Big Ten Football Power Poll: Week Nine

Why even try anymore? Can you explain how to rank these teams? I sure can’t. Is Ohio State that bad with a backup QB or not? Northwestern seemed for real and then Oregon said, naw. Is Oregon still decent? Someone has to win between Oregon and Ohio State this week. Indiana? Just hanging by a thread or actually mid? UCLA? I guess by default you are on too now. But can you beat the Gophers Saturday? Who the hell knows. The only thing we know for sure is Maryland is bad. Probably Rutgers too. And Purdue—-cover your eyes Gophers fans, they aren’t very good either. So here’s a list of the teams. Good luck trying to figure out where they actually all go, because I sure don’t know anymore.

#1 UCLA Bruins 8-0 (3)

Win 27-0 vs Nevada

UCLA is #1 on this list. Yes, the Bruins who are now 8-0 on the season and have moved to #5 in the nation after a final non-conference win over Nevada. Their running game is really good, as is their defenses. They come to Minneapolis this week on Big Noon as 5.5 point favorites over the Gophers which seems right. But remember Minnesota has already dispatched too other teams who supposedly had good defenses and can run the ball at home this season. The Bruins perfect season is on the line.

#2 Indiana Hoosiers 8-1 (2)

Win 23-16 OT vs Minnesota

The only reason the Hoosiers remain here is a miracle 60 yard field goal after the Gophers had allready made a miracle 60 yard field goal. It’s crazy. Well that and the ineptitude of the Gopher offense, but we can save that for later. Indiana benches Josh Hoover who may have been “hurt” and his backup comes in and may have taken his job. Indiana has a much needed bye this week to try and figure out what’s next before hosting USC in quite possibly the game that may determine the second team in the Big Ten Championship game. Or not, because there inevitably will be move upsets over the final four weeks of the regular season.

#3 USC Trojans 7-2 (5)

Win 30-18 vs Ohio State

So you are telling me USC goes into Wisconsin and gets just smothered by the Badgers, and then hosts Ohio State and just smothers them? How the hell is anyone supposed to figure out what’s going on week to week in this conference. But here we are. USC gets a bye this week before heading to Bloomington next week in a massive game for both teams. November will tell us a lot about USC as if they can win out, they are likely playoff bound. But drop any more than one of the games to Indiana and UCLA and its the Holiday Bowl a calling.

#4 Ohio State Buckeyes 6-2 (1)

Loss 30-18 @ USC

It’s not that Luke Fahey played that bad in his first career start at USC, but the Trojans just seemed to have the Buckeyes number and jumped on them early and never let up. Ohio State is now set up for a VEEY interesting November as they host Oregon, Northwestern and head to Lincoln before The Game in Columbus vs Michigan. I 4-0 path and a playoff berth is very much still in view, but catch one of those four teams on the wrong week, and one more loss likely has OSU headed to a non-playoff Florida Bowl for the first time in a while. They are seven point favorites over the Ducks this Saturday,

#5 Iowa Hawkeyes 6-2 (6)

Win 30-0 vs Wisconsin

Iowa bounced back from losing to Minnesota by just wiping the absolutely floor with Wisconsin and keeping the Heartland Trophy. It was pure domination on all sides of the ball by the Hawkeyes who definitely still see a path to 10-2 and an outside shot at one of the last CFP berths. Arguably their toughest game left comes this week when they head to Northwestern as 2.5 point underdogs. Purdue and Illinois should not pose much of a threat and then Nebraska comes into Iowa City to close out the schedule.

#6 Northwestern Wildcats 7-2 (4)

Lose 34-26 @ Oregon

Was it just a one week blip, or is the reality of a long stretch of games with no bye and tougher opponents finally catching up to Northwestern. In either case Chip Kelly’s current team fell to his former one in the Chip Kelly Bowl as even current Chip’s crazy formations weren’t enough to avoid getting outscored 21-6 in the second half. Northwestern gets zero breaks though as they now host a tough as nails Iowa team as 2.5 point favorites. Oh yeah, then its Ohio State, Minnesota and a suddenly hot Illinois team after that. It will be a very interesting four game stretch for the Wildcats

#7 Oregon Ducks 5-3 (11)

Win 34-26 vs Northwestern

You really don’t know what you are going to get from Oregon. Dylan Raiola looks awful one week and then comes back to throw for 336 yards and three TDs the next week to defeat Northwestern. If the right Raiola shows up this week, the Ducks could upset Ohio State. If the wrong one shows up the Buckeyes might win by 30. Only time will tell.

#8 Minnesota Golden Gophers 5-3 (0)

Lose 23-16 OT @ Indiana

Well that one is gonna sting. An incredibly 60-yard field goal wasted after a long play results in a 60-yard field goal for Indiana as well and then every Minnesota fan knew once this game went to OT it probably did not bode well for the Gophers. Minnesota’s offense is just hot garbage right now. But the defense and special teams might be enough to pull off one more shicker at home. UCLA is only a 5.5 point favorite on Saturday, and with a 9 AM body clock kick, if the Gophers defense and special teams can show up again, and their offense can give them just a smidge of a sign of life….anything could happen.

#9 Wisconsin Badgers 5-3 (7)

Los 30-0 @ Iowa

How you go from dominating USC to getting absolutely destroyed by Iowa the following week is something. But the Badgers still are going to end up with a good record because of the absolute cakewalk of the rest of their schedule. Before hosting the Gophers on Black Friday they finish vs Rutgers, at Maryland and at Purdue. They are 17.5 point favorites against the Scarlet Knights this week.

#10 Michigan Wolverines (5-3) (10)

Win 28-21 @ Rutgers

It was a full on struggle, but Michigan did pick up a win at Rutgers propelling them one game away form bowl eligibility. Tommy Carr seems to be doing well at QB, and the defense still is good. But allowing the most points all year…to Rutgers? It’s the Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy this week as the Spartans come to the Big House for a rare November night game in Ann Arbor. Michigan is favored by 13.5.

#11 Illinois Fighting Illini 5-3 (14)

Win 20-17 @ Maryland

Not a pretty game for the Illini, but they have now put together to wins in a row and are just one away from bowl eligibility. They host Nebraska on Friday night in what could either be a really good game, or one that sets back college football for years. Illinois are 4.5 point underdogs.

#12 Washington Huskies 5-3 (13)

Win 17-10 @ Nebraska

Washington scored 14 points in about 30 seconds at the end of the game in Lincoln after converting on a crazy 4th and 18, then scoring a TD then adding a pick 6. Washington still isn’t that good I feel, but for one night they were the kings of Mount Rushmore over Lincoln. Washington hosts Penn State this week in what six weeks ago was highly anticipated, but now its just another game. Huskies are favored by 2.5.

#13 Nebraska Cornhuskers 5-3 (9)

Lose 17-10 vs Washington

Man is Nebraska cursed. Another single possession loss after giving up a TD and a pick six on three plays. The boos were so loud—probably doesn’t help the QB throws a game losing Pick 6 the week after Nebraska announced thy have resigned him for next year. Now a Friday game in Champaign where anything could happen. Huskers still favored by 4.5.

#14 Penn State Nittany Lions 4-4 (17)

Win 31-17 vs Purdue

Matt Campbell picks up his first Big Ten win as the Nittany Lions run all over Purdue for 269 yards and TDs. Penn State still needs two wins to make a bow and with Rutgers and Maryland to finish the year should feel pretty confident. But the next two will be big as prior to hosting Minnesota next week they head to Washington this weekend. The Dogs are 2.5 point favorites with PSU traveling across the country.

#15 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2-6 (15)

Loss 28-21 vs Michigan

Rutgers tried to pull off the upset but just could not have their defense hang on in a loss to the Wolverines. One more loss and Rutgers is officially out of bowl contention and they will need to stave that off in Madison against a pissed off Badger team. Good Luck.

#16 Purdue Boilermakers 3-5 (14)

Loss 31-17 @ Penn State

I bet Purdue wishes they could play Minnesota every week. They got run over by Penn State and after what looked like a good start to the season they are slowing on the verge of not making it to a bowl once again. With Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana to close, the game this week against Maryland is a full must win. They are 6.5 point favorites.

#17 Michigan State Spartans 2-6 (16)

BYE

The Spartans come off of a bye and head to Ann Arbor to face off for the Paul Bunyan Trophy as massive underdogs. Can the Spartans pull off the upset? Sure. Is it likely. Nope.

#18 Maryland Terrapins 2-6 (18)

Lose 20-17 vs Illinois

Well a coaching change didn’t seem to help. They tried to defeat Illinois but lose on a walk-off field goal. They head to Purdue this week looking to try and find that first Big Ten win.