Predicting every B1G team’s record after Week 9
What. A. Week.
The B1G had the game of the week in college football as Michigan State pulled off a thrilling win, 37-33, over Michigan. But there was also a big upset as Wisconsin beat Iowa. Finally, a Top 25 showdown between Penn State and Ohio State got exciting down the stretch.
So how did this change record predictions? Let’s take a look:
Iowa — 9-3 overall, 6-3 B1G
Iowa’s offense is, in short, broken. The Hawkeyes scored 7 points — again — in a 27-7 upset loss to Wisconsin on Saturday. Things have to change fast for Kirk Ferentz’s group if it wants to make a run at a B1G West title after sitting at No. 2 in the nation just 3 weeks ago.
Illinois — 4-8 overall, 3-6 B1G
So much for a repeat performance. Just 1 week after beating then-No. 7 Penn State, Illinois couldn’t get anything going against Rutgers in a 20-14 loss at Memorial Stadium. It continues the up-and-down trend for Bret Bielema’s team. The schedule gets tougher, too, with a red-hot Minnesota team coming to town next week.
Indiana — 3-9 overall, 1-8 B1G
Indiana almost pulled it off, but Maryland fought the Hoosiers off to come up with the 38-35 victory. Now, Indiana is gearing up to travel to Michigan, which will be coming off a tough rivalry loss. It looks like Tom Allen’s group is going to come up short of that .500 mark.
Sports Betting in Big Ten Country
There is big news coming to the upcoming 2022-23 Big Ten football season (and NFL season). Ohio online sports betting and Maryland sports betting are on the way.
21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Maryland — 6-6 overall, 3-6 B1G
There’s the Taulia Tagovailoa we know. He went 26-for-40 for 419 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the Terps past Indiana, 38-35. But 3 ranked opponents lie ahead, starting with Penn State on Nov. 6. We’re about to see just what the Terps are really made of.
Michigan — 9-3 overall, 6-3 B1G
I don’t predict game by game, but take my word for it: I called Michigan’s loss to Michigan State, which is why the Wolverines’ prediction is still the same. They gave everything they could in the effort, but there just wasn’t enough magic left in Cade McNamara’s right arm to pull out the victory. Let’s be clear, though. Michigan’s legit.
Michigan State — 10-2 overall, 7-2 B1G
Paul Bunyan is staying in East Lansing — and Kenneth Walker III just put himself at the front of the Heisman conversation. The Spartans have a chance to jump into the Top 4 this week after beating Michigan, 37-33. Watch out, college football fans. Tuck Comin’.
Minnesota — 8-4 overall, 6-3 B1G
Minnesota continues to roll. PJ Fleck has done a great job revamping the offense after the Golden Gophers’ top 2 running backs went down with season-ending injuries. Now, they’re in conversation for the B1G West title, which could come down to the last game of the season against Wisconsin.
Nebraska — 3-9 overall, 1-8 B1G
The Cornhuskers couldn’t pull out the win against Purdue at home, further continuing a trend of Scott Frost losing 1-possession games. The questions are already popping up about Frost’s job security, especially with 3 solid teams ahead on the schedule. Next up? Ohio State.
Northwestern — 4-8 overall, 2-7 B1G
The Wildcats once again struggled to contain the run game against Minnesota in a 41-14 loss at home. Pat Fitzgerald has a lot of questions to answer this offseason about his defense. Things won’t get easier with some solid running games coming up to close out the season.
Ohio State — 11-1 overall, 9-0 B1G
It was quite a game at The Horseshoe on Saturday night, but the Buckeyes prevailed, defeating Penn State, 33-24. An undefeated conference record is on the horizon. Not that that’s a surprise, right?
Penn State — 8-4 overall, 5-4 B1G
Penn State made a game of it, but it couldn’t pull out a win in Columbus. That makes 2 losses in a row for the Nittany Lions, and there could be more coming up. We’ll see how James Franklin’s group responds as the schedule wraps up in the next few weeks.
Purdue — 5-7 overall, 4-5 B1G
The Boilermakers bounced back well after last week’s letdown game to defeat Nebraska, 28-23, in Lincoln. Purdue has a chance to play spoiler once again next week against a Michigan State team that’s riding high after a big rivalry win. We’ll see if Jeff Brohm’s team can do to MSU what it did to Iowa.
Rutgers — 5-7 overall, 2-7 B1G
Rutgers looked good out of the bye week, defeating Illinois, 20-14. But Greg Schiano’s group might not be able to get to that .500 mark given who lies ahead, starting with a good Wisconsin defense next week.
Wisconsin — 9-3 overall, 7-2 B1G
The Badgers’ offense has come back, and the defense has clamped down. That’s the big takeaway from Wisconsin’s upset of No. 9 Iowa. That’s why Paul Chryst’s group jumped 3 games in the record predictions. The B1G West looks like it’ll come down to a showdown with Minnesota in the last week of the season.