Big Ten Power Rankings Week #4

[HawkGold]

The Big Ten had a big weekend that could have spelled disaster for the Conference. The Big Ten came through pretty well, except for 2 noticeable bad losses. When your team has one of those bad losses, it is devastating. Took a few days to recover. Even with a pretty good weekend, the conference is still hard to figure out except for 3 teams. 2 are really bad and 1 is very good. Every one else is really hard to figure.

Starting at the bottom this week:

14. Illinois - Was supposed to have parts of a good team. The defensive interior, qb, and running backs. The offense was a no show and the defensive interior was again ripped to shreds, this time by the MAC.

13. Purdue was off - so they couldn't demonstrate how bad they are.

12. Rutgers - Concern is that maybe they aren't so bad. They were drubbed by Washington in Week 1, but the Huskies are another unknown with a very weak schedule and taking care of business. Rutgers can put points on the board.

11 - 7. Indiana, Minnesota, NW, Iowa, Penn State. How do you differentiate any of these teams. I want to be a homer on this, but how can you. IU and MN are short 1 game. PSU at least has a P5 loss in a close game. NW has a P5 win along with the Hawks. Hawks have a bad bad bad loss. Color it what you want, it was a bad loss...at home.

6. Maryland - Speed kills weak teams. May be an overrating.

5. Husker's - are they this years Iowa? A big P5 win...at home...and how good are the Duckies?

4-3-2 - MSU, Michigan, Wisky - Are any of these teams really much above mediocrity? Wisky again takes care of business, but how uninspiring and how great was the LSU win? Not looking so big now. Michigan can run points on less than spectacular teams. How good is the win at ND? At least a road win.

1. OSU - OK Urban, you can coach. Becoming the new Alabama.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Your rating of Maryland is ridiculous. You are rating Nebraska too highly as well.

Iowa had their two best offensive linemen on the bench last Saturday. Everybody needs to calm down

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Your rating of Maryland is ridiculous. You are rating Nebraska too highly as well.

Iowa had their two best offensive linemen on the bench last Saturday. Everybody needs to calm down

We beat two of the absolute bottom feeders in FBS at home and lost to an FCS team. Haven't proven anything yet.

 

[IlpYGwoeBk]

Your rating of Maryland is ridiculous. You are rating Nebraska too highly as well.

Iowa had their two best offensive linemen on the bench last Saturday. Everybody needs to calm down

I agree he's got Maryland too high, they haven't proven anything. I think Nebraska is in the right place though, they seem to be much improved over last year.

edit: also, looking at Nebraska's schedule they are 3-0 with 6 games that are likely wins remaining. If they can steal one of @Wisconsin/@Ohio State/@iowa they would be looking at 10-2 (7-2)

 

[HawkGold]

We beat two of the absolute bottom feeders in FBS at home and lost to an FCS team. Haven't proven anything yet.

It's based on Maryland having taken care of business and a win on the road. Every team has health problems at this point. I'm more concerned about Iowa's defense. There is a wide range in the grouping where I put Iowa. So far a sound win at home over a very weak ISU is the only thing to put on a resume. It's way too early. Trying to not be a homer and it is hard.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

It's based on Maryland having taken care of business and a win on the road. Every team has health problems at this point. I'm more concerned about Iowa's defense. There is a wide range in the grouping where I put Iowa. So far a sound win at home over a very weak ISU is the only thing to put on a resume. It's way too early. Trying to not be a homer and it is hard.

It's early, but the next two weeks could be defining for this team. Going on the road for the first time, which can bring a team closer...and the sting of a crappy loss.

Let's see how they react.

 

[Hawk5656]

Your rating of Maryland is ridiculous. You are rating Nebraska too highly as well.

Iowa had their two best offensive linemen on the bench last Saturday. Everybody needs to calm down

We just lost to an FCS team and haven't had a good win this season. I think being concerned is OK