A month is in the books folks. We got some 4-0 clubs feeling great. Some 3-1 teams lurking. A few 2-2 teams that want to get right ASAP. And finally a group of 1-3 teams not entirely sure of their bowl hopes now that they are going to enter the meat grinder that is the Big Ten schedule.
Team of the Week – Minnesota – A+ – The Gophers were extremely dominate in their 3-0 start to the season but there was some apprehension about strength of schedule. Traveling to Michigan State was a big opportunity for both teams – MSU to bounce back and UM to prove their start transferred to league play. Boy did Minnesota show off. They had 18 more first downs (32 to 18), 268 more yards, 202 more rushing yards, forced 3 turnovers, went 10/12 on third down and totally thrashed the overwhelmed Spartans. What’s crazy is the 34-7 final doesn’t even show how lopsided the score was. Minnesota went into crazy time of possession offense the second half and only had the ball three times. They scored 21 points on those possessions but the capper was a 15 play, 10:37 drive. Some days you are the hammer, some days you are the nail. Gophers were massive hammers on Saturday.
Illinois – A – The Mocs are not a bad FCS club but Illinois was laser focused in their 31-0 domination over the boys from Chattanooga. We know Illinois can run the ball pretty well but in this tune up, Illinois looked to smooth some things out in the passing game and boy howdy, did they. Tommy DeVito went 24/32 for 332 yards and 3 scores. If Illinois can get even some of that efficiency in league play watch out, they will be going bowling for sure and maybe spoil a few teams seasons in the process.
Indiana – F – The Hoosiers knew playing at Cincy was not going to be easy as the Bearcats are the most dominate group of five club currently out there and would easily be a bowl team in every power five league. Hell, they’d probably win the Coastal and contend for the Big Ten West. So it is commendable for IU to be playing there. IU also did some decent things…unfortunately they came after the 28 point second quarter explosion that essentially rendered the game over. The 45-24 final is maybe a pinch more lopsided than what the stats indicate but the Hoosiers have a lot to fix and not a lot of time left to do it despite the 3-1 start. Ball security has to be among their first priorities. Having 3 giveaways is not a path for victory for a team like Indiana. They are not talented enough to have that many goofs in a game and hope to succeed.
Iowa – B – The road league win was nice. Scoring two defensive touchdowns was very nice. The theme of the season – AWFUL offense – continues. 1/9 on third, just 277 yards, and 13 points generated. There were a few building blocks – the OL blocked a little better and there were some running lanes. Petras did complete 11 of 17 throws. Still, massive step up in competition from Nevada and Rutgers to Michigan next game.
Maryland – C+ – Terps played really, really well in Ann Arbor. A few different breaks they might have grabbed an upset. However, I need to go off on the officiating and coaching. Michigan was awarded an “interception” that CLEARLY hit the ground. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. 100% a trap. Would have been a 5 second review. Yet, no review was buzzed for. What the hell was the officiating crew doing? They were incompetent. Okay, fine, Michigan isn’t in a rush. Television went to a commercial between possessions, there was about 3 minutes for Maryland’s staff to yell at Locksley to challenge the play. There was time for Locksley to say, “ya know what, that was way too close a play in real time. I’m going to risk it and ask for a review, why not? I’m on the road and every bit helps.” Did that happen? Nope. So incompetent refs are let off the hook by equally incompetent coaches. Awesome stuff, gents.
Michigan – B – They won and Blake Corum went off for 243 yards and 2 scores but there were some issues. Maryland was able to move the ball way too effectively. J.J. McCarthy also displayed some very reckless ball security that could have cost him. Simply put, Michigan’s performance against Maryland won’t cut it against Ohio State. Luckily for them that game is a long ways off.
Michigan State – F – The team on the receiving end of Minnesota’s beat down. It was bad folks. The way MSU has looked the last two weeks, they might not win again unless something drastically changes, especially for the defense.
Nebraska – Off
Northwestern – F – Sitting at 1-2 and desperate for a win, NU had yet another completely flat effort against Miami (OH) and lost. Worse, they lost to a team that had just 62 passing yards. It is hard to identify anything Northwestern does well, let alone at an elite level. Other middling Big Ten teams have at least something (Nebraska, good offense. Rutgers, good defense. Iowa, elite defense.). Without something special, NU lacks a good enough team to do much this year.
Ohio State – A+ – In their debut, Ohio State looked good versus Notre Dame but not elite. That narrative changed with their Big Ten debut. Ohio State dismantled one of the favorites in the west 52-21 thanks to a balanced attack of 281 passing yards and 258 rushing yards. C.J. Stroud picked apart Wisconsin’s secondary with FIVE touchdown passes. Defensively, OSU had some bench players bend a little too much late and give up 14 fourth quarter points, but when the starters were in, Wisconsin could do diddly squat. Complete and utter domination by the Buckeyes.
Penn State – B – A very strange game as Penn State dominated the first quarter and led 14-0. Then in the second the Chips scrapped back. Overall, PSU only won 33-14, but the CMU offense moved the ball pretty effectively through the air. Then on the other hand, Penn State had four takeaways. Some of the stats indicate total blowout, some showed the Chips were a little frisky. I think perhaps Penn State was a pinch hungover after the Auburn game while Central Michigan is a little better than we gave them credit for. That mix led to a closer than expected game…if you can call a 19 point game close.
Purdue – D – Red flag alert, red flag alert! Purdue narrowly escaped FAU winning 28-26. First of all, Purdue needs Aiden O’Connell to be healthy ALL year as there is not enough qb depth on this roster to survive any long-term injury. Second of all, the defense tried their hardest to lose this game. FAU racked up 420 total yards of offense and pounded the Boilers for 190 rushing yards. This defense was the question heading into the season and in games against Penn State, Syracuse, and FAU they haven’t been nearly good enough. With tough road trips to Minneapolis and College Park coming up and the way Minnesota and Maryland’s offenses have looked so far, there is the very real possibility Purdue will be 2-4 unless things change really drastically really quickly.
Rutgers – F – Perhaps this is a mean grade to give but when you have your first sell out in quite a while, the fans should maybe stick around longer than a quarter or two before bailing. Yes the pick six and scoop and score were killers to RU’s chances against Iowa but you are playing the offensively inept Hawkeyes! Without Iowa’s defensive scores the final would have been 13-10. Support your team as they try to make a bowl! Don’t bail on your team just because they’re not living up to the preseason hype. Instead realize they are fighting hard out there they just don’t quite have the offensive pieces yet to overcome elite defenses.
Wisconsin – F – Badger nation wants to move on from this game and so will I. Wisconsin was banged up and had a horrible game plan with horrid offensive calls all first half. Then more in the second half. Pretty obvious what fixes Wisconsin needs to make. The question is will they.
Game of the Week – Maryland and Michigan didn’t have as big an explosion in points that I was expecting but it did thrill. Maryland’s upset bid was quite valiant and Michigan’s toughness in the face of their first adversity this season was also impressive. Too bad I’m still smarting at the refs horrific display.
Why Did I Watch This? Award – With the Badgers banged up and horrible play calling, when it hit 31-7 at halftime, there wasn’t a whole lot of reason to keep with the Wisconsin-Ohio State game.
Gambling Report Card:
- Illinois vs Chattanooga – UI (-19.5)
Despite a very quiet voice pointing out that the Mocs aren’t a complete pushover, I still trusted the Illini to cover and they did, handily, winning 31-0.
- Indiana at Cincinnati – Over (57.0)
Missed a chance for a double up as I thought UC would cover but committed to a safer bet with the over. This one didn’t stand a chance as UC alone scored 45 points and the total was 69, easily giving us a win.
- Iowa at Rutgers – Under (34.0)
A brutally ugly kick that doinked off the upright and…IN…gave this game 37 points. Classic Iowa.
- Maryland at Michigan – Over (64.5)
Not gonna lie, after a 30 point first half in which both teams left points on the field after turnovers, I thought this game was destined for a shootout. Instead ZERO points were scored in the third, what the hell? All told just 61 points were scored, giving us a loser.
- Minnesota at Michigan State – UM (-3.0)
Dominating the game 17-0 at half, the Gophers never looked back routing the Spartans 34-7 and giving us a no sweat winning ticket.
- Northwestern vs Miami (OH) – Over (49.5)
Not even close in this one. Miami’s upset victory came in a defensive battle with just 31 combined points. Thank god we didn’t invest more in this terrible NU team with a pick on the spread.
- Wisconsin at Ohio State – Points (OSU -18.5)
Nope. Awful. The Badgers were down 31-7 at the half and lost by 31 points. We might have to recalibrate some of our Wisconsin bets as they are having mounting issues on both sides of the ball.
- Penn State vs Central Michigan – PSU (-28.0), Over (63.0)
Penn State held the Chips scoreless in three out of four quarters. Unfortunately the second quarter had two CMU touchdowns, killing this spread as PSU won handily by 19 but no where near handily enough for the spread. The two squads also combined for…not even 50 points! Whelp, it wasn’t our week.
- Purdue vs Florida Atlantic – PU (-17.5), Over (59)
Brutal end to the week as our PU bets go 0-2. Newsflash, PU has no qb depth so if Aiden O’Connell is out…don’t trust Purdue at all!!!
Week Record: 3-7-0
Season Record: 30-20-1
Big Ten and Counting 