Rutgers-centric Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 7, 2019
By Ed Stein
Struggling hard to make ends meet
13. Illinois Fighting Illini (2-4, 0-3)
Last Week: The Illini had another conference loss at home. Number 16 Michigan beat them 42-25. Illinois had a chance however to pull this one out. They were behind by only a field goal until the final nine minutes of the game. In the end, Illinois fell short again. Illini fans take heart. Aside from Minnesota, your team has been in every game all year.
This Week vs No. 6 Wisconsin: If the fourth quarter last week was a nightmare, Illinois is going to feel like they just landed on Elm Street against the Badgers. At least they have Purdue and Rutgers to look forward to the two games after this. The back half of the conference season will be much easier than the beginning of it.
12. Northwestern Wildcats (1-4, 0-3)
Last Week: Northwestern had a bye after a discouraging 13-10 loss at Nebraska the week before. This Week: vs No. 4 Ohio State: Ohio State is on a mission to play for a National Championship, they won’t let the Wildcats get in the way of that goal.
Lower Middle Class
11 Maryland Terrapins (3-3, 1-2), 10 Purdue Boilermakers (2-4, 1-2)
Last Week: These two teams met in West Lafayette, IN with the home team, Purdue, coming out on top with a 40-14 win. Boilermakers quarterback Jack Plummer was explosive on Saturday throwing for 420 yards and three touchdowns. A 61-yard bootleg for a second-quarter touchdown by Maryland backup QB Tyrell Pigrome was the Terps biggest highlight. The score pulled Maryland to within six points at 20-14, before it all fell apart for them
This Week: Maryland hosts Indiana as both schools try to gain bowl eligibility. It’s almost a must-win for the Terps as they play three ranked teams following this one. Purdue is at Iowa, always a tough place to play. Their season is at a crossroads and an upset would turn their entire 2019 around.