Big Ten Rambler, Week 6: Gameday Miss

I know this is a Big Ten column, but trust me, there's no conference bias here. My rankings of the six BCS conferences would probably look like this...

First Tier: SEC/Pac 10
Second Tier: Big 12/Big East/ACC
Third Tier: Big 10

That said, I think it's a total crime that ESPN's College Gameday snubbed Purdue (vs. Ohio State) for its on-spot location for Week 6. Instead, opting down to Baton Rouge for #1 LSU (5-0, 2-0) vs. #9 Florida (4-1, 2-1).

Don't get me wrong, this would have been the marquee matchup as of last week. Hell, it might have been No. 1 vs. No. 3, or worse case, No. 2 vs. No. 3. But then the Auburn hiccup happened. Gators season? All but officially over. I know it's possible for a 1-loss team to sneak into the national title, but the chances of it being the Gators two straight years are slim, especially factoring in its SEC schedule.

Ohio State at Purdue is a game featuring two unbeaten teams which, if remaining undefeated at season's end, will contend for the BCS national title game. I understand that West Lafayette isn't Baton Rouge, and the game itself might even be worse, but the focus here should be the best and most meaningful game possible. Two contenders. Not just one. Plus, LSU has already been on Gameday this year when it played Virginia Tech. The total amount of Big Ten teams so far? Zero. And Michigan-Ohio State at season's end isn't going to pack the same punch that it did last year.

The game itself will be absolutely huge for the Boilermakers. Purdue hasn't really played anyone this year, so Curtis Painter and his gaudy passing numbers are going to be put to an immediate test against #4 OSU. The Purdue defense will have to contain WR Brian Robiskie, who hasn't missed a beat filling in the big shoes of Tedd Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez.

I'd think about writing this game off to the Buckeyes, but OSU is playing on the road, so that could factor in a little bit. But Jim Tressell teams typically remain undaunted in harsh environments -- unless it's, you know, the national championship against Florida.

Cleaning the lens to take a glance at the rest of the college football world...

The College Football Bandwagon Takes Hits, But Forges On: Every year, once my favorite teams have been eliminated from the national title picture (by, you know, losing just one game), my buddy Ryan and I create what we call the "College Football Bandwagon" which mostly consists of a list of all the undefeated BCS conference teams minus Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and sometimes others (this year, Florida & Boston College). Special exemptions are made for the Utahs, Boise States, and Hawaiis of the world. The goal of the CFB is to fake feel good about yourself when your "team" makes the national championship.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BANDWAGON 2007
USC - The Dynasty.
Hawaii - It's still too early to know if they have a itsy bitsy chance of making it to the national title.
Clemson - Don't trip against Maryland.
Kansas - Travel to K-State for a suddenly relevant rivalry game.
California - Anybody left but USC?
Arizona State - Can probably coast through Wazzu.
LSU - Don't fold under the Gameday pressure, boys.
Kentucky - Steve Spurrier has never lost to Kentucky, ever. Update: And the Spurrier legend lives on...
South Florida - l know SF has been absent from the bandwagon through the first couple weeks, but rest assured, it was intentional. I didn't want to add them until the West Virginia upset was complete, and last I checked, it was. Welcome, Bulls.
Cincinnati - Big game against Rutgers this week

Decision Made: Andre Woodson - Oregon lost last week (see below), so with Dennis Dixon out of the national title picture, Andre Woodson immediately becomes the trendy favorite player in college football. And you know what? He should be. The guy's put up amazing numbers, and what kind of person roots against Kentucky football? It's a great story in Lexington. Now let's see what Woodson can do about the Spurrier curse against South Carolina this week.

Update: Well, I'm never writing this column a day early again. I feel like I jinxed Kentucky/Woodson. Sorry, Wildcat fans.

Is Indiana making a bowl?: Wake up the ghosts of Randel El! The Hoosiers are at four wins right now, and with Ball State, Northwestern, and Minnesota still on the schedule, it should be more than realistic. The late Terry Hoeppner would be proud.

Cal at Oregon, Revisited - What a game. Eugene played host to two great Pac 10 teams, and let's just say Gameday was at this one for a reason. The Oregon fumble touch back to ice the game for Cal was one of the more intense college football moments of the year. I think they'd still be trying to necessitate me if I was a Ducks fan.

RIP, Michigan State, Everyone Else: The Spartans fought valiantly, but a few late mistakes kept them from upsetting Wisconsin on the road. As for the rest of college football? Ohhh man. Peace out, Oklahoma. Later, Texas. Good looking out, West Virginia. Farewell, Florida. Wrap it up, Rutgers. A lot of big dogs fell this week, and the end result was teams like Ohio State, Boston College, and Kentucky shooting up the polls, as well as the hilarious "Is South Florida the best team in Florida?" debate. Gators fans have to be fuming. And did I just refer to Rutgers as a "big dog"??

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Matchup of the Week: #4 Ohio State at #24 Purdue - I get a lot of feedback from Purdue Boilermaker fans claiming I have a bias against their team, and just to clear everything up, yes, I do have a bias against their team. But hey, that can change this week. Beat Ohio State at home, and my new Purdue bias will be a good thing.

Other of Interest: #5 Wisconsin at Illinois - The overrated Badgers face a new test in the feisty Fighting Illini. I'm not ballsy enough to call an upset here, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened. What would surprise me is a convincing Wisconsin win.

Watch only with hands over your eyes: Eastern Michigan at Michigan - After a long week away from the Big House, Blue returns back to Ann Arbor for a set of two home games. Once Michigan finishes that up, it will have played six of its first seven games at home. Hard knock life.

Big Ten Power Rankings
1. #4 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0) - Beanie Wells, meet the Purdue Boilermaker front seven.
2. Michigan (3-2, 2-0) - Too close for comfort against Northwestern, but the Wolverine faithful should simply be happy with wins -- no matter how ugly -- and a spotless conference record thus far.
3. # 24 Purdue (5-0, 1-0) - Boiler up past Wisconsin in the rankings.
4. #5 Wisconsin (5-0, 2-0) - I am so un-sold on the Badger defense, that I'm willing to put Purdue over them. They are turning into that Craig Krenzel 2002 Ohio State team; should lose, but almost too stubborn let it happen.
5. Michigan State (4-1, 0-1) - Gave Wisconsin a tough one in Madison. A couple more breaks go State's way, and it would have been able to take that game.
6. Illinois (4-1, 2-0) - Ron Zook is making me believe. And I'm laughing all the way.
7. Indiana (4-1, 1-1) - Kellen Lewis' speed during his fumble recovery for a TD almost blinded me in person.
8. Penn State (3-2, 0-2) - From Top-10 team in the nation to losing to Illinois and possibly morphing into a Big Ten doormat -- and this all happened in two weeks. Only in college football.
9. Iowa (2-3, 0-2) - I, apparently, was the only person in Iowa City who had the Hawkeyes losing to Indiana last week. The equation is simple, people: Spread Offense + Fast QB = Likely Iowa Loss.
10. Northwestern (2-3, 0-2) - Kept it close for a while against Michigan, but that was mostly due to inept Wolverine coaching and Chad Henne sitting most of the first half.
11. Minnesota (1-4, 0-2) - Ugly unis compliment an ugly loss to OSU.