Heading into week 5 of the college football season it's time to start separating teams.
#1. Ohio State (AP #3) 3-0 (0-0) Has had it easy thew last couple of weeks with a bye and then a 49-14 win over Marshall. And it doesn't appear that things will be much more difficult this week either as the Buckeyes are a big-time road favorite as they begin Big Ten play in East Lansing. This week: -23.5 at Michigan State
#2A. Illinois (AP #19) 4-0 (1-0) Is one of the surprises of the B1G and CFB in general as the Illini have sprinted out to a 4-0 start. Bret Bielema's team has done it the hard way too with a week 2 win over then #19 Kansas and last week's 31-24 OT upset of then #22 Nebraska in Lincoln. The Illini and AP #5 Tennessee are currently the only teams in the country to boast 2 wins over ranked teams. The Vols are off this week, but the heat goes to high for Illinois as they will hit the road to face their 3rd ranked opponent in just the 5th week of the season. This week: +19.5 at Penn State
#2B. Penn State (AP #9) 3-0 (0-0) Will face a test at home as the upstart 4-0 and #19th ranked Illini pay a visit to Happy Valley Saturday. After a couple of ho-hum wins PSU blew out Kent State 56-0. It's a tough atmosphere, but this is a game James Franklin's squad cannot lose with upcoming games vs USC and Ohio State. This week -19.5 vs Illinois
#3. Oregon (AP #8) 3-0 (0-0) Is coming off of a bye after Dan Lanning's team came alive against in-state rival and former PAC-12 mate Oregon State, 49-14 the previous week. Vegas does not think much of UCLA's effort at LSU last week. Oregon is blessed with a schedule that sets the Ducks up for a more than possible 11-1 season, with their toughest game coming in Eugene vs Ohio State in 3 weeks. This week: -25.5 @UCLA
#5. Indiana 4-0 (1-0) Has quickly become one of the biggest surprises in college football under Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers will be looking for its first 5-0 start in 57 years when Maryland comes to Bloomington. The Terps have a very good passing game and IU's defense will see its biggest test yet. But the Hoosiers offense should have Mike Locksley losing sleep. The Hoosiers are one of just 5 teams with a Top 10 scoring offense AND defense, allowing just 1.5 ppg in the 2nd half. Indiana has to win this game to continue to prove they are no fluke. This week: -7 vs Maryland.
#6. Rutgers 3-0 (1-0) Is surprise #3 in the B1G so far. Last week Greg Schiano's team went to Virginia Tech and escaped Blacksburg with a 26-23 win to stay unblemished. The Scarlet Knights will be tested in Piscataway Friday night with their conference opener. The winner of this game will have 4 wins under their belt. This week: -1.5 vs Washington
#7. Michigan (AP #12) 3-1 (1-0) Is feeling a lot better about itself after coming away with a late-game 27-24 win over USC in the "Big House." The Wolverines managed it after coughing up a 14-0 lead, only 33 passing yards, and trailing in the 4th quarter. Michigan's Kalel Mullings had a 63-yard run that would ultimately set up the winning score and keep UM's B1G winning streak alive at 26 games. This week: -10.5 vs Minnesota.
#8. USC (AP #13) 2-1 (0-1) Had a heartbreaking loss at Michigan last week when after coming back from being down 14-0 the Trojan defense just could not stop the Maze & Blue's running game when it needed to most. This week: -25.5 @ UCLA
#9. Iowa 2-1 (0-0) Needed a get-right game and Minnesota obliged last week as the Hawkeyes made off with a 31-14 win and the Floyd of Rosedale trophy. It'll be a quiet Saturday in Iowa City. This week: Bye
#10. Nebraska 3-1 (0-1) Was unbeaten, ranked 22nd in last week's AP poll, and about to celebrate their 400th consecutive sellout. Then the Illini came to Lincoln and stole the thunder with a 31-24 OT win. Matt Rhule's team is no longer one I see with a shot of being in the "upper level" of the B1G. The Huskers might be looking for someone to take out their frustrations on and they have just the team to do it this week. This week: -10 at Purdue
#11. Michigan State 3-1 (1-1) Looked good with a week 2 27-24 upset win at Maryland, then went to BC and lost a close one. Ohio State comes to East Lansing Saturday and then that will be followed by a trip to Eugene, OR. Yikes. This week: +23.5 vs Ohio State
#12. Maryland 3-1 (0-1) Has an opportunity this week to put itself back into the discussion of good, mid-level B1G teams. All they have to do is go on the road and stop one of the hottest and most efficient offenses in the country. And then score against a defense that is giving up 1.5 ppg in the 2nd half. This week: +7 at Indiana
#13. Washington 3-1 (1-0) Played and won their first-ever Big Ten game last week against lowly Northwestern 24-5. It gets a little dicey this week as the Huskies will play their first conference road game Friday night in Piscataway, NJ. This week: +1.5 at Rutgers
#14 Minnesota 2-2 (0-1) The Gophers could easily be 3-0, but they choked away a week 1 game with 2 missed field goals at home against North Carolina. Since then, PJ Fleck's boat seems to be rowing in the wrong direction. This week: -10.5 @ Michigan
#15. Wisconsin 2-1 (0-0) It has not been the best of starts for Luke Fickel in Madison. Last week Alabama traveled North and Kalen DeBoer's Tide rolled all over the Badgers. It doesn't get any easier this week with for Bucky opening up conference play on the road. This week: -15.5 @ USC
While there is always room at the bottom of the bottom of the B1G, this is rock bottom!
#16. UCLA 1-2 (0-1) Showed some signs of life last week traveling to Death Valley in Baton Rouge and played LSU to a 17-17 halftime tie. Unfortunately, LSU played the 2nd half too, but the Bruins didn't show up. This week: +25.5 vs Oregon
#17. Northwestern 2-2 (0-1) Is just not very good, they stink. This week: Bye
#18. Purdue 1-2 (0-0) May be worse. They suck. This week: +10 vs Nebraska
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