B1G championship game prediction

Wisconsin 31, MIchigan State 17: Russell Wilson and Montee Ball will lead the Badgers to their second consecutive Rose Bowl appearance.

Final B1G power rankings

1. Wisconsin: I think the Badgers will route the Spartans next weekend in Indy.  Bielema just looks pissed off about losing two games on hail Mary's, which ultimately cost his team a chance to play for the national championship.  I expect the Badgers to take out their anger and frustration on Michigan State and try to run up the score.

2. Michigan State: The Spartans were much better than I thought they would be this year, especially defensively.  However, the Spartans will fail to claim their first outright conference championship in a long time.

3. Michigan: I thought the Wolverines D would improve, but not to the extent it did.  Wow!  The Wolverines now just need a little help next weekend to claim their first BCS bid in 5 years.  The Wolverines are 16th in the BCS and need to climb to 14th to be eligible.

4. Nebraska: The Cornhuskers ran hot and cold this year.  They looked like a national championship contender one week and like a lower echelon B1G team the next.  I'm still not sure what to think about Nebraska long term, but they have a long way to go to get back to what they were in the 80's and 90's.

5. Penn State: The Nittany Lions had an up and down year, both on and off the field.  I still think Penn State will hire an elite head coach, but I could be wrong.

6. Iowa: The Hawkeyes had a jekyll and hyde season.  They beat Michigan and lost to Minnesota.  Go figure.  James Vandenberg was also wildly inconsistent this year and ended with a dud against Nebraska.

7. Northwestern: The Cats showed a pulse at the end of the year despite their limited roster.  Don't count out Pat Fitzgerald at some of these openings this year in Westwood, Tempe, and State College.

8. Ohio State: And now we begin the Urban Meyer era.  Braxton Miller is a perfect fit for his offense and they will be a factor if not a favorite in the Leaders Division in 2012.

9. Purdue: The Boilermakers won in Bloomington and saved Danny Hope's job.  The rest of the B1G is thankful that such a mediocre coach will be in the B1G for at least another year.

10. Minnesota: MarQueis Grey will be a major factor for Minnesota next year.  Grey broke the single season rushing record for a quarterback and will break his own record next year.  A soft schedule should get the Gophers to bowl eligibility next year.

11. Illinois: The Illini are just not a very good team and whoever takes over next year will have a significant rebuilding job on his hands.

12. Indiana: I didn't understand the Kevin Wilson hire a year ago, and I still don't.  This program needs a tough, physical, defensive minded head coach.  Wilson will have to be a mad scientist to turn this program around and keep his job.

B1G predictions: Week 13

Iowa 28, Nebraska 24: The Hawkeyes finish ahead of their border rivals in the Legends Division with a win in Lincoln.  Hawkeye fans will have 12 months to gloat.  Iowa will prove to be an underrated team after all, and Nebraska overrated.

Northwestern 24, Michigan State 21: Another upset!  Northwestern will end the season with a bang, beating Legends division champ Michigan State.  Pat Fitzgerald proves once again why he is one of the rising stars in college football.

Michigan 24, Ohio State 16: No upset here.  The Wolverines are licking their chops thinking about beating the vulnerable Buckeyes and they will do just that.

Purdue 31, Indiana 28: Purdue will get it's revenge in the Old Oaken Bucket game, avenging last year's overtime loss to the Hoosiers with a thrilling win.  The Boilermakers will get a last second field goal from Carson Wiggs to leave Bloomington with the hardware and their first bowl bid in 4 years.

Illinois 20, Minnesota 10: The Gophers have had trouble generating much offense this year and that trend will continue against a stout Illinois defense.  Nathan Scheelhaase will make enough plays with his arm and his legs to keep the Gophers out of it.

Wisconsin 28, Penn State 13: The Badgers win what will be a blah game, but they will leave with the Leaders division crown and an all expense paid trip to Indianapolis to get their revenge against Michigan State.

Last week: 5-1, Overall: 71-20

B1G power rankings: Week 13

1. Wisconsin: I am looking forward to the exchange between Bret Bielema and Fox sideline reporter and former Minnesota coach Tim Brewster at the inaugural B1G championship game. 

2. Michigan State: Sparty put together an impressive season.  The D was much better than I thought it would be.  Dantonio is building something special in East Lansing.

3. Penn State: Penn State is about as dull as tepid dishwater, but they are a solid football team.

4. Michigan: Brady Hoke has the maize and blue back on track.  They will be competing for national championships soon.

5. Nebraska: I tried to tell people at the beginning of the year that the Cornhuskers were overrated.  I knew that Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Florida State were vastly overrated and how did that turn out?

6. Iowa: If it weren't for that gaffe at Minnesota a month ago the Hawkeyes would be in good shape for a New Year's Day bowl game.

7. Northwestern: Here come the Cats on one of their late season runs.  I'm sure that all 814 Northwestern season ticket holders are absolutely ecstatic about the way the Cats are playing right now.  Pat Fitzgerald reminds me of the hot girl who stays faithful to her high school sweetheart.  Everyone knows that she can do better, but she remains committed.

8. Ohio State: The Buckeyes will hire an elite head coach this off season and their ills will be cured.

9. Purdue: If Danny Hope loses to Indiana he may as well dial the moving company on his way back to the locker room.

10. Illinois: See above only swap out Ron Zook for Danny Hope and Minnesota for Indiana.

11. Minnesota: A win over a reeling Illinois team is a real possibility for the Gophers.  If Jerry Kill beats the Illini he will have more wins (2) in his first season in the Big Ten than his predecessors Tim Brewster and Glen Mason did.

12. Indiana: Has Gunner arrived yet?

B1G predictions: Week 12

Northwestern 42, Minnesota 28: Northwestern will move the ball effortlessly against an inconsistent Minnesota defense.  MarQueis Grey and the Minnesota offense will get into some rhythm but not enough to offset the liability of the Gopher defense against a Northwestern offense that is starting to heat up.

Michigan State 38, Indiana 13: The Spartans will jump out to a big halftime lead and hit cruise control in the 2nd half.

Michigan 28, Nebraska 24: The Cornhuskers aren't good enough to win 10 games.  I said that before the season began and Michigan will bust their bubble this weekend.

Wisconsin 35, Illinois 20: The Badgers will be held in check by the Illini defense, at least by their standards and will pull away late for a reasonably easy victory over an Illinois team that has quit on its head coach Ron Zook. 

Iowa 24, Purdue 21: I have been driving the Iowa bandwagon all year,  I'm not going to jump off now.  James Vandenberg and Marvin McNutt will hook up for 2 touchdowns as the Hawkeyes win a rare road game.  The Hawkeyes are due and I don't think Purdue is very good. 

Ohio State 14, Penn State 10: Both programs are a mess.  They should think about renaming this game the Train wreck Bowl.

Last Week: 3-3, Overall: 66-19

B1G power rankings: Week 12

1. Wisconsin: I tried to tell people after Wisconsin lost for a second consecutive week on a hail Mary pass that they were the best team in the conference, and look now the Badgers control their own destiny to become B1G champs, which they will.  The fact that some people actually put Ohio State, Penn State, and Nebraska ahead of Wisconsin is offensive, and I'm a Gopher fan!!!

2. Michigan State: That was an impressive performance by the Spartans in Iowa City last weekend and I have to be honest that I didn't see that coming.  Sparty just needs to find a way to not get humiliated in their losses so people take them a little more seriously.  They got spanked by Nebraska and Notre Dame this year and by Alabama and Iowa the year prior. 

3. Nebraska: The Huskers played well enough offensively to fend off a late Penn State rally and win in not so Happy Valley.

4. Michigan: Don't look now but the Wolverines are 8-2 and have played better defense than any one in their wildest dreams ever imagined before the season began.  Hats off to defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and Head Coach Brady Hoke for instilling a toughness in their players.

5. Penn State: The Nitanny Lions played well in the 2nd half and their slow start wasn't unexpected all things considered.  I think they have a real shot to knock off the Buckeyes in Columbus next week.

6. Iowa: The Hawkeyes ran into an ornery Michigan State team last weekend that wasn't going to allow last year's lop sided loss repeat itself.  Look for the Hawkeyes to get knock off inconsistent Purdue next weekend in West Lafayette.

7.  Northwestern: Here come the Cats with their annual late season heroics.  That trend should continue this weekend against Minnesota at home.

8. Ohio State: That was a bad loss for the Fighting Fickel's.  They need a win desperately this weekend at home against a vulnerable Penn State team.  Can someone please tell me how on god's green earth the Buckeyes knocked off Wisconsin and lost to Purdue?

9. Purdue: That was a nice win for the Boilermakers and it may have saved Danny Hope's job.

10. Illinois: I tried to tell everyone that the Illini were overrated.  They will lose their 5th straight this weekend to Wisconsin and need to knock off Minnesota in Minneapolis to save Ron Zook's job.  Losing 6 games to close the season and topping it all off with a loss to Minny is grounds for dismissal.

11. Minnesota: The Gophers actually didn't play that bad against Wisconsin.  They just got beat by a vastly superior team.

12. Indiana: My guess is IU fans are counting the days before Gunner Kiel's arrival in Bloomington

BIG predictions: Week 11

Northwestern 45, Rice 17: The Wildcats will ride the momentum from their unexpected win over Nebraska and trounce the Owls at home.

Penn State 17, Nebraska 13: We are all disgusted by what has taken place in Happy Valley.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.  If what happened at Penn State happened on another college campus under another coaches watch their would be zero chance of them coaching another game.  As it is, because he is Joe Paterno he gets to decide when to call it quits.  Dictatorship is alive and well in the US of A folks.  As far as the game is concerned, look for Silas Redd to rush for over 100 yards and a pair of scores and the Penn State D to shut down Taylor Martinez and the Big Red.  I am glad they are playing the game because the Penn State players did nothing wrong and should not have to suffer because of the incompetence of their college administrators and head coach.

Iowa 21, Michigan State 17: What was your favorite Michigan State 2011 Legends Division Champions moment?  The Spartans road struggles continue.  Iowa's offensive balance and rowdy crowd is a bit too much for Michigan State to handle.  Kirk Cousins will throw three INT's and look frazzled the entire game.  Suddenly the Hawkeyes will be in the drivers seat to win the Legends Division, as predicted here by the way...

Ohio State 28, Purdue 17: Ohio State has gotten it going enough offensively to get past the Boilermakers in West Lafeyette.  If this game were being played a month ago I would have been tempted to pick Purdue.

Wisconsin 52, Minnesota 27: The Gophers will move the ball, but so will the Badgers - with ease.  MarQueis Grey will continue to impress for Minnesota but the Gophers will have absolutely no answer for Russell Wilson, Montee Ball and company.  The Badgers keep the axe once again.

Michigan 28, Illinois 24: Illinois is just struggling too badly for me to have any confidence in picking them.  Ron Zook is living on borrowed time right now.  The Illini have a real chance to lose their final six games.

Last Week: 5-1, Overall: 63-16

B1G power rankings: Week 11

1. Wisconsin: As predicted here, the Badgers took out their frustration on a poorly coached, untalented Purdue team.  Expect more of the same this coming week against border rival Minnesota.  The Gophers will provide a much bigger fight than Purdue, but Bucky should be able to score 40+ without too much trouble.

2. Michigan State: The Spartans played a confident Minnesota team and despite what their fans think MSU didn't play that bad.  Minnesota played it's best game of the year and the Spartans were still able to take care of business.  I think LaVeon Bell is a better back than Edwin Baker but that's just my opinion.

3. Penn State: The Nittany Lions are 8-1 with their only loss being to third ranked Alabama.  Their defense is legit and if they can just get consistent production from their offense they may end up B1G champs.

4. Ohio State: I don't understand how on earth Wisconsin lost to Ohio State.  Clearly the Badgers were still reeling from their emotional loss to MSU because if Wisconsin played TOSU 10 times this year I think Bucky wins 8-9 of them.  This is the worst Ohio State team I have seen in nearly 10 years.

5. Nebraska: I tried to warn people that Nebraska was overrated and look what happened?  They lost to Northwestern at home.  I didn't call for the upset in my predictions but I wrote that it wouldn't surprise me if the Wildcats pulled off the upset and that is exactly what they did.

6. Iowa: I personally can't wait for the Hawkeyes to invade Lincoln Thanksgiving weekend.  I think Iowa/Nebraska will develop into one of the best rivalries in college football.  To top it all off these teams are evenly matched.

7. Michigan: The Wolverines have beefed up their record picking on the poor.  The Wolverines don't have a quality win, and no Notre Dame is not a quality win despite what Lou Holtz says.  I think Michigan is going to come back to earth a little bit in November with a significantly tougher schedule.

8. Northwestern: The Cats got a trademark win in Lincoln last weekend and it didn't surprise me at all.  Come to think of it I wish I had the guts to pick the upset, but I didn't.  Pat Fitzgerald always seems to win a game he shouldn't and the win over Nebraska was just that.  Kain Colter is a good looking athlete and will be the next Northwestern quarterback to become a pain in every one's neck, joining: Dan Persa, Mike Kafka, C.J. Bacher, and Steve Schnur.

9. Illinois: I thought Illinois may have been a fraud, but they kept winning so I eventually had to pick them and that is when they start losing.  So do I pick them to win or lose down the stretch?  I will pick them to lose because their is nothing quite like a Ron Zook job watch.

10. Purdue: Dear heavens how does Purdue have 4 wins?  This is a bad football team.

11. Minnesota: I have a feeling I am going to put Minnesota ahead of Purdue by seasons end.  The Gophers have looked really good the last two weeks.  Are they legit, or has their opposition played poorly?  I am going with the former.  MarQueis Grey is finally starting to look like the quarterback I had envisioned.

12. Indiana: The Hoosiers showed a lot of scrap last weekend against the Buckeyes.  It's going to take 2-3 years before we have a clue where Kevin Wilson is taking the program, however.

B1G predictions: Week 10

Michigan State 38, Minnesota 10: Sparty will get back on track offensively in this one.  The Spartans offense has been a big disappointment so far, and the defense has been a pleasant surprise in my opinion.  I can't see Minnesota making this interesting, but then again I didn't think they had a prayer against Iowa and how did that turn out?

Ohio State 44, Indiana 3: The Buckeyes finally catch a breather in conference play after taking on Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.  IU is really reeling after losing top receiver DeMarlo Belcher for the season and the Hoosiers haven't been able to stop anyone defensively this year.

Iowa 31, Michigan 28: I don't really have a logical explanation for this pick because Iowa has struggled with mobile quarterbacks recently and Michigan has one of the best in Denard Robinson.  I just think that Iowa is too good of a football team to let a disappointing loss to Minnesota ruin their season.  Iowa absolutely smashed Michigan last year in the Big House and I think Iowa's offensive balance will be a little too much for the Wolverines to handle.  I also like the desperation factor here so I'm going with Iowa.

Nebraska 38, Northwestern 31: This one is going to be a lot closer than Cornhusker fans would like and I wouldn't be shocked if Northwestern pulls the upset, but I think Nebraska will score too often and the Huskers D will come up with a late stop to preserve the victory in Lincoln.

Wisconsin 56, Purdue 10: An angry Badgers team will take Purdue out to the proverbial woodshed.  This is going to be an old fashioned beat down.

****BONUS PICK*****
Denver Broncos 20, Oakland Raiders 17: If you follow me on twitter you know that I have a man crush on Tim Tebow.  I absolutely love everything about the guy from his work ethic, to what he stands for, his leadership, knack for the dramatic, and the way he carries himself.  After a horrible game last Sunday against the Lions and after a week of being barbecued by the national know it all's Tebow will redeem himself, sort of...  He will only complete around 50% of his passes, but will lead a late touchdown drive to propel the Broncos to their third victory of the season and the Tebow debate will once again be alive and well.  If he plays like he did last week and the Broncos get blown out I think his career as a quarterback in the NFL is over.

B1G power rankings: Week 10

1. Wisconsin: I am not going to penalize the Badgers after losing two games on Hail Marys, and I most certainly will not put Nebraska ahead of them after the Badgers destroyed them 5 weeks ago.  The bottom line is this - the B1G stinks this year, especially toward the top.

2. Nebraska: The Huskers have rebounded nicely after getting stomped by Wisconsin in their B1G opener in Madison a month ago.  The return of cornerback Alfonzo Dennard has helped the defense dramatically, especially after losing tackle Jared Crick for the season.  I didn't expect Nebraska to hold Michigan State to 3 points, that was a very impressive defensive performance last week.

3. Penn State: If someone told me that Penn State would be 8-1 a month ago I would have laughed until I started crying.  The Penn State D is for real and while watching their games is the equivalent of watching your neighbor paint his garage you can't deny the fact that the Nittany Lions are a good solid football team.

4. Michigan State: The Spartans have played a murderers row of: Michigan, Wisconsin, and @Nebraska and came away with a record of 2-1.  That should be good enough to get them to Indy, because I see both Michigan and Nebraska suffering losses down the stretch.

5. Ohio State: I didn't see the Buckeyes beating the Badgers, but they did.  Luke Fickell has a right to hold his head high for the way the Buckeyes are playing right now.  He is sprucing up his resume for his next job as an assistant coach (sarcasm).

6. Michigan: The Wolverines have a lot to prove after laying an egg against Michigan two weeks ago.  They played well against Purdue, but that loss to Michigan State doesn't sit well with me.  It just feels like this team is missing a few pieces and is still a year or two away from returning to greatness.

7. Illinois: At the beginning of the year I predicted Illinois would only win 5 games.  It looks like I am only going to be one game off;)

8. Iowa: I don't know what happened to Iowa against Minnesota but they should be ashamed of themselves.

9. Northwestern: Playing Indiana can help you get off the schneid.  Has Pat Fitzgerald interviewed anywhere recently?

10. Purdue: How are the Boilermakers a .500 team?  It feels like they are much worse...

11. Minnesota: The Gophers locked up Jerry Kill for seven years and kept Floyd of Rosedale in Minnesota for a second consecutive year.  Not a bad week at all!

12. Indiana: My high school alma mater,  the South St. Paul Packers could put up 50+ points against IU and I'm only 1/2 kidding.

B1G predictions: Week 9

Northwestern 41, Indiana 35: Pat Fitzgerald is far too good of a coach to lose as much as he has this year.  This one will give Northwestern fans some anxiety in a high scoring see saw game, but in the end Dan Persa will make a few more plays than Tre Roberson.

Michigan 31, Purdue 17: The Wolverines will come out breathing fire after thinking about their loss to in state rival Michigan State for two weeks.  Denard Robinson and the Michigan offense will prove to be too much to contain despite a valiant effort from the Boilermakers.

Michigan State 30, Nebraska 24: I just don't think that Nebraska is that good of a team this year.  Let's put it this way, I think the Cornhuskers are a good team but not a great team.  Michigan State is on fire and playing with all the confidence in the world.  The Spartans defense has turned out to be better than advertised and they will be the difference in this one.

Iowa 38, Minnesota 17:  It's tough to fathom, but this will be the closest game the Gophers play in the B1G to date.  The Gophers have been blown out by: Michigan, Purdue, and Nebraska.  The Gophers will be scrappy in just a 3 touchdown defeat.  Baby steps...

Penn State 27, Illinois 13:  I don't like the way the Illini are trending at all.  Penn State is playing like a ticked off team with a chip on it's shoulder.  All in all I think it will be a long day for the Illini in Happy Valley.

Wisconsin 24, Ohio State 13: This will be the ugliest game of the day.  You will see lots of penalties, turnovers, and inept football.  It will be everything you wouldn't expect from an Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game.

Last Week: 3-2, Overall: 55-12

B1G power rankings: Week 9

1. Michigan State: I can't believe I'm putting the Spartans here.  After their miserable performance in week 3 against Notre Dame I thought they were going to end up being a huge disappointment.  The successful Hail Mary against Wisconsin is the type of moment that could propel the Spartans to their first outright conference championship in years.  They are clearly in the drivers seat to represent the Legends Division in Indianapolis.  I think they will take care of a flawed Nebraska team this weekend in Lincoln and from there they should be able to hit cruise control.

2. Wisconsin: I think the Badgers are a better football team than Michigan State so I feel kind of funny putting them below Sparty, and losing on a fluke play shouldn't mean that the Badgers are worse, but the bottom line is Michigan State beat Wisconsin fair and square as instant replayed clearly showed.  However, I do think the Badgers will get their revenge in Indianapolis the first weekend of December.

3. Penn State:  Look at the steady Nittany Lions!  They sure aren't pretty but they get the job done.  Matt McGloin will do enough at the quarterback position the rest of the way to keep the Nitts in the Leaders division race the entire year.

4. Nebraska:  The Huskers rolled Minnesota in Minneapolis, which isn't exactly a tall order.  We have come to find that the Nebraska defense can be exposed and will be this weekend at home against Michigan State.

5. Iowa: Here come the Hawkeyes with their annual late season run.  I really like Iowa down the stretch and I wouldn't count them out of the Legends division race just yet.

6. Michigan: It will be interesting to see how Michigan responds after an emotional loss to arch rival Michigan State after they had a bye week to sit and think about it.  I'm still unsure about what to make of this one loss Michigan team in 2011.  I do like what Brady Hoke is building long term, however.

7. Ohio State: The Buckeyes were showing some signs of life before their bye week and I expect to continue to see improvement in the 2nd half.  I think Luke Fickell will have his men playing hard and with nothing to lose.

8. Illinois: What ever happened to Illinois?!  Ron Zook happened.  If the new AD at Illinois knows what's good for him and the program they will make a move immediately.

9. Purdue:  Danny Hope's team is showing a little fight and scrap down the stretch here.  It will be interesting to see what happens late.

10. Northwestern: I didn't like Northwestern to start the year and so far my prediction is looking good.  I thought their success relied far too much on a player coming off of an Achilles injury.

11. Indiana: Kevin Wilson's bunch is going to get a win this year, mark my words.  I actually like the way the Hoosiers are playing and competing is some weird way.

12. Minnesota: The Gophers played much better in the 2nd half against Nebraska but the game was already over and Nebraska had already bailed.  I don't see another win on the schedule this year for the Gophers.  What a disappointing year after that promising opener against USC.

B1G predictions: Week 8

Iowa 45, Indiana 20: Iowa scores over 40 for the second week in a row after scoring only 3 points two weeks ago in State College.

Illinois 31, Purdue 28: This will be a really close game and I am even tempted to pick the Boilermakers.  The hook of Scheelhaase and Jenkins proves to be too much for the Boilermakers to overcome as the Illini eek out a win on the road.

Nebraska 48, Minnesota 12: The Huskers will run north, south, sideways, and everywhere in between in a route of the Gophers in Minneapolis.

Penn State 23, Northwestern 20:  This is another tough game to predict along with the Illinois/Purdue game and once again I will pick the road team.  Penn State's defense will be the difference in this one coming up with a late stop against Dan Persa and company to preserve the W in Evanston.

Wisconsin 28, Michigan State 24:  I really like the road teams this week!  I just think the Badgers are an all around better team than the Spartans.  I also think Russell Wilson is a better quarterback than Kirk Cousins.

Last week: 4-1 Season: 52-10

B1G power rankings: Week 8

1. Wisconsin: The Badgers will get their first real test this weekend in East Lansing.

2. Michigan State: The Spartans are doing something that they have struggled with historically - improving as the season progresses.

3. Nebraska: The Huskers home wins over Ohio State and Washington all of a sudden look like solid W's.

4. Michigan:  Brady Hoke, Denard Robinson, and company ran into a buzz saw in East Lansing.  I still like the Wolverines despite the loss.  They have already exceeded my expectations.

5. Ohio State: The Buckeyes defense has been spectacular this year.  They shut down the high octane Illinois passing attack in Champaign, which was very impressive.  I think the Buckeyes offense will continue to improve as the season grows older.

6. Penn State:  Don't sleep on the Nittany Lions, they like TOSU have a spectacular defense and an less than stellar offense.  The Nittany Lions schedule does get significantly toughter, however.

7. Illinois: Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino really misses Mikel Leshoure.  The Illini lack a feature back and Nathan Scheelhaase, A.J. Jenkins, and the Illini offense has become one dimensional, which is throw the ball up in the air and hope Jenkins comes up with it. 

8. Iowa: The Hawkeyes finally got the Wildcat off their back putting up 41 points on an awful Northwestern defense.  The Hawkeyes went from scoring 3 points in State College against PSU to scoring 41 at home against Northwestern, go figure...

9. Northwestern: The Cats have been in some good football games, but thanks to their atrocious defense have come out on the short end of the stick in most of them.  I wonder how much longer Pat Fitzgerald is going to be content coaching Northwestern to 6-7 wins and mediocre bowl games?

10. Purdue: The Boilermakers made it more of a game in State College than I anticipated and should be given credit for it.

11. Indiana:  The Hoosiers didn't give up 80 points to the Badgers this year!  To quote Charlie Sheen "winning"!

12. Minnesota: It's not a matter of whether the Gophers will lose every game the rest of the year, it's a matter of by how many points.

B1G predictions: Week 7

Michigan State 27, Michigan 21: I don't have a great feeling about this one.  Did you ever take a multiple choice test where you made a selection and deep down you knew you were wrong but for some reason you didn't want to change your answer?  This is the game.  I will probably be wrong, but I'm sticking with Sparty.  I think the Michigan State defense and home field advantage is the difference in this one as the Spartans continue their domination of the in state rival Wolverines.

Penn State 24, Purdue 9: Penn State will continue to flex their muscles on defense and Silas Redd will shake loose for close to 200 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns as the Nittany Lions cruise over the Boilermakers.

Wisconsin 49, Indiana 13: Bret Bielema will be merciful in this game as the Badgers will only score about 1/2 as many points as they scored last year against IU.  The Badgers will be able to score more but Bret will find his conscience somewhere along the way and pull his starters midway through the third quarter. 

Illinois 27, Ohio State 24: Derek Dimke will kick the game winner with time expiring.  Nathan Scheelhaase and A.J. Jenkins will hook up 3 times for 48 yards on the final drive as the Illini remain undefeated.

Iowa 31, Northwestern 24: The Hawkeyes will get the "Wildcat" off their back as they prevail in Iowa City.  Marcus Coker will awaken from his coma to rush for 150 yards and 3 TDs.  Wait?  Haven't I already said that before?  It has to happen sooner or later for Marcus, right?

Last week: 4-1, Season: 48-9

B1G power rankings: Week 7

1. Wisconsin: I wonder if Whiskey will put up 80 again this year on IU?  The answer is simple, they will if they want to.



2. Michigan: I am surprised that Michigan has been this good.  I thought the new staff at Michigan would neuter Denard Robinson, instead he's a Heisman front runner and his numbers are comparable to last year.  The defense has been way better than expected, which is why the Wolverines will avoid a late season collapse for the third year in a row.



3. Nebraska: The Huskers defense has been making me very nervous this year.  They should be ashamed of themselves for giving up 27 points to Ohio State at home last weekend.  Thank god Taylor Martinez, Rex Burkhead and company have been able to move the ball on offense or this would be a long first year in the B1G for the Cornhuskers.

4. Illinois: I was wrong on Illinois.  I thought they would be mediocre to bad this year.  I predicted they would win only 5 games and they have already eclipsed that pathetic projection after 6 games!  Ron Zook will be sending me a big plate of crow to munch on.  The Nathan Scheelhaase to A.J. Jenkins hook is nasty!



5. Michigan State:  The Spartans look great on paper, both offensively and defensively, but is it just me or is something missing?  We shall see this week against in state rival Michigan if the Spartans are contenders or pretenders.  The game with the Wolverines will go a long in deciding who will represent the Legends division in Indianapolis the first of December in my opinion.



6. Penn State: The Nittany Lions defense is for real!  Wow!  They absolutely shut down one of the most balanced and explosive offenses in the B1G in Iowa.  I must say that I didn't see that coming.  I thought for sure Iowa would score some points against PSU and pull out a victory.  If the Nittany Lions can get Silas Redd going and find some consistency at the quarterback position they may have a chance to surprise some people like they did last weekend against Iowa.



7. Ohio State: The Buckeyes showed me a lot more than I expected from them last Saturday night in Lincoln.  If Braxton Miller can stay healthy and continue to improve, the Buckeyes could be a tough out late in the year.  Remember, the Buckeyes will have Devier Posey and Boom Herron at their disposal moving forward, which will make their offense look considerably better.



8. Iowa: I am disappointed in Iowa.  I don't know if it's the ineffectiveness of Marcus Coker, the lack of play makers along the front seven or what, but I legitimately thought the Hawkeyes would be better this year.  Granted they only have two close losses on the road, but I am not seeing any signs that lead me to believe the Hawkeyes will turn around their season this year.  I hope I'm wrong...



9. Northwestern: The Cats are definitely a Jekyll and Hyde type of team.  At the end of the day they are a team with a suspect defense that gets zero production from their running backs in the run game.  That means this is a fringe bowl team at best.



10. Purdue:  The Boilermakers got the perfect medicine this weekend: the Minnesota Golden Gophers.  The Gophers handed the game to the Boilermakers (literally) and the Boilermakers weren't rude, they accepted the Gophers gifts with a smile and a thank you.  Minnesota received a penalty after one of their players ran into the Boilermakers punter and injured himself, not the punter, in the process.



11. Indiana: The Hoosiers had a short lived 10 point lead over Illinois before getting absolutely demolished by a superior team.  The Hoosiers only chance for a B1G win is in the Old Oaken Bucket game against in state rival Purdue.



12. Minnesota:  Whatever momentum the Gophers had after their season opening 19-17 loss to USC in LA is long gone.  The game against USC seems like 37 years ago.  The Gophers have had a nightmare season.  I don't even think pessimists envisioned the catastrophe that has taken place in Minneapolis.

B1G predictions: Week 6

So I went 4-2 in my predictions last week thanks to Northwestern coughing up a gigantic lead.  Northwestern lost an 18 point lead to Illinois, forced a late Illinois fumble and cashed in to retake the lead only lead to gag it up again, allowing the Illini to score with 18 seconds left.  My overall record is still a solid 44-8, but ESPN bloggers Adam Rittenburg and Brian Bennett both went 6-0 to gain ground on me.  My ego took a hit last week.  On to this week...

Purdue 31, Minnesota 23: MarQueis Gray will return at quarterback for the Golden Gophers and split reps with true freshman Max Shortell.  Shortell got a rude welcome to the B1G in his first career start as he and the Gophers were flattened by a vastly superior Michigan team 58-0.  The Gophers fortunes will be much better this week, but not good enough to win.  Purdue wins a seesaw battle as Akeem Shavers and Ralph Bolden will get loose and the Purdue ground game will control the clock and the momentum late. 

Illinois 45, Indiana 23: The Illini will have a 38-23 lead with 1:48 to play when their quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase chucks a 57 yard touchdown pass to A.J. Jenkins.  After the game when Kevin Wilson and Ron Zook meet at midfield, Wilson will ask Zook if Jack Trudeau put him up to this, Zook will respond "yes", and Wilson will proceed to punch him square in the nose in the most entertaining Illinois/Indiana game in the history of the rivalry.

Iowa 27, Penn State 17: The Hawkeyes simply have too much firepower for the punch less Nittany Lions.  The Hawkeyes will continue their dominance over PSU as James Vandenberg continues his hot streak with another 300 yard passing day.

Michigan 48, Northwestern 20: Dan Persa won't be able to go in this one and that spells doom for Northwestern.  The Wildcat defense doesn't come close to slowing down Denard Robinson all day as the Wolverines win another non competitive game to improve to 6-0.

Nebraska 17, Ohio State 6: An angry Cornhuskers defense takes out their frustrations on a completely lost Buckeyes offense.  I don't even know why I'm saying Ohio State scores 6 in this game.  I think the Buckeyes would have trouble scoring on Minnesota at this point.  Taylor Martinez, Rex Burkhead, and company get enough going on the ground to grind out a victory.

B1G power rankings Week 6: Music edition

1. Wisconsin - U2: They were a dark, Gothic, underground band in the 80's with just a cult following.  In the early 90's they became a world wide sensation, selling out arenas and stadiums everywhere.  They went platinum and evolved from an alternative rock band to universal pop/rock sensation with multiple hits.  On their recent 360 Tour they opened up their play book to include their bread and butter from the 80's and 90's as well as some more progressive music from the 2000's.

2. Michigan - The Beatles: Widely considered the greatest rock band of all time, their music is iconic and to this day sounds relevant.  They are classic and pure, not trendy, just themselves.  Their critics will tell you that they weren't a true rock band and that their songs were boring and at times soft and sounded too much like pop music.  However, the Beatles were progressive and different and remain the gold standard for all bands up to this day. 

3. Michigan State - The Rolling Stones: Fans of the Stones are generally not fans of the Beatles and vice verse.  The Stones combine elements of blues and rock and are more in your face and hard than The Beatles.  Their lead singer Mick Jagger is edgy, fun, and considered a party boy.  The Stones are the ultimate get out of your seat and dance rock band.

4. Nebraska - Def Leppard: Skeptics mocked and ridiculed them during their run in the 80's and early 90's, because of their one dimensional monster ballads, but no one can deny the popularity and success of Def Leppard during their run. They were a band you didn't want to admit you liked, but they were the Kings of the now extinct hair bands.  The band has tried to make a return to mainstream relevance in the 2000's with mixed results.  For the most part they have been relegated to State Fairs and casinos.

5. Illinois - Mumford and Sons: Every 5-10 years or so comes along a band that has a 3 year shelf life.  Mumford and Sons is that band.  They are as deep as a puddle and they sing the same song over and over again.  They are trendy right now, but you, me, and your brother's dog all know that they will be a punch line in 10 years.  "Dude, remember when we went to that Mumford and Sons concert?  How fucking embarrassing was that?!"  Think Dave Mathews Band, Limp Bizkit, and Kid Rock.  They are all fun, but they have the life expectancy of the Big 12 conference.

6. Iowa - The Cure: They have a passionate fan base, some would consider it a cult following nonetheless it's as passionate of a fan base as you will find.  They specialize in dark, Gothic, alternative, however they have come out with 3 or 4 main stream hits such as: "Friday, I'm in Love", "Boys Don't Cry", and "Just Like Heaven".   Some consider The Cure the Kings of the First Wave of Alternative Rock.

7. Ohio State - Britney Spears: People have written her off before only to find it backfire.  Spears is an elite entertainer that continues to find ways to reinvent herself.  After a personal crisis 5 years ago, she is back on the top of the Billboard charts once again.  Once you think she is down for good, she pops right back up better and stronger than ever.

8. Penn State - Michael Jackson: The late Michael Jackson is the undisputed King of Pop was amazing in the 80's and to this day, no one in music will ever say a bad word about him.  He was transcendent, progressive, and simply put amazing, but his music eroded late in his career and most people found it painful to watch him perform in public because he looked terrible and was a shell of his former self.  Simply put most people saw the end of Michael Jackson's career as simply sad, no one wants to watch a legend fail.

9. Northwestern - Taylor Swift: Sweet, innocent, and rarely taken serious by anyone over the age of 25.  She is cute and talented but doesn't strike fear into anyone.  A tireless worker who will consistently overachieve.


10. Purdue - Kid Rock: He had a heck of a run in the early 2000's taking the country by storm with his mix of rap, rock, and folk.  He was progressive and invigorated the music industry with a new genre that it hadn't ever seen before.  That genre is still being used today, however Kid's career has fallen off a cliff.


11. Indiana - William Hung: He made a career for himself by being terrible on American Idol. 


12. Minnesota - Frank Sinatra: Ol' blue eyes was an icon!  However, he doesn't resonate with today's generation.   He had an incredible run from the 40's to 60's and to this day is looked at as a legend.  His strong powerful voice was unmatched.   It's too bad that old blue eyes passed away in 1998.  He is sorely missed. 

B1G predictions: Week 5

Penn State 34, Indiana 16: The Nittany Lions will discover their offense against the hapless Hoosiers.  Indiana had their hands full in a loss to North Texas so they will have all kinds of problems with Silas Redd and company.

Michigan 38, Minnesota 23: I don't think the Wolverines will score 40, but they will come close.  Meanwhile the Gophers will score a pair of touchdowns in garbage time to make the score look closer than it was.  The Wolverines will keep the little brown jug in Ann Arbor, where it has made it's home 23 out of the last 24 years.

Northwestern 27, Illinois 21: Illinois reminds me of an alcoholic that has managed to stay sober for 4 straight weeks.  They are attending meetings and reading the big book and everyone is so proud of them.  However, those who know the history of the Illini know better.  They will relapse eventually and in all likelihood it's going to be an all night bender where they wake up in a pool of their own vomit.  Don't get me wrong the Illini deserve credit for their hot start and their excellent play, but we know the Illini all too well and they aren't capable of sustaining success.  This weekend against in-state rival Northwestern, a team that returns QB Dan Persa, is the perfect game for them to relapse.  I will take a Pat Fitzgerald coached team over a Ron Zook coached team 100 times out of 100.

Ohio State 24, Michigan State 20: I don't like the Spartans history with the Buckeyes so I'm taking TOSU.  Michigan State along with Florida State and Nebraska were three of the most overrated teams in the country to start the year.  They are all top 25 teams, but not one of them is a top 10 team.  Ohio State gets another good performance from Braxton Miller against a suspect Michigan State defense.

Wisconsin 31, Nebraska 20: The Cornhuskers will get their best performance of the year out of the blackshirt defense and it won't matter.  Bucky will still win this game by double digits.  Nebraska's one dimensional offense will be no match for Wisconsin's balanced attack.

Notre Dame 28, Purdue 23: This game is always close and this year will be no different despite Purdue's struggles so far this year.  Most people will pick Notre Dame to win by at least two touchdowns, but mark my words this game will be close.

Last Week: 9-1 Overall: 40-6

B1G power rankings: Week 5

1. Wisconsin: Simply the best team in the conference and it's not close.  The Badgers played their worst game of the year last Saturday and still won by almost 50 points.  The Badgers are a well oiled machine and they will give an overrated Nebraska team a rude welcome to the B1G next weekend.

2. Nebraska: Wisconsin is the only BCS caliber team the conference has to offer in my opinion and the Badgers will show why next weekend when they clobber the Cornhuskers in Madison. The Huskers have looked good, but not great so far and they better figure out their defensive issues in a hurry or they will give up at least 30 points to the Badgers on Saturday. 

3. Ohio State: The Buckeyes looked really good against a better than advertised Colorado team, but that loss to Miami a week and a 1/2 ago is really bugging me.  For Pete's sake the Hurricanes have lost to Maryland and Kansas State!  It looks like the close win against Toledo wasn't so bad as the Rockets should only have two loses to Boise State and Ohio State, but were robbed by the officials last weekend in Syracuse.  Outside of the Miami game the Buckeyes have looked okay and Braxton Miller will get better and better as the season progresses so all in all I like the Buckeyes.  They still have the best roster of talent in the conference.  Circle your calendars for an October 29th showdown with Wisconsin in the Shoe.

4. Iowa: I believe the Hawkeyes will be one of the Top 20 teams in the country by seasons end and I'm not going to let an early season loss to Iowa State change my mind.  James Vandenberg is an NFL caliber quarterback and with weapons like Marcus Coker, Marvin McNutt, and Keenan Davis surrounding him I have no doubt I will be vindicated by seasons end.  The Hawkeyes have a balanced offense to go along with a strong back 7 on defense.  They do need to play better along the front 4 defensively and they will get better by seasons end.

5. Michigan State: That loss to Notre Dame two weeks ago was a bad one because the Spartans were never really in the game.  Notre Dame is better than their record indicates but the Spartans continue to lose games to good teams by wide margins.  It's hard for me to believe that the Spartans beat Wisconsin last year.  The defense still has some things to work out before taking on a brutal B1G road schedule.

6. Michigan: The Wolverines are 4-0 for the third year in a row, but I know for a fact things won't turn south the way they did in 2009 and 2010 under Rich Rodriguez.  While the Wolverines aren't even close to being back to "Michigan" standards they are well on their way under first year head coach Brady Hoke.  The Wolverines should win 8 or 9 games this year.  They open B1G season with cupcake Minnesota, a team the Wolverines have absolutely owned.  The little brown jug has a permanent residence in Ann Arbor and has only taken short trips to Minneapolis in 1986 and 2005 in the last 30 years.  There is zero chance the jug makes another trip to Minneapolis this year.

7. Illinois: Holy smoke did I jump the gun on the Illini last week after their win over Arizona State.  I think I had them 4th?!  Don't get me wrong the Illini will go bowling this year and make it back to back bowl appearances for the first time in nearly 20 years, but this just isn't a great team, it's just a good team.  The Illini struggled with Western Michigan and still haven't found a work horse, number 1 type of tailback to lead them yet.  Their defense has been much better than expected.  I still see the Illini finishing with only 3 or 4 wins in conference play.

8. Penn State: Matt McGloin was solid against Eastern Michigan and probably sowed up the starting quarterback position heading into B1G play.  The only thing he needs to do now is be consistent, something he struggled with last year.  Speaking of consistent the Nitts also need to show they can be a consistent team. 

9. Northwestern: The Wildcats should get Dan Persa back for the conference opener with Illinois and I expect a barn burner between the Cats and Illini and Persa and Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase.  The Cats had an extra week to get Persa healthy with last weeks bye.

10. Purdue: The Boilermakers were the other idle team in the B1G and look to turn the corner after struggling with injuries and lackluster performances in the non conference season.

11. Minnesota: The Gophers were humiliated at home by their neighbors to the west, the North Dakota State Bison.  The Gophers committed costly penalties and turnovers and lost by double digits.  They were outplayed in every phase of the game.  To make matters worse Head Coach Jerry Kill checked himself into the Mayo Clinic after having another seizure Sunday morning.  Kill's return is unknown at this point and all we can do now is say a prayer for the coach and his family.

11. Indiana:  I am putting the Gophers and Hoosiers in a tie for last in the power rankings because simply put they are both awful.  The Hoosiers found themselves down 24-0 to a dreadful North Texas team only to mount a furious rally that fell short as they lost 24-21.  Still, you shouldn't need a furious rally against North Texas.  The Gophers and Hoosiers had great off seasons as both coaches created a lot of hype and hope with their respective fan bases and landed key instate recruits, but the results on the field have been nothing short of horrendous.

B1G predictions: Week 4

Last week: 10-2, Overall: 31-5

Michigan State 31, Central Michigan 17: Kirk Cousins and co. suffer from a hangover of the Notre Dame game in the 1st half against the Chippewas, but turn it on in the 2nd half to cruise to a two touchdown victory at home.

Michigan 27, San Diego State 24 OT: I'm calling an OT game!  What better game to do it than Brady Hoke going against his former team.  Adernaline will be sky high on both sidelines, or at least as humanly possible for a San Diego State vs. Michigan game.  An amped up Aztecs team will take a halftime lead in a see saw game that will have a high number of penalties due to the emotion of both teams.  In the end a Denard Robinson touchdown run will give the Wolverines a W and keep Robinson on the Heisman radar.

Penn State 23, Eastern Michigan 7: Vegas has Penn State favored by 29 points.  If any of you gamble legally, I beg you to take Eastern Michigan to cover.  It will be the easiest money you ever make in your life.  McGloin and Bolden will continue to stumble all over themselves.  Silas Redd will run for two long touchdowns to give the Nittany Lions a non descript win over a lousy MAC team.

Iowa 41, Louisiana-Monroe 13: Speaking of gambling, Iowa is favored by only 17 to beat Louisiana-Monroe!  That is another bet I would take.  Iowa will easily take care of ULM.  Look for Marcus Coker to wake up from his early season nap and have a huge day, rushing for over 200 yards and 2 TDs as the Hawkeyes obliterate the 17 point spread.

Ohio State 30, Colorado 20: The Buffs will score points so the Buckeyes better have their offensive woes solved, and I think they will against a really bad CU defense.  Eric Bienemy's CU offense will pile up yards but have trouble scoring in the red zone as Buffs qb Tyler Hansen will throw a pair of INTs and Braxton Miller will have the best day of his young career for OSU throwing for 200 yards and rushing for 100 in the victory.

Wisconsin 56, South Dakota 7: This is one of those name your score sort of games.  The Badgers will have 42 on the board at half before calling off the dogs in the second half of a laugher.  ***side note - Minnesota lost to the Yotes last year but their is 0 chance of the Badgers ever letting this game be in doubt.

Illinois 24, Western Michigan 16: Be careful before you jump on the Illinois bandwagon too quick, they have two cupcake wins and a squeaker over an overrated Arizona State team at home.  Don't get me wrong, it's not like I don't think the Illini are a talented team with the potential to have a really special season.  I just need to see more is all.  Nathan Scheelhaase does just enough to bail out a sloppy performance from the Illini on both sides of the ball.  Illinois will have a lot to clean up before the B1G schedule starts a week later.

Indiana 32, North Texas 23: This will be a messy game for both teams but in the end the Hoosiers have just a bit too much firepower for the Mean Green.  D'Angelo Roberts continues to impress at running back for the Hoosiers rushing for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

Nebraska 41, Wyoming 20: Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead will run all over the Cowboys in Laramie.  Wyoming will make it a close game in the first half, but the Huskers will exert their will over the much smaller Cowboys in the second half running at will in what will turn out to be a route.

UPSET SPECIAL
North Dakota State 31, Minnesota 27: The Bison are one of the best teams in FCS and legitimate National Championship contenders at that level.  This game is also their Super Bowl before the FCS playoffs start.  NDSU will have 1/2 of Fargo in Minneapolis rooting on the Bison.  Only about 15,000 of them will make it into TCF Bank Stadium and the rest will be in bars, restaurants, tailgate lots, and hotels across Minneapolis.  They won't be disappointed in the trip as quarterback Brock Jensen will complete over 75 percent of his passes to keep the Minnesota defense honest and the tailback tandem of Sam Ojuri and D.J. McNorton will combine to rush for over 200 yards as the Bison shock Minnesota in Minneapolis for the second meeting in a row.  The Gophers will mount a little bit of a comeback in the second half, but the Bison will go on a 7 minute TD drive late in the 4th quarter to ice the game.  The NDSU fight song will be the most frequently played song on Saturday night in Minneapolis at Sally's and Stub and Herb's.

"We Are The Pride"[click here to listen]

Verse:We are the pride of North Dakota
State collegiates are we
Sons of the green and yellow prairies
Our colors will ever be
(Yell) STATE BISON!!
Cheer for our dear ol' alma mater
Proud and loyal are we
And we'll fight -- RAH! RAH!
Yes we'll fight -- RAH! RAH!
For North Dakota State U team.

Chorus:Cheer for the Bison -- HIT 'EM AGAIN!  HIT 'EM AGAIN!
Cheer for the Bison -- HIT 'EM AGAIN!  HIT 'EM AGAIN!
Band refrain -- (Yell) FIGHT!
Band refrain -- (Yell) FIGHT!
Band refrain -- (Yell) FIGHT!
Repeat chorus.

B1G power rankings: Week 4

1. Wisconsin: They are without question the Number 1 team in the B1G and a legitimate BCS Championship contender.  Russell Wilson has my Heisman vote as of now.

2. Nebraska: With a healthy Taylor Martinez, the Huskers offense sure looks potent.  However, after giving up 29 and 38 points the last two weeks to Fresno State and Washington respectively, I'm sure some folks are getting a little nervous about the blackshirt defense.  I thought it would be just the opposite for Nebraska this year, strong defense and a pedestrian offense, but so far I was wrong.  I do think the defense will play better as the season grows older and the offense will come back to earth once they are forced to throw more against B1G defenses.

3. Iowa: Don't sleep on the Hawkeyes.  I know they looked mediocre for 3 quarters against Pitt, but a lot of that had to do with their competition.  Once the Hawkeyes get into B1G play they will have guns a blazin.  Speaking of guns how about James Vandenberg?!  He threw for 399 yards and engineered a comeback win after the Hawkeyes were down 21 points in the 3rd quarter.  Once Marcus Coker awakes from hibernation this offense will be one of the best in the conference.

4. Illinois:  I can't believe I'm putting a Ron Zook coached team this high but I am.  The thing with Illinois is they will have a BCS bowl team one year and then win 4 or 5 games the next.  I still don't love the Illini as a program as they and their head coach have been wildly inconsistent, but they have talent and a favorable schedule.  I must admit that Illinois looks a lot better than I gave them credit for in the pre-season and they will easily eclipse the 5 wins I predicted for them.  However, the schedule is daunting late in the year so it's best if the Illini don't stumble early and so far so good.  The Illini defense played extremely well against a hot quarterback in Arizona State's Brock Osweiler.

5. Michigan State: The Spartans got spanked by an angry Notre Dame team and will have to rebound to salvage their season.  I have noticed an alarming trend with Michigan State, when they get beat they get beat badly...

6. Michigan: The Wolverines look really good, but they looked good early in 2009 and 2010 as well.  However, with a new coaching staff that seems set on doing it the Michigan way I don't see a repeat of the last two years.  This coaching staff is at least trying to play defense and even though it's a work in progress the improvements made on that side of the ball have been dramatic. 

7. Ohio State:  The Buckeyes are unranked for the first time in a long time.  ESPN Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenburg wrote that it looked funny to not see a number by Ohio State's name and I must admit that I agree with him.  The Buckeye's quarterback play makes Penn State's situation look like an embarrassment of riches.  McGloin and Bolden of PSU have looked like Unitas and Montana compared to what TOSU has gotten out of Braxton Miller and Joe Bauserman.

8. Penn State: Speaking of awful quarterback play Penn State isn't exactly tearing it up throwing the ball either.  The Nittany Lions played in one of the ugliest games I have ever seen with my own two eyes against Temple last weekend and escaped with a win.  The defense has been exceptional, but the offense outside of a few big plays from Derek Moye and Silas Redd has been abysmal.

9. Northwestern: I had a hunch the Cats luck without Dan Persa was going to run out eventually and it did last weekend against Army.  Look for Persa to return for B1G play and Northwestern will do what they usually do under Pat Fitzgerald, improve as the season goes along.

10. Purdue: The Boilermakers absolutely demolished an over matched SE Missouri State team 59-0.  It was a huge relief for Head Coach Danny Hope, who's team had a near loss against Middle Tennessee at home and loss on the road against Rice.  Robert Marve returned from injury for Purdue and he combined with Caleb TerBush to help the Purdue go 22-27 passing.

11. Minnesota: The Gophers got a much needed win against Miami (OH) and the Gophers managed to put together two solid halves of football.  Their head coach, Jerry Kill returned to the sideline in the victory his first as coach of the Gophers.

12. Indiana: The Hoosiers managed to commit 20 penalties against South Carolina State and still won.  You can commit 20 penalties against a lousy FCS opponent and still pick up a win.  First year head coach Kevin Wilson picked up his first victory for the Hoosiers as they defended the rock in Bloomington.

B1G predictions: Week 3

Michigan 38, Eastern Michigan 13: The Wolverines will avoid a letdown against an awful team from the MAC.  Michigan will get off to a sloppy start, committing penalties, and allowing an early EMU score before taking control for good.

Penn State 20, Temple 17: The Nittany Lions will squeak by the Owls in Philadelphia, and be relieved to do so.  I suspect that a lot of people will pick Temple to win outright, but I think Silas Redd and Robert Bolden will prove to be a little too much for the Owls to handle on the ground.  Penn State will rush for 250 yards and use a ball control offense in the win.  The Penn State passing game will still look rough, but it won't matter in this game.

Iowa 31, Pittsburgh 23: Marcus Coker will rush for over 150 yards and avoid fumblitis - at least for this week and the Hawkeyes will turn in a complete performance over Pitt at home.

Purdue 44, Southeast Missouri State 20: Caleb TerBush will put together a solid 4 quarters, throwing for over 300 yards in a Boilermaker romp.

Indiana 51, South Carolina State 17: We will see the Kevin Wilson offense explode this week against South Carolina State.  This game will give us a glimpse of what to expect when Gunner Kiel arrives in Bloomington in 2012.

Notre Dame 38, Michigan State 34: The Irish offense won't commit any turnovers and Tommy Rees will have another big passing day, torching the Spartans secondary for almost 400 yards and 4 TDs.  Cousins and the Spartans offense will keep pace in a seesaw game that will finally go the way of the Irish.

Nebraska 28, Washington 27:  I am really tempted to pick the Huskies in this one, but I can't quite pull the trigger.  I am going with the Cornhuskers in a revenge game.  The Huskers have a chip on their shoulders after the way last season ended and will avenge their bowl loss to the Huskies from UW.  Nebraska will have trouble with Washington quarterback Keith Price, but will shut him down in the all important 4th quarter.

Army 23, Northwestern 21:  The Cats always drop a game unexpectedly in the non-conference season and this will be the game in 2011.  Army is good enough to beat a Northwestern team that is far from a finished product.  Kain Kolter will commit a few turnovers and Army will use a ball control offense to eat up clock and finish off the Cats.

Wisconsin 31, Northern Illinois 21: Current Northern Illinois Head Coach and former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren will give his former team their biggest test of the season to this point.  NIU quarterback Chandler Harnish will put up 300 yards of total offense in a losing cause for the Huskies.

Arizona State 30, Illinois 28: This is the ultimate litmus test for the Illini.  I still don't believe in them, but I welcome them to prove me wrong.  I just have a tough time trusting an Illinois program that hasn't put together back to back winning seasons in 20 years and a coach that is looked at as a week link.  Zook and the Illini are likeable enough, but are wildly inconsistent and unpredictable.  They have looked good so far; however it's been against Arkansas State and South Dakota State.  Look for Brock Osweiler to throw for over 300 yards against an Illinois defense that is still trying to find itself after losing Corey Liuget and Martez Wilson this offseason.  Nathan Scheelhaase will continue to impress in a losing cause.

Ohio State 23, Miami (FL) 16: I can't in good consciousness pick the Hurricanes, they are an absolute mess!  I like Al Golden but good lord they are an absolute grease fire.  The Buckeyes issues seem like a parking ticket compared to the Hurricanes problems.  The Buckeye running backs are the difference in this ugly game.

LOCK OF THE WEEK
Minnesota 24, Miami Ohio 21: Maybe I've had too many Stellas tonight (I have had three), but I just can't see Minnesota losing this week after the catastrophe that took place last week @ TCF Bank Stadium.  The Gophers lost to one of the worst programs in FCS and their coach suffered a 5 minute seizure on the sideline towards the end of the game.  The Gophers will be fired up to play for Coach Kill and won't allow themselves to lose.  I don't have any rational explanation for this being the lock of the week other than a team playing with raw emotion and will for their head coach.  This prediction defies all logic, but I'm going with it anyway...  Miami doesn't have a great passing offense, which will also help the Gophers.  There is zero chance the Gophers lose this game.

Last week: 10-2, Overall: 21-3 (.875)

B1G power rankings: Week 3

1. Wisconsin: Russell Wilson has had all day to throw and the running backs have had holes the size of the Grand Canyon to run through.  That is what a great offensive line will do for you.  Wilson probably didn't realize that playing quarterback could be this easy, he was harassed regularly playing behind a mediocre offensive line at N.C. State, but now has all day behind one of the best lines in the country and it has showed.  Wilson is second in the country in quarterback rating, and is completing an astounding 79.4% of his passes.

2. Michigan State:  I don't feel safe about the Spartans staying this high in the power rankings, but they get the nod for the number 2 spot this week after a dominant performance against Florida Atlantic.  The Spartans have a brutal B1G road schedule this year and will have to be running at full strength to stay this high by seasons end.

3. Ohio State:  I am not going to overreact to one poor performance against a MAC team.  I have seen B1G teams lose to MAC teams and turn around and have strong seasons.  Northwestern won the Big Ten years ago after losing to Miami (OH).  The Buckeyes should expect some bumps in the road early in the season with the five game suspensions to Posey, Herron, and others, not to mention the loss of their head coach.  The Buckeyes will easily be one of the 3 or 4 best teams in the conference by seasons end.

4. Nebraska:  That black shirt defense didn't look that great last Saturday night against Fresno State, but on a positive note it looks like Taylor Martinez is healthy and let's be honest, his health is the key to their entire season.  If the Huskers don't have a healthy Martinez their offense looks like a lost puppy dog.

5. Iowa:  I am not going to let the loss to Iowa State drop the Hawkeyes that low.  I have seen Iowa lose to Iowa State and still have a great season.  This is still a talented, well coached team.

6. Michigan:  Denard Robinson has magic in him.  Anyone that watched the Michigan/Notre Dame game had to be thinking that was one of the most exciting finishes in the history of college football.  Robinson only completed like 11 passes, but ended up throwing for over 300 yards and 4 TD's.  Buyer beware however as the Wolverines have had exciting wins over Notre Dame and fast starts the last two years that fizzled into extremely disappointing seasons.  Let's see how the Michigan defense performs over the course of the year.  One thing is known, the defense will have to improve dramatically for the Wolverine to win 9 or 10 games.

7. Illinois: I have a hard time believing in Illinois and Ron Zook so I am reluctant to even put them in the middle of the power rankings, but so far the Illini have looked really good.  It's hard to gauge just how good they are after battering the likes of Arkansas State and South Dakota State, but you have to give the Illini credit for blasting a couple teams they should.  Just ask Minnesota about playing over matched teams at home... The Gophers have lost to South Dakota and New Mexico State in their last two home openers respectively.  The Illini also have a favorable schedule playing 8 games at home this year, a school record.

8. Penn State:  The Nittany Lions quarterbacks are one word - awful!  They have a very formidable D and a great young back in Silas Redd, but holy smoke they need to get a competent qb.  They are really going to struggle this year in B1G play if McGloin and Bolden continue to struggle.  One of those two needs to step up his game immediately.

9. Northwestern:  Wildcat fans are probably annoyed to see their team this low, but I need to see more from this team before I put them higher in the rankings.  They beat an awful Boston College team and an FCS foe.  Kain Kolter is a cute little quarterback, but they will need a healthy Dan Persa to have any shot of returning to a bowl game.

10. Purdue:  You could throw the names of the last three teams in the conference into a hat and draw them out to determine the last three slots in the power rankings and it wouldn't matter.  Their is a drop off the size of Alaska between the 9th and 10th best teams in the B1G after week 2.  Indiana, Purdue, and Minnesota have all showed they absolutely suck after two weeks of non-conference competition.  I will go with Purdue as the 10th best team, simply because they are the most experienced and have the most junior/senior heavy roster.

11. Minnesota:  After watching the Gophers outscore USC 14-0 at the LA Coliseum in the 2nd half on Labor Day weekend and lose by only two to the men of Troy I thought the Gophers would carry that momentum into their home opener and absolutely demolish New Mexico State.  Wow, was I ever wrong.  The Gopher secondary got burnt deep, failed to even breathe on Aggies QB Andrew Manley, and couldn't get more than 2 or 3 yards per carry from their running backs and when they needed a yard on 4th and short were stuffed both times by a defense that was trampled by the Ohio Bobcats just one week earlier.  It was just an embarrassing performance by the Gophers.  On a positive note it looks like Head Coach Jerry Kill is going to make a full recovery after having a seizure on the sideline late in the game.

12. Indiana:  The Hoosiers did what they do best, gag and throw up all over themselves.  The Hoosiers managed to climb back and take the lead after being down by 20 points to the Virginia Cavaliers.  However, quarterback Ed Wright-Baker fumbled deep in his own territory late in the game leading to the winning field goal for the Cavaliers.

B1G predictions: Week 2

Iowa 27, Iowa State 23: The Cyclones will put up a valiant effort against in state rival Iowa per usual, but it will be James Vandenburg and Marvin McNutt who have the last laugh hooking up for a touchdown with less than 2 minutes to go in the game to ice it.  The bad news for the Hawkeyes is they will be forced to hoist the hideous Cy-Hawk trophy.  Although there are rumors the trophy was changed, can anyone confirm?

Michigan State 45, Florida Atlantic 17: The Spartans will do this week what they should have done last week - destroy an inferior opponent.

Ohio State 38, Toledo 13:  Don't even think for a minute that the Rockets are going to cover the spread, because they won't...  Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall will run at will on a bad Rockets defense.

Wisconsin 55, Oregon State 20: The Beavers had trouble stopping Sacramento State so much so that they lost the game.  The only way the Badgers even have to punt is if they stop themselves because it sure as heck isn't going to be Oregon State.  Russell Wilson will continue to build up his Heisman resume in the 1st half before sitting in the 2nd half in a blow out.

Illinois 34, South Dakota State 21:  The Jackrabbits from South Dakota State will hang around long enough to make the folks in Champaign a little nervous.  The Jackrabbits have gone into B1G stadiums and hung around before narrowly losing to Minnesota in 2009 and Nebraska in 2010.  The massive Illini offensive line will wear down SDSU in the 4th quarter and make the game look like a more comfortable win than it really was.

Northwestern 33, Eastern Illinois 14: The Cats win an ugly one, and get another tongue lashing from Pat Fitzgerald.  Kain Colter shows his inexperience in his second start in relief of Dan Persa and the Cats depend on the legs of Mike Trumpy to get by EIU in an ugly performance for the ages.

Minnesota 41, New Mexico State 17: What's this?!  Minnesota routing a team they are supposed too?  I haven't seen that since the Truman administration,... or at least since the Mason administration.  Jerry Kill gets er' done and the Minnesota faithful lets out a deep sigh of relief.  Both MarQueis Gray and Max Shortell get work under center and excel.

Alabama 35, Penn State 17: Bama absolutely punishes an over matched Penn State team in Happy Valley.  Both Matt McGloin and Rob Bolden look completely lost and toss 3 INT's combined. The Alabama offense uses a punishing running game to take care of business on the road.

Rice 31, Purdue 24: I don't know what it is about Purdue I don't like but I absolutely hate them in this game.  The Boilermakers wilt like a flower in the Texas heat.  The Boilermakers have a thin roster and have already been bitten by the injury bug.  That is a recipe for disaster in the Texas heat.

Virginia 27, Indiana 17:  Indiana gets outworked, out muscled, out coached, and everything else under the sun against a mediocre but well coached Virginia team.  If the Hoosiers had trouble at both lines of scrimmage from a middle of the road MAC team I can just imagine the problems they will have with a middle of the road ACC team.

Nebraska 30, Fresno State 10:  The Huskers cruise with out too much turbulence from Fresno State.  The Bulldogs will keep it close at half time, but the Huskers will prove to be too physical to handle in the second half.

Michigan 20, Notre Dame 17:  A lot of people like Notre Dame to rebound this week, but I don't.  I think Hoke will have the Wolverines ready in their first real test of the season.  The Wolverines play to win, while the Irish play not to lose and that will be the difference.  Tommy Rees throws two INT's in the loss and prolongs the quarterback controversy in South Bend.

Last week: 11-1 Overall: 11-1

Laguna Beach/The Hills B1G power rankings

I have decided to do a second version of the power rankings this week just for fun and have decided to poke fun at the popular teen reality show Laguna Beach and it's spinoff The Hills.  I am embarrassed to admit that I was a fan of both shows thanks to my wife, so with without further ado I present to you the Power Rankings – cheesy reality show style:



Wisconsin – Audrina Patridge: She was awkward and unsure of herself years ago, but she grew up to become a smoke show ascending to one of the most attractive women in Hollywood.





Ohio State – Kristen Cavallari: She is a hot mess and completely vulnerable after her fiancé broke off their engagement, but she still has some of the best measurables of any celebrity out there.  She has a chip on her shoulder and is on the rebound, but will be looking for a long term partner by New Years and it won’t be with her current fling/rebound.




Iowa – Lo Bosworth: She is a perfectionist, rarely makes mistakes, and always overachieves.  She is sweet and well liked by her peers, but comes off as a bit pretentious at times even though she isn’t trying to be.  She isn’t the hottest girl, but looks good despite her lack of measurables.  She is always a force to be reckoned with despite the fact she looks innocent and unassuming.






Nebraska – Heidi Montag: She is naturally beautiful, but tried to change who she was when she became involved in a bad relationship.  She had too much plastic surgery and is trying to repair her image as the beautiful girl next door, but she is still showing the effects of her relationship with Spencer Pratt.  She is making strides toward becoming what she once was, but her reputation may be destroyed forever.





Michigan State – Whitney Port: Forever #2 to friend/competitor Lauren Conrad, Port has become more powerful than her rival recently.  She has outperformed her rival as a designer and has landed some big time gigs in NYC fashion shows including her own spinoff titled “The City”.  However, despite her recent success she will always be looked at as second fiddle to LC.  Speaking of which…





Michigan – Lauren Conrad: She has unlimited resources: a wealthy family, a huge name brand, millions of followers, makes tons of money from endorsements, and is considered the face of the Laguna Hills/The City franchise.  She has slipped in recent years because she has tried to re-invent herself professionally despite the fact she didn’t need to.  However, she seems to be back on the right track with her enormous name brand.





Penn State – Brody Jenner: He has rugged good looks and is looked at by most as classic, simple, and easy going.  He isn’t pretentious or materialistic, despite his money and would be content with a life spent surfing and living in a modest home.  He isn’t an in your face celebrity, but rather a simple dude who just happens to be wildly popular and successful.





Illinois – Justin Bobby: He is a complete flake.  You don’t know if he is just stoned to the bajesus or if he is actually that goofy.  One day he looks clean shaven and dapper, the next he looks like a homeless person that hasn’t showered or shaved in weeks.





Minnesota – Jason Wahler: He has a history of alcoholism, but he seems to have straightened himself out after checking himself into a rehab clinic with Dr. Drew.  Most people were disgusted with Wahler on the show, but have now taken a liking too him after watching him on VH1’s Celebrity Rehab.  He is an easy going dude that most people are rooting for and his heart is in the right place, but he has a history of catastrophic collapses, which keep everyone around him on edge.





Northwestern – Spencer Pratt: Most people don’t think he deserves Heidi, but she is faithful to him despite his shortcomings.  Most people if not all think it’s just a matter of time before they split for good.





Purdue – Talon: He had a nice run on season 2 of The Hills, dating Kristin Cavallari, and some other chicks on the side, but he has taken a meteoric fall back to earth.  He hasn’t been heard from in almost 5 years and no once sees a return to glory for the likeable surfer.




Indiana – Jessica Smith: She is sweet, innocent, unassuming, gullible, has low self-esteem, and can be taken advantage of.  She is just one big pillow for everyone to land on.  She has an inferiority complex that seems to be incurable.  She has been cheated on regularly by her boyfriends.

B1G power rankings: Week 2

1. Wisconsin:  The Badgers looked like a well oiled machine last week stomping UNLV.  Russell Wilson looks like he may be as good as advertised after an impressive debut in Camp Randall.  Keep your eye on Wilson as a dark horse Heisman candidate.

2. Ohio State:  Most people noticed that the Buckeyes still have plenty of athletes at their disposal.  Don't let their off the field issues and suspensions fool you.  This team is still the deepest in the conference and it will show, especially as the year wears on.  Joe Bauserman, who will turn 26 in October, may be the perfect quarterback to lead this team.  An older, mature quarterback is not a bad thing for a team that has lacked discipline off the field.

3. Iowa:  I am starting to worry about the Hawkeyes depth at running back, especially after Mika'il McCall suffered a season ending injury against Tennessee Tech.  Marcus Coker is great, but even with his size he'll need help from someone and he won't have Adam Robinson, or McCall to give him a breather this year.  On a positive note James Vandenburg continues to impress me.  I think he is the best pure passer in the conference and he did nothing to make me sway from my opinion last week.  Look for Vandenburg and Marvin McNutt to hook up again this week early and often against rival Iowa State. The Hawkeyes defense looked good last week, but we won't have an idea as to just how good it will be for another 3-4 weeks.

4. Nebraska:  A route of Chatanooga does nothing for me.  On a positive note Taylor Martinez looked healthy rushing for over 100 yards in the win.  Rex Burkhead is who he is - workmanlike and nothing better.  The Blackshirts D will be great once again, but the measuring stick for how successful this team will be rests within the consistency of the offense and the jury is still out.

5. Michigan State:  The Spartans looked lethargic against Youngstown State, but it's understandable after the recent death of Mark Dantonio's father.  I expect the Spartans to look much better this week against Florida Atlantic.

6. Penn State: Silas Redd is a creature, but the rest of the Nittany Lion offense leaves a lot to be desired.  They still haven't a clue who their quarterback is going to be and they have the pleasure of playing Alabama this week.  The Nittany Lions defense is good, but not good enough to stop BAMA.  I see the Nittany Lions getting routed this weekend.

7. Michigan:  What's this?!  A Michigan defense showing a pulse?  That was a sight for sore eyes for Wolverine fans everywhere.  The offense looked neutered, but man that D looked a lot better, then again they played Western Michigan...  But what does that say about the offense than?  I think DRob and company will get their act together eventually and it probably starts this week against a reeling but ticked off Notre Dame team.

8. Illinois:  That was a sloppy defensive performance from the Illini and I am tempted to drop them lower in my power rankings, but I will keep them here for now.  It's always a risk to buy a Ron Zook coached team's stock and I am thinking about selling all of my shares sooner rather than later.  This team definitely has some talent, but I worry about the organization and discipline as well as their identity.  It seems like the coaching staff in Champaign has become obsessed with throwing the ball more this year, which would be a catastrophic mistake.  This team is made to run the ball with it's offensive line and Nathan Scheelhaase, let's not turn Scheelhaase into another Juice Williams and take him out of his comfort zone.  Illinois has been the most successful running the football under Zook and they shouldn't get too cute with airing it out.

9. Minnesota:  The Gophers are a team I am tempted to put higher, but I am going to refrain because it was just one game.  I still need to see the Gophers smash a team they are supposed to before I am ready to say they have turned a corner.  There have been way to many losses and close calls against teams from the Dakota's and directional namesakes.  The Gophers need to do what they did under Glen Mason - bully an inferior opponent into submission.   They will get their chance this week against New Mexico State, which is one of the worst programs in the FBS.

10. Northwestern: Count me unimpressed with Northwestern's win over Boston College.  Yeah I know it was a road win against a BCS conference opponent, but Boston College is awful, and even Pat Fitzgerald admitted as much.  Fitzgerald had this to say "We let a team hang around that had no business doing so."  The Cats are clearly a well coached team under Fitzgerald, but I need to see more than just a so-so victory over a lower echelon BCS conference team like BC.  I will give the Cats credit for doing what they did with backup Kain Colter, but Minnesota almost upset USC with a true freshman.

11. Purdue:  I have a hunch this is going to be Danny Hope's last season in West Lafayette and for the record I hope I'm wrong.  Hope is an incredibly likable, engaging individual, but he is a shadow of his predecessor when it comes to coaching.  He does have the best mustache in the league however...

12. Indiana:  When IU first hired Kevin Wilson I snickered a bit because he has been a career assistant and is an offensive minded coach and the Hoosiers needed their D fixed, not their O.  After gaining a verbal commitment from Gunner Kiel, one of the nations top prep quarterbacks, I started to become a believer, and then they got their @$$*$ kicked at the line of scrimmage by a MAC team and I am off the Wilson band wagon once again.  Hee hee