Big Ten Football: Week 11 Rankings and Predictions

My, how time flies. It's already Week 11 of the Big Ten College Football season. Big Ten fans have seen it all; upsets, perfect seasons upended, and coaching controversies.

Iowa's recent mis-hap against Northwestern on Saturday halted the Hawkeye's designs of a perfect season.

The Hawkeyes now share the top spot in the Big Ten with perennial favorite, THE Ohio State University Buckeyes, the out-right Big Ten Title is up for grabs.

Don't count Penn State out, they're only a game back in the loss column, and won a share of the conference title last year, along with the Buckeyes.

Ohio State and Penn State have had control over the Big Ten over the last few years, each earning half of the Big Ten pie in 2005 and 2008.

The Buckeyes won the conference out-right in 2005, and again in 2006, flexing that Buckeye offensive muscle, racking up, on average, 33 points per game over the two year span. That's what happens when you have a guy like Ted Ginn, Jr. running track meets every game.

This year's race will come down to Iowa, Ohio State, and Penn State.

Joe Pa's Nittany Lions have the Hoosiers coming to town this weekend. Penn State needs this win in order to stay in the race for a Big Ten crown.

The Buckeyes are at home, taking on the 9-1 Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday, this one should be a dandy.

Iowa is fresh off a surprising (was it that surprising?) loss to the Wildcats of Northwestern last weekend. They're at the Horseshoe Saturday, tangling with Ohio State, for what may end up being the Big Ten Champioship game (if the Big Ten had one, it'd be this game). 

Here's the break down.

1.) Ohio State (8-2, 5-1)

The Bucks have produced more points this season than any other team in the conference, with 174, while surrendering the least, 67. Putting them at number one in the league, after a big road win against Penn State, this was a no brainer.

The scarlet and gray are on a 3 game winning streak, and just beat the Nittany Lions IN Happy Valley last Saturday. 

The Big Ten's best defense will be put to the test, can they stop Terrelle Pryor? 

Iowa has found ways to win all year, whether or not they're "pretty" wins, it doesn't matter, they win the close ones.

I like Iowa in a tight one, but Ohio State should be able to handle them if we see the Terrelle Pryor of last week. I look for the Bucks to clip Iowa's wings, 33-21.

2.) Penn State (8-2, 4-2)

"Come to Penn State!". I'm sure everyone is familiar with Joe Pa's famous line in the Big Ten commercials.

Ben Chappell and his Hoosiers hear ya loud and clear, Joe! They'll be in Happy Valley on Saturday.

Penn State lost to the Buckeyes last week, 24-17, led by Terrelle Pryor, in his 2009 Coming Out Party in the valley. 

Indiana's Ben Chappell has had a stellar year passing, posting over 2,300 yards. He's no Pryor, but could pose a problem early on. Penn State wins this one, blowing it wide open in the second half... and when I say win, I mean big. 49-17 big.

3.) Iowa (9-1, 5-1)

Iowa drops to number 3 because they were beaten by Northwestern.

Enough said.

Iowa is at Ohio State, without offensive centerpieces; Ricky Stanzi and Adam Robinson.

The conference's best defense will face a prolific Buckeye offense November 14th. Pat Angerer and company will be tested by the Pryor/Posey connection, in hopes of putting the cap on the can of whoop ass that Ohio State hopes to open on them.    

Terrelle Pryor had a field day in his home state of Pennsylvania last weekend, against a higher quality team than Iowa, the Penn State Nittany Lions.

The Hawkeyes aren't ranked in the top 5 in ANY offensive category in the Big Ten, and have to rely on near miracles every week to win.

This will not work against Ohio State. As I said above, I like Ohio State, 33-21.

4.) Wisconsin (7-2, 4-2)

The Badgers have the Wolverines in town at Camp Randall on Saturday.

Michigan is one of the "Jekyll and Hyde" teams in the Big Ten.

The Badgers blanked the Boilers a few weeks back, 37-0, a team that squeaked by their upcoming opponent, the U of M Wolverines.  

Michigan scores more points per game than any Big Ten team, but rely heavily on the "Force" being with them, Frosh QB, Tate Forcier.

Tate's been shakey on the road, hell, he's been shakey period. He'll develop into a solid signal caller eventually, but with Maragos patrolling around in Wisconsin's secondary on Saturday, watch out for forced throws... he'll snag 'em, Tate.

I like Wisconsin in this one for two reasons.

1.) They're at home, where they're 5-1 this year.

2.) Tolzein will have a ball against an inconsistent, at best, Michigan secondary.

Badgers 35, Tate and the boys, 17.

Middle of the Road Teams.

In an effort to keep this article from becoming a novel, I'll simplify things a bit.

5.) Michigan State (5-5, 3-3)

Sparty is much better than their record reflects. They take on Purdue this weekend, in hopes of gaining bowl eligibility.

The game is at West Lafayette, which shouldn't make that much difference to Kirk Cousins, who is arguably the best quarterback in the league. He's performed well both at home, and on road trips.

Depending on which Spartan football team shows up, it could go either way.

I like MSU in a shootout, 42-35.

The Boilers can put points on the board in bunches, but so can Sparty.

6.) Northwestern (6-4, 3-3)

The Wildcats went Hawkeye hunting in Iowa City, and snagged them a bird Saturday.

The Cats will take on Illinois, another one of those "Jekyll and Hyde" teams.

The Illini handed Michigan a shocking loss in blow out fashion, surprising the Big Ten world, and Rich Rodriguez.

I like Kafka and his 2,200+ yards on the year to dismantle the Illini.

Cats 35, Illinois 14

7.) Minnesota (5-5, 3-4)

The Golden Gophers take on National powerhouse South Dakota State this weekend.

Minnesota's run and gun offense took care of Sparty, and the edged out Illinois 35-32 last Saturday.

Minnesota wins big over SDSU, 49-10.

8.) Purdue (4-6, 3-3)

Boil up, Boilers. You just beat Michigan AT the Big House. Purdue has slayed the likes of Ohio State this year, and notched a big win for their program in Ann Arbor last weekend.

Purdue has Sparty this week at home, a match up that should be a thriller.

Purdue is capable of scoring at high volumes, which is not usually good news for opponents.

Here's a look ahead for Purdue, since we've already been over their game with State.

The Boilers have their in-state rivalry game with the Hoosiers in Bloomington, two weeks from now, in the annual "Who's Yer (Hoosier) Daddy Bowl". The "Hoosier daddy?" thing never gets old.

IU's quarterback, Ben Chappell is having a year to be proud of. 2,300+ yards passing is admirable.

Here's the problem.

The Hoosiers have given up the third most points in the conference. Factor that with an offense that can score 21 points in 2 minutes like Purdue's(figuratively speaking), they're in trouble.

Boilers 35, Hoosiers 14.

9.) Michigan (5-5, 1-5)

Rich Rod is in the rebuilding process in Ann Arbor, evident by the sub par year the Wolverines are once again having.

Michigan is at Camp Randall this weekend, taking on the Badgers. The Wolverine offense scores about 32 per game, and Brandon Minor runs the ball effectively, when he wants to. 

Turnovers have plagued the maize and blue, something that will most likely be the cause of their loss this upcoming weekend to the Badgers.

35-17 Badgers.

Pick your poison.

10/11.) Illinois/Indiana. (both are horrible, no need to post records here)

I'll give the Illini the edge, because they beat U of M. Indiana hung in there, but couldn't get it done.

Bad calls, yes. Lack of effort, no. Did the better team win? You betcha.

Michigan earned that win against Indiana, who happens to be the ONLY team they've beaten in the Big Ten.

Too bad they can't play Delaware State every week.