Big Ten Hot or Cold Takes: Week 3 Edition

Three weeks into the college football season, it feels like fans have a decent understanding of what each team brings to the table. Individual teams have flaws that are apparent while other programs look as if they could run the table. 2021 has the potential to be the most balanced year in terms of who is going to win the conference compared to years in the past as Ohio State looks inconsistent to start the year. Let’s dive in and check out some takes and assess the validity of these statements in terms of them being hot or cold takes. 

Penn State will win the Big Ten East

This take looks to be accurate but it is week three and Penn State’s schedule only gets harder from here. The Nittany Lions have to go and play three brutal away games all against ranked Big Ten opponents. They face No. 5 Iowa in Iowa City, No. 10 Ohio State in Columbus, and No. 20 Michigan State in East Lansing. On top of that, they will face a Michigan team that is clicking on all cylinders at home which is no easy task. The Nittany Lions defense looks strong, they are playing fearlessly. Sean Clifford is showing that 2020 was a fluke as he is proving to himself and everybody that he is a legit quarterback. Penn State’s schedule possesses too many challenges for them to come out on top of the Big Ten East. 

Hot Take

Minnesota finishes the year at 9-3

The Golden Gophers are a team that not many fans of the Big Ten are paying attention to. Minnesota competed and almost took down an Ohio State team that is top 10 in the country. While they are not ranked currently, Minnesota traveled to Boulder and dismantled Colorado in week three showing that they are a team that you cannot take lightly. To put Minnesota’s win versus Colorado in perspective, Colorado almost knocked off No. 7 Texas A&M in week two losing 10-7. From week four and on, Minnesota faces only two ranked teams in Iowa and Wisconsin. After Mohamed Ibrahim suffered a lower leg injury, everybody was worried about the run game for the Golden Gophers. Treyson Potts has filled in for Ibrahim and has put up monster numbers with 333-rushing yards and five touchdowns. Minnesota is a top-three team in the West and they could potentially win it if they continue to grow under P.J. Fleck.

Cold Take

Ohio State finishes with two or more losses 

This Ohio State team is different from previous teams we have seen come out of Columbus, the best word to describe them is vulnerable. After the loss to Oregon, Ohio State is not feared by opponents as Tulsa hung with them for the majority of the game in week three. The blueprint for beating Ohio State is exposed and teams know that their run defense is a liability. Michigan and Michigan State are two teams that pride themselves on the run, I can see one of these teams upsetting Ohio State. The defensive line is a weak link, and they are not getting pressure on the quarterback or plugging holes in the run game. Until the Buckeyes can consistently fix this issue, it could be a hard year for fans in Columbus. 

Cold Take

References: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/

Writer

-By: Justin Howard