O wonder!

How many goodly creatures are there here!

How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world

That has such people in’t!

-The Tempest Act 5, scene 1, 181–184

What is the Big Ten in the year 2015? A league that was supposed to be a 2-team league is being headlined by teams that went a combined 17-20 last season.

Ohio State has been incredibly unimpressive as the offense has struggled to get the ball into Braxton Miller’s hands and have been bailed out by Zeke Elliot being Zeke Elliot.

Michigan State got first place votes after beating Oregon, but Oregon has been exposed after losing by about 4,000 points to Utah.

So who shall inherit the earth that the perceived favorites have left behind? Not Wisconsin, the preseason Big Ten West favorite. Not Penn State and their presumed 1st round QB. Not even Nebraska with new coach and confirmed nice guy Mike Reilly.

Nah.

It’s Michigan, Iowa, and Northwestern.

Bill Connelly sees 5.5 wins remaining on Iowa’s schedule based on win probabilities. Northwestern has 4.4

In the East, Connelly’s formula predicts 6.7 wins left for Michigan. There are 7 games left. The Wolverines are favored to win out, and that includes the Ohio State game. Stats may be for losers, but there is something to be said about these numbers. The Big Ten is there for the taking. This week will have a lot to say about who takes it.

Maryland @ #1 Ohio State, 11:00 AM (BTN)

Whatever the over under is for Ezekiel Elliot rushing yards, take the over. Maryland is terribad, and while Ohio State may be sputtering on offense, Ezekiel Elliot is not. He’ll rip off a couple of 50 yards as he continues to chase down Leonard Fournette in the Heisman race.

Indiana @ Penn State, 11:00 AM (ESPN2)

Gameday should have been in Ohio State this past weekend. They missed out on an awesome atmosphere and one of the best games of the week. Ah well. If Jordan Howard and Nate Sudfeld are good to go for IU, they’re going to win. If only one of them plays, it’s a toss up. If neither play, PSU will win.

I hate injuries.

Well, at least Indiana is rational after nearly beating Ohio St—

when do we talk about 1-loss Indiana for a CFP spot

— Crimson Quarry (@crimsonquarry) October 4, 2015

I stand corrected.

Illinois @ #22 Iowa, 11:00 AM (ESPNU)

Illinois beat Nebraska last week. But I’m not going to let myself think that they’re good. No no. Not again. I’m willing to say it was part fluke, part Nebraska being bad. Iowa will roll.

Wisconsin @ Nebraska, 2:30 PM (ABC/ESPN2)

WOOOOOOO THE BATTLE OF THE TWO MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAMS IN THE BIG TEN WEST, REMEMBER WHEN WE SAID THIS GAME WOULD DECIDE THE WEST, WE WERE SO WRONG WEREN’T WE, COREY CLEMENT IS OUT AND THESE TEAMS ARE BAD WOOOOOOOO GET AMPED.

Minnesota @ Purdue, 2:30 PM (ESPN)

Give me one, just one reason why this game is allowed on any television, let alone national television.

I’ll wait.

#4 Michigan State @ Rutgers, 7:00 PM (BTN)

More like Buttgers.