College Football Week Eleven: What We've Learned

"In appearance it is very powerful, but in reality it is nothing to be afraid of; it is a paper tiger. Outwardly a tiger, it is made of paper, unable to withstand the wind and the rain. I believe the United States is nothing but a paper tiger." -Mao Zedong, First Chairman of the Communist Party of China

While Chairman Mao was talking about the perceived strength of the United States in the middle of the 20th century, he may as well have been referring to the 2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team. Or Illinois.

Week 11 was not kind to those Big Ten teams. After the first 10 weeks, one squad had greatly exceeded expectations while the other was disappointing. Now it seems like the two are feeling about the same.

The Big Ten has a couple of 'Paper Tigers' in its ranks

Minnesota has seemingly engineered a miraculous turnaround this season after finishing 1-11 last season. Before this weekend's game against Michigan, the Gophers were enjoying a 7-2 record, having clinched bowl eligibility on Oct. 11 against Illinois.

The Gophers looked to reclaim the Little Brown Jug against a Michigan team with nothing left to play for, at home in the Metrodome. They were the favorite and responded by getting flat-out embarrassed by a score of 29-6.

I've hinted at this before, but now it's pretty clear. Minnesota's turnaround is more a product of a remarkably weak schedule than it is great coaching or talent.

It's pretty obvious after the Gophers wet the bed against one of the worst teams in the Big Ten this season. For the past few weeks, I've actually had Michigan at the bottom of the Big Ten rankings I submit to Kristofer Green.

Let's take a look at Minnesota's schedule. Their first two losses of the season came against the only two good teams they played in the first nine games, Northwestern and Ohio State.

Of the teams they've beaten this year, only Northern Illinois and Illinois seem to still have a decent shot at a bowl. Montana State is decent when playing other 1-AA teams, and Purdue and Indiana have been awful in the Big Ten this season.

If you want to be taken seriously, you've got to beat somebody. I think Minnesota has improved, but nowhere near as drastically as their record would indicate.

Illinois is an interesting case. They played in the Rose Bowl last season and were ranked No. 20 in the preseason AP Poll.

The Illini probably weren't going to contend for a conference title, but nobody expected them to be fighting for their Motor City Bowl lives, either. Even if Illinois makes it to the Motor City Bowl, they can't be expected to win it after losing to Western Michigan in Detroit this weekend.

A team with Juice Williams and Aurrelious Benn looks very dangerous. On paper.

Williams has put up some insane stat lines this season, including 431 yards of total offense and four TDs against Michigan at the Big House, and 451 yards passing and five TDs against Missouri to open the season.

Clearly, if Williams doesn't perform, the Illinois offense is hopeless.

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