Big Ten Power Rankings - Week 5

 

 Week 5 Big Ten Power Rankings

1 - Michigan

2 - Penn State

3 - Ohio State

4 - Iowa

5 - Michigan State

6 - Nebraska

7 - Rutgers

8 - Maryland

9 - Minnesota

10 - Wisconsin

11 - Indiana

12 - Purdue

13 - Northwestern

14 - Illinois

Big Ten Power Rankings - Week 4

 Week 4 Big Ten Power Rankings

1 - Penn State

2 - Michigan

3 - Ohio State

4 - Iowa

5 - Michigan State

6 - Maryland

7 - Rutgers

8 - Purdue

9 - Wisconsin

10 - Nebraska

11 - Northwestern

12 - Minnesota

13 - Indiana

14 - Illinois

Big Ten Weekly Awards - Week 4

How stacked is the Big Ten after the first full month.  The East has four 4-0 teams and that is not including The Ohio State University.  Rutgers is just 1 loss after the first month, and Indiana is 2-2 at the bottom.  In the West Iowa survived vs Colorado State and is on top with a trip to 4-0 Maryland on Friday.  The bottom of the west looks different this season so far too with it being Northwestern, Wisconsin & Nebraska.  

The season is 1/3rd over.  Enjoy October, its going to be fun!

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Michigan

GAME OF THE WEEK

Michigan State 23 -  Nebraska 20 OT

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Sean Clifford - PSU - QB

19-26 - 401 yds - 4 tds

 

Big Ten Power Rankings - Week 3

 Week 3 Big Ten Power Rankings

  

1 - Penn State

2 - Iowa

3 - Michigan

4 - Ohio State

5 - Michigan State

6 - Rutgers

7 - Wisconsin

8 - Maryland

9 - Minnesota

10 - Nebraska

11 - Purdue

12 - Indiana

13 - Illinois

14 - Northwestern

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 14

Team of the Week : Penn State : All Wisconsin had to do was beat a 5-6 team at home and they had most likely a 4^th trip to the Rose Bowl in the bag.  Penn State showed up and Bill O’Brien’s teams dominated the Badgers.  It wasn’t close.  When O’Brien gets his full allotment of scholarships and bowl eligibility back, the Nittany Lions will be back very quick.

Game of the Week : Ohio State 42 – Michigan 41 : The Game lived up to the hype!  The national media will rip Ohio State for “struggling” with Michigan, just so they can get a 1 loss SEC team in the Championship game (looking at you ESPN).  But this game is a game they can play over and over and over again and you can always throw out the records.  Michigan came back on their arch rival and had a chance, and I like the call, to win with a 2 point conversion when Gardner’s pass being picked off.

Player of the Week : James Morris / Anthony Hitchens / Christian Kirksey – Iowa Linebackers :  The 3 of the senior Iowa linebackers, and the Iowa Defense, controlled the Huskers all day, and totally lit up Ron Kellogg.  28 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 2 Interceptions and 2 forced fumbles.  These 3 have been the rock in Iowa’s D all year long and they held the Big Ten’s leading rusher to 85 yards.  These 3 will be missed next year.

Big Ten Football - Week 8 Predictions

Though we haven't posted our picks, rest assured the picks are being made and tallied for the Big Ten Jimmy John's Challenge.  Getting the blog back going after being busy for a while.  So here we go.  This weeks picks.

BIG TEN

GAME OF THE WEEK

MICHIGAN STATE vs MICHIGAN

Sparty has owned the Wolverines beating them 4 times in a row.  This is D-Robs last shot at the Spartans.  Michigan is looking like the team to beat in the Legends Division drubbing Illinois and Purdue the last 2 weeks.  The Spartans are a step up in competition and have to right the ship after losing to Iowa last week.  A loss and 1-3 conference record all but ends Michigan State's chances to get back to Indy.

WEEK 8 PICKS

	Game	Matt	Chad	Kyle
	Indiana vs Navy	Indiana	Indiana	Indiana
	Michigan State vs Michigan	Michigan State	Michigan	Michigan
	Minnesota vs Wisconsin	Wisconsin	Wisconsin	Wisconsin
	Nebraska vs Northwestern	Nebraska	Nebraska	Nebraska
	Penn State vs Iowa	Iowa	Iowa	Iowa
	Purdue vs Ohio State	Ohio State	Ohio State	Ohio State

B1G JJ Challenge Standigns

Chad: 51-11

Matt: 49-13

Kyle: 48-14

Big Ten Picks – Week 1

It’s back!  The Jimmy John Big Ten Challenge for a Year 3, oh and college football too! 

BIG TEN

GAME OF THE WEEK

Michigan vs Alabama

The Defending National Champs and one of the most exciting players in college football face off in the Jerry Dome.  Thank you ‘Bama and Meeechigan for not scheduling cupcakes.  Well ‘Bama will get there Southern Conference beat down later in the year but this game will have all the hype this week, will it live up to it?

Week 1 also gives us Boise State at Michigan State on Friday night, Iowa vs. Northern Illinois in Chicago and Penn State hosts Ohio to start the Bill O’Brein era in the attempt to move on from the Sandusky Scandal.

Games & Picks

GmDate	Big Ten Game	Winner	Matt	Chad	Kyle
30-Aug-12	Minnesota at UNLV		Minnesota	Minnesota	Minnesota
31-Aug-12	Boise State at Michigan State		Michigan State	Michigan State	Boise State
01-Sep-12	Michigan at Alabama		Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
01-Sep-12	Western Michigan at Illinois		Illinois	Illinois	Illinois
01-Sep-12	Indiana State at Indiana		Indiana	Indiana	Indiana
01-Sep-12	Southern Miss at Nebraska		Nebraska	Nebraska	Nebraska
01-Sep-12	Iowa at Northern Illinois		Iowa	Iowa	Iowa
01-Sep-12	Syracuse at Northwestern		Northwestern	Northwestern	Northwestern
01-Sep-12	Miami (Oh) at Ohio State		Ohio State	Ohio State	Ohio State
01-Sep-12	Ohio at Penn State		Penn State	Penn State	Penn State
01-Sep-12	Northern Iowa at Wisconsin		Wisconsin	Wisconsin	Wisconsin
01-Sep-12	Eastern Kentucky at Purdue		Purdue	Purdue	Purdue

2012 Big Ten Predictions

Getting to be that time of year again…the magazines hitting the shelves and the pundits are all weighing in with their opinions on who’s going to win what titles and going bowling where. 

Here’s my 2012 Big Ten Predictions

LEGENDS

Nebraska 11-1 / 7-1

Michigan 9-3 / 7-1

Iowa 9-3 / 5-3
Michigan State 8-4 / 5-3

Minnesota 6-6 / 2-6

Northwestern 5-7 / 1-7

LEADERS

Wisconsin 11-1 / 7-1

Ohio State 9-3 / 5-3

Illinois 8-4 / 5-3
Penn State 7-5 / 3-5

Purdue 4-8 / 1-7

Indiana 3-9 / 0-8

2012 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Wisconsin over Nebraska

As a result of their head to head win over Michigan, Nebraska heads to Indianapolis. I have Nebraska losing at Ohio State.   The second year in a row I’m picking an all red Indy for the title game and this year I'm taking Wisconsin.

Sparty is still good but losing Cousins will drop them from the Legends top spot.

I think Denard has another huge year in Ann Arbor, Monte Ball rushing td’s drop a bit this year from last year.

Iowa is kind of hovering in that spot of 8-4 and could be as good as 10-2 but also not shocked if they would have another 7-5 season.

Jerry Kill gets the Gophers bowling in 2012.

Fitzgerald can’t pull another miracle bowl in Evanston this year.

If only Zook could coach like he could land recruits, Illinois will benefit from 3 easy wins vs Purdue, Indiana & Northwestern. 

Indiana and Purdue battle to stay out of the cellar.

BIG TEN BOWLS

ROSE – WISCONSIN vs OREGON

FIESTA– NEBRASKA vs OKLAHOMA

CAPITAL 1 – MICHIGAN

OUTBACK – IOWA
INSIGHT – ILLINOIS
GATOR – MICHIGAN STATE

TEXAS – MINNESOTA

TICKET CITY – NO Big Ten School available

LITTLE CEASARS – NO Big Ten School available

BIG TEN AWARDS

Coach of the Year – Bo Pelini:Nebraska

Off Player of the Year – Denard Robinson:Michigan

Def Player of the Year - William Gholston:Michigan State

Friday 6 Pack – Crown Him

1-LeBron finally got his ring with a pretty good individual performance in the finals.  Does the ring change your view of LeBron and are the Heat the favorite next year to repeat?

Matt – Lebron is a great player, one of the top 2 players in the league (Kobe) and he was going to get his ring.  So no my view doesn’t change.  My view will change if/when he gets 3-4 rings.  He will never be Michael though.  Next year they are the favorites and someone needs to trademark the phrase “Re-Heat”

Wendt – I still think he's a gigantic douchebag so no his first title didn't change my mind about him

Painter – Not really. I never liked him nor disliked him.  I'm not a fan of the media hype but it is what it is.  Of course they'll start off as the favorite.

Blake – LeBron was an entirely different person starting with Game 6 of the Celtics series.  I don't like him, but you have to respect him after that run.  I could see the Heat being the favorite, but I don't think they'll repeat

Majors – Still a team game. He played out of his mind through the series, but he should have. I am not sure if the Heat are next year, the Thunder are young & hungry, will definitely be knocking on the door again, potentially a Bulls team, though I think Rose will be hurt for too long

Silker – I hate this question. It is the one everyone is asking and everyone is saying yes heat will four peat. My views on LeBron is about him being a douche not him winning. We know he can win. Can he show that he has class and is not a self centered ASS

2-Ladanian Tomlinson retired last week after signing a 1 day contract with the Chargers.  He’s 5^th all time rushing in NFL history, where do you place LT in NFL running back history?

Matt – LT and AP I think are going to go down as the last great running backs.  The league is so physical right now that I don’t think you’ll see backs get close to 10-11,000 yards rushing in a career.  Payton is the all time best and LT is behind Jim Brown, Barry and Smith at least.

Wendt – Walter Payton, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith. Those are easily my top 4, I suppose Tomlinson would be in my top 7 somewhere

Painter – He was a great all-around RB in that he had a lot of rushing yards, was a great receiving back, and could block.  I don't know if I could put him in the top 3 all time but top 5 would be a good fit.

Blake – I don't think he's in my top 5

Majors – I place LT in the top 5. Coming from a Raiders fan, it is hard to say, but truth is he owned us. Dude was amazing in his prime

Silker – He is the best lately for his length of playing. He will fall all time with the likes of AP, Foster and some others that will have great careers. But I like the guy. Good hard player

3-Kansas City has the all-star game this year, you get 2 choices to put in the Home Run Derby, who you putting in?  And has the Derby run its course?

Matt – I think the current format has run its course and the players do all the damage in the first at bats.  Give them 10 cuts not 10 outs.  Speed it up.  With that I’d like to see Pujols vs Harper in KC. 

Wendt – Prince Fielder and Josh Hamilton. They make up too many new rules. Whoever hits the most homeruns should win, period

Painter – The Derby isn't close to what it used to be since a lot of the big names don't want to do it to save their swing.  That being said I'd put in Josh Hamilton and Bryce Harper

Blake – Yes, it has run it's course (and so has Chris Berman announcing it).  Look at the league leaders in Home Runs right now.  Then yawn.  I'd like to see Pujols and Hamilton go at it, but really, I don't care.

Majors – I still like the Derby, it's just fun, entertainment. My entrances? Josh Hamilton & Prince Fielder. Swing away, boys

Silker – Hamilton and Willingham

4-ESPN the Magazine released the top sports moments (as voted by fans) in each state.  For Iowa it was ISU beating #2 OkState followed by UNI Farokmaneshing #1 Kansas.  Do you agree with ESPN the Mag or is this a case of what’s happened lately?  What’s your top Iowa Sports Moment?

Matt – This is one what’s fresh in people’s minds and two it’s an online vote and ISU fans come out in droves to vote in online polls.  The top sports moment in Iowa history is #1 vs #2 – Iowa-Michigan 1985.  That’s it that’s the list.

Wendt – Iowa vs Michigan in 1985 was pretty special. UNI beating Kansas was big time. Iowa State winning at Nebraska was once in a lifetime.  I'm not sure what the biggest is but ISU/Okie State was not

Painter – Definitely what's happened lately.  I guess people have forgotten Iowa over Michigan in 85 or even Iowa over Penn State in 08. And what about the Energy winning the championship?  To me the top moment was Ricky Stenhouse, Jr blowing an engine coming off turn 4 during last year's US Cellular 250 and having teammate Carl Edwards end up hitting him from behind and pushing Stenhouse to the victory.  That really made the race, and the Iowa Speedway, famous and gave the track its signature race.

Blake – ISU over OSU was shocking because NOBODY expected it.  People expect Iowa to beat a top team every year.  As far as I'm concerned UNI over Kansas is my number 1 Iowa sports moment.

Majors – UNI was pretty cool, no doubt. We haven't had too many crazy moments, unfortunately. Wait till they see the Hawkeyes this year, though!!! (fingers crossed)

Silker – UNI would have been better if it wasnt college basketball in March. Lately every year has a Cinderella so it hurts UNI. I would put Iowa and Tate’s TD pass to win the bowl up there

5-It started with WWE/F wrestlers and Hulk Hogan with Eye of the Tiger, then to boxers and then MLB players with Mariano having Enter Sandman and Ricky Vaughn having Wild Thing.  Iowa even exits the tunnel at Kinnick to Back in Black.  What’s your entrance song going to the mound, plate or ring?

Matt – I’m going with a WWE wrestlers song…the Miz “I came to play” is pretty good.

Wendt – "Blaze of Glory"Jon Bon Jovi

Painter – Either For Whom The Bell Tolls (Metallica), A Warrior's Call (Volbeat), or You're Going Down (Sick Puppies) 

Blake – Watching Sunday Night Baseball, I heard Call Me Maybe played as a Mets player walked to the plate.  I got a kick out of that.  I like it if your secure enough to walk up to a total pop chick song.  I think the entrance music is a little silly.  If you need that to pump you up, you're doing it wrong.

Majors – Lunatic Fringe, by Red Rider. if you have seen Vision Quest or ever were a wrestler, there is nothing else to be said

Silker – Honestly it would be Loser.  I am just not that good and coordinated. I would like some strong country song however

6-The IGHSAU announced that the Girls State Soccer tournament is now coming to Des Moines from Muscatine.  I think outside of football and softball most championships are now in the Capital City.  Any chance that football makes its way to Des Moines and would you like to see the football championships played outside without the dome?

Matt – I’d love to see the games played outdoors but it is Iowa and weather is crazy but it’d be great to see the games for a year at Drake.  One thing I dislike with the IHSAA is having the semis in the dome.  Why make schools (and fans) drive to Cedar Falls twice?  Let the semis be played closer to schools home.  When GMG won the title in 87 we played 2 games in Garwin and one in Boone. 

Wendt – Drake Stadium is a possibility but our weather is so unpredictable in November that I think it needs to stay in Cedar Falls

Painter – The football championships fit in very well in Cedar Falls and even though I'm not a fan of dome football I don't see it moving to an outdoor stadium.

Blake – Because of weather concerns and more importantly fair weather fans, I think it stays at the UNI Dome.  

Majors – This one is out of my strike zone, but I will swing away. I think it is cool when the HS kids play in the big boy stadiums. I say move it where ever would be the best venue for all involved. Besides, Iowa is not that big of a state, unlike here where it is 16 hours or more from here to Miami/Key West

Silker – None. It stays in the dome for tradition. If anything it would go to Iowa City and kinnick

7-BSox and the Lazer crew were talking about a bullying video that took place on a school bus with a bus monitor, if you haven’t seen it, click this link.  Thoughts on the video and what should be done?

Matt – Watching this video only 20 seconds in pissed me off so much.  The kids need to be taken over a knee and apologize to this lady in a public forum and then be punished by the school. 

Wendt – I watched it all but not at the same time, had to hit pause a few times because it made me sick to my stomach. I wasn't a good kid growing up and I really hope I would never do something like that. Those kids should be caned

Painter – I think a good ass-whupping is completely justified.  These kids need to learn respect, as do a lot of kids, and even adults, nowadays.

Blake – The kids should get the crap kicked out of them

Silker – Bullying is a bad subject. I was bullied as a kid and I turned out fine. It has to do with parenting and monitoring your kids actions. However parents are now more into their phones and computers than their kids

NO 6pack next week.

Enjoy your 4^th of July.

Love it or Leave it!  USA #1!