Big Ten Power Poll, Week Three

by Pete Rossman on Sep 16, 2009 3:53 PM CDT in Michigan State Spartans Football

Sorry I've been absent from the site since last week, designing a heat exchanger from scratch will do that to ya. Anyway, I did find time to send my Big Ten Power Poll ballot to The Rivalry, Esq. Here it is:

1. Penn State - They're blowing out the teams they should, which is more than can be said for the majority of the Big Ten.

2. Ohio State - Yes, they lost to USC, but it was a close loss. I've got a feeling this week's the week they win a game by more than a touchdown.

3. Michigan - Thoroughly manhandled Western Michigan, and then beat a possibly (read: definitely) overrated team. Still, they've been the greatest positive surprise for the Big Ten this season so far, and they've definitely done more than the eight teams behind them to earn this spot.

4. Iowa - I know Iowa State isn't that good of a team, but that hasn't stopped the Hawkeyes to losing to the Cyclones in previous incarnations of this game. I'm nearly convinced the Northern Iowa game was a fluke.

5. Northwestern - EMU almost joined Central Michigan and Toledo as MAC teams to upset a BCS opponent, but the Wildcats pulled it out. They should be ranked lower, but who would I rank them behind?

6. Illinois - At least the Illini clobbered a directional opponent. Now they have a week off before Ohio State

7. Wisconsin - Another game, another close scrape with an inferior (?) opponent. But at least they're winning.

8. Michigan State - /puts head through a wall

9. Purdue - Yes, the Oregon loss was much better than Michigan State's loss. Only blatant homerism kept me from putting the Boilermakers at the eight spot.

10. Minnesota - Is beating Air Force by a touchdown a good victory for this team? Do we really know which team is better between these two?

11. Indiana - If Indiana beats Akron this week, I might have to move them out of the basement. Maybe.

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Comments

What if the the power poll ratings could be more qualitative than sequential...

I know I would rank them:

1. Penn State
3. Ohio State
6. Michigan
6. Iowa
6. Northwestern
7. Michigan State
7. Purdue
7. Illinois
7. Wisconsin
8. Minnesota
11. Indiana

by CPT Hoolie on Sep 16, 2009 4:25 PM CDT reply actions

Quote: I'm nearly convinced the Northern Iowa game was a fluke.

A fluke all right, they should have LOST! THey shoved Iowa all over the field that day. If you’d read the funny papers Pete, you’d know that N. Iowa beat there next FCS opponent 66-7!

As for my Spartans..put head through wall just about sums it up for me.

Speaking of the Deadbirds, after beatng the Cyclones, the locals can’t help themselves saying the Deadbirds won’t lose another game, except possibly Penn State.

Sounds just like the wack jobs in Ann Arbor.

On another topic, anybody see the all gold uniforms for the Gophers. Really cool!

by IA_M4State on Sep 16, 2009 10:01 PM CDT reply actions

Hey, why not?

Why not make your power rankings qualitative?

The real number line is infinitely dense (even uncountably infinite!)—no need to restrict yourself to the integers. Why not use the reals to good advantage? Feel free to rank Northwestern at 5.9. Yet again, bloggers can liberate sports fans from traditional paradigms!

by njd on Sep 16, 2009 11:55 PM CDT reply actions

Purdue...

…looks really tough running the ball, but I’m not sure how you rank almost winning despite throwing two pick sixes at Oregon. Yeah, you almost won, but you have a QB who’ll thrown two INTS in terrible spots. And Autzen Stadium seems a tough place to play, but it’s possilbe the whole ‘distraction’ cliche might have played a part for the Ducks. That and angst over being Phil Knight’s dress up dolls.

by witless chum on Sep 17, 2009 6:00 AM CDT reply actions