Ranking the B1G

While it's approaching Big East levels of (dis)respect, it's still the conference that contains Michigan and MSU.  Here's how I think the league shakes out to date:


1. OSU - They deserve this spot for being at 4-0 with a victory over Cal.  Still, they haven't looked like world beaters in any of those victories.  This Saturday will tell us a lot more about the Buckeyes.   I wrote a couple weeks ago that a win in East Lansing and the Buckeyes may be looking at running the table...and I threw up in my mouth a little.

2. Northwestern - The best resume of any B1G team, but is it filled with lies?  Their defense may begin to leak in B1G play.  If they can hold teams down on D their offense can win them a lot of games.

3. Nebraska - I'm going to forgive the road loss to UCLA and give this squad the benefit of the doubt.  Right now probably the very slight favorites in the Legends division.

4. Michigan - Only 2-2 but have clearly faced the toughest schedule in the conference.  Would any other B1G team be better than 2-2 with Michigan's schedule? I say no, though maybe OSU could win @ND.

5. MSU - The best defense and RB in the conference could carry the Spartans to the B1G championship.  That passing game certainly makes Spartan's nervous though.

6. Wisconsin - The offense has regressed tremendously without Russell Wilson but I think they have played the second most difficult league slate to date.  It's only because Oregon State was so bad last season that Wisconsin's loss seemed like a big upset when in fact Oregon State is a pretty good team this season.

7. Purdue - The Boilermakers have a legitimate case to be higher here.  Their defense is much improved and they have a very stout defensive line. The Purdue offense seems to have some cohesiveness for the first time since Danny Hope has been coaching there.

8. Minnesota - 4-0 but haven't faced much of a test to start the season.  A much improved team over last season but probably still a year or 2 away from contending for the championship game.  Need Marquis Gray back and healthy.

9. Penn State - If they lose this week on the road at Illinois it's an all out spiral.  They need a W this week and then can look at games with Iowa and IU has likely victories.

10. Iowa - Their poor recruiting on the defensive side of the ball is finally bearing it's ugly head for the Hawkeyes.  Is this Kirk Ferentz's worst Iowa team?  A bowl game looks like a lofty goal this season.

11  Indiana - Hoosiers are better than last year but will likely struggle to win a B1G game this season.

12. Illinois - A train wreck under their first year coach.  Maybe Zooker didn't leave as much talent behind as everyone thought?

And because I like stats here's a quick breakdown of where all the B1G teams rank nationally in their respective units (remember 4 games strength of schedule fluctuates wildly) I'm not sure if you can take any real meaning from any of this but I was surprised by the teams at the bottom of the conference on both offense and defense.

Total Offense

Nebraska 6th
Ohio State 36th
Northwestern 45th
Minnesota 46th
Michigan State 47th
Indiana 50th
Michigan 59th
Penn State 65th
Iowa 76th
Purdue 77th
Illinois 85th
Wisconsin 96th

Wisconsin is currently last in the conference in total offense...What a difference a year makes!

Total Defense

MSU 6th
Purdue 17th
Minnesota 21st
Iowa 25th
Wisconsin 31st
Illinois 35th
Michigan 37th
Nebraska 51st
Penn State 54th
Indiana 49th
Northwestern 60th
Ohio State 71st

Looks like it may be a low scoring year in the B1G.  Much better rankings here than in the offensive categories.  Is Ohio State really that poor defensively?