MNVCGUY
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All the usual caveats apply (long way to go, injuries, lots can change, don't look ahead......)
WEST
Coming into the year the West looked like a wide open 6 team race. Through the halfway point of the season the number of true contenders has dwindled to 2-3 tops.
1 - Wisconsin - pains me to write it but the Badgers look like the odds on favorite to win the West this season based on how they have played to this point. Their defense has been amazing and the offense is scoring lots of points as well. They are 1 of only 2 teams in the West that 100% controls their own destiny at this moment. The other....
2. Minnesota - Has really kicked things into high gear during Big Ten play after looking a little shaky to start the season. We all know the degree of difficulty goes up a lot in November.
3. Iowa - 2 loses already in conference play so will need help to win the division. Defense has looked good, offense has not in Big Ten play.
Spots 4-7 are all a bunch of teams that look like they have no real shot of competing for the division title this year.
EAST
Michigan was the pre-season pick by a lot of publications and while they are not out of it they certainly don't look like the favorite right now. That distinction goes to....
1. Ohio State - Firmly in the CFP mix with the Georgia loss and looking like the team to beat in the BIG. 10/26 game against Wisconsin could easily be a preview of the BIG championship game with the way those teams are playing.
2. Penn State - Nipping at the heals of Ohio State. Has a big showdown with Michigan this weekend and the schedule makers didn't do them a lot of favors with some tough road games ahead as well.
3. Michigan - Must win game for them this weekend at Penn State if they want to stay in contention for the East. Only 1 loss on the season so far and it was to a very good Wisconsin team but they have not looked like the force a lot of people thought they would be this season.
As with the West teams 4-7 don't look like they have any shot at contending this year. MSU could maybe be pulled out of this bunch as all 3 of their loses have been to good teams but with 2 conference loses already and with one being against the Buckeyes, the odds of OSU losing 3 games over the second half of the year seems pretty unlikely.
WEST
Coming into the year the West looked like a wide open 6 team race. Through the halfway point of the season the number of true contenders has dwindled to 2-3 tops.
1 - Wisconsin - pains me to write it but the Badgers look like the odds on favorite to win the West this season based on how they have played to this point. Their defense has been amazing and the offense is scoring lots of points as well. They are 1 of only 2 teams in the West that 100% controls their own destiny at this moment. The other....
2. Minnesota - Has really kicked things into high gear during Big Ten play after looking a little shaky to start the season. We all know the degree of difficulty goes up a lot in November.
3. Iowa - 2 loses already in conference play so will need help to win the division. Defense has looked good, offense has not in Big Ten play.
Spots 4-7 are all a bunch of teams that look like they have no real shot of competing for the division title this year.
EAST
Michigan was the pre-season pick by a lot of publications and while they are not out of it they certainly don't look like the favorite right now. That distinction goes to....
1. Ohio State - Firmly in the CFP mix with the Georgia loss and looking like the team to beat in the BIG. 10/26 game against Wisconsin could easily be a preview of the BIG championship game with the way those teams are playing.
2. Penn State - Nipping at the heals of Ohio State. Has a big showdown with Michigan this weekend and the schedule makers didn't do them a lot of favors with some tough road games ahead as well.
3. Michigan - Must win game for them this weekend at Penn State if they want to stay in contention for the East. Only 1 loss on the season so far and it was to a very good Wisconsin team but they have not looked like the force a lot of people thought they would be this season.
As with the West teams 4-7 don't look like they have any shot at contending this year. MSU could maybe be pulled out of this bunch as all 3 of their loses have been to good teams but with 2 conference loses already and with one being against the Buckeyes, the odds of OSU losing 3 games over the second half of the year seems pretty unlikely.