B1G Power Rankings – Week of 11/3

We’re back for another B1G season!  Throughout the 2014 season, I’ll be ranking the Big Ten schools 1-14.  To see where your team was ranked last week, click here.  As always, if you think I’m right, wrong, or clinically insane, let me know in the comments.

Prepare to disagree…

1. Michigan State.  With a week to get ready (and home field advantage) you really have to like Sparty’s chances to wrap up the division over Ohio State.
2. Ohio State.  The Buckeye offense is hitting on all cylinders, scoring 50+ in five of their last six games.  That makes the match-up against Michigan State even more appealing.
3. Nebraska.  After some rather uninspired efforts against Rutgers and Purdue, the Huskers are in need of a challenge.  They’ll get it against Wisconsin, but they have to take the weekend off first.
4. Wisconsin.  Yes, it was Rutgers, but Wisconsin’s 37-0 win was the definition of domination.  A tune-up against Purdue stands between the Badgers and the Huskers.
5. Maryland.  Between the pregame antics, the handshake snub, and a one point win, the Terps probably didn’t make too many friends in Happy Valley.  Maryland gets a week off before they take a tour of Michigan teams.
6. Minnesota.  Minnesota has had the bad taste of the Illinois loss in their mouth for two weeks.  The Gophers will look to bounce back against Iowa.
7. Iowa.  Like almost everybody else in the West, the Hawks control their own destiny.  That means they need to take care of Minnesota.
8. Northwestern.  The Wildcats are a yo-yo of a team.  They either beat a top flite team like Wisconsin, or they get blown out by Iowa.  Who knows what will happen against Michigan?
9. Penn State.  I wonder what Penn State thinks of Jim Delaney’s expansion plans?  Both Rutgers and Maryland have gone out of their way to poke the Nitany Lions.
10. Purdue.  Purdue has been a much-improved offense in 2014, but they sure didn’t show it against Nebraska.  Now they get to face one of the nation’s best defenses.
11. Rutgers.  Think Rutgers is rethinking that decision to join the Big Ten yet?  The last three weeks have been rough (a combined 135-31), but the Knights can spend the bye week counting their money.
12. Michigan.  Michigan gets boosted out of the cellar for beating the Hoosiers – and for not being quite as bad as the Illini.  They could continue to climb with a win over the Wildcats.
13. Illinois.  So much for a Big Ten winning streak as Ohio State put Illinois back in their place.  An off-week awaits.
14. Indiana.  Congrats Indiana!  You are the only winless team in what is widely believe to be the worst of the Power 5 conferences!  And yet, they beat Mizzou….