Rethinking the West

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MaxyJR1

MaxyJR1

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Watching the games so far, the West Division of the B1G is going to be a blood bath. Low scoring slug fests.

My take:

1. Northwestern: Looking like the front runner right now, but tend to run down as season goes on.
2. Wisconsin: Good defense and balanced offense. Hard to tell what the balance is between Alabama game and Cream Puffs
3,4,5,6 Throw in a hat:
Iowa: Played a couple bottom power 5 teams and won. I think they have many of the same inconsistency issues as others.
Illinois: Possibly best QB, but came back to earth on Saturday.
Minnesota: Best defense, but possibly worst offense. Will be a struggle if OL is not ever healthy.
Nebraska: Inconsistent and having to respond to new coaches through touch losses.
7. Purdue: Lose this game and you're done.

6-2 may win the division. Must win on home field and steal 2 on the road.
 

I don't know what to make of NW. Look at their QB's numbers. Makes Leidner look like Mariotta.
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
I don't know what to make of NW. Look at their QB's numbers. Makes Leidner look like Mariotta.
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I agree, offense is the key to the conference. The team that finds an identity and can score 24+ will win division.
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
I don't know what to make of NW. Look at their QB's numbers. Makes Leidner look like Mariotta.
Click to expand...

Impossible. It cannot get any worse than Leidner!

Their games have been ugly, but they are finding ways to win. I think every game NW plays in will be close.
 

GophersInIowa said:
Impossible. It cannot get any worse than Leidner!

Their games have been ugly, but they are finding ways to win. I think every game NW plays in will be close.
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Haha! Did you happen to see the Kent State QB in the 4th Quarter. He had two passes that were off by at least (I'm not kidding) 20 yards. One of them, the receiver was cutting across the middle and the QB (standing in the pocket with no pressure) threw it up about 5 rows in the stands. Northwestern is right there with their QB. Heck of a D. I don't think they'll be in the mix. I'm seeing us and Wisconsin. Illinois is becoming Illinois - unscouted coach was getting them through. Nebraska is having Offensive problems. Spark of hope during Miami game, but I'm not buying it. Iowa might be up there for the #3. Purdue will continue to get worse.
 




Iowa: Travels to Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Wisconsin. Cross over with Maryland and Indiana
Minnesota: Travels to tOSU, Iowa, Purdue, and Northwestern. Cross over with Michigan and tOSU.
Northwestern: Travels to Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin. Neutral Illinois. Cross over with Michigan and Penn State.
Wisconsin: Travels to Nebraska, Illinois, Maryland, and Minnesota. Cross over with Rutgers and Maryland.
Nebraska: Travels to Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, and Rutgers. Cross over with Michigan State and Rutgers.
Illinois: Travels to Iowa, Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota, and Neutral Nwestern. Cross over with Penn State and tOSU.
 

Thanks for posting the conf schedules MaxyJR1. It really shows the disparity between the strength of schedules.

Iowa and Wisconsin appear to have the easiest path, and that makes a huge difference in a tight division race.

Northwestern and Iowa seem to be the biggest surprises so far.

Go Gophers!!
 



Nw drops 3 of next 5 at least. Their poor qb play catches up to a D that isn't that great and some injuries play a factor
 







MaxyJR1 said:
Watching the games so far, the West Division of the B1G is going to be a blood bath. Low scoring slug fests.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Our game vs. NW could turn out to be a 9-6 type game.
 

We will beat Northwestern. At least I think so because I am going to the game.

Go Gophers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 


upnorthkid said:
Nw drops 3 of next 5 at least. Their poor qb play catches up to a D that isn't that great and some injuries play a factor
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Really? Their defense has given up only one touchdown and 16 points all season. They are first in points allowed per game (5.3) and tenth in yards allowed per game. They held Stanford (the team that racked up nearly 500 yards and scored 41 points on the road in smoking #6 USC this past weekend) to 240 yards and 6 points. They swarm the ball and are generating tons of turnovers, and soph. LB Anthony Walker Jr is becoming a major star, having twice in three weeks been named B10 defensive player of the week and last week earning national defensive player of the week honors. They look like a damn good defense to me. We'll see how they hold up, but so far they've been dominant.
 

If I had to rank the West right now, I'd go:

1. Northwestern - Suffocating defense (you aren't the number 1 defense in the country without doing something right, and they've found enough on offense to beat multiple P5 opponents).

2. Wisconsin - Done as expected - lose to Alabama, pound on lesser opponents. Biggest surprise has been play of Stave, stepped it up quite a bit this year.

3. Iowa - Better than I thought they would be, Beathard is looking like a difference maker for them. Two P5 wins.

4. Nebraska - Heartbreakers against decent opponents make up their losses right now, so I don't feel too bad putting a 1-2 team here. They will not contend for a division title this year, though, not with their struggles on defense and brainfarts on offense.

5. Minnesota

6. Illinois - Who is this team? The one that showed up against Kent State, or the one that got run off the field against UNC? Probably somewhere in the middle, which isn't great.

7. Purdue - Purdue.
 

I liked Iowa before the season and still do.
I thought Wisconsin second and still do.
I thought Minnesota 3 and still do.
I thought Nebraska 4 and now like northwestern.
I thought northwestern 5 and now think 4.
I thought Purdue 6 and still do.
I thought Illinois 7 and still do.
 

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