Okay, everyone just take a deep breath and let's move on. I may be looking at the Wisconsin Badgers fans in the face when I say that, but that statement goes for the majority of the Big Ten conference in general. The Badgers got screwed against the Sun Devils, the Wolverines fell right into the "trap game" scenario that looked like Akron had been planning for years, and teams like Penn State and Nebraska fell flat on their face (or ass, whatever makes you feel better). I also managed to go this long without mentioning head coach Jerry Kill. Too Soon? Moving on....
In what looks like to be a much less dramatic week of football for the Big Ten in Week 4, let's break down some of the biggest games on tap.
Purdue at Wisconsin
Our first Big Ten match up is finally upon us as the Boilmakers head to Madison to take on a very salty Badger team. The Badgers obviously did something to piss off the football gods and had their karma returned to them in full form last Saturday. In case you missed it, (what rock have you been hiding under?), Wisconsin's quarterback Joel Stave was attempting to down the ball in the middle of the hash to set his kicker up for a chip-shot field goal to win the game as time expired against Arizona State. Apparently the referees had never seen something so crazy in their life and didn't know what to do (although Stave will go down as owning the most awkward knell down in history), so just like any normal person they let the clock tick down to zeros and ran off the field in dramatic fashion.
The Sun Devils charged the field, the Badgers pleaded their case, and it will go down as the best blown call of the year, (and its only September!). But, back to this Saturday; the Boilmakers will have their hands full as they get to be the punching bag of Wisconsin's make believe gym with those referees faces painted on every single helmet, lucky them. To make things even better, Wisconsin has thrashed Purdue over the past decade owning a seven game win streak and averaging a 31-point margin of victory in their last three home games. Expect to see a lot of Melvin Gordon and James White as they've been virtually unstoppable all season long as Gary Anderson continues to ride the hot hand.
Missouri at Indiana
It's something you just don't see very often: a SEC team traveling into the Big Ten in what very well could be the best game we see in the conference as both opponents match-up well with the other. Both teams possess the offenses to kick the scoreboard down with some of the hottest quarterbacks in the game. Missouri's James Franklin is throwing close to a 70% completion ration and has thrown four touchdowns to his one interception while raking up 121 yards on the ground. On the other side of the field Nate Sudfeld IS the hottest passer in the Big Ten right now. Want proof? He's tops in the conference in passing yards (917) and effeciency (195.3) while having the most touchdown passes (10) yet he ranks just fifth in passing attempts. The nightcap to a long day starts at 8pm eastern time and could be a back-and-forth shoot out until the sun comes up. This game possesses a lot of qualities that are hard not to like and is one that you surely shouldn't miss.
Michigan State at Notre Dame
The biggest question for the Big Ten that I'm going to wake up with Saturday is was Connor Cook's 55 point outburst the real deal or just a mirage? Before putting up gaudy numbers against Youngstown State last week, the Spartans offense looked like they couldn't move a baby in a stroller let alone a football for a first down. Then Cook's four touchdown performance filled with efficiency and charisma slammed everyones pre-notion of an incapable offense to a halt. Now he gets to prove that he is able to replicate the same performance against a much tougher defense in the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame's defense isn't anything like we thought it would be so far into the young season, but will still be a tougher test than the Youngstown State Penguins. With the Spartans possessing one of the best defenses in all the land its safe to assume a hard noised defensive battle in this game with the team able to create the most turnovers winning.