Big Ten Week 4

[UOducksTK1]

Last we learned Purdue and UCLA are as bad as we thought to begin the year. Indiana and Illinois seem to be improved, but we'll know for sure when Big Ten play begins...

Notable games for week 4:
#24 Illinois @ #22 Nebraska
#11 USC @ #18 Michigan
UCLA @ #16 LSU
Rutgers @ Virginia Tech
Iowa @ Minnesota
Purdue @ Oregon State
Michigan State @ Boston College

[StevensTechU]

Purdue versus Oregon State will be an interesting game since Purdue is still on the schedule. I'm surprised BC dropped out of the rankings after losing by 1 score to a top team on the road.

Non-Big Ten (maybe it needs a new thread?) that I think are interesting are Stanford vs. Syracuse because I still have interest in former Pac-12 teams, as well as WSU against 3-0 SJSU. #12 Utah vs. #14 Okie State is the biggest game of the B12 season. Cal is the worst 3-0 team in Power 5 football and can go 4-0 against Florida State. Miami has their first game against a team with a pulse in South Florida.

G-5 playoff hopefuls are going to be an interest, too. I'll be watching a fair amount of Memphis, UNLV, and Boise going forward.

[UOducksTK1]

Purdue versus Oregon State will be an interesting game since Purdue is still on the schedule. I'm surprised BC dropped out of the rankings after losing by 1 score to a top team on the road.

Non-Big Ten (maybe it needs a new thread?) that I think are interesting are Stanford vs. Syracuse because I still have interest in former Pac-12 teams, as well as WSU against 3-0 SJSU. #12 Utah vs. #14 Okie State is the biggest game of the B12 season. Cal is the worst 3-0 team in Power 5 football and can go 4-0 against Florida State. Miami has their first game against a team with a pulse in South Florida.

G-5 playoff hopefuls are going to be an interest, too. I'll be watching a fair amount of Memphis, UNLV, and Boise going forward.

I think this means that their win against Florida State means little to nothing now. And that Missouri shouldn't be in the top 10.

[nogerO]

Illinois vs Nebraska. Nebraska is like Oregon was, a team on a steep vertical climb
Iowa vs Minnesota will be interesting. I think Minny will win because I think Iowa is maybe not good enough to beat a good minny team at home
USC vs Michigan. Somebody will be exposed in this one. EDIT: I think Michigan's defense could give USC some trouble. I'm changing my tune on this as I want the Pac-12 teams to do well in the BIG.
LSU might score 60 on UCLA.
Beevs will win vs Purdue.
I think Jonathan Smith's Michigan State bunch comes back to earth vs a very good Boston College team.

[StevensTechU]

Illinois beats Nebraska in overtime in a game that was very evenly matched. Illinois had a couple more playmakers, in particular I really like the WR Bryant and running back McCray. Nebraska has the better QB and probably better team talent, but playmakers matter.

Both teams seemed worthy of their top 25 rankings. I'd probably find a way to put UNLV and Wazzu in the top 25, but these two both seem as though they belong. Should be improved seasons from both over last year's results.

[OregonFan4Life]

Michigan is exposing USC’s offense, I think people got too hyped on USC after they beat a very overrated LSU team, who is tied 17-17 with UCLA at the half.

Ohio State with an easy win over Marshall but they do look very beatable.

[Phalanx]

Not sure how many here pay attention to USC, but their fans have been way over the top about what contenders they are, how impenetrable their defense is, and how amazing Riley is as a coach because they beat LSU. If they lose to Michigan and UCLA beats LSU, there are going to be heads exploding in SoCal like Lebanese pagers.

[OregonFan4Life]

Looks like Michigan thinks football is a 30 minute game.

[droop10]

Looks like Michigan thinks football is a 30 minute game.

What makes you say that? You’re not going to blow anyone without a QB. SC can just stack the box, so Michigan is fully reliant on banking on their defense continuing to make stops, and it’s doing a decent job. They’re honestly fortunate to have been able to get 2 explosive run plays, because they’ve been unable to do anything else offensively.

[alxtw]

Cant believe how lucky USC is…

[StevensTechU]

Stock way down on:

LSU (struggled against Big Ten's bottom feeder at home)
USC (best win doesn't look so good now)
Mizzou (tied late with Southeastern Conference bottom feeder after struggling against BC)
Oklahoma State (about to lose to a Rising-less Utah team)
UNC even though it was never high (gave up 70 to James Madison)
NC State (just a fully bad team after getting stomped by middling Clemson)
Memphis (lost to Navy)

[StevensTechU]

If USF beats Miami, it's a crime we're contractually obligated to give an ACC team a bid.

[OregonFan4Life]

Looks like Michigan thinks football is a 30 minute game.

What makes you say that? You’re not going to blow anyone without a QB. SC can just stack the box, so Michigan is fully reliant on banking on their defense continuing to make stops, and it’s doing a decent job. They’re honestly fortunate to have been able to get 2 explosive run plays, because they’ve been unable to do anything else offensively.

More directed at the defense and some awful 3rd down defense in the second half. Felt like the Michigan defense kept falling asleep on 3rd and long.

[squintsdd]

If USF beats Miami, it's a crime we're contractually obligated to give an ACC team a bid.

USF isn't a terrible team. They put up a fight against Alabama last week, until the fourth quarter

[StevensTechU]

Purdue looks like a lock for the worst team remaining on Oregon's schedule after a 38-21 loss to Oregon State, although UCLA could have something to say about that.