Gold's Big Ten Power Rankings Week 5

[HawkGold]

The Big Ten so far has been difficult to analyze in part because of relatively week schedules. Slowly the conference is sorting out.

1. OSU – They’ve proven it.

2-4 Nebby, Mich, Wisky – still unknowns to a large degree but Wisky and Mich have proven themselves on the road. Mich largely somewhat impressive at home and are home again.

5. Maryland – 2 mediocre wins on the road. Weak schedule. At least they’ve done it. Speed kills.

6. MSU – Bye week early still makes them a mystery team. No real proof yet as to being good, bad or midland.

7. MN – No real good or bad credentials, except they’ve done it.

8. Iowa – PSU – NW – Decent or not very good teams. Who knows?

11. IU – Another…what the heck team. Can score. Lost close game to Wake who maybe is decent or maybe a pretender.

11. Rutgers – Improving team that gave a decent Iowa team all they wanted or just another bad Big Ten team.

13. Illinois – Lovie in over his head? Could Nick Saban help them?

13. Purdue – Like IL, how did this once at times competitive program get this way?

 

[NCHawker]

not much impresses that writer. glass half empty.

 

[HawkGold]

Ohio State does. Wisky's blow out of Georgia Jr College and Mich have all home games is noteworthy. MSU beat a very unknown ND. Iowa...lost to FCS. Nebby might be pretty good, but home wins and a win at unknown NW is questionable.

Is what happens when a conference schedules cupcakes and very favorable OOC schedules.

Few would put Iowa above those that I put above them unless one is a homer. I can be criticized for putting PSU and NW with Iowa. We'll know on Saturday about NW. Take a look at the NW schedule closely. Maryland has gone into 2 low team stadiums and one. That is a better credential than Iowa.

Time will sort things out. A number of posters around here think Iowa's glass is almost completely empty. I'm not there yet.

 

[HawkGold]

Here is my Week 5 forecast:

Week 5 Big Ten Games

NW at Iowa – Gut tells me NW. KF oft surprises both ways. Being a homer. Iowa 17-14.

IL at Nebby - Lovie finds out Big Ten isn’t so loving. Nebby 56-3.

Rutgers at OSU – Rutgers gets a reality check. OSU 56-7.

Purdue at Maryland – Maryland last year’s Iowa? No, but they win anyway 31-17.

Wisky at the Jimmies – Wisky decent? Heck yes. Michigan over rated? Likely yes. Home team wins 24-16.

MN at PSU – PSU much tougher schedule. MN has crafty qb. MN 21-20.

MSU at IU – MSU is likely down but who knows. IU could be better than thought but they are IU. MSU 24-21.