Big Ten West after Week 5

MNVCGUY

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Jumping the gun a little because Nebraska/Northwestern is only at halftime but have seen enough of that one to form my opinion on the state of the West through week 5.

1. Iowa - Was the clear cut favorite coming into this week and after kicking the crap out Maryland they are probably an even bigger favorite coming out of this week. Honestly, through 5 weeks, if any other team ends up winning the West this season it will be a shock.

Massive Gap between Iowa and the rest right now. And in regards to the rest, the split between 2-5 is very small and it is really a tossup between who is likely to provide a challenge to the Hawkeyes.

2. Nebraska - Defense is playing at a high level and they have more playmakers than most of the rest of the division. Don't trust them in big game situations though as they always seem to find a way to mess it up.

3. Minnesota - Gutted out a tough win on the road against Purdue. Defense is playing at a really high level. If the offense can get it figured out they could be the team with the best shot of catching Iowa.

4. Purdue - Solid team, will be a tough out but probably not a legit contender for the division.

5. Wisconsin - Defense is good, offense is very very broken. Maybe they get it together, but this looks like a down year for Wisconsin. All loses have been to good teams but they have serious problems on offense.

Small Gap

6. Illinois - Very mediocre team, seems to have a few playmakers, managed to beat Nebraska. Their game against Wisconsin next week will be interesting. There is a chance they beat the Badgers.

Massive Gap

7. Northwestern - Pat Fitzgerald has done some great things there and has fielded some very strong teams......this is not one of them.....wow they look bad.....really really bad......
 

Iowa looks really strong. Maybe this is the year the West finally wins the B1G championship game.
 


Hate to say it, but Iowa will easily win the West and might just end up in he playoff. Yuck.
 




I currently got it: 1. Hawkeyes 2. Gophers 3. Boilermakers 4. Huskers
5. Bucky 6. Illinois 7. Wildcats. Still real early with many possible changes to occur.
 





The next turning point game, its 0-0 Nebraska at The Bank. One game at a time. Keep the injuries away.
 

Hate to say it, but Iowa will easily win the West and might just end up in he playoff. Yuck.
I don’t think so. I don’t think their QB is good enough. Maybe their defense can make up for it.
 

Nebraska has looked formidable in its last three games - held Mich St to zero first downs and 14 yards for the entire second half and thrashed Northwestern tonight. I'd say they are up with Iowa in the West. P.S. I changed my avatar and the ID info disappeared! Those are 1948 Gophers, Tonnemaker blocking. Help desk no help in restoration. Great Plains Gopher.
 

Not sure how you can put Nebraska 2 with losses to west #7 and east #3
Nobody in the West has an impressive resume right now other than Iowa. The other 6 teams all have some pretty major blemishes on their record to this point.

Nebraska came up just short against Oklahoma and Michigan State and their defense looks really good. Honestly, you can probably shuffle teams 2-7 any number of different ways right now. As it stands right now, Iowa is playing at a different level than the rest of the Division.
 



Nebraska has looked formidable in its last three games - held Mich St to zero first downs and 14 yards for the entire second half and thrashed Northwestern tonight. I'd say they are up with Iowa in the West. P.S. I changed my avatar and the ID info disappeared! Those are 1948 Gophers, Tonnemaker blocking. Help desk no help in restoration. Great Plains Gopher.
Hmmm. Now it is back - for readers but not for me as the sender.
 

rest of the division is W.I.M.P.N.N. out

Someone needs to pull Iowa back down into the bucket
 




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