I'm more than a little late getting this started.  I've spent the first seven weeks reading others' posts and weighing in from time to time.  I finally decided to just start my own. 

Here are my thoughts on the Big Ten games from week 7:

IOWA 45 - Indiana 9

Wow!  That was a good ol' fashioned butt-whoopin'!  Iowa's O and D lines dominated Indiana all day long.  Shonn Greene racked up his seventh straight 100yd game and even allowed time for Jewel Hampton to rack up 100 yards as well.  Ricki Stanzi looked more comfortable under center than he's looked all season.  We've heard all week how this team could easily be undefeated if only they'd have protected the ball a little better.  This week we saw how dominating they can be when they're not busy beating themselves.  Indiana is no PSU, nor MSU, nor Northwestern, nor Ohio St....etc, etc.  Still, that was pretty dominant.  For once, they looked like a possible bowl team.

MINNISOTA 27 - Illinois 20

In my opinion, Illinois is one of the bigger disappointments of this season.  They've had Juice Williams controlling the offense for a few years now.  He's a force to be reckoned with, but he seems to be all they really have.  They're a good team, but they just can't seem to get it done when pitted against the more solid Big Ten teams (last year's OSU game aside). 

On the other side of this equation, Minn is greatly improved over last years 1-11 team.  I give great kudos to the coaching staff up in Minnie.  It's pretty rare to see a team, like Minnisota, that has been mediocre for so long, and had such a terrible season last year, turn it all around so quickly.  I wouldn't rank them in the elite by any stretch, but they've made huge strides and I thought this was a great win for them.

Having given props to Minn., I still think this is a game Illinois should have won.  Minnisota's good, but beatable and if you want to stake a claim in the Big Ten, you've got to win these games.

TOLEDO 13 - Michigan 10

Are you kidding me?!  Todedo?  It's bad enough for a team like Michigan to lose to a MAC team, but to a MAC team that's only won one game coming into the Big House?!  Maybe I'm daydreaming, but I could have sworn that RichRod said he wouldn't try to change the way things were done right away.  I thought he was going to wait to implement his offense.  Am I wrong?

He took one of the greatest teams in the nation and tried to implement a new scheme in the same year they were trying to adjust to a new coach.  That's tough, any way you cut it.  Boys who were used to playing smash-mouth football were introduced overnight to a new head man and a spread offense and obviously haven't adjusted well. 

Time for basketball to start??

MICHIGAN STATE 37 - Northwestern 20

I wish I could have watched this game, but I didn't get a chance.  I have to admit, I'm a little shocked.  A couple of weeks ago, Iowa held Heisman hopeful Ringer to under 100 yards.  MSU still won, thanks to Iowa screwing it up, but they laid out the formula for a possible victory over the Spartans.  Pat Fitzgerald either didn't notice, or his men couldn't get it done.  In my pick-em's group, I had NW winning this one, which shows you how much I know.

Still Fitzy has done a great job with the Wildcats.  They've been a doormat in the Big Ten for as long as I can remember.  I don't think that's going to be the case any more.  Pat's instilled pride and hard work in a program that sorely needed it.  He doesn't take excuses and holds his men accountable.  They may have lost this one, but I look for NW to be really strong, not only the rest of this year, but next year and years to come.

OHIO STATE 16 - Purdue 3

I'm not sure if this is a statement for Purdue or one against OSU.  The way things are shaping up at the top of the college rankings, OSU could still find themselves in position for a shot at the NCG.  That, of course, depends on two things: beating a red hot Penn State team...and...doing a helluva lot better against sub-par teams than they did here against Purdue.  Right, wrong, or otherwise, pollsters look more closely at stats and scores than they do overall talent and potential.  OSU is loaded with talent and potential, but a 13 point win over a very mediocre Boilermaker team isn't going to sway anyone's vote.  Maybe that's a good thing.

PENN STATE 48 - Wisconsin 7

Is Penn State really this good or is Wisconsin really on this bad of a slide?  As much as I respect and like JoePa, I'm starting to lean toward the latter.  Wisconsin has now lost three in a row and that game was a full-on butt kicking.  I didn't really expect the Badgers to beat the Lions, but I did expect a decent game.  That was just plain embarrasing. 

On the upside, I do feel a little better about my Hawkeyes' chances against the Badgers in Kinnick Stadium now. 

Still, Paterno has impressed me this year.  Penn State is always good, but his willingness to embrace a new style of offense and make it work so well is inspiring.  In my book, PSU is the strongest team in the Big Ten and I'll pick them over OSU any day of the week...but again....what do I know?