin- A big win over a D1aa opponent but the key here is them being 3-0. The Big Ten needs Wisky to be good as a challenge to the OSU, PSU, and Mich's of the conference. I like this team to this point and I like them to be 4-0 when they drive the nail a little deeper into Michigan State this weekend.
7. Indiana- Seems to continue to get better and better and looks as though they will only need 2 Big Ten wins to be bowl eligible. For this program, the win over Akron this week was very big. Remember two years ago this team was very decent. They can make a huge statement to the conference this weekend by knocking off top 25 Michigan.
8. Illinois- The only reason they are here is because they didn't play this weekend to hurt their situation as all the teams behind them have. They are also more talented than all the teams behind them (and a few in front of them). Ron Zook has got to get something going with this program because they seem to be stuck at where they were in this first year there.
9. Northwestern- Hoping they could get past Syracuse this weekend but it seemed as though they weren't ready for the game like Syracuse was being that they already played 2 quality opponents to that point. In reality, this team has done nothing to this point to prove they are even a top 100 team nationally.
10. Purdue- The week 1 blowout win seems a decade away at this point. Lack of motivation this week after they had a good performance a week ago in a close loss at Oregon. For the second week in a row a team suffers a disappointing loss the week before playing Notre Dame.
11. Michigan State- In typical Spartan fashion they gave away a game down the stretch. This team is so disappointing and is in real danger of starting the season 1-4. I can not move this team up until they prove they won't **** the bed in every close game.
Big Ten Play starts this week so expect this list to be changed rapidly by Sunday.
What I have been surprised by the first 3 weeks of conference play is that this conference doesn't have the balance I originally expected before the season. I expected the Ohio State and Penn State to lead the pack and have about 7 or 8 teams that are real close to follow. However, that pack behind PSU and OSU is really full of teams that really have completely separate talent levels.
Here is my run down through 3 weeks:
1. Penn State- My confidence with this team is growing by leaps and bounds each week. They very well may have the best defense in the country and we are yet to see their best player in Navarro Bowman. The offense is proficient enough to put up enough points to win every game. Royster had a great day even with the flu but the knee sprain from Lee has me a little concerned going into Iowa. I know Mickey Shular had a TD last week but I don't think the offense is using him enough.
2. Ohio State- As many times as this team has lost tough big games they continue to bounce back and keep the team together. It was a big win over a MAC team but I liked how they have seemed to already have put the USC game behind them and now have focused on making this season as successful as possible.
3. Iowa- Possibly the best resume of any Big Ten team to this point. The close call with Northern Iowa has killed their national perception but played as well in week 2 and 3 as anyone in this conference. Stanzi is playing great QB for this team right now and this team looks to play the role of spoiler for the second straight year when they play at PSU this weekend.
4. Michigan- Even with a pretty big win I had to move them back a little due to the fact they seem to really struggle to play solid defense. With the defenses of the 3 teams ahead of them they can't give up many points and expect to win a lot of Big Ten football games. The offense may be the best in the conference but the defense also is with the worst.
5. Minnesota- Even with the loss to Cal we have seemed to learn a little about this team. They played what is now considered the best team in the PAC 10 tough late into the fourth quarter. Also they showed a lot of character by not rolling over when they fell down a few touchdowns early. This is a program that keeps moving in the right direction.
6. Wisconsin- A big win over a D1aa opponent but the key here is them being 3-0. The Big Ten needs Wisky to be good as a challenge to the OSU, PSU, and Mich's of the conference. I like this team to this point and I like them to be 4-0 when they drive the nail a little deeper into Michigan State this weekend.
7. Indiana- Seems to continue to get better and better and looks as though they will only need 2 Big Ten wins to be bowl eligible. For this program, the win over Akron this week was very big. Remember two years ago this team was very decent. They can make a huge statement to the conference this weekend by knocking off top 25 Michigan.
8. Illinois- The only reason they are here is because they didn't play this weekend to hurt their situation as all the teams behind them have. They are also more talented than all the teams behind them (and a few in front of them). Ron Zook has got to get something going with this program because they seem to be stuck at where they were in this first year there.
9. Northwestern- Hoping they could get past Syracuse this weekend but it seemed as though they weren't ready for the game like Syracuse was being that they already played 2 quality opponents to that point. In reality, this team has done nothing to this point to prove they are even a top 100 team nationally.
10. Purdue- The week 1 blowout win seems a decade away at this point. Lack of motivation this week after they had a good performance a week ago in a close loss at Oregon. For the second week in a row a team suffers a disappointing loss the week before playing Notre Dame.
11. Michigan State- In typical Spartan fashion they gave away a game down the stretch. This team is so disappointing and is in real danger of starting the season 1-4. I can not move this team up until they prove they won't **** the bed in every close game.
Big Ten Play starts this week so expect this list to be changed rapidly by Sunday.
Last edited by abpk2903 on September 20th, 2011, 12:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: State of the Big Ten (Week 3)
You haven't seen Navorro Bowman yet????
Wait, I found him...here's the link:
Wait, I found him...here's the link:
Last edited by WPIAL~Titan on September 20th, 2011, 12:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: State of the Big Ten (Week 3)
What are you smoking ak47 2903? It's gotta be stronger than pot! Temple, I read, had over 29 mins. possession and moved the ball well.....now I know they are your rival & all but they are...well Temple.abpk2903 wrote:1. Penn State- My confidence with this team is growing by leaps and bounds each week. They very well may have the best defense in the country and we are yet to see their best player in Navarro Bowman.
And where in the world is Navarro Bowman,
....Can't he find the Beave?? Remember he had all summer to finish his community service but couldn't find Bellefonte :lol: :lol: 
I have to say thank you to me ..." for not being stupid enough to go to Penn State."