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USA Today has three B1G teams listed as overrated in Coaches Poll
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The USA TODAY Coaches Poll came out last week and seven Big Ten teams made the Top 25.
It was the most of any conference. The B1G doesn’t just have heavy-hitters at the top. The conference has legitimate depth — arguably depth that beats out any other conference in the country.
Two of the teams in the conference that many believe makes up the solid, middle tier of the Big Ten are Wisconsin and Northwestern. One team that is maybe considered to be in a higher tier, but not in the true elite tier is Penn State.
Penn State received the No. 14 spot in the Coaches Poll, while Wisconsin came in at No. 17 and Northwestern at No. 25. Yet, USA Today writer Paul Myerberg wrote that all three of these teams are among his five overrated teams at the moment:
No. 14 Penn State — “That Penn State stands a distance behind No. 5 Ohio State and No. 7 Michigan reflects the perceived gap between the Big Ten’s two unquestioned favorites and the second tier of the East Division. However, given the team’s general concerns — the overall lack of experience and question marks at the skill positions — the Nittany Lions’ preseason ranking represents the sort of benefit of the doubt previously not afforded to James Franklin and his staff. Nonetheless, it would take at least nine regular-season wins and a high-profile victory to justify a spot at No. 14.”
No. 17 Wisconsin — “History says this ranking isn’t far off: Wisconsin hasn’t suffered a losing season since 2001 and has finished in the Amway Coaches Poll in seven of the past nine years. Yet after a very disappointing 2018 season — an 8-5 record and second-place finish in the Big Ten West after early hype as a dark-horse College Football Playoff contender — and with new faces taking over at quarterback, the offensive line and linebacker, the Badgers are far from a lock for the Top 25. To get there, Wisconsin must manage a conference schedule that includes three ranked teams from the East in Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State.”
No. 25 Northwestern — “This isn’t a statement about Northwestern, which consistently exceeds expectations under coach Pat Fitzgerald, but rather a testament to the Big Ten’s vastly improved and unpredictable Big Ten West. Two other divisional foes are ranked ahead of the Wildcats in Wisconsin and No. 19 Iowa. A third, Nebraska, will crack the Top 25 at some point during Scott Frost’s second season. A fourth, Minnesota, shouldn’t be overlooked as a contender for the division crown. Even Jeff Brohm, Rondale Moore and Purdue can’t be ignored as a team capable of winning eight games. The road to another West title will be far bumpier than in 2018. Then again, the Wildcats have terrific coaching, the bones of a terrific defense and could see improved quarterback play behind former Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson.”
That is quite a few B1G teams making Myerberg’s list. We’ll see how it all pans out once the season concludes.
Penn State begins its 2019 season on Aug. 31 against Idaho.
Wisconsin: Aug. 30 at USF
Northwestern: Aug. 31 at Stanford
Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.