Big Ten Weekly Awards - Week 8

The season is about two-thirds over, this week in the Big Ten we got a 9 overtime HUGE upset, the Buckeyes and Wolverines keep rolling (have we ever said that before?), Wisconsin win in West Lafayette sets up a big game next week in Madison that could/should decide the Big Ten West and quietly Minnesota continues to notch wins.  Think they want that Bowling Green game back?  And who is the front runner for Player of the Year in the conference?  A pair of Buckeyes?  

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Illinois

We Live.#famILLy pic.twitter.com/ew91ueTUSW

— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) October 24, 2021

GAME OF THE WEEK 

Illinois 20 - Penn State 18

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

CJ Stroud - QB - Ohio State

21/28 - 266 yds - 4 TDs

3 rush - 1 yd

Big Ten Weekly Awards - Week 1...er 0

Welcome back COLLEGE FOOTBALL!  And welcome back to the Big Ten Weekly Awards!  This week was a light week.  1 game but we'll take it.  And welcome back to the Big Ten Bret Bielema.

 

TEAM OF THE WEEK

ILLINOIS

GAME OF THE WEEK

Nebraska 22 - Illinois 30

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Adrian Martinez - QB - NEB

16/32 - 232 yds - 1 TD

17 car - 111 yds - 1 TD

Big Ten Awards - Week 5

Team of the Week : Iowa -- Iowa went on the road and pounded Minnesota, allowing the Gophers only 30 yards rushing and the only threat offensively came after the Gophers returned a kickoff to the 37.  Mark Weisman rushed for 147 on the year and the Hawks are now 4-1 on the year.

Game of the Week : Ohio State 31 - Wisconsin 24 --  The Badgers made it interesting int he end, scoring 10 fourth quarter points, but in the end the Buckeyes won their 17th straight game.  Braxton Miller returned to the Buckeyes starting lineup, and accounted for the 4 Buckeye TDs.  The Buckeyes now take their streak to Evanston for the biggest regular season game in Pat Fitzgerald's tenure at Northwestern.

Player of the Week : Nathan Scheelhaase - QB - Illinois -- This is fast becoming the Scheelhaase/Guiton award this year.  Scheelhaase is definitely the leading candidate in the Big Ten for comeback player of the year.  The senior QB threw for 278 yards and 5 touchdowns in the Illini's 50-14 win over MAC foe Miami (Oh).  The Redhawks didn't stand a chance, the Illini QB threw all 5 of his scores in the first half.  

Jimmy John's Big Ten Challenge:
Matt : 4-0 10pts | 45-5  281pts
Kyle : 4-0 10pts | 44-6  276pts
Chad : 4-0 10pts | 42-8  275pts

Big Ten Awards - Week 5

Team of the Week - WISCONSIN - Well that wasn't the welcome Tom Osborne and Big Red.  Wow did Wisconsin look good.  Getting down 14-7 and then rallying off 34 straight points.  Russell Wilson looked great like he has the past 4 games and Monte Ball scampered for 4 tds and 151 yards.  Nebraska got into passing situations and this is were Taylor Martinez struggles, and it showed.  The Husker QB tossed 3 picks.  The Huskers welcome tour heads home to face the struggling Buckeyes next week.

Helmet Sticker - AJ Jenkins-WR-Illinois - The Illinois wideout had a HUGE day in the shoot out with the Wildcats.  Jenkins caught 12 passes for 248 yards and 4 scores in the 38-35 win over Northwestern.

Monte Ball-RB-Wisconsin - The Badger running back rolled up 151 yards and 4 scores vs the vaunted Nebraska Blackshirt Defense.  Ball has been a touchdown scoring machine for the Badgers, with 6 tds this year on the ground and 22 since the beginning of last season.

Game of the Week - Illinois 38 : Northwestern 35 - If you blinked in the 2nd half you missed an arena game break out at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.  The Illini needed 21 points in the fourth quarter to move to 5-0/1-0 and are a surprise in the Big Ten and the nation.  Northwestern couldn't contain AJ Jenkins as he rolled up 248 yards recieving and QB Nathan Scheelhouse had 391 yards passing a 4 tds.  In return to Big Ten play, Wildcat QB Dan Persa tossed 4 tds.  

Highlight of the Week - coming soon

Big Ten Takeaway - Where did the Fighting Zooker's come from?  5-0/1-0?  Will the keep up with the Badgers?  That will be hard, Wisconsin looks really good and like a top 4 team in the nation after they rolled up Nebraska.  Michigan State got a nice win in the Horseshoe to stay a top the Legends Division with rival Michigan.  

National Takeaway - Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and Wisconsin are the class of FBS.  I wish we could see these four teams playoff.  Luckily we get to see the Tide and Tigers face off, but a four team playoff?  Hello NCAA?  Robert Griffin III has had one hell of a season so far, and has thrown one bad pass, an interception that lead to Kansas State to an upset of Baylor.  

Heisman Ballot - Russell Wilson:Wisconsin, Robert Griffin III:Baylor, LaMichael James:Oregon

Jimmy John's Big Ten Challenge

Week – Matt (6-0)          Chad (5-1)                Kyle (5-1)

Season – Matt (41-11)          Chad (40-12)          Kyle (39-13)

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 Awards - Week 3

Welcome back Jerry Kill!  one week after suffering a seizure on the sidelines, coach Jerry Kill returned to the Gopher sideline and notched his first W with a win over Miami(Ohio).  Along with Kill, Indiana coach Kevin Wilson got his first win as Hoosier coach with a 38-21 win over South Carolina State.

Team of the Week : ILLINOIS - Arizona State came into Champaign with a 2-0 record, some fancy new uniforms with a new logo, and a win over top 25 team already last week topping off Missouri.  Also the tallest QB in the nation at 6-8.  Though Illini QB Nathan Shcheelhaase was the QB that lead a game winning drive in the 4th with a TD pass.  The Illini and Ron Zook are now a quiet 3-0 in the Big Ten with the impressive win over Arizona State and can go 4-0 next week with a win over Western Michigan.

Helmet Sticker : Denard Robinson went off like it was 2010.  Rushing for 198 yards vs Eastern Michigan he also tallied 3 tds in a 31-3 victory.  The Wolverines were never in any doubt to lose this game but PS3 (aka Shoelace) went off again and was just fun to watch.  It's not RichRod's offense but Hoke isn't dumb enough to keep DRob just in the pocket.



James Vandenberg threw for 399 yards, 168 in the fourth quarter and 3 tds to lead Iowa to it's biggest comeback victory in school history.  Kirk Ferentz and Ken O'Keefe abandonded the run vs 8 in the box and got rid of the play action and let James sling it. Hopefully they learned something from this.  He put the Hawks on his arm and did what he does best.

Russell Wilson also put on a passing clinic.  Earning his 2nd helmet sticker, the Badger QB threw for 347 yards and 3 scores in a route of Northern Illinois in Soldier Field.  The transfer has been a nice addition for the Badgers who with Wilson have a threat at QB now with their road grading running attack.  In 3 games Wilson has 759 yards passing and 8 tds to 0 int.  

Game of the Week : IOWA 31 - PITT 27 : Don't call it a comeback!  WOW.  What happened in Iowa City was reminiscent of Iowa-Indiana 2009.  Down 21 at one point Iowa went to outscore Pitt 28-3 over the final 16 minutes to move to 2-1.  James Vandenberg tossed the ball 399 yards and had 3 tds.  With little time in the 3rd the Hawks changed their offensive philosophy from running and play action to a gun slinger in no huddle and shot gun and it worked.  The offense sparked, Jordan Bernstine started and laid some big hits.  Micah Hyde capped the game with a pick as Pitt was driving.

Highlight of the Week : Jeremy Ebert touchdown grab vs Army.  (at the 47 second mark)

Big Ten Take Away : Wisconsin is the best team in the Big Ten.  Nebraska jumped up in competition and showed its stuff.  Though I still think if you get the Huskers where they need to pass they are in trouble.  Illinois is a sneaky 3-0 and may give some teams some fits.  Iowa needs to abandon what they are known for with this young team.  Michigan State isn't in trouble, just met a desperate Notre Dame team this weeknd.

National Take Away : Auburn's luck ran out with a 14 point loss at Clemson.  Oklahoma made the biggest statement of the weekend with a win over Florida State at Doak Campbell.  

Jimmy John's Big Ten Challenge

Week – Matt (8-4)          Chad (7-5)          Kyle (8-4)

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

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.



Big Ten Awards - Week 10

Team of the Week - Michigan & Illinois.  Sure I have a loser on this but if you like offense that game was fun to watch.  More points were scored in it than in the last 3 Michigan-Illinois basketball games (that might say more about the state of Big Ten basketball than football right now)  Michigan became bowl eligible under RichRod for the first time.  DRob, aka PS3, got hurt again and Tate Forcier lead them back and to the win.  Mikel Lashoure put up 5 td's for the Illini who sit at 1 game from bowl eligibility.

Helmet Sticker - Joe Paterno - Sure I could look at a guy from the Illinois-Michigan game, but how many times will a college football coach win their 400th game.  I think this is JoePa's last go round.  Give the old guy a helmet sticker.













Highlight of the Week - JoePa #400

Big Ten Awards - Week 9

Now the mess and the race tightens up.  Iowa, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Ohio State will race to the end of the year for the Rose Bowl and most likely a Sugar or Fiesta bowl slot.  Sparty's loss in Iowa City ended any hope of a Big Ten team winning the National Title, but revitalized the Hawkeyes.  The biggest game of the year remaining is Nov 20th in Iowa City with the Hawkeyes-Buckeyes.

Helmet Sticker -  Nathan Scheelhaase, QB, Illinois.  The Freshman had 195 yards passing and 118 yards rushing and 4 td's in the Illini's 44-10 win over Purdue.

Ricky Stanzi, QB - Iowa.  The Hawkeye senior has been steady all year long and cut down on his 2009 mistakes.  Only threw for 190 yards but had 3 tds and pretty much handed off from midway in the 3rd quarter on in the Hawkeyes huge win over #5 Michigan State.

Team of the Week -  Iowa Hawkeyes.  Iowa's played a bad quarter of football at Arizona and had a few kicking misques vs Wisconsin otherwise they would be in the top 5.  This weekend vs the Spartans the Hawkeyes showed what they should have been showing all year and maybe last week the Badgers woke up a sleeping Giant.  Iowa destroyed the Spartans.







Highlight of the Week - Tyler Sash & Micha Hyde's Interception return to give the Hawks a 17-0 lead.



Picks - Went 4-1 and the 1 loss cost me a game in the Jimmy John's Challenge.
Conf - 16-8
Seas - 55-12
JJ Challenge - (-3)