Around the B1G with K8 10.23.14 #B1G #BigTen

By @ClvlndK8

The B1G Power Rankings are out and - WOW - there's some new faces in the Top Five...

5. Maryland Terrapins: The Might Turtles are looking (relatively) good! At 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the

WR Stefon Diggs, MAR

conference, their addition to the B1G has been pretty successful for them. While they are trying to be the New Oregon with their fancy uniforms and their new deal with UnderArmor, they actually have a decent football team. And maybe I think they look more like NASCAR Drivers then they should, QB CJ Browns is ready to step back in vs Iowa this week. The Buckeyes had his number on Saturday so he was benched in the 2nd half for Caleb Rowe but don't think that means anything. Head Coach Randy Edsell still has faith in him and he'll be back under center this weekend.

4. Minnesota Golden Gophers: They lead the Western Division at 6-1, 3-0, and boast Defensive Player of the Week Cedric Thompson & Special Teams Player of the Week Ryan Santoso as belonging to them. Hitting crucial field goals (52 yarder!) and making interceptions that seal a victory are definitely a recipe for success. And frankly, they have no real challenges on the schedule until they face Ohio State on 11/15.

RB Ameer Abdullah, NEB

3. Nebraska Cornhuskers: largely overlooked (by me) they're putting together a nice season, 6-1,2-1,
right behind Minnesota. It's that one conference loss that hurts them. Ameer Abdullah is still the King, rushing for yet another 100-yard game and is on pace to see over 1,000 yards this season.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes: you know it's crazy but each game we score 50+ points in make me even more pissed off about that loss to Va-Tech. I know, I need to get over it, but still... JT Barrett looking better and better each week. A few tough games on the horizon but they may overtake Sparty yet!

AND....

No Surprise Here...

1. Michigan State Spartans: preseason favorites, still looking good. They've got inner-state rival Michigan this weekend so I'm predicting they'll improve to 7-1, 4-0. Head Coach Mark Dantonio seems to think he works for OSU and is trying to create a huge rivalry out of this game. Yes, they've won 5 of the last 6 meetings, but as we all know, kicking someone's butt every single year does not really make it a rivalry....  Then again, the whole world is UM's rival this season and it's still sad.

Respectfully Submitted,

Cleveland Kate

Around the B1G with K8, 9.24.14 #B1G

By @ClvlndK8

You know that Big Ten Conference everyone’s been mocking? They had an AMAZING weekend… 12-1!  The only loss being Michigan.  I’m not sure if they can keep this up with some of the games on the schedule for Saturday but at least we looked good this week!  We may not be getting the respect we want yet, but fans are sure excited about this season… so far three schools have set records for single-game attendance:  Rutgers, Ohio State and Nebraska!

B1G Defense is making us proud with five schools ranked nationally in the Top 20 vs the run.  Penn State sits surprisingly at the top, allowing an average below 50 yards per game. Wow!

Michigan State came in 5^th with a 72 yard average, Michigan at 9^th with 80 (I know, right? I was shocked that they were good at anything!), Wisconsin 14^th with 91 and finally Iowa at 17^th with 96.  That’s pretty darn impressive.  I guess opponents will have to look to the passing skies to score on these guys!

Michigan:  and speaking of Meat-Chicken (as I like to call them), #HokeWatch2014 has begun. With the brutal 26-10 loss to Utah, more and more fans are calling for Brady’s head.  And athletic director Dave Brandon is in the line of fire as well. Alumni like 80’s star QB Michael Taylor have not been shy about blasting university leaders for letting the program become the joke of the B1G.  Whether you are a fan or not, the reality is that the Big Ten NEEDS Michigan to be good. It makes the rivalry with tOSU that much better and makes their meeting at the end of the season that much more meaningful.

As to this year’s big match-up, Both schools AD’s have spoken up this week regarding the starting time. Apparently, some idiots want it to be a night game, played under the lights in Prime Time. Well I’ll tell you this, people will tune in to watch from all over the country whether it’s on at noon or 3:30 pm or 8:00 because it’s supposed to be a good game.  Letting fans (and I’m one of them) have six more hours to drink before kick-off is just a bad idea. Very bad. Trust me.

Nebraska: the HUGE story this week is the under-rated Cornhuskers and another potential Heisman Trophy candidate from the B1G: RB Ameer Abdullah.  My new favorite Rock-Toter had over 300 yards vs Miami, aka The U, for 5,762 career yards.  Since my favorite carriers from prior years include Carlos Hyde and Le’Veon Bell, he’s in good company.  He sitting in 10^th place on the Big Ten all-time list and should easily move into 9^th this week, needing a paltry 37 yards to catch Michigan’s Anthony Carter.  Look out Brandon Williams (Wisconsin), he’ll be coming for your spot on the list next!  

Now, maybe I was the only one who wasn't giving them enough credit before the season started but at 4-0 they definitely need to be taken seriously. And clearly the Student Section of HuskerNation was fired up and ready for their match-up with The U - these pics were posted in a Cornhusker chat room, www.huskerboard.com, showing the amazing “artwork” created for the game… students rocking and rolling and making sure visitors to Memorial Stadium know they are in for a fight!

B1G Tweet of the Week just happens to belong to a Husker fan and blogger, @Husker_Mike... "As Bob Stoops would say, the bottom part of the Big Ten is better than the bottom part of the SEC."

That's it for me this week. If you find any news or stories from Around the B1G that you think I might be interested in, hit me up!  In the meantime, GO BUCKEYES! 

Respectfully Submitted,

Cleveland Kate