Big Ten Review: Week Seven

Two more Big Ten teams fell from the ranks of the unbeaten this week. Both Michigan and Illinois dropped games to lesser ranked opponents to fall to 6-1 on the season. Ohio State managed to avoid an 0-3 start in the Big Ten and kept their slim division title hopes alive, while the wheels have come completely off for Northwestern as they lost to Iowa this weekend.

Games of the Week:

Michigan Wolverines 6-1 (2-1) @ Michigan State Spartans 5-1 (2-0)
Final Score: MSU - 28 Michigan - 14

Michigan is still winless against MSU since Mike Hart's now infamous "little brother" comment. Denard Robinson struggled against MSU's defense, before getting knocked out of the game in the 4th quarter. Things started off well for the Wolverines as they took a 7-0 lead in the middle of the first quarter on a 15 yard run by Denard Robinson. But Edwin Baker had a career day for the Spartans as he racked up 167 yards rushing and a TD. Keshawn Martin had 3 catches for the Spartans, two for TDs.

Michigan Player of the Game: Denard Robinson, while only completing 9/24 passes, again proved to be the only offense for Michigan.
Michigan State Player of the Game: Edwin Baker ran for 167 yards on 26 carries and scored a TD.

Ohio State Buckeyes 4-3 (1-2) @ Illinois Fighting Illini 6-1 (2-1)
Final Score: OSU - 17 Illinois - 7

Boom Herron finally returned for the Buckeyes and gave them the boost they needed to win their first Big Ten game in 2011. On a day that featured 40+ MPH winds, and an Ohio State passing attack that completed all of one pass, Herron provided just enough offense for the Buckeyes. The Zookers QB Nathan Scheelhaase struggled to be his normal, effective self, throwing for only 169 and two interceptions. The Buckeyes did a good job on star receiver A.J. Jenkins, limiting him to only 80 yards receiving.

Ohio State Player of the Game: Boom Herron playing in his first game of the season, ran for 114 yards and a TD.
Illinois Player of the Game: Scheelhaase struggled with the wind, but he still completed 20 passes for 169 yards and a TD. He also led the Illini in rushing with 49 yards.

All the Rest:

Indiana Hoosiers 1-6 (0-3) @ Wisconsin Badgers 6-0 (2-0)
Final Score: Wisconsin - 59 Indiana - 7

In the last two seasons, Wisconsin has beaten the Hoosiers by a combined score of 142-27. If this was any other team, I'd say that Wisconsin would get theirs soon enough... but I don't think Indiana will ever repay the damage they've taken over the past two years. Montee Ball had another monster day, and had more passing yards on his one pass than Ohio State did in their entire game. I have to wonder if Bielema is playing with fire, keeping Ball and Jared Abbrederis in the game through the 3rd quarter despite having a massive lead. However, Wisconsin is still in the hunt for a spot in the national title game, so style points do count for something.

Wisconsin Player of the Game: Montee Ball ran for 142 yards, 3 TDs and had a 25 yard TD pass as well as a 46 yard reception.
Indiana Player of the Game: HB Stephen Houston had 135 yards rushing and Indiana's lone TD.

Iowa Hawkeyes 4-2 (1-1) @ Northwestern Wildcats 2-4 (0-2)
Final Score: Iowa - 41 NW - 31

A week after Penn State got the Iowa monkey off their back, Iowa got the NW monkey off theirs. It wasn't easy for the Hawkeyes though. They jumped out to a 17-0 lead by the mid second quarter, but allowed Northwestern to tie it up in the third quarter. Then Marcus Coker took over the game, scoring two TDs in the fourth quarter, while James Vandenberg hooked up with Marvin McNutt for a third TD. The Wildcats got within ten points, twice in the 4th quarter, but could get no closer.

Iowa Player of the Game: Marcus Coker ran for 124 yard and scored two big TDs when Iowa needed him most.
Northwestern Player of the Game: WR Jeremy Ebert racked up 13 receptions for 107 yards and a TD.