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Big Ten Round Table Week 2: Northwestern Wildcats
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Arby Fields was a pleasant surprise for the Northwestern
Wildcats in week 1 (AP Photo/Chuck Cherney)
The Big Ten acquitted itself quite well in the first week of games. At least the conference didn’t have two losses to lower-division competition like some leagues.
But it wasn’t all pretty for the Big Ten, despite some lopsided wins.
The reputation of the conference is the primary subject in this week’s Big Ten Round Table, the recurring meeting of the minds among the Big Ten Examiners.
1. The Big Ten was 10-1 last weekend but it was close to being 7-4. Was it a good opening week for the conference or not?
The Big Ten got a little lucky in the first week not to end up on the 7-4 side of the ledger, and unfortunately the haze was covering two-thirds of the ranked squads. Ohio State and Iowa were lucky to escape with wins. Sure, they both received key contributions when it mattered most, but neither squad should even have been in position to lose the games. And the one contest where the Big Ten could have come away with a win that meant something (Illinois and Missouri) ended in a truly lopsided defeat. I don’t think the conference did much for its image, either with its scheduling or the results.
2. Clearly the big game this week is Ohio State hosting USC. Does the Big Ten need Ohio State to win this game?
It is hard to place the fate of the entire league on one game, especially this early in the year. But with so little else on the conference’s slate to measure the worth of the Big Ten, this one means a lot. I think the conference would definitely benefit from an Ohio State victory, but I don’t think it will define the entire season for the league. That will come in December and January when the Big Ten will have to reverse its current string of bowl performances.
3. What was the biggest surprise from last week's games?
For me, the biggest surprise was how well Ron Paulus played at quarterback for Syracuse after being out of football for four years. Sure, Syracuse isn’t a Big Ten team, but they might as well be labeled Big Ten-lite given that they still have to play Penn State and Northwestern. If he had been on the field for the last four seasons, Minnesota might have taken a loss last week.
I don’t think that Paulus’s resurrection as a college QB will change how Syracuse will play this week against Penn State, but it could mean that the game against Northwestern will be a lot closer than predicted in two weeks.
From Northwestern’s perspective, I don’t think it qualifies as a surprise, but the great start to Arby Fields’ career was a big bonus in the first week (8.0 ypc, 2 TDs). And Andrew Brewer looks like he has become the go-to receiver in the offense which at least answers some questions that were hanging over the Wildcats’ heads.
4. How important is it for Michigan to beat Notre Dame this weekend?
As with USC and Ohio State, I don’t think it is imperative that Michigan wins against Notre Dame this week. Maybe for Rich Rodriguez’s sanity it is, but not for the league as a whole.
I think for Michigan on its own, it is important to be competitive and to show that its defense will be enough to carry it as the offense still adjusts to the scheme the former-West Virginia coach installed. Notre Dame appears to be an improved squad and will serve as an formidable marker in the evolution of the Wolverines.
5. What record will the Big Ten have this weekend?
This week, the conference comes back down to Earth. I say 7-4, although it could easily end up 5-6.
Wins: Penn State, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern
Losses: Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Indiana
6. Does Ohio State beat USC?
USC hasn’t lost to a Big Ten team since 1996, and if that were going to change anytime soon, this would be the year. Yet, the way that Ohio State played against Navy doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.
Navy can be a difficult team to prepare for, but that is usually when you only have one week to get ready, not when you have more than a month. That leaves no excuse for the play of the Buckeyes.
If Ohio State can wake up, this one will be close, especially since the Ohio State pressure could make the primetime game a nightmare for USC frosh Matt Barkeley.
And on offense, Terrelle Pryor has to be more consistent than he was against Navy. He has to use the rest of his team to his advantage also, as he will not be able to be the one-man show against the Trojans.
Even if all that happens, USC still seems the better squad.
Trojans win 31-17.
7. How will the team you cover do this weekend?
Northwestern continues its early season cupcake walk with Eastern Michigan this week. The Eagles lost to Army of all teams last week.
Northwestern should get a tougher test though than Towson provided and will have to play its starters for more than three series to get the win.
At the end of the day though, the purple-clad faithful will be headed home happy.
Northwestern 35 – Eastern Michigan 13
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