Big Ten Week 4 Lookaround

If anyone doubts the Big Ten now, think again.  After the non-conference showings this past weekend, including road defeats of Oklahoma and Notre Dame along with home defeats of Oregon and Duke, the Big Ten looks as strong as ever.  I understand the Iowa Hawkeyes lost to a Carson Wentz-less North Dakota State team in Iowa City, but you don't win championships because of one player, and North Dakota State clearly has enough pieces to contend for another FCS title.  Was Iowa probably over ranked?  Yes, but North Dakota State would be a contender for the Mountain West crown if they were in the FBS.  And Iowa still can make some noise, they just won't make the playoff.

Here is a look at the Big Ten schedule for this week:

Colorado State @ Minnesota
Nevada @ Purdue
Iowa @ Rutgers

Wisconsin @ Michigan State
Wake Forest @ Indiana
Penn State @ Michigan
Nebraska @ Northwestern

Off: Ohio State, Maryland, Illinois

This weekend is the first of Big Ten vs. Big Ten matchups, and also is wrapping up some of the non conference schedules.  Colorado State and Nevada are both 2-1 and Wake Forest is 3-0, therefore these teams are not essentially slouches.  I would not put it past Nevada to come out of Purdue with a victory, and it is also a possibility for Wake Forest and/or Colorado State to do the same.  However, Purdue is the most likely to lose in non conference because they have not shown any signs of life yet this season and likely will miss a bowl game yet again.  I would also say that their rivals in Bloomington have the best shot of winning non conference due to their offensive capabilities as well as Wake Forest has not played anyone yet.

I've already gone into detail about my Big Ten game of the week, Wisconsin at Michigan State, but that is must see for any average Big Ten fans.  I have Michigan State winning that game as I have since the start of the season, but Wisconsin is better than expected, so it should be relatively close.  Outside of that game, Nebraska travelling to Northwestern probably has the most impact on the outcome of the Big Ten.  Sure, the Michigan faithful believe anything involving Michigan is more important than the rest of the Big Ten, but you have a home game that you should win.  If there is an upset in Ann Arbor, then there are a lot of implications.  But there are none if you win, it's expected, and a lot of people expect the Big Ten East to come down to the Michigan-Ohio State game.  Until then, or if you and/or Ohio State loses, nothing you do matters as much as you think.

Anyways, the Nebraska-Northwestern game should have major implications on who wins the Big Ten West, as they are two of the four teams that are favored to win it.  The other two, Wisconsin and Iowa, are probably more favored, but they aren't playing each other.  Should Nebraska defeat Northwestern, it causes Northwestern to go 1-3 and possibly fall out of the race entirely.  Should Northwestern beat Nebraska, Nebraska loses momentum and the race stays open.  Wisconsin is projected to get a loss already, and maybe fall out due to their schedule, and if that is the case a Nebraska win could help create a two-horse race between them and Iowa.  I recommend watching that game, or at least keeping an eye on who wins, because that game will affect the race to Lucas Oil Stadium.