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
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cheer for the Bison -- HIT 'EM AGAIN! HIT 'EM AGAIN!
Band refrain -- (Yell) FIGHT!
Band refrain -- (Yell) FIGHT!
Band refrain -- (Yell) FIGHT!
Repeat chorus.
Monday, September 19, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
B1G predictions: Week 3
Penn State 20,
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
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.
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.
Arizona State 30,
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...
Last week: 10-2, Overall: 21-3 (.875)
Monday, September 12, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
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
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
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
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
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