Big Ten AND NFL Power Rankings

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WEEK 4 NFL POWER RANKINGS
1 New York Giants
2 Indianapolis Colts
3 Baltimore Ravens
4 New Orleans Saints
5 New York Jets
6 Minnesota Vikings
7 New England Patriots
8 Denver Broncos
9 Cincinnati Bengals
10 San Francisco 49ers
11 Green Bay Packers
12 Atlanta Falcons
13 Philadelphia Eagles
14 San Diego Chargers
15 Chicago Bears
16 Dallas Cowboys
17 Pittsburgh Steelers
18 Arizona Cardinals
19 Jacksonville Jaguars
20 Houston Texans
21 Tennessee Titans
22 Buffalo Bills
23 Seattle Seahawks
24 Carolina Panthers
25 Miami Dolphins
26 Detroit Lions
27 Oakland Raiders
28 Washington Redskins
29 Kansas City Chiefs
30 St. Louis Rams
31 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
32 Cleveland Browns


WEEK 5 BIG TEN CONFERENCE POWER POLL
1) Ohio State (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten; last week, 3)
Is 68-0 a good margin over a two-week period? I think so. Yes, the schedule has been fairly weak, but…well…68-0.

2) Iowa (4-0, 1-0; last week, 4)
I got ripped for daring to place the Hawkeyes as high as fourth in last week’s poll – I even got the ‘Homer’ claim. As if I’m, like, a total Iowa fan now. Oh well. I guess I’ll just have to let 21-10 in Happy Valley – and 21-3 in the final 58 minutes – do the talking. Kirk Ferentz’s defense is one collective tough customer.

3) Michigan (4-0, 1-0; last week, 2)
Careful, Wolverines. All it takes is actually losing a game like that to Indiana to not only plummet down these rankings, but also throw some serious ink stains into what has been a masterpiece renaissance.

4) Penn State (3-1, 0-1; last week, 1)
So, Joe, how’d that early-season trip to the cupcake buffet turn out for you? Just another example of teams not properly preparing themselves for tough schedules that matter. I should place the Kitties, like, seventh or eighth on general principle. But Daryll Clark and Co. will rebound.

5) Minnesota (3-1, 1-0; last week, 5)
Ryan Field: the land where football players can take an unimpeded nap on TV timeouts. Credit the Gophers for taking that licking at home by Jahvid Best and recovering to go 1-0 in conference play. But yes, I know Cal was exposed last week.

6) Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0; last week, 6)
I’m risking getting screamed at again for placing the Gophers over the Badgers. Fair enough. How’s this, Bucky Nation: beat Minnesota in its new beautiful home, and we’ll fix that. Deal?

7) Northwestern (2-2, 0-1; last week, 7)
Toughest place to play in the Big Ten, eh, Mike Kafka? The ‘Cats might find themselves down in an 0-2 hole if they don’t bounce back at…

8) Purdue (1-3, 0-0; last week, 10)
The Boilers were completely written off before the season. Danny Hope’s crew may not make a bowl game this year, but they are going to give a lot of teams fits before this season is through. Just ask Oregon and Notre Dame.

9) Indiana (3-1, 0-1; last week, 11)
A valiant effort in the Big House from the Hoosiers, who might have gotten “hoosed” on an interception ruling that appeared to be caught by both players (and thus should have been IU’s ball.) Not a bad weekend for football in that state, combined with the Colts’ domination in the desert.

10) Michigan State (1-3, 0-1; last week, 8)
Oof. Remember when Mark Dantonio’s squad was picked to finish third in the conference? Looks like Javon Ringer is being missed more than we thought. In other news, congratulations to Bret Bielema for incurring zero penalty yards on Saturday!

11) Illinois (1-2, 0-1; last week, 9)
Is Ron Zook the anti-Bo Ryan? Great, great recruiter; can’t coach ‘em up. To think Jaevery McFadden very nearly decommitted from UW by Zook’s wishes. Betcha No. 47 is glad he’s wearing cardinal and white, not orange and blue, right now.