Rutgers-centric Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 8, 2019

6. Iowa (19th Ranked, 5-2, 2-2)

Last Week:Iowa survived at home against Purdue 26-20. It wasn’t their best performance of the season, but in conference play, teams take wins any way they can get them. It was a grind it out performance offensive performance. Hawkeyes wide receiverBrandon Smithstepped up with nine catches for 106 yards.

Defensive backMatt Hankinsdoubled his tackles on the season with 11. Additionally, he had a pass defended and recovered a fumble.This Week at Northwestern:Expect 19th ranked Iowa to put up some big numbers against an outclassed Northwestern Wildcats team.

5. Michigan (20th, 5-2, 3-2)

Last Week:A 21 point second-quarter deficit was too much to overcome for Michigan. They did, however, stage a big comeback but eventually fell 28-21. Trailing by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, Michigan drove down to the PSU 7-yard line with 3:19 to go. Unfortunately, they couldn’t punch it in and Penn State ran out the clock.

This Week vs No. 8 Notre Dame:The natives are getting restless in Ann Arbor. Last week’s loss to Penn State stung. A win against the rival Fighting Irish this Saturday will go a long way to erasing some of the bad feelings hovering aroundJim Harbaugh‘s program. Then again a loss will only stoke the flames.

4. Wisconsin (13th, 6-1, 3-1)

Last Week:The Badgers got “Lovied” in Champaign, Ill. Maybe Wisconsin was looking past the Fighting Illini to this week’s showdown with Ohio State. As much as anything else the Badgers carelessness with the football did them in. Three turnovers (two fumbles, one interception) will cost any team in a Big Ten game. Additionally, the Badgers gave up three scoring plays of 29 yards or more, which is very uncharacteristic of them.

This Week at No. 3 Ohio State:Hopefully Wisconsin learned a few lessons last week. If the Badgers play as recklessly as they did last week, OSU will stomp a mudhole in them. Conversely, play as they did in the first six weeks and Ohio State’s back will be against the wall. This is going to be a huge test in handling adversity forPaul Chryst‘s team.

Add us as a preferred source onGoogle

Follow