Foaming At The Mouth
At The Half
So the Big Ten football season is now half over Here's where things stand:
Ohio State (3-0 conference, 6-0 overall) After beating Purdue, they've become the best team in the conference by default. Their win against Washington had more credibility when Washington gave USC a run for their money last week, but USC just lost to Stanford. So now the win against Purdue is all we have to go on. To be sure, Ohio State was clearly the better team on the field for that game, but I still think this team is vulnerable. The offense is no juggernaut and the defense has a lot of inexperienced players yet.
Illinois (3-0 conference, 5-1 overall) All those who bought into Illinois' chances as this year's Big Ten dark horse are now earning dividends on that investment. The win over Penn State makes them legit contenders with several name players to their credit. And they've done a lot of this without Juice Williams raising hell on opposition defenses. It may turn out that Ron Zook can do more than recruit, after all.
Michigan (2-0 conference, 4-2 overall) Michigan is like a cornered animal. Every game from here on out is a must win to rehabilitate their reputation. Even a 'pushover' game like last week's tilt against Eastern Michigan commands their full attention. Meanwhile, Mike Hart is carrying the ball even in garbage time and you better believe Lloyd Carr is coaching like his job is riding on every game. These guys are more dangerous than ever.
Indiana (2-1 conference, 5-1 overall) Can a conference have two Cinderellas? As remarkable as Illinois' progress is, the Hoosiers are the comeback story of the year. Coach dies of a brain tumor in the spring, and now the perennial Big Ten doormat is two wins away from a bowl bid. Mark my words, James Hardy is a name we will continue to hear of catching first downs and touchdowns. But their only win so far is against a down-at-the-heels Iowa squad...
Wisconsin (2-1 conference, 5-1 overall) If only... I had the Badgers as my preseason pick for the Big Ten crown, but circumstances dictated otherwise. The defense wasn't what it appeared to be on paper and now they've lost their top receiver for the season. They'll get their wins this year, but expectations definitely have to be ratcheted down.
Purdue (1-1 conference, 5-1 overall) Purdue had the chance to be the team that slipped into first when all the big names stumbled or knocked each other off. And maybe they'll still be yet. But that Ohio State loss won't help their confidence. Curtis Painter (arguably the best pure QB in the conference) had better find his footing against Michigan. After that it's games against two opponents (Iowa & Northwestern) where Purdue has little to gain and everything to lose.
Penn State (1-2 conference, 4-2 overall) How did Penn State find themselves so far down the list? Well, losing to Illinois will do that to you. But they're mainly victims of circumstance: A loss to Michigan wouldn't usually be the end of their BCS bowl hopes, but now two conference losses this early in the season leaves them facing a series of teams that they can't ignore. All of their next four opponents are further up the Big Ten totem pole so far.
Northwestern (1-2 conference, 3-3 overall) Northwestern finally played a game where they showed the 'Northwestern football' that made them so dangerous a few years ago: Abandon hope on defense and lure teams into track-meet shootouts. It makes for entertaining games and the 'Cats seem to win by playing that style. They're not too far from where they should have expected to be at this point in the season, but that loss to Duke really hurts.
Michigan State (0-2 conference, 4-2 overall) Just when people were thinking that the Spartans were turning the corner, the loss to Northwestern has even the most faithful fans sighing about the 'same old' Michigan State. Which is unfortunate because they're clearly better equipped than last year, especially with Ringer out of the backfield. But the defense will have to get its brutal pass rush back in order if they're to have any hope
Iowa (0-3 conference, 2-4 overall) Where did it all go wrong? We knew the receiving corps was going to be light after their top receiver and last year's best freshman receiver were suspended for that credit card scam. But injuries have made it worse for the passing game as well as the defense. So let's focus on the good news: They're not playing Michigan or Ohio State this year and the recent troubles mean Kirk Ferentz is unlikely to get offers to defect to the NFL or a more noteworthy college program. But in the meantime, this week's game against Illinois means things are unlikely to get better soon.
Minnesota (0-3 conference, 1-5 overall) RB Amir Pinnix will continue to be spoken of politely but the rest is a disaster. They've got no defense, have lost two heartbreaker games (an overtime affair to Bowling Green and one to 1-AA Florida Atlantic), and people are even bitching about the throwback-style uniforms they're wearing this year. If you know a Golden Gopher fan, buy him a drink. He needs it.
At The Half
So the Big Ten football season is now half over Here's where things stand:
Ohio State (3-0 conference, 6-0 overall) After beating Purdue, they've become the best team in the conference by default. Their win against Washington had more credibility when Washington gave USC a run for their money last week, but USC just lost to Stanford. So now the win against Purdue is all we have to go on. To be sure, Ohio State was clearly the better team on the field for that game, but I still think this team is vulnerable. The offense is no juggernaut and the defense has a lot of inexperienced players yet.
Illinois (3-0 conference, 5-1 overall) All those who bought into Illinois' chances as this year's Big Ten dark horse are now earning dividends on that investment. The win over Penn State makes them legit contenders with several name players to their credit. And they've done a lot of this without Juice Williams raising hell on opposition defenses. It may turn out that Ron Zook can do more than recruit, after all.
Michigan (2-0 conference, 4-2 overall) Michigan is like a cornered animal. Every game from here on out is a must win to rehabilitate their reputation. Even a 'pushover' game like last week's tilt against Eastern Michigan commands their full attention. Meanwhile, Mike Hart is carrying the ball even in garbage time and you better believe Lloyd Carr is coaching like his job is riding on every game. These guys are more dangerous than ever.
Indiana (2-1 conference, 5-1 overall) Can a conference have two Cinderellas? As remarkable as Illinois' progress is, the Hoosiers are the comeback story of the year. Coach dies of a brain tumor in the spring, and now the perennial Big Ten doormat is two wins away from a bowl bid. Mark my words, James Hardy is a name we will continue to hear of catching first downs and touchdowns. But their only win so far is against a down-at-the-heels Iowa squad...
Wisconsin (2-1 conference, 5-1 overall) If only... I had the Badgers as my preseason pick for the Big Ten crown, but circumstances dictated otherwise. The defense wasn't what it appeared to be on paper and now they've lost their top receiver for the season. They'll get their wins this year, but expectations definitely have to be ratcheted down.
Purdue (1-1 conference, 5-1 overall) Purdue had the chance to be the team that slipped into first when all the big names stumbled or knocked each other off. And maybe they'll still be yet. But that Ohio State loss won't help their confidence. Curtis Painter (arguably the best pure QB in the conference) had better find his footing against Michigan. After that it's games against two opponents (Iowa & Northwestern) where Purdue has little to gain and everything to lose.
Penn State (1-2 conference, 4-2 overall) How did Penn State find themselves so far down the list? Well, losing to Illinois will do that to you. But they're mainly victims of circumstance: A loss to Michigan wouldn't usually be the end of their BCS bowl hopes, but now two conference losses this early in the season leaves them facing a series of teams that they can't ignore. All of their next four opponents are further up the Big Ten totem pole so far.
Northwestern (1-2 conference, 3-3 overall) Northwestern finally played a game where they showed the 'Northwestern football' that made them so dangerous a few years ago: Abandon hope on defense and lure teams into track-meet shootouts. It makes for entertaining games and the 'Cats seem to win by playing that style. They're not too far from where they should have expected to be at this point in the season, but that loss to Duke really hurts.
Michigan State (0-2 conference, 4-2 overall) Just when people were thinking that the Spartans were turning the corner, the loss to Northwestern has even the most faithful fans sighing about the 'same old' Michigan State. Which is unfortunate because they're clearly better equipped than last year, especially with Ringer out of the backfield. But the defense will have to get its brutal pass rush back in order if they're to have any hope
Iowa (0-3 conference, 2-4 overall) Where did it all go wrong? We knew the receiving corps was going to be light after their top receiver and last year's best freshman receiver were suspended for that credit card scam. But injuries have made it worse for the passing game as well as the defense. So let's focus on the good news: They're not playing Michigan or Ohio State this year and the recent troubles mean Kirk Ferentz is unlikely to get offers to defect to the NFL or a more noteworthy college program. But in the meantime, this week's game against Illinois means things are unlikely to get better soon.
Minnesota (0-3 conference, 1-5 overall) RB Amir Pinnix will continue to be spoken of politely but the rest is a disaster. They've got no defense, have lost two heartbreaker games (an overtime affair to Bowling Green and one to 1-AA Florida Atlantic), and people are even bitching about the throwback-style uniforms they're wearing this year. If you know a Golden Gopher fan, buy him a drink. He needs it.
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