Power Ranking The Big Ten Teams And Predicting Their Week 6 Results
The first week of Big Ten games has come and gone. The contenders stood out after the first week of conference play, but week six will make the contenders even more clear.
The Big Ten game of the week is definitely the Michigan State @ Michigan game. After that game is over there will be one less undefeated team within the conference and overall.
Here are how the Big Ten teams stand and how they will perform as they head into the second week of conference play.
#11 – Minnesota…1-4 (0-1)
1 of 11
LW: L 28-29 to Northwestern
Week 6: @ #20 Wisconsin
TV: Big Ten Network…12 PM ET
Good: Despite losing their first conference game to Northwestern and having a record of 1-4 through the first five weeks, the Minnesota Golden Gophers have played some tight games. The Golden Gophers own the fourth best passing offense in the Big Ten. They played the Northwestern Wildcats, who are undefeated, very tough last week, only to lose the game by one point.
Bad: Through the first five weeks of the season, the Minnesota defense is allowing 30.6 points per game, which is good for last in the Big Ten. They are also second to last in yards allowed and dead last in rushing yards allowed. Those stats are some of the main contributors to the Gophers’ record.
Top Performer: Adam Weber (1199 Passing Yards, 9 TD Passes)
BOLD Prediction: LOSS @ Wisconsin
#10 – Purdue…2-2 (0-0)
2 of 11
LW: Bye
Week 6: @ Northwestern
TV: Big Ten Network…7:30 PM ET
Good: The Purdue Boilermakers have gotten off to a 2-2 start entering their first Big Ten conference game. They had two weeks to prepare to take on the Northwestern Wildcats, which will give the Boilermakers extra time to get ready for the undefeated Wildcats.
Bad: Purdue has been one of the worst offenses in the Big Ten. They have had significant injuries to their offense (Robert Marve & Keith Smith), but are at the bottom of the Big Ten when it comes to total offensive yards per game and points scored per game. To make a move in the Big Ten they are going to have to be better on offense.
Top Performer: Ryan Kerrigan (34 Tackles, 4.5 Sacks, 12 Tackles for Loss, 3 Forced Fumbles)
BOLD Prediction: LOSS @ Northwestern
#9 – Illinois…2-2 (0-1)
3 of 11
LW: L 13-24 to Ohio State
Week 6: @ Penn State
TV: ESPN 2…12 PM ET
Good: The defense has been a surprise for the Fighting Illini in 2010. Facing their first real test last week in Ohio State, they held the explosive Buckeyes offense to only 24 points and 290 yards of offense. they are tied for fourth in points allowed per game and are fifth in yards allowed per game in the Big Ten. Nationally, Illinois is one of the top 40 defenses.
Bad: the offense has been very inconsistent for the Illini this season. the inexperience of redshirt freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has shown through the first five weeks. The Illini offense is ranked last in passing yards and offensive yards per game in the Big Ten. Mikel Leshoure’s stellar 2010 goes overlooked because of the inconsistent offense.
Top Performer: Mikel Leshoure (478 Rushing Yards, 3 TD’s, 6.2 Yards Per Carry)
BOLD Prediction: WIN @ Penn State
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
#8 – Indiana…3-1 (0-1)
4 of 11
LW: L 35-42 to Michigan
Week 6: @ Ohio State
TV: ESPN…12 PM ET
Good: the Indiana Hoosiers have been one of the best offenses in the Big Ten to this point in the season. Indiana’s offense, led by senior quarterback Ben Chappell, ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring and fourth in yards per game. Chappell leads the Big Ten in total passing yards and is tied for the lead in touchdown passes thrown.
Bad: Indiana has had a fairly easy schedule outside of the Michigan game. They have won the games that they were supposed to win, but they were against less than stellar opponents. They also have one of the lesser defenses in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers talent will definitely be tested against the Buckeyes in week 6.
Top Performer: Ben Chappell (1370 Passing Yards, 12 TD Passes, 71.6 Completion Percentage)
BOLD Prediction: LOSS @ Ohio State
#7 – Penn State…3-2 (0-1)
5 of 11
LW: L 3-24 @ Iowa
Week 6: Host Illinois
TV: ESPN 2…12 PM ET
Good: Penn State, despite being 3-2, has losses to two very tough teams (Alabama & Iowa). Joe Paterno opted to go with freshman quarterback Robert Bolden for the 2010 season. although Bolden has showed his youth, the Nittany Lions still have a positive outlook for 2010. They lost their first Big Ten game to Iowa, but host the 2-2 Fighting Illini in week 6. Penn State also has one of the best defenses in the Big Ten and is tied with Indiana for the least penalized team in the conference.
Bad: Penn State’s offense in 2010 has proven to be very inconsistent. They rank towards the bottom in yards per game and points per game. In order to prove that they can compete in the Big Ten and win some games Bolden, Evan Royster, and the Penn State offense will need to get things going.
Top Performer: Evan Royster (353 Rushing Yards, 1 TD, 5.3 Yards Per Carry)
BOLD Prediction: LOSS to Illinois
#6 – Northwestern…5-0 (1-0)
6 of 11
LW: W 29-28 @ Minnesota
Week 6: Host Purdue
TV: Big Ten Network…7:30 PM ET
Good: Dan Persa and the Northwestern Wildcats have gotten off to a 5-0 start, flying under the radar in the Big Ten in 2010. They have won most of their games in close fashion, but have won them nonetheless. Dan Persa is second in the Big Ten is passing yards. They also do not have to play Michigan or Ohio State this year.
Bad: Northwestern has not blown anybody away this season and makes their 5-0 record a question mark. As of right now, they are not legitimate contenders for the Big Ten title. Their lack of explosive talent will be exposed when they take on Michigan State, Iowa, and Wisconsin down the road.
Top Performer: Dan Persa (1358 Passing Yards, 10 TD Passes, 79.4 Completion Percentage)
BOLD Prediction: WIN Over Purdue
#5 – #20 Wisconsin…4-1 (0-1)
7 of 11
LW: L 34-32 @ Michigan State
Week 6: Host Minnesota
TV: Big Ten Network…12 PM ET
Good: Wisconsin has been a solid team in 2010. They have a steady offense and defense. Although they started the conference with a loss, judging by the way that the game played out, it would be very surprising to see a Big Ten team run the table in the conference.
Bad: Wisconsin has been inconsistent this season and had a very tough game with Arizona State. They are loaded with talent, but have not really seemed to fully showcase it against good teams. They already have one conference loss and still have to play Ohio State, Iowa, and Michigan.
Top Performer: John Clay (581 Rushing Yards, 6 TD’s, 6.2 Yards Per Carry)
BOLD Prediction: WIN Over Minnesota
#4 – #18 Michigan…5-0 (1-0)
8 of 11
LW: W 42-35 @ Indiana
Week 6: Host #17 Michigan State
TV: ABC/ESPN…3:30 PM ET
Good: Denard Robinson. That is all that is necessary to say when talking about the 2010 Michigan Wolverines. Not only is the frontrunner to win the Heisman trophy, but more importantly he is the reason that Michigan has gotten off to a 5-0 start. He has played out of his mind running the Wolverines offense thus far.
Bad: Michigan’s defense. Despite having an explosive offense, Michigan has failed to blow out an opponent that matters. The best victory they have is the 20-point over Connecticut to start the season. Otherwise they only beat Notre Dame by 4, UMass by 5, and Indiana by 7. Two of those wins, Notre Dame and Indiana, came within the closing minutes of the game. The Wolverines defense allows more yards per game than any other Big Ten team.
Top Performer: Denard Robinson (1008 Passing Yards, 905 Rushing Yards, 15 Total TD’s)
BOLD Prediction: LOSS to #17 Michigan State
#3 – #17 Michigan State…5-0 (1-0)
9 of 11
LW: W 34-24 Over Wisconsin
Week 6: @ #18 Michigan
TV: ABC/ESPN…3:30 PM ET
Good: The Michigan State Spartans won an emotional game over the Wisconsin Badgers in week 5, despite not having their coach with them due to a heart attack. Mark Dantonio expects be in the box against Michigan, supporting his team. The tough win over the Badgers shows that the Spartans are battle tested. They have had five convincing wins so far in 2010 and look to continue that streak as they try to stop Denard Robinson and the Michigan Wolverines offense.
Bad: they have to face Denard Robinson and arguably the most explosive offense in the Big Ten. As Robinson has showed all of college football in 2010, he can single handedly win a game for Michigan. A tough Spartans defense, led by one of the best linebackers in the country Greg Jones, will have their hands full in week six.
Top Performers: Edwin Baker/Le’Veon Bell (Combined: 1007 Rushing Yards, 12 TD’s)
BOLD Prediction: WIN @ #18 Michigan
#2 – #15 Iowa…4-1 (1-0)
10 of 11
LW: W 24-3 Over Penn State
Week 6: Bye
Good: Iowa came out against Penn State and proved why they were given high praise in the preseason. They put on a clinic limiting the Penn State offense to three points. The Hawkeyes are out to avenge their loss to the Arizona Wildcats, which was mostly due to poor play in the first half. They are off in week six, preparing to take the road to play Michigan in the Big House in week seven.
Bad: Iowa still has Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State remaining on their schedule. If they want to win the Big Ten this year they are going to have to play sound football week in and week out, especially in the games against the opponents mentioned. The only positive of those remaining games is that the games against Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State are at Kinnick Stadium.
Top Performer: Ricky Stanzi (1226 Passing Yards, 10 TD Passes)
#1 – #2 Ohio State…5-0 (1-0)
11 of 11
LW: W 24-13 @ Illinois
Week 6: Host Indiana
TV: ESPN…12 PM ET
Good: having Terrelle Pryor as your quarterback is never a bad thing. He is a Heisman candidate and one of the best players in the Big Ten. He has led a Buckeyes offense that is tops in the Big Ten and one of the more explosive offenses in the country. despite the Illinois game, Ohio State has been very convincing in all of its games, not allowing the opponent to contend.
Bad: Indiana and its explosive offense should not be overlooked. Although they have had a soft schedule, the Hoosiers have big play potential and the Buckeyes should be prepared for anything. Terrelle Pryor’s bum leg is a big concern for Ohio State, as their offense was very sluggish without him running it. they are going to need a healthy Pryor to continue their march to a Big Ten title.
Top Performer: Terrelle Pryor (1015 Passing Yards, 373 Rushing Yards, 15 Total TD’s)
BOLD Prediction: WIN Over Indiana
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
