Sorry readers, I started a new job on Monday and there was so much extra take-home work to get up to speed that I just had to push the blog to the back burner. I’m hoping to return to my usual schedule of posting content next week. Since I’m doing last week’s grades on Saturday morning before week 3 starts, I’m going to be really brief.
Team of the Week – Penn State – A+ – After looking rusty (or shaky) in week one against App State, the Nittany Lions took it to Pitt winning 51-6. The defense held Pitt to just 55 passing yards. Miles Sanders had a nice day as Trace McSorley was fine, just not his usual dynamic self. Still, this team showed that they can win in a multitude of ways.
Illinois – C+ – Illinois has major issues to figure out…fast! It may not seem like it since they won 34-14 over a FCS team but they do. They were +3 in takeaways but could only produce 30 points? They can barely pass the ball. Lastly they are sloppy with 14 penalties for 145. I think that performance against a top-level FCS team or really any FBS team probably is a losing one.
Indiana – A- – Not a whole lot of scoring despite running back Stevie Scott going off for over 200 yards but the defense played a pretty good game and IU knocked off a power-five team that did go to a bowl last year. Maybe not the flashiest of wins, but a solid one nonetheless.
Iowa – B+ – Defense is in midseason form. That’s great. What isn’t great is six first half points through two games. Iowa, along with a few other league members below, need to find out a way to actually be awake offensively to start the game because once league play starts, a dismal first half could put you in too big a hole.
Maryland – A – Terps did a nice job of controlling Bowling Green for most of the game. Yes the 28 point fourth quarter blew the game wide open, but before that UM was still up 17-14 and making life miserable for Bowling Green’s running game as well as picking up a lot of sacks. The offense was efficient and while Maryland didn’t fully roll until that final quarter, it felt like they were dictating play even when the score showed it being a close game.
Michigan – A – Can’t go too crazy because Western Michigan’s defense is really struggling right now but there were some nice signs of life. The ground game was strong as both Higdon and Evans had nice afternoons and Patterson had an effective day passing, even if he didn’t put up a monster yardage mark.
Michigan State – F – Where is the rushing game? Lj Scott just seven carries? Connor Heyward is MSU’s best rusher and he has just five? Lewerke is an improving quarterback but he isn’t good enough just quite yet to lead an offense singlehandedly. Also the defense had a nice collapse with 13 fourth quarter points allowed in the losing effort. Not 100% panic time yet because if MSU wins the Big Ten and only has this one loss, they will make the “playoffs” but they sure as heck don’t look like a playoff team right now.
Minnesota – A – Shout-out to that Gopher defense holding Fresno to just 14 points. Yes the Gopher O is still developing but this wasn’t unexpected heading into the season. The Gophers are just going to a mucker. Doesn’t mean they aren’t any good, just means that they aren’t as polished and will do best when the game is a herky-jerky grinder. I wouldn’t be surprised if Minnesota wins every game they have this year that features a driving rain storm.
Nebraska – B – The game completely changed its feel when Adrian Martinez went out but the Huskers weren’t exactly killing it before the injury, either. Last year’s defense was a total joke. Well to debut 2018 they enjoyed Steven Montez racking up 351 yards and 3 TDs on them. Forget the injury for a second and what that means for the O, I’m concerned that if Nebraska’s defense is anything like last year, it won’t matter what the offense does.
Northwestern – D – I can’t completely go to that F because NU moved the ball and Thorson looked alright in just his second game back. Larkin also hit the century mark rushing, so things aren’t hopeless. Duke has a nice RPO game plan that Northwestern had a hard time adjusting to. NU also lost the turnover margin by two. The pass blocking also wasn’t great as Thorson took several sacks. That stuff can be cleaned up and don’t forget, NU lost to Duke a season ago and still won 10 games. Sometimes a team just is a match-up issue that isn’t in your favor.
Ohio State – A+ – They made Rutgers look silly yet again as the defense held RU to just 134 total yards. Dwayne Haskins also put up an Abe Lincoln (four scores). Total, complete, annihilation of those New Jerseyans.
Purdue – F – Look, Eastern Michigan isn’t finishing last in the MAC. They are more likely to make a bowl or the MAC title game than they are to turn out a 3-9 type season. Still, and with all due respect to the Eagles because I like what they are doing to turn their program around the last few years, this is a game Purdue cannot lose. They were already 0-1 with power-five non conference games against Missouri and Boston College coming up. They were sloppy with the ball against Northwestern week one and it cost them. They had to come out focused and dominate the MAC team. Instead they had two more giveaways and lost the turnover margin. They had more penalty yards. They had a horrible day passing and then let EMU shred them through the air. Finally, the defense collapsed on a long fourth down conversion on the final drive that allowed Eastern to win. It might not be panic time just yet in East Lansing or Evanston…it is panic time in West Lafayette though.
Rutgers – F – Since joining the league Rutgers is 0-5 against Ohio State and has given up 50+ points every game but one. The one they did not have half a hundred hung on them, OSU still put up 49. Ugly.
Wisconsin – B+ – The final score and the yards makes it look like a totally dominant Badger win but it wasn’t. New Mexico’s starting qb got hurt and then due to an injury last week his back-up wasn’t healthy so UNM played the third string guy most of the game. Badgers had poor first half play calling letting Hornibrook hardly throw it and Taylor had yet another soft fumble. Maybe I am a harsh grader but Wisconsin can’t sleepwalk through first halves once they hit league play. They are kind of playing with fire right now.
Game of the Week – I know it didn’t work out the way Nebraska fans were hoping but that was undeniably the most exciting game of the weekend. Big plays back and forth and a real energy in the stadium that you could sense even on TV.
Why Did I Watch This? Award – When the Bucks were up 14-0 I stopped caring. When I double checked the score at half and saw it 35-0 I realized there was nothing I was going to learn from this game that I couldn’t learn from looking at the box score. Dreadful.
Gambling Report Card:
- Illinois vs Western Illinois
No betting line
- Indiana vs Virginia, IU (-5.0), Over (50.0)
Yeesh, after a hot week one, week two is already shaping up to be a rough one. Indiana’s 20-16 victory did nothing for us as they neither covered nor racked up enough points to go over.
- Iowa vs Iowa State, UI (-3.5)
Certainly wasn’t pretty at times but Iowa’s 13-3 victory gets us onto the board.
- Maryland at Bowling Green, UM (-15.0), Over (65.5)
Well, a split is better than nothing I guess. UM won by 31 points but this one reached just 59 total points.
- Michigan vs Western Michigan, UM (-28.0)
I felt really, really good about this pick when it was 21-0 after the first quarter. Michigan would go on to win by 46, giving us a much-needed victory.
- Michigan State at Arizona State, MSU (-5.5)
Sun Devils remain undefeated against Big Ten clubs in their home. Never again Josh, never again.
- Minnesota vs Fresno State, Fresno (pick ’em), Over (48.0)
A double downer as the Gophers fended off the good-looking Mountain West club and they did it with defense, resulting in just 35 total points. Ugly.
- Nebraska vs Colorado, Points (NU -3.0)
I actually thought the Buffs would win straight up so went that way with the spread. It worked out as the visitors found a way to escape Lincoln with a narrow 33-28 win.
- Northwestern vs Duke, NU (-2.5)
Okay, so if Northwestern and Duke every play again, evidently you need to take the Blue Devils because they are Pat Fitzgerald’s kryptonite.
- Ohio State vs Rutgers, OSU (-35.0), Over (61.0)
Oh thank god finally a game that I didn’t go 0-2 in. Got a split thanks to OSU dropping a 49-point victory on the Knights but it was 35-0 at half and OSU only scored 17 second half points. What’s up with that?
- Penn State at Pitt, PSU (-7.5)
Felt like Penn State was the better team and that App State’s comeback was, while amazing, a little lucky too. There was no such luck for Pitt as the Lions steam rolled them, 51-6.
- Purdue vs Eastern Michigan, PU (-16.5)
I thought Purdue would be crisper after that sloppy game against Northwestern. I was wrong……dead wrong.
- Wisconsin vs New Mexico, UW (-35.0)
So last week I take the over and it loses but Wisconsin covered. This week I take UW and they don’t cover but the game goes over. C’mon, Badgers.
Week Record: 6-10-0
Season Record: 15-14-1
Big Ten and Counting 