Last week we has some huge games and Oregon showed they are for real with a big win over USC to probably lock up the conference’s third CFP berth. Minnesota choked at Wrigley setting up a huge game for the metal
health of MN fans against Wisconsin this week. Iowa and Nebraska are playing for a better bowl location and Sparty just wants one damn conference win after blowing so many games in the last few minutes. Oh yeah..there’s that Big Game in Ann Arbor too. One fun final regular season week to cap it all off.
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (Previously #1)
The Buckeyes slowplayed Rutgers for a bit only taking a 14-3 lead at halftime before turning it on like everyone in the world expected and cruised to a 42-9 win. Only Michigan stands in the way of a 12-0 regular season and a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Buckeyes are 9.5 point favorites in Ann Arbor, but Ryan Day is looking for his first win vs the Wolverine in six seasons. Anything goes in this one.
#2 Indiana Hoosiers (Previously #2)
Indiana had the week off and remained nationally ranked at #2. They have just one blowout of Purdue in front of them before a historic 12-0 regular season, a Big Ten Championship Game appearance, and a bye in the CFP. The Hoosiers are 28.5 point favorites in the Black Friday night tilt on NBC in West Lafayette. This one will be over by halftime.
#3 Oregon Ducks (Previously #3)
Oregon had one last hurdle to get past to lock down a CFP bid, and by defeating USC 42-27 they probably have a home game locked up in the first round. Now, if the Ducks were to loose at Washington this week, things could still get very interesting. Oregon is a just a 6.5 point favorite, but with them knowing exactly what is on the line, they should get it done.
#4 USC Trojans (Previously #4)
USC played decently against Oregon, but not decently enough as the Ducks pulled away late to probably lock up a CFP bid and have USC looking at the Alamo Bowl. Still, progress was made for USC and currently with the #1 recruiting class the Trojans will be dangerous the next few years. They get UCLA to cap off the regular season and are 21.5 point favorites at home to likely move to 9-3.
#5 Michigan Wolverines (Previously #5)
Michigan stays at #5 after a 45-20 win at Maryland to end the Terps bowl hopes. Can they continue their success over Ryan Day on Saturday? A win and an Indiana loss put the Wolverines in the Big Ten Championship Game, but I doubt the Hoosiers lose to Purdue, so the Wolverines are playing for a sunny Florida bowl game.
#6 Washington Huskies (Previously #8)
The Huskies jump up after a 48-14 thrashing of UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Washington has quietly put up an 8-3 season and should give Oregon a game on Saturday as they try and ruin the Ducks season. The Huskies are likely headed to either the Sun Bowl or the Holiday Bowl/
#7 Iowa Hawkeyes (Previously #7)
Iowa really really tried to drop out of this spot, but it was more Michigan States failings to blow a two touchdown lead late in the fourth quarter rather than Iowa to win it and move to 7-4. They head to Lincoln with the Heroes Trophy on the line on Black Friday as 6.5 point favorites in what should be an ugly football game.
#8 Illinois Fighting Illini (Previously #6)
Speaking of ugly football games, Brett Bielema takes his Illinois squad back into Camp Randall and they get embarrassed by the suddenly surging Wisconsin Badgers. The Illini watched their dreams of a nice bowl game in Florida likely disappear—though the rest of the Big Ten isn’t really forcing the case. They close with a game at home against Northwestern that suddenly looks a lot closer than it did a few weeks ago. Illinois is favored by 6.5 points under the lights on Saturday in what could be a very interesting weather environment.
#9 Northwestern Wildcats (Previously #11)
Northwestern leaps the Gophers and Nebraska to take over the #9 spot as they sit at 6-5 on the season and clinch a bowl game after their win over Minnesota. They head to Champaign to close out the regular season slate on Saturday night under the lights and could make some noise if they play well.
#10 Penn State Nittany Lions (Previously #12)
Penn State suddenly is looking more like the team we thought they would be then the one we saw midseason. The Nittany Lions thrashed Nebraska to move to 5-6 last week 37-10 and are now just a win over Rutgers away from clinching a bowl berth with three straight wins. The winner of the PSU/ Rutgers game is guaranteed to go bowling, so for the two teams its like a play-in game. The Nittany Lions are 13.5 point favorites in New Jersey.
#11 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Previously #9)
Minnesota continues their downward slide and drops to #11 this week after a horrible game from the defense at Wrigley Field. Minnesota needs to fin a way to try and shit down the horrible Badger offense and score just enough to keep the Axe home on Saturday. Can they do it? I have my doubts. MN is favored by just 1.5 points.
#12 Nebraska Cornhuskers (Previously #10)
Nebraska drops a pair of spots after getting blown off the field by Penn State. They are still 7-4 but it sure doesn’t feel like it. They host Iowa for a chance to get to a decent bowl game on Friday with the loser probably Vegas bound and the winner in Florida or Nashville.
#13 Wisconsin Badgers (Previously #15)
Look out but Wisconsin suddenly is showing lots of signs of life after beating Illinois to add to their win over Washington. They would love to get to a trio of Big Ten wins and bring the axe back to Madison. Hopefully the Gophers can stop them.
#14 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Previously #14)
Rutgers gets smoked by Ohio State and now has to defeat Penn State at home on Saturday to make a bowl. Does Athan have one more classic in the tank, or will the Scarlet Knights fall short?
#15 UCLA Bruins (Previously #13)
UCLA’s glass slipper has definitely shattered and the pumpkin is back. Washington destroyed the Bruits last week and USC likely will do the same this week to end UCLA’s season at 3-9.
#16 Michigan State Spartans (Previously #16)
Michigan State has Iowa on the ropes. They led 17-7 in the fourth quarter and still had a touchdown lead on Iowa with 11 minutes to play. But the Hawkeyes took advantage of stupid Spartan mistakes to get the bakk back with 2:33 to go down a tuddy. They would tie it, and then after MSU inexplicably threw a pair of incompletions and punted the ball back to Iowa with 41 seconds left, Iowa went five play for 51 yards and kicked a game winning FG. The Spartans are now 3-8 and 0-8 in the Big Ten and will look to find a way to get just won, when they host Maryland Saturday. The Spartans are favored by 3.5 points. Can they get one Big Ten win?
#17 Purdue Boilermakers (Previously #17)
Purdue had a bye, and now finishes the season by hosting Indiana. Godd luck.
#18 Maryland Terrapins (Previously #18)
Maryland officially has their postseason hopes snuffed by getting spanked by Michigan. Are they actually worse than Purdue? Its tough to tell. But if they can go into East Lansing and play well, there’s a good chance they don’t end the season in the basement of this list.
