Good week to be a road team. In just five games this week, four were won by the road team and before a 24 point collapse in the fourth, Indiana was making things incredibly interesting as, you guessed it, a road team. I thought the Big Ten was known for home field advantage? Strange week to say the least.
Team of the Week: Michigan State – A- – In an obvious trap game against pesky Indiana, the Spartans managed to find a way to play well enough to win and avoid the emotional hangover after last week. They head into their bye with the undefeated mark intact. When healthy, Indiana can move the ball on anybody. The key is biding your time because you know the defense cannot hold up. Entering the fourth, MSU was up by just two, 28-26 but twenty-four points later, MSU pulled away for an important victory. Defensively, they had some issues but they did make IU one dimensional and had two takeaways.
Illinois – D- – Illinois had a week to game-plan for an injury plagued Wisconsin team. They had a week to get hyped about homecoming, some unique alternate unis and of course, get right back in the thick of the west and improve their bowl hopes. Instead this was a major step back. Wes Lunt was called upon to shoulder the load when Illinois decided they only needed to call 13 running plays. It did not go well. The offense killed the defense’s hopes with just 19:51 of TOP versus UW’s 40:09. All the passing, three and outs as well as two turnovers gassed the defense and the grind of the Badgers wore Illinois down after a decent start to the game. Disappointing showing to say the least.
Indiana – D+ – Ooohf, same story but different way to tell it. Yet again the defense wilted as the game went on. Allowing 398 passing yards and 540 total will not win many games, let alone road games at top-10 foes. Kevin Wilson has one side of the ball clicking without question but will marked improvement at scoring and a more competitive Hoosier team be enough for him to keep his job if they fail to make a bowl? At some point you need to win games and unfortunately for Wilson, year five is when most expect the wins to start coming.
Iowa – Idle
Maryland – B+ – The Terps entered a terrible situation and nearly pulled off a solid win over up-and-down Penn State. They outgained PSU by over a hundred yards and had 466 total yards. They cut the game to 1 point with 10 minutes to go but couldn’t get any more points…why? Turnovers. 5 giveaways doomed this UM team. They played much better and seemed to be looser once the Randy Edsall situation cleared up. Let’s see if they can duplicate this effort in Iowa City, a team that should be fired up after making the top-10 and having a horrific effort in this game a year ago in College Park.
Michigan – Idle
Minnesota – Idle
Nebraska – B- – This is a talented group of players but they aren’t a cohesive team. Defensive lapses again. Horrid day running the ball. Tommy Armstrong Jr. tossed a pick six. They are capable of winning every game left on their schedule but they need to get their house in order. Something is not right with these Huskers and it is making an unpopular hire in Mike Riley get his seat really toasty going into his second year. At this rate, he might not make it to Thanksgiving 2016.
Northwestern – A – It wasn’t pretty at times but they scored a major road win to become bowl eligible and get a promising season back on track. I really liked how their defense locked down the Husker rushing attack to the tune of 82 yards on 38 carries. Defense also chipped in with a pick-six. Let’s also give some credit to the ‘Cats for stealing 3 points. A largely lethargic day moving the ball had a nice 6 play, 61 yard drive to set up a field goal to end the half. Those points would be valuable when it was all said and done.
Ohio State – A – Well nothing like 49 unanswered points to start the game. 528 yards is also nothing to sneeze at. What a game by the number one team in the land. Guess a fully healthy and confident J.T. Barrett is a good thing to have.
Penn State – A- – It wasn’t the greatest game to say the least but Christian Hackenberg carved up the Terps and the defense had 5 takeaways. Amazingly that only allowed a +2 win in turnover margin. A horrid day on third down, too. So why did they get an A-, honestly because they found a way to win. They didn’t play very well and Maryland had some inspiration at home and PSU survived, keeping their hopes at winning the east alive. Yes, they do have those hopes.
Purdue – Thankfully, idle
Rutgers – F – Obviously they were over-matched but based on how Indiana moved the ball against the Bucks, I’m sure Rutgers fans were thinking could get something brewing thanks to having Leonte Carroo but it was not be as OSU shook off a shaky opening drives for each team before dominating.
Wisconsin – B+ – Survive and advance, that’s what Wisconsin did. It wasn’t pretty at times but the defense continues to be fantastic and Joel Stave, er, Bart Houston found a way to throw for 232 yards and 2 scores in relief after Stave went down with injury. Wisconsin’s schedule opens up very nicely with manageable games at home against Rutgers and at Maryland before the bye. Northwestern and at Minnesota wraps up the season but that defense should make all four winnable. Getting the RBs back to health and either Stave or Houston flinging the ball around effectively should make Badger fans feel confident about sweeping the quartet of remaining games.
Game of the Week – Indiana nearly gutted out a monumental upset and Connor Cook put on a show. That was a fun game in East Lansing.
Why did I watch this? Award – Umm, OSU-Rutgers lacked much drama. Seriously, did anyone watch this one in its entirety?
Gambling Report Card
- Illinois vs Wisconsin, UW (-6.5), Under (45.5)
Hey now, this is how we start a week hot! Wisconsin’s 10 point win covered and the solid defenses both teams boast held the total score to just 37.
- Indiana at Michigan State, Points (MSU, -16.5), Over (62.5)
Going into the fourth we looked pretty good. Late in the fourth looked like we had a double dip but MSU kept scoring and scoring and scoring and oh, wait, they just scored again. Earned a split.
- Maryland vs Penn State, PSU (-6.5), Under (47)
Newsflash, I hate Penn State….when it comes to gambling. I’m not sure I’ve gotten anything right with this team all year.
- Nebraska vs Northwestern, NU Red (-7.5), Over (51.5 – degenerate pick)
I said we could catch the over if the Huskers put up a big number like 35 but made this a degenerate pick. Sorry casual gamblers! Well it was the ‘Cats who put up a big number at 30 so we cleared the over. Unfortunately we settle for a split as the home team suffered yet another heartbreaking late loss.
- Ohio State at Rutgers, OSU (-21.5), Over (59)
We earn a split as OSU’s 49-7 win clearly covers but only adds up to 56 points. C’mon Bucks…you need to drop the hammer more!
Week Record: 5-5-0
Season Record: 74-57-0
Big Ten and Counting 