Does the Big Ten have any good teams outside of UCLA? As we enter the final month of the season the Bruins are the last undefeated team in conference. Everyone else has serious flaws.Indiana and Michigan can’t offense.Ohio State looks mortal with a backup QB.Everyone else can look great one week and awful the next (looking at you, Wisconsin).Even Maryland and Rutgers showed some fight this week.UCLA, Indiana, and Ohio State are really the only three teams that have a chance at winning the conference, and both Indian and Ohio State are shaky. That means we move into a second straight week with the Bruins on top.UCLA (Last Week: 1, 8-0, 5-0) – Beat Nevada 27-0 – The defense gave them three first quarter interceptions, one returned for a TD, and the result was never really in doubt. They absolutely stifled Nevada.Indiana (Last Week: 3, 8-1, 5-1) – Beat Minnesota 23-16 (OT) – If you want to beat Indiana you have to make sure they are good and dead. That’s two weeks in a row they survived in overtime, and four of their conference wins have come down to the final play. They aren’t dominant, but they still win.USC (Last Week: 10, 7-2, 4-2) – Beat Ohio State 30-18 – They are only 4-2, but USC still has to play Indiana and UCLA, so they are very much alive in the league race. Also, beating the brakes off of Ohio State elicits a big move up.Ohio State (Last Week: 2, 6-2, 4-1) – Lost to USC 30-18 – The Bucks are a contender thanks to name recognition and sheer talent, but it has been a long time since Ohio State has been pushed around like that.Iowa (Last Week: 7, 6-2, 3-2) – Beat Wisconsin 30-0 – Just lock in their 9-3 finish now. They are the 6.3 roentgen of Big Ten teams. Not great, not terrible.Northwestern (Last Week: 4, 6-2, 3-2) – Lost to Oregon 34-26 – Northwestern was in firm control out in Eugene… they weren’t. The Ducks outscored them 14-3 in the fourth quarter to steal one.Minnesota (Last Week: 6, 5-3, 3-2) – Lost to Indiana 23-16 (OT) – It really looked like Minnesota pulled off the shocker in Bloomington, but they are now winless in the state of Indiana in Big Ten play.Oregon (Last Week: 13, 5-3, 3-2) – Beat Northwestern 34-26 – The second half defense was vastly different from the first at Oregon finally played up to expectations. Can they pull an upset in Columbus this coming week?Wisconsin (Last Week: 5, 5-3, 3-2) – Lost to Iowa 30-0 – They pretty much did the exact opposite of last week, just like USC. Fortunately for them they get Rutgers, Maryland, and Purdue’s defenses all in a row to fix things.Washington (Last Week: 9, 5-3, 2-4) – Beat Nebraska 17-10 – Washington had -3 yards rushing vs. Iowa, 186 against Purdue, and had 1 deep into the fourth quarter of this one before finishing with 26. The Purdue defense!Illinois (Last Week: 12, 5-3, 3-2) – Beat Maryland 20-17 – I guess winning is winning, especially on the road in the Big Ten. Illinois is hardly the worst team in the leagu
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