Big Ten Power Rankings, Featuring the Black Eyed Peas

The Big Ten race is down to two weeks left until the inaugural Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis, but the picture of who will meet in that game is still muddled. Michigan State leaped over their largest remaining hurdle at Iowa City and now have the inside track for the Legends division. However, Michigan and Nebraska will be playing this weekend to try and keep pace with the Spartans.

Meanwhile in the Leaders division, Wisconsin received all the help they needed to gain control of their destiny once more after looking out of it a week ago.

Purdue and Illinois are headed in different directions, although both are playing the role of spoiler for the other teams in the division. Illinois couldn't hand Wisconsin another road loss, so the Badgers and Nittany Lions will be playing for the division title next weekend.

The Black Eyed Peas took the nation by storm a few years ago and have not stepped back, although each of the talented members of the group has sought some individual careers.  Just like the SEC, one might say that the Black Eyed Peas are a dominant force others choose to emulate and become in the music business.  As such, Fergie and company bring us theme songs for this week's Big Ten Power Rankings.

Hey Mama, let's delay no longer and get to it!

1. Wisconsin (5-2 in Big Ten, 9-2 Overall)

Theme Song – Boom Boom Pow

All it took was one week for Wisconsin to find itself back in charge of the Leaders division despite two straight losses to end the month of October.  Although Minnesota is no world beater, the Golden Gophers have been playing better as of late and Wisconsin easily handled them in the first true road game win of the season.

The final road game arrived with a short trip to Illinois this weekend, and the Illini didn't look like they could beat much of anything on Saturday. Illinois proved it after falling to the Badgers 28-17.

This weekend actually had the makings of the Indiana game from a season ago where Wisconsin made a national statement with 83 points.  The best team in the Big Ten will certainly regret two last minute hail mary losses, but those will now not hold them out of another chance at Rose Bowl glory.

As for the theme song, the defenses at Purdue and Minnesota could explain what it feels like to be run over by the freight train that is Wisconsin.  Boom boom pow, indeed.

2. Nebraska (4-3 Big Ten, 8-3 Overall)

Theme Song – Don't Stop The Party

A week after dropping a shocker to northwestern at home, Nebraska took care of business and held onto the lead late to defeat Penn State. Although Nebraska needed some serious help to catch Michigan State, the Cornhuskers had to focus on the task at hand with two tough games remaining at Michigan and versus Iowa. 

Michigan, as expected, found some success against the Nebraska defense to the tune of a 45-point victory on Saturday. If the previous games against Wisconsin and Ohio State were any indication, Nebraska should've seen this coming.

Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead were unable to run all over the Michigan defense. They combined for only 85 yards on Saturday. There's no doubt that Greg Mattison has the Wolverines playing better, but Nebraska should have exploited some weaknesses up front to wear down the Michigan back seven as the game goes along. 

All things considered, this has been a good first campaign in the Big Ten, although two more wins would have certainly cemented that.

Nebraska could have been BCS bowling as an at large with two more wins, so the new kid on the block is hoping that the two-bid BCS streak party of the Big Ten does not end when they join the league.

3. Michigan State (6-1 Big Ten, 9-2 Overall)

Theme Song – Where is the Love?

The trap game against the hated Hawkeyes turned out to be a blowout in favor of Sparty this season as Kirk Cousins led Michigan State to a quick 31 point lead in Iowa City last weekend.  Iowa fought back to within two scores, but the Spartans always looked to be in full control with their stifling defense.

The only troubling facet of the defense is that Michigan State surrendered 21 or more points for four straight games entering Saturday's game. 

On Saturday, MSU hung 55 points on the Hoosiers. They held IU to only 142 passing yards and a field goal. The strong defensive performance was complemented by an offense that had 470 total yards.

And now, with Northwestern left on the schedule, the defense will need to step up and slow down these improving offenses to keep the pressure off Kirk Cousins and the offense.  Look for B.J. Cunningham to have a pair of monster games against weak pass defenses to close the season.

Then a rematch with Wisconsin looms. Michigan State has to be wondering why karma does not love them, needing to defeat Wisconsin yet again to secure a BCS berth after being left out a season ago.

4. Michigan (5-2 Big Ten, 9-2 Overall)

Theme Song – Karma

Speaking of karma, Michigan is proving what goes around comes around by turning around their late season woes of previous years and returning to BCS contention.  Just like Nebraska, Michigan entered Saturday at 8-2 with two difficult games remaining separating them from a BCS berth, assuming Michigan State wins out to take the division title. 

One difference for Michigan is that their road schedule is done, as the Cornhuskers and Buckeyes must go through Ann Arbor.  Michigan has been invincible on their home field this season, and continued their strong homefield advantage against the Huskers.

Fitzgerald Touissant scorched the Husker defense for 138 yards and two touchdowns while Denard Robinson accumulated 263 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns.  Although the only truly tough opponent was Notre Dame, which required a miracle fourth quarter comeback, Michigan is playing well.

Denard Robinson has not been able to figure out the Ohio State defense thus far, and he will face two consecutive tough defenses to close the season.  Assuming Robinson gets help from Fitzgerald Toussaint, Michigan could very well be headed back to the BCS.

5. Penn State (6-1 Big Ten, 9-2 Overall)

Theme Song – Rock That Body

One of the hardest weeks in Penn State football history has come and gone, and the Nittany Lions are still well in control of their destiny in the Big Ten race despite taking on their first conference loss against Nebraska.  Similar to the remainder of the season, the Nittany Lions were carried back into the game against Nebraska by the solid defense, which is only surrendering 12.9 points per game.

Although Tom Bradley is acting as the interim head coach and has to make some executive level decisions he was not responsible for before, Bradley will continue to run the team with a defensive focus.  Especially heading on the road to two places Penn State has struggled in the past (Columbus and Madison), the defense needed to carry the Nittany Lions to victory in the Horseshoe.

The Nittany Lion defense, which allowed the third fewest points in the nation, was able to hold OSU to only 14 points on Saturday as they won their ninth game of the season. The past few weeks may have rocked the entire student body of Penn State, but that should not stop them from enjoying the championship chase that will culminate in a battle for all the marbles next weekend against Wisconsin.