Wow! I went 6 for 6 last week in my picks. That doesn't often happen in conference play, as these teams can sometimes be unpredictable. The only unusual thing was how one-sided many of the games were, including the Penn State debacle.
Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0) [1] : Their defense doesn't seem to be as sharp as normal, but with the offense scoring as often as they are, that's not a major concern. The Buckeyes are averaging over 48 points a game in one of the most impressive offensive shows on turf this season.
2. Indiana Hoosiers (3-0) [3] : Another team who's offense outpaces their defense, the Hoosiers are riding an amazing string of strong offensive performances to place second in the conference. Unfortunately, they play in the same division as Ohio State, so making the conference championship game seems a long shot.
3. Wisconsin Badgers (1-0) [2] : The Badgers seem poised to reappear on a football field this week. Too bad, I think Michigan was hoping that game would be cancelled. We aren't sure how well the Badgers will adjust to their two-week "vacation", since their only win was against a weak Illinois team.
4. Northwestern Wildcats (3-0) [4] : The Wildcats have shown some great spunk in their last two games, and a tenacity that keeps them going. They aren't spectacular, but they know how to close games, a feat unknown to Iowa this season.
5. Purdue Boilermakers (2-0) [5] : The Boilermakers may be happy that their game against Wisconsin was cancelled, as they remain in the ranks of the unbeaten. To continue that, they need to get a bit more consistent on both sides of the ball.
6. Maryland Terrapins (2-1) [6] : The Terrapins slaughtered Penn State to help redeem a horrible opening weekend. The Northwestern game is looking more like an aberration than an indication, and all signs point to a good season, although they still have to face Ohio State and Indiana.
7. Iowa Hawkeyes (1-2) [11] : The Hawkeyes finally earned their first win of the season in a completely one-sided affair. Close games are the bane of this team, obviously, so we aren't sure how far this first win will take them.
8. Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-2) [12] : The Gophers also gained their first win last win (a slaughter against Illinois) after a near-miss against Maryland. The Gophers are doing a nice job of erasing the bitterness over the Michigan loss, and they could continue to escalate.
9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-2) [9] : No shame in losing to the Buckeyes, and they get Illinois this week. Neither opponent really gives us an idea of how well Rutgers really is.
10. Michigan Wolverines (1-2) [8] : Indiana spanked them last week and they host a Badgers team eager to play after two weeks off. Things don't look good for the Wolverines, and there are grumblings in Ann Arbor. An upset victory over Ohio State might be the only thing that could save Jim Harbaugh's job.
11. Michigan State Spartans (1-2) [7] : They were completely drubbed by Iowa. It looks like the Michigan game was definitely an aberration; simply an emotional game against a bitter in-state rival.
12. Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-2) [13] : Their defense made some good plays against Northwestern, so there is some good news for this team. Better news? They face a strugglingly pathetic Penn State team this week, so look for their first win.
13. Penn State Nittany Lions (0-3) [10] : This is turning out to the Nittany Lions' worst season that I can remember. They played three good quarters to start against Indiana, but since the Hoosiers pulled off the overtime two-point surprise, it seems to have completely deflated this team.
14. Illinois Fighting Illini (0-3) [14] : Okay, even my alumnus pride isn't helping me through this season. With the QB out for at least another week on COVID quarantine, it doesn't look like it'll get any better.
Week 4 picks
Friday
Iowa Hawkeyes at Minnesota Golden Gophers : Each team won their first game of the season last week, and are hoping that starts something. For one team, that will be the case. The question is, who will that be? Despite losses, Minnesota's offense has shown up well in all of their games. The same cannot be said for Iowa. However, the Gophers defense lacks speed and depth. Iowa's offense finally game alive last week, so if that same offense shows up this week, I don't think the Gophers can compete. However, I'm not sure last week's game was the start of something for Iowa; let's label it "I'll believe it when I see it." MINNESOTA by three
Saturday
Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan State Spartans : The powerful Hoosiers offense marches into town. The Spartans defense seems to have taken the season off, so I don't see how they can hold back the Hoosiers. By God, they let Rutgers score 38 points against them! Indiana might score more points than they ever had in this game. INDIANA by 20
Illinois Fighting Illini at Rutgers Scarlet Knights : If QB Brandon Peters played, I might give them a shot at the upset, but Coran Taylor won't cut it. RUTGERS by 13
Penn State Nittany Lions at Nebraska Cornhuskers : What could be worse than Penn State getting scrubbed by Maryland? How about being an underdog against winless Nebraska? Yup, I'm picking the home team, who has shown more life than the listless Lions have. NEBRASKA by six
Ohio State Buckeyes at Maryland Terrapins : Whoops, time for that bubble to burst! The Terrapins have done a nice job of erasing the memory of the 43-3 shellacking against Northwestern to open the season, but the Buckeyes will overpower them. OHIO STATE by 21
Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Wolverines : The Wolverines are in self-destruct mode, epitomized by the number of offensive penalties they commit. The Badgers are rested, eager, and excited to hit the field. They play a very aggressive and exhausting game, and I don't think the Wolverines defense will even be able to catch their breath by the fourth quarter. WISCONSIN by 17
Northwestern Wildcats at Purdue Boilermakers : Well, someone will lose their first game of the season here. I certainly didn't expect this game to feature two unbeaten teams, but that's 2020 for you! Northwestern's defense has been great through this season, and their offense doesn't make too many mistakes. For that reason, I give them the edge. NORTHWESTERN by eight
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