State of the B1G Week 3
State of the B1G Week 3
I thought for those that don't follow the conference too closely I would fill everyone in. If anyone follows other conferences closely and wants to provide a similar thread for other conferences it would be great .
The Good
Penn State - Who would have thought 26 months ago that Penn State may in fact be the torch bearer for the conference? They have the conferences biggest win, maybe the best player, and a good defense. Held serve against Akron and big test Saturday night against Rutgers is looming.
Minnesota - Big game this week as they travel to Fort Worth to play TCU. IMO they have been the most impressive team in the west. Lookout for Braylon Edwards little brother at RB over the next few seasons. From what I've seen of him, he's pretty good.
Maryland - 2-0 with a huge showdown home against WVU this weekend. They have some skilled players like Stefon Diggs who may be the best skill player in the conference. They've survived USF and JMU. A win over WVU will provide some much needed credibility. Also, they have had some success on the recruiting trail over the past 16 months or so.
Iowa - They don't really deserve to be on this list but they are 2-0. They barely survived Ball State and Northern Iowa. This shows how bad the conference really is. A team that has a combined winning margin over Ball St and N Iowa of 12 makes the "good" list. Losing Scherrif who is probably the B1G's best lineman for at least 2 weeks with knee surgery will not make things any easier. This is Iowa though and their track record is a slow start and big wins later in the season. Iowa State and Pitt in the next 2 weeks will tell us a lot more about the Hawkeyes.
Rutgers - This team went on the road and beat Washington State and scrimmaged Howard this past Saturday. IMO they could go 2-6 or 6-2 in B1G play. They seem to be trying to establish a running game to support Nova who is not a bad quarterback. Defense looks suspect to say the least.
The Bad
Illinois - Being 2-0 doesn't get you on "The Good" list when you need a 4th quarter comeback to beat Youngstown State and Western Kentucky doesn't cut it. Chance to move up the "The Good" with a win over Washington this weekend though. Offense is soaring and the defense is awful, so we will see.
Indiana - 1-0 with a win over Indiana State Sycamores. Hoo hum...
Michigan State - You can't brand yourself as this smash mouth, defense oriented, punch you in the gut type of program and then blow a 9 point second half lead and lose by multiple scores. Let's be honest, they have had 1 great season in my lifetime. Let's not think they are going to be perennial title contenders without some speed bumps.
The Ugly
Nebraska - It took one of the best plays in college football so far this season to beat McNeese State at home. How are they still ranked? I mean it's McNeese freaking State. What is even their mascot?
Wisconsin - Games like the LSU game has plagued the B1G for far too long. I mean gosh darn it learn how to play with a lead, learn how to make halftime adjustments, and get in better shape. Ive seen this for too many years with Wisconsin and it's probably a product of having what looks like on TV to be 450 lb lineman. They can't finish games.
Ohio State - they're not the 1st team to lose a star player in camp. Get a grip it was 2 months ago now. The way they recruit, Navy and VT shouldn't even be close. From the "eye test" I have them as about the 5th best team in the conference right now. I mean there is no excuse to why they couldn't just pound the rock last week and forget they have a young QB.
The Uglier
Purdue - Are they the worst BCS program in the country right now? Maybe Kansas? They did beat Western Michigan but got destroyed by Central Michigan at home. I don't think this team could win 3 games in the MAC.
Northwestern - I'm not sure how Pat Fitzgerald survives this. A home loss to Cal followed by a loss to Northern Illinois. I mean this is proof that I honestly think MAC football is better than the Big Ten this year. I mean if the team would have put in half as much time in the weight room, film room, and practice field this offseason as they did the courthouse trying to unionize, they may have a win.
The Ugliest
Michigan - The program has been a steady decline for about 15 years. After that embarrassment in South Bend, how does thay athletic department let Hoke get off the plan in Ann Harbor as the Head Coach. They are bad everywhere. Luckily the B1G is horrible so they will stumble into a handful of wins. I guess that is good enough anymore for them.
The Good
Penn State - Who would have thought 26 months ago that Penn State may in fact be the torch bearer for the conference? They have the conferences biggest win, maybe the best player, and a good defense. Held serve against Akron and big test Saturday night against Rutgers is looming.
Minnesota - Big game this week as they travel to Fort Worth to play TCU. IMO they have been the most impressive team in the west. Lookout for Braylon Edwards little brother at RB over the next few seasons. From what I've seen of him, he's pretty good.
Maryland - 2-0 with a huge showdown home against WVU this weekend. They have some skilled players like Stefon Diggs who may be the best skill player in the conference. They've survived USF and JMU. A win over WVU will provide some much needed credibility. Also, they have had some success on the recruiting trail over the past 16 months or so.
Iowa - They don't really deserve to be on this list but they are 2-0. They barely survived Ball State and Northern Iowa. This shows how bad the conference really is. A team that has a combined winning margin over Ball St and N Iowa of 12 makes the "good" list. Losing Scherrif who is probably the B1G's best lineman for at least 2 weeks with knee surgery will not make things any easier. This is Iowa though and their track record is a slow start and big wins later in the season. Iowa State and Pitt in the next 2 weeks will tell us a lot more about the Hawkeyes.
Rutgers - This team went on the road and beat Washington State and scrimmaged Howard this past Saturday. IMO they could go 2-6 or 6-2 in B1G play. They seem to be trying to establish a running game to support Nova who is not a bad quarterback. Defense looks suspect to say the least.
The Bad
Illinois - Being 2-0 doesn't get you on "The Good" list when you need a 4th quarter comeback to beat Youngstown State and Western Kentucky doesn't cut it. Chance to move up the "The Good" with a win over Washington this weekend though. Offense is soaring and the defense is awful, so we will see.
Indiana - 1-0 with a win over Indiana State Sycamores. Hoo hum...
Michigan State - You can't brand yourself as this smash mouth, defense oriented, punch you in the gut type of program and then blow a 9 point second half lead and lose by multiple scores. Let's be honest, they have had 1 great season in my lifetime. Let's not think they are going to be perennial title contenders without some speed bumps.
The Ugly
Nebraska - It took one of the best plays in college football so far this season to beat McNeese State at home. How are they still ranked? I mean it's McNeese freaking State. What is even their mascot?
Wisconsin - Games like the LSU game has plagued the B1G for far too long. I mean gosh darn it learn how to play with a lead, learn how to make halftime adjustments, and get in better shape. Ive seen this for too many years with Wisconsin and it's probably a product of having what looks like on TV to be 450 lb lineman. They can't finish games.
Ohio State - they're not the 1st team to lose a star player in camp. Get a grip it was 2 months ago now. The way they recruit, Navy and VT shouldn't even be close. From the "eye test" I have them as about the 5th best team in the conference right now. I mean there is no excuse to why they couldn't just pound the rock last week and forget they have a young QB.
The Uglier
Purdue - Are they the worst BCS program in the country right now? Maybe Kansas? They did beat Western Michigan but got destroyed by Central Michigan at home. I don't think this team could win 3 games in the MAC.
Northwestern - I'm not sure how Pat Fitzgerald survives this. A home loss to Cal followed by a loss to Northern Illinois. I mean this is proof that I honestly think MAC football is better than the Big Ten this year. I mean if the team would have put in half as much time in the weight room, film room, and practice field this offseason as they did the courthouse trying to unionize, they may have a win.
The Ugliest
Michigan - The program has been a steady decline for about 15 years. After that embarrassment in South Bend, how does thay athletic department let Hoke get off the plan in Ann Harbor as the Head Coach. They are bad everywhere. Luckily the B1G is horrible so they will stumble into a handful of wins. I guess that is good enough anymore for them.
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DragonsDoExist
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 4944
- Joined: September 10th, 2012, 1:49 pm
Re: State of the B1G Week 3
Harbaugh will be coaching in Ann Arbor next year...just my useless prediction!
You play to win the game!!!
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KirkHerbstreit
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 1739
- Joined: October 7th, 2009, 8:45 pm
Re: State of the B1G Week 3
I feel the same. What a pickup that would be for Michigan.DragonsDoExist wrote:Harbaugh will be coaching in Ann Arbor next year...just my useless prediction!