The Final Score - Your source for Big Ten Sports

Mid-season report card
That time of year. Six weeks in, time to grade my preseason prognostications. I had one or two nailed, but am a predictable game or two off here and there. Following is a team by team look at who I had pegged where at this point versus actual and then a look at my preseason prediction versus my new projection with the requisite commentary.

Before that though, check out the 2010-2014 Bowl Pecking Order for the Big Ten. I like picking up the Gator in place of the Champs. More New Year's Day coverge. And we trade one Texas bowl for two. I hope the Insight is planning a move off of NFL Network and onto a major network or that isn't worthy of the 4/5 slot. More here...



Team - actual v. predicted at six weeks / preseason vs. adjusted finish

Illinois - 1-4 (0-3) vs. 3-2 (1-2) / 8-4 (5-3) vs. 3-9 (2-6)
Yuck. I bought the flaming bag of you know what that Zook and Co. were selling over the summer. Off by just two games right now, but Illinois is a program in major disarray.

Indiana - 3-3 (0-2) vs. 2-4 (0-2) / 3-9 (1-7) vs. 4-8 (1-7)
Hoosiers are a game ahead of pace. Thought WMU would bite them. Everything else has been predictable and will remain that way.

Iowa - 6-0 (2-0) vs. 5-1 (1-1) / 9-3 (5-3) vs. 10-2 (6-2)
Iowa is a bona fide contender. The game in Ohio State might be for all the marbles.

Michigan - 4-2 (1-2) vs. 3-3 (1-2) / 6-6 (3-5) vs. 7-5 (3-5)
Not far from my prediction. The win over Notre Dame is the difference. A young team that is improving but the schedule doesn't get much easier down the stretch.

Michigan State - 3-3 (2-1) vs. 5-1 (2-1) / 10-2 (6-2) vs. 8-4 (6-2)
Tough losses to CMU and ND are the difference so far. State has a chance to do some nice things the rest of the way but needs to stay healthy.

Minnesota - 4-2 (2-1) vs. 4-2 (2-1) / 7-5 (4-4) vs. 7-5 (4-4)
Bingo! I nailed one. The Gophers are pretty much who I thought they'd be. Decent, but not great.

Northwestern - 4-2 (1-1) vs. 6-0 (2-0) / 7-5 (3-5) vs. 6-6 (3-5)

I had NU pegged to be better than this so far with a slide late. I still expect a slide and that tough loss to Syracuse might be the difference between bowling and home for the holidays.

Ohio State - 5-1 (3-0) vs. 5-1 (3-0) / 10-2 (7-1) vs. 10-2 (7-1)
Another Bingo. Nailed the Buckeyes, even the "close home loss to a young USC team." OSU will win the conference - again. YAWN.

Penn State - 5-1 (1-1) vs. 6-0 (2-0) / 11-1 (7-1) vs. 10-2 (6-2)
That loss to Iowa is the only thing in the way of a bingo trifecta. But that loss to Iowa will mean that despite a win over OSU in November, PSU will finish one game out of the title.

Purdue - 1-5 (0-2) vs. 2-4 (0-2) / 2-10 (0-8) vs. 1-11 (0-8)
Purdue is about as bad as I thought record-wise, but actually better so far on the field. One win may totally change things, but I'm not sure where that win will come from.

Wisconsin - 5-1 (2-1) vs. 3-3 (0-3) / 7-5 (3-5) vs. 10-2 (6-2)
The team I most vastly under-rated. UW has one more road block (Iowa) otherwise should cruise to a nice bowl berth in sunny central Florida.