Big Ten Week 7 - Weekly Awards

The bye weeks are hitting the Big Ten and about half of the conference was off BUT fireworks still happened and if you are #2 in the nation you do not want to see Purdue on the schedule.  They did well this:

We just beat the No. 2 out of Iowa.

— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) October 16, 2021

Else where, Scott Frost can't seem to win close games, still.  The Brass Spitton returns to East Lansing as Indiana slide continues.  The Fighting Fitz's chop at Rutgers and Wisconsin pulls out a tough win vs Army.  Please Big Ten schools, play the military schools more often.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Purdue

GAME OF THE WEEK 

Minnesota 30 - Nebraska 23

Which lead to this Instant Classic

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

David Bell - WR - PURDUE

11 Rec - 240 yds - 1 td

Big Ten Weekly Awards - Week 5

Week 5 in the books, and quick, who is the second best team in the Big Ten West?  Looking to be like the Nebraska team that lost at Illinois.  The 2021 Powers that Be all came out strong. Iowa, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan & Michigan State all dominated in wins and are representing the conference in the new AP  Top 25 as all being in the Top 11.  

Next week will be the biggest game in the Big Ten in a while not including Ohio State.  A top 5 matchup with Iowa & Penn State and we'll see how good Nebraska is as the Huskers gets a check up with Michigan.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Iowa

GAME OF THE WEEK 

Blowouts or the 1 close Big Ten Game?

Minnesota 20 - Purdue 13

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Iowa Defense

6 Interceptions and Fumble Recovery

 

Big Ten Weekly Awards - Week 2

Who had the 3 biggest games of the week going this way?  Oregon without Kayvon Thibodeaux going into Columbus and getting a win.  Iowa as an underdog going to Jack Trice against what could be the best Iowa State team ever and dominating Breece Hall and Brock Purdy.  And dare we say Blue is Back with Michigan dominating Washington.  

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Iowa

GAME OF THE WEEK

Minnesota 31 - Miami (Oh) 26

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Blake Corum - MICH - RB

21 car - 171 yds - 3 tds

3 rec - 11 yds

Big Ten Awards – Week 9

Team of the Week – Minnesota.  How many people coming into this past weekend had the Gophers beating Iowa, who came off 2 Big Ten wins at home?  As an Iowa fan it hurt to see the loss come the way it did, but the Gophers threw the sink at the Hawks, again.  Congrats to Jerry Kill on his first Big Ten win too.

Helmet Stickers – Fitzgerald Toussaint : RB : Michigan – The wolverine Running back ran for 177 yards vs the Boilermakers and 2 scores to help in the Wolverines rout of Purdue

Marcus Coker: RB : Iowa – In the Hawkeye loss to the Gophers, the Iowa running back ran for a career best of 260 yards and a score.  It was the most yards in a loss in a big ten Game since Lawrence Maroney in 2005 for the Gophers vs Wisconsin.

Game of the Week : Ohio State 33 – Wisconsin 29 – For the second straight week the Badgers fall at the hands of a hail mary.  This time Braxton Miller scrambled and bought enough time for WR Devin Smith to break free in the back of the end zone and the two connected for a 40 yard score and sent the Badgers to their 2^nd straight conference loss.  The win hurt the Badgers chances going to Indy with the Penn State win over Illinois.

Big Ten Takeaway – A week after Michigan State took the lead in the Legends Division; Nebraska took their manhood away and said “Not so fast” as the Huskers manhandled the Spartans.  Nebraska still has games vs Penn State, Iowa and Michigan left so that may hurt their chances and we can probably all agree its wide open.

National Takeaway – The SEC is rolling.  4 teams in the top 10, and they play each other this week.  But you won’t hear about the second game this weekend much.  Arkansas – South Carolina is going to be just as good as LSU-Alabama. 

My Heisman Ballot – Andrew Luck – QB Stanford : Kellen Moore – QB Boise State : Robert Griffin III – QB Baylor

Big Ten Awards - Week 4

Well I said in the predictions, watch out for North Dakota State and North Texas vs Minnesota and Indiana respectively.  What happened....Minnesota suffered its 3rd loss to a Dakota team since 2007.  Indiana went to the Mean Green's new stadium and former Iowa State coach Dan MacCarney came away with a win.

Team of the Week : NEBRASKA : I would have said Wisconsin but they played a FCS school.  The Huskers went to Wyoming, 3-0 from the Mountain West and racked up nearly 500 yards of offense and controlled the game throughout.  The Huskers play their first Big Ten game next week when the go to Camp Randall and take in a top 10 showdown with Wisconsin.

Helmet Sticker : This will be a little deja vu from last week but here we go - Denard Robinson - QB - Michigan.  Yes he had a couple picks but Denard ran for 200 yards with 3 touchdowns, one being a bullet out of a gun run for 53 yards.  He won't be able to have passing performances like that in the Big Ten and win but he sure can run the ball.

Russell Wilson - QB - Wisconsin : Ok, how did he get out of NC State and to Madison?  Wilson tossed the ball for 345 yards and 3 scores.  The Badger QB is in the top 5 in passer efficiency in the nation and is on his way to All-American/All-Big Ten and Heisman status if he keeps this up.  A BIG test next week vs the Blackshirts.

James Vandenberg - QB - Iowa : If not for Wilson Vandenberg is having right now what could be an All-Big Ten year.  After 399 yard performance last week, JVB threw for 270 and 3 scores (2 to Marvin McNutt) and also ran for a score in Iowa's romp over Louisiana-Monroe.  The Iowa coaches may have seen something in their signal caller and are letting him sling it a bit more than we are accustomed to seeing.








Game of the Week : Illinois 23 - Western Michigan 20 : The Illini are off to their best start in more than 50 years after a struggle with the Broncos.  Being ranked for the first time since 2008 and the Big Ten season on the horizon the fighting Zookers might have been looking past Western Michigan a bit, but in the end were able to wear down the Broncos and rack up nearly 300 yards rushing.  Illinois next hosts Northwestern in Big Ten Play.

Highlight of the Week - Denard Robinson 53 yard touchdown run vs San Diego State

-The run is at the 20 second mark

Big Ten Take Away - I'd rather not dwell on the negative but on a weekend were there wasn't much competition (other than in Champaign) Minnesota and Indiana in their coaches first years are struggling.  They lost to teams they should have beat today in North Texas and North Dakota State.  I don't see them going winless in the Big Ten, but they will struggle this year and maybe next, but the fans should get behind Kevin Wilson and Jerry Kill.  Rome wasn't built in a day, neither are college football programs.


National Take Away - Robert Griffin III and Baylor are good.  This isn't your father's or grandfather's Baylor Bears.  RG3 has more TD's in 3 games than incompletions.  This has been against TCU, Stephen F Austin and Rice.  TCU is good but the others are world beaters.  Next week they go to Kansas State where the Bears should move to 4-0 and RG3 will continue to put up impressive numbers again.  If you get a chance to watch him, the dude is good!

Jimmy John Big Ten Challenge

Week – Matt (8-2)          Chad (8-2)          Kyle (8-2)

Season – Matt (35-11)          Chad (35-11)          Kyle (34-12)

Big Ten Football – Week 4 Predictions

The week before the conference opens up and you get 2 teams with a bye and about 7 others that on paper should be almost like byes, but that’s why they play the games. 

·         Ohio State is coming off an embarrassing loss vs. Miami and needs a confidence builder before conference play, host Pac-12 Colorado. 

·         Iowa after a historic comeback gets one of the worst teams in FBS in Louisiana-Monroe. 

·         Illinois, Michigan State and Penn State all host directional Michigan schools.

·         Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin all have games that they should win going into Week 1 of Big Ten Play.

Big Ten Game of the Week

San Diego State vs. Michigan

11AM Big Ten Network

Who set this one up?  Brady Hoke hosts his old team in the Big House.  The Aztecs were a nice surprise last year and are 3-0 coming into this week.  Michigan has had a dramatic win over Notre Dame and last week Denard Robinson had a déjà vu week last week ala 2010 putting up nearly 200 yards rushing.  This could be a close game heading into the 4^th quarter, but I think Michigan pulls it out in the end.  MICHIGAN 31 – SDSU 27

Big Ten Picks - Week 4

Illinois vs. Western Michigan – Illinois (M,C,K)

Indiana @ North Texas – Indiana (M, C, K)

Iowa vs. ULA-Monroe – Iowa (M,C,K)

Michigan vs. San Diego State – Michigan (M, C, K)

Michigan State vs. Central Michigan – Michigan State (M,C,K)

Minnesota vs. North Dakota State – Minnesota (M,C,K)

Nebraska @ Wyoming – Nebraska (M,C,K)

Ohio State vs. Colorado – Ohio State (M,C,K)

Penn State vs. Eastern Michigan – Penn State (M,C,K)

Wisconsin vs. South Dakota – Wisconsin (M,C,K)

Jimmy John's Big Ten Challenge

Week – Matt (0-0)          Chad (0-0)          Kyle (0-0)

Season – Matt (27-9)          Chad (27-9)          Kyle (26-10)

*Upset Alert*

I think you have to look at the game of the week.  San Diego State will be a tough out for Michigan.

For some reason I’m going to say Minnesota too…they seem to have trouble with the Dakota teams.

Indiana goes on the road to North Texas.  They might see some trouble from the Mean Green.

Big Ten Awards - Week 1

The big news of the week in the Big Ten was that mother nature suspended games in Iowa City and even called the game in Michigan.  Other teams had some scares.  Purdue barely escaped Middle Tennessee State while Indiana fell to Ball State, and Minnesota put a scare in to USC at the Coliseum.  The rest of the conference rolled to a wins they were expected too.

Team of the Week: Northwestern - The Wildcats went on the road to Boston College without their Heisman Candidate QB Dan Persa and came out with a 24-17 win.  The Cats rolled up 227 yards rushing against the top team against the run in 2010.  Northwestern gets to come home next week 1-0 and host Eastern Illinois.

Game of the Week: USC 19 - Minnesota 17 - The Gophers went in to LA and even after starting QB Marquis Gray got hurt, they still managed to hang with mighty Trojans.  Jerry Kill had his Gophers ready to play, they might be a competitive out in the Big Ten this coming year.

Helmet Stickers:  Brandon Herron from Michigan became the first Wolverine to score 2 defensive touchdowns in one game.  He nabbed a interception return as the Broncos were going into score and then a fumble recovery for 6.  


Russell Wilson opened his Badger season with a nice performance in a dominating game over the visiting UNLV Rebels.  Passed for 255 yards and 2 TDs and scampered for a long 46 yard touchdown. 

Highlight of the Week:  Brandon Herron's 98 yard interception return for a touchdown at the 1 minute mark.




Russell Wilson TD run…go to about the 2 minute mark.

Big Ten Weekly Picks

Matt (10-2)   -   Chad (11-1)   -   Kyle (10-2)

2011 Big Ten Predictions

Welcome to the new Big Ten (+2) for now.  With the rumors of Texas A&M bolting to the SEC with Oklahoma maybe it looks like the college football world maybe an ever shifting landscape again.

But for now the Big Ten has gained the Cornhuskers and split into 2 equal divisions, Legends and Leaders.  Complain what you will about the names but I don’t mind them, I know who is in what division, just give it time.  The first Big Ten title game is scheduled to be played in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium to be televised on Fox.  Should be a fun little change from when we had 2 teams going 8-0 being co-Champs. 

How will the season play out?  How will the Huskers do in their inaugural season?  Here’s my predictions, sure to go wrong.

LEGENDS        B1G      SEA                 LEADERS         B1G      SEA

Nebraska          7-1        11-1                 Wisconsin         7-1        11-1

 Iowa                 6-2         10-2               Ohio State         5-3          8-4

Michigan St       5-3          8-4                Penn State        5-3          8-4

Michigan           4-4          8-4                Illinois                2-6         6-6

Northwestern     4-4          7-5                Purdue              2-6         5-7

Minnesota         0-8          3-9                Indiana              1-7         4-8

Nebraska over Wisconsin

Big Ten Bowls

Rose – Nebraska

Fiesta – Wisconsin

Cap 1 – Iowa

Outback – Ohio State

Gator – Penn State

Insight – Michigan

Texas – Michigan State

Ticket City – Northwestern

Pizza - Illinois

Big Ten Awards

Big Ten Coach of the Year – Bret Bielema : Wisconsin

Big Ten MVP – James White : RB : Wisconsin

Notes

For the season I think that with no Pryor and changing of the guard at Ohio State and the current suspensions and penalties yet to be handed down will hang over the program and they will struggle a bit, and I think Michigan trips them up at the end of the year. 

I think Wisconsin gets Nebraska in Camp Randall, but will lose the rematch in Indianapolis. 

I think Iowa will surprise some people being the underdog and with a favorable schedule and the Legends Division comes down to the Friday after Thanksgiving in Lincoln, oh the start of a new Rivalry!

The Jerry Kill era in Minneapolis has a rough start going in the Big Ten…as does the Kevin Wilson era in Bloomington.

Penn State ends its struggles with Iowa and knocks off the Hawkeyes this year in Happy Valley.



Who's in your 5 - Big Ten Rivalries/Trophies

As Deace & Miller said a few weeks ago, yea there is only 1 Rivalry in the Big Ten that is great nationally. But there are other fun ones within the conference. With the addition of Nebraska next year I think there will be new great one formed, most notably Iowa-Nebraska! But right now here are my 5 favorite Rivalries and Trophy games.

5. Iowa vs Penn State – No trophy but becoming quite good.

4. Little Brown Jug: Michigan vs Michigan State

3. Old Oaken Bucket: Indiana vs Purdue

2. Floyd of Rosedale: Iowa vs Minnesota

1. The Game: Ohio State vs Michigan