Power Ranking Big 10 Football in Week 12: Badgers Stomp As the Cats Climb...
Northwestern stormed back at the end of a cold, windy and wet afternoon in Evanston to snatch a victory from the Iowa Hawkeyes––denying them once again in the fading moments of a game.
Iowa’s Big Ten title hopes evaporated as the clock expired.
At the same time Wisconsin pummeled the Hoosiers whose shouts of “Uncle” could not be heard over the Badger faithful cries for more.
An 83-20 score blinked brilliantly on the giant scoreboard which the Badgers hope was noted by the BCS.
Meanwhile, Penn State muscled their way through the first half leading at Ohio State. Eventually, however, the Buckeyes woke up and stormed back to win in Columbus.
While––miracle of miracles––the Minnesota Gophers rose up on their hind legs and won a game in the Big Ten on the road at Illinois.
The Power Rankings are based on (1) the BCS Rankings, (2) the total win-loss net and (3) the team’s past weekend results. If, for example, a team defeated a higher BCS ranked opponent that is worth a +5 while a regular win is worth +1. A tie is reconciled by the team's win-loss record in the Big Ten.
This means that the power ranking totals may change dramatically from week to week.
The Power Rankings this week reflect a distinct separation of the top three from the rest of the pack.
11. Minnesota (2-9, 1-6) Power Ranking: -6
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11. Minnesota (2-9, 1-6) Power Ranking: -6
Minnesota finally won in the Big Ten, defeating Illinois 38-34 in the waning moments of the game.
In fact it was their second win of the year and helped relieve some of the anguish this team has suffered throughout this unfortunate season with a few heartbreaking losses and the firing of their coach.
Minnesota has this weekend off giving them extra time to prepare for traditional rival, the Iowa Hawkeyes, who may or may not be riding high, depending on the outcome of their game against Ohio State this weekend.
The two teams will be playing for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy––which Iowa has owned for the past few years.
With the hiring of another new coach Minnesota, who has become the doormat of the Big Ten Conference, will be looking to improve their football fortunes in 2011.
10. Indiana (4-6, 0-6) Power Rankings: -3
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10. Indiana (4-6, 0-6) Power Rankings: -3
The Indiana Hoosiers, no doubt, wish to put last Saturday’s game out of their minds forever.
Unfortunately, it will never die because of the score.
Wisconsin’s 83-20 dismantling of the Hoosiers broke all kinds of records in the Big Ten and in the 2010 college football season.
The score will go down in the record books and forever be quoted for any number of statistical reasons.
It seems imperative to many that Indiana find a way to win this Saturday in Landover, Maryland.
Another loss, it has been suggested, may mean the end of the Hoosier coaching career of Bill Lynch, who has been at helm in Indiana for the past four years.
The Hoosiers will play this game on neutral grounds against the Penn State Nittany Lions also seeking a win in their next-to-last game.
9. Purdue (4-6, 2-4) Power Ranking: -3
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9. Purdue (4-6, 2-4) Power Ranking: -3
The Purdue Boilermakers, despite their depleted ranks, manage to stay relevant in most games they have played this season.
Eventually, however, they just do not have enough power in reserve to play tough for an entire game.
The Boilers led at halftime in their game against Wisconsin in West Lafayette.
They stayed close most of the way against Michigan last Saturday, continuing to make Denard Robinson’s day a nightmare for most of the afternoon.
With no breaks at all, this weekend the Boilers must travel to East Lansing to face one the league’s leaders, Michigan State.
The story will probably be pretty much the same as the past two games for the Purdue team.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
8. Illinois (5-5, 3-4) Power Ranking: 0
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8. Illinois (5-5, 3-4) Power Ranking: 0
For the last two weekends the Illini have seen a win slip away in the closing moments when victory seemed so close.
The triple overtime loss to Michigan still haunted Illinois as they welcomed Minnesota into Memorial Stadium last Saturday.
The Illini hoped for a win over the Gophers and bowl eligibility by the end of the afternoon.
But that was not to be as DeLeon Eskridge of Minnesota scored during the closing moments of the game giving the Gophers their first win of the Big Ten season.
That puts extra pressure on Illinois to get a win this weekend as the Illini face Northwestern at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
This is their last Big Ten game of the year. The Illinois team finishes with a game at Fresno State in early December.
7. Penn State (6-4, 3-3) Power Ranking: +1
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7. Penn State (6-4, 3-3) Power Ranking: +1
Penn State started strong on the road last week in Columbus and at halftime led the Ohio State Buckeyes 14-3.
It was turnovers that cost the Lions the momentum in the third quarter as Devon Torrence swiped a Matthew McGloin pass for an interception––returning it to put Ohio State up by three, 17-14.
That score held until the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter Ohio State exploded with 21 points and put the game completely out of reach for the Lions.
This week Penn State and Indian meet in Landover, Maryland which is supposed to be a home contest for the Hoosiers.
Indiana must still be reeling from that 83-20 blowout they suffered at the hands of the Wisconsin Badgers.
The Hoosiers need this win to salvage a season but Penn State needs it as well to give them a winning percentage in the Big Ten.
6. Michigan (7-3, 3-3) Power Ranking: 5
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6. Michigan (7-3, 3-3) Power Ranking: 5
After Michigan’s triple overtime victory over Illinois in Week 10, their game against Purdue in West Lafayette did not go smoothly.
Denard Robinson could not seem to hang onto the ball as he fumbled twice and compounded that by throwing two interceptions.
Purdue managed to bring the score close at halftime, trailing only by one point, 14-13.
By the end of the third quarter, the Boilers edged to within four as Michigan held on to lead 20-16.
Finally in the fourth, by scoring once more, Michigan secured another win at 27-16.
This week the Wolverines will be waiting to welcome the Wisconsin Badgers into Ann Arbor, hoping for an upset to seal their return to the upper echelons of the Big Ten.
It would take a magnificent day on defense to stop the powerful Badger running game.
The Wolverines will, no doubt, be studying the game films of their in-state rival, Michigan State, who handed Wisconsin its only defeat of the season.
After Wisconsin, Michigan ends their season, as always, with Ohio State––this year in Columbus.
The Wolverines face a couple of tough competitors to end their season.
5. Northwestern (7-3, 3-3) Power Ranking: 8
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5. Northwestern (7-3, 3-3) Power Ranking: 8
Northwestern did what they have done most of the season––found a way to win in the most trying circumstances.
Unfortunately, the win over the ranked Hawkeyes cost them their starting quarterback.
QB Dan Persa has carried this team on his shoulders all season long.
It is hard to imagine anyone stepping in to provide the Wildcats the offensive threat Persa did week after week.
This week the Wildcats play Illinois at a “neutral” site for both teams––Wrigley Field.
It is the first time in 40 years that Wrigley has played host for the game between these two teams.
The fighting Illini actually need one more win to become bowl eligible so a win for them on Saturday is critical.
Needless to say, Illinois will be relentless in this game.
Northwestern will be looking to secure the best possible post-season contest by winning on Saturday.
A new quarterback, Evan Watkins, will be making his first start for the Wildcats.
Talk about learning under fire.
4. Iowa Hawkeyes (7-3, 4-2) Power Ranking: 9
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4. Iowa Hawkeyes (7-3, 4-2) Power Ranking: 9
Iowa let another close one slip away in the fourth quarter as mobile quarterback Dan Persa made the vaunted Hawkeye defense look second rate as he marched the Wildcats down the field to score one more time.
It was the death knell for the Hawkeyes who hoped to remain in the hunt for the Big Ten title.
The Iowa team who entered the season with so much promise, could not come up with the magic that made them sparkle in 2009.
They, can, however, still salvage some dignity by rewarding their seniors with a win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday in Kinnick Stadium.
It seems fitting that Iowa have a say in anointing the winner of the Big Ten race since they cannot be in contention.
That gives their season and their players a chance at redemption.
The Hawkeyes will need that extra ounce of motivation as they head up the road to face a newly reignited Minnesota Gopher football team for Iowa's final regular season game.
3. Michigan State (9-1, 5-1) Power Ranking: 22
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3. Michigan State (9-1, 5-1) Power Ranking 22:
Michigan State did nothing last weekend except enjoy a weekend off.
They still managed to slip from No. 11 to No. 12 in the BCS rankings.
Sometimes it just does not pay to stand still when all around you are moving up and down.
This week the Spartans welcome the Purdue Boilermakers to East Lansing.
Michigan State then ends the season on the road in Happy Valley where they will meet the Nittany Lions.
All the Spartans have to do is win out to achieve the mighty prize––if Iowa defeats Ohio State on Saturday.
That will eliminate Ohio State in the race for the Big Ten Championship, leaving Michigan State and Wisconsin tied, assuming both teams win out.
Michigan State beat Wisconsin, so that means the Rose Bowl for the Spartans.
First and foremost, however, the Spartans need to take care of business by overcoming Purdue on Saturday.
2. Ohio State (9-1, 5-1) Power Ranking Points 26
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2. Ohio State (9-1, 5-1) Power Ranking Points 26
The Buckeyes seemed in big trouble at half-time when they trailed the Penn State Nittany Lions 14-3 playing in Columbus in front of the home crowd.
Their ardent supporters booed them as they left the field for the locker room––something that rarely happens in the Horseshoe.
That must have been just what the Buckeyes needed because they came back strong in the third and fourth quarters, scoring 35 points and shutting down Penn State in the process.
All was forgiven at the end of the game when the Buckeyes turned back into the perennial winners.
Losing is not acceptable in Columbus.
This week as the Buckeyes hit the bumpy road again to head to Iowa City, Coach Jim Tressel will no doubt be packing lots of dramamine for the troops.
Could be a dizzying affair inside Kinnick Stadium.
1. Wisconsin (9-1, 5-1) Power Ranking Points: 28
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1. Wisconsin (9-1, 5-1) Power Ranking Points: 28
What can you say about the Wisconsin 83-20 stomping of the Indiana Hoosiers?
That Wisconsin was almost perfect on offense is an understatement––much like saying Boise State is overrated.
The Badgers went 10 for 10 in the red zone.
Then again, they faced token resistance as the game and the score rolled on.
This week the Badgers have to leave the friendly and raucous confines of Camp Randall for the hostile environment of Michigan Stadium.
The Wolverines will be licking their chops over a huge opportunity to reestablish the potency of Big Blue.
In the meantime, the Wisconsin Badgers hold on to their top spot in the Big Ten Power Rankings.
What is more––they mean to hang on to it for the rest of the Big Ten season.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
