Polls & schedule...

[tarun262]

Just browsing through the schedules, etc. Really interesting that Northwestern has to get through the next 2 weeks with a W and they are virtually guaranteed a spot in the BIG championship game. I will say this, looking across the schedule, Michigan has the toughest BIG slate versus all ranked opponents in the BIG.

• Michigan - NW, MSU, OSU
• Michigan State - @Michigan, @OSU
• Northwestern - @Michigan, Iowa
• Ohio State - Michigan State, @Michigan

I am not sure what to think about the BIG after 5 games. Here are my thoughts:

• All Michigan - looked chaotic versus Utah and since have looked under control. The past 4 games, they have established an identity and it almost just seems like they are doing the "if we play to our gameplan, you are not going to beat us". They have looked impressive but I am not sure what to think about beating up on BYU, Oregon State, Maryland, and UNLV. I am optimistic though.
• Michigan State - their defense is nowhere close to being great. Sorry all your Spartans that keep posting about how great Dantonio's defense is. Narduzzi was the reason your D was great, not Dantonio! Get over it. I still think MSU will have a great season and can very well go undefeated, but I think they would be exposed if they played teams like TCU, Baylor, Florida, etc.
• Ohio State - same thing as MSU. I am not sure what to think of them. Their first game was impressive and since then they have been anything but that. They are loaded with talent and it seems like they play to the level of their opponents. I think that attitude can catch up to them sooner versus later but for now they are still the team to beat though.
• Northwestern - they looked terrible last week and looked insanely good this week and against Stanford. They play as a team and if they are clicking, watch out. Too bad they don't play either MSU or OSU. They are a tough team and next week is their toughest test this season. I still think Michigan comes out on top in a very ugly game.
• Iowa - Wisconsin is just not a good team, so I don't think highly of them based on their Wisconsin win but they are playing solid. They too have a completely cupcake schedule let. They don't play Michigan, MSU, PSU, or OSU. Funny thing is if they beat NW they could end up going undefeated into the BIG championship game and if they somehow win that game, end up in the playoffs.

All said and done, I don't see any undefeated teams in the BIG this year. I think both MSU and OSU will lose a game or possibly more. Michigan looks to be the most consistent team over the past 4 weeks but that does not mean anything yet. Next 2 weeks will be really fun!

 

[GoBlueJagaloon]

As for MSU, doesn't matter how bad they play against other teams, they will play great against us.
Same with OSU. They save their best effort for Michigan week. After winning the championship they probably lost the eye of the tiger. It happens. Really hard to stay hungry and keep your motivation when you're already on top.
The West division is a hot pile like everyone assumed it would be. No elite teams, just a bunch of historical bottom feeders of the Big Ten stuffed into one division. We really need Texas to come to the conference to add a premier team to that side. Yeah they suck now but they're like Michigan, it's only a matter of time before they're winning again.

 

[detroitjohn]

As for MSU, doesn't matter how bad they play against other teams, they will play great against us.
Same with OSU. They save their best effort for Michigan week. After winning the championship they probably lost the eye of the tiger. It happens. Really hard to stay hungry and keep your motivation when you're already on top.
The West division is a hot pile like everyone assumed it would be. No elite teams, just a bunch of historical bottom feeders of the Big Ten stuffed into one division. We really need Texas to come to the conference to add a premier team to that side. Yeah they suck now but they're like Michigan, it's only a matter of time before they're winning again.

I really wouldn't call Wisconsin an "historical bottom feeder". They've been very good for 20 years.

 

[BlueCoral]

I would prefer to add Oklahoma than Texas.