Rutgers-centric Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 7, 2019
By Ed Stein
Knocking on the penthouse door
These teams are just a notch below the top.
5. Michigan Wolverines (16th, 5-1, 3-1)
Last week: A 42-25 win over Illinois was a little tougher than the 17-point spread indicates. Jim Harbaugh’s team struggled to put away a team they should have beaten handily. Fumbles were a problem as the Wolverines coughed it up three times, losing two. QB Shea Patterson threw three touchdown passes and no picks. The Wolverines rushing attack complimented the passing game with 295 total yards, two Michigan players eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground.
This week at No. 7 Penn State: The Gauntlet begins for Michigan. PSU this week, Notre Dame next week, and Ohio State to close out the regular season, three Top 10 teams. Oh yeah, sandwiched in the middle is in-state rival Michigan State, who will be looking to highlight a so-so season with an upset. It’s not a must-win for the Wolverines, but two losses in seven games won’t sit well with the maize and blue faithful.
4. Minnesota Golden Gophers (20th, 6-0, 3-0)
Last week: The Golden Gophers put a 34-7 beating on Nebraska at home. A potent Minnesota rushing attack kept the visitors at bay. They were led on the ground by a three-headed monster, Rodney Smith (18 carries, 139 yards, 1 TD), Shannon Brooks (13-99-0), and Mohamed Ibrahim (15-84-3). Before you ask why the Gophers aren’t ranked higher, their schedule so far has been much softer than the teams above them. This week at Rutgers: Without beating a dead horse (well, maybe they will), Minnesota should win this game soundly.