Why wouldn’t week 4 be another embarrassing outing for terrible B1G. After the non-conference season wrapped up Saturday night, it looks like nobody wants to take the role of favorite. The top teams have so many issues that really 9 teams have at least a small chance at a division title. I will try to be positive in saying that at least the race for Indy should be exciting. The conference has lost all credibility, and will not have a chance to regain any until bowl season starts. Thankfully we are still a couple months away from that embarrassment.
Good surprise:
Penn State gave Bill O’Brien his first winning streak as a head coach in their win against Temple. Matt McGloin actually looked like a real quarterback on Saturday. After these last two weeks, I think Penn State has a real chance at making some noise in the Leaders (rhymes with cheaters) division.
This isn’t really a surprise, but LeV’eon Bell looked back on track to compete for the B1G’s Offensive Player of the Year. If Michigan State does head to Pasadena (I just threw up in my mouth), Bell will be the biggest reason why and should win this award hands down. He put up monster numbers against a terrible defense and Dantonio seems to like to play with fire by running Bell for half of the teams plays.
I guess I will reach to find a 3rd good surprise, but Iowa walk-on running back Weisman put up his second big game in a row in the disappointing loss to Central Michigan. It looks like the running back problems could be solved for the Hawkeyes, but take care of your ACL’s Weisman.
Bad Surprise:
Where do I start. How about with Illinois, who welcomed in one of the top scoring offenses in the nation to Champagne on Saturday night in Louisiana Tech. The Illini turned the ball over 6 times and got punched in the face to the tune of 52-24. The self-stated “best front 7 in the nation” did not leave up to its own hype, and suddenly the blue and orange look like conference cellar dwellers.
Andrew Maxwell struggling against Eastern Michigan was very surprising. I know he is the quarterback, and will get more of the criticism, but I don’t know how much is him struggling under pressure or the horrible play from the receivers.
Iowa Hawkeyes as a whole. They look terrible so far on the season after losing at home to a bad MAC team in Central Michigan. I don’t know how this team rebounds after this. It will likely take a major turnaround just for Ferentz to keep his job after this.
I would say that my conference rankings are as follows:
1. Ohio State (no change)
2. Nebraska (Up 4)
3. Northwestern (up 2)
4. Purdue (no change)
5. Michigan State (down 2)
6. Michigan (down 4)
7. Penn State (Up 2)
8. Minnesota (down 1)
9. Wisconsin (Up 2)
10. Iowa (no change)
11. Indiana (Up 1)
12. Illinois (down 4)
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