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B10 West Power Ranking: It’s a Mess After Wisconsin

By Jeremy Karll

Oct 22, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) is the first to the Heartland Trophy after their game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. The Badgers beat the Hawkeyes 17 to 9. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) is the first to the Heartland Trophy after their game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. The Badgers beat the Hawkeyes 17 to 9. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 – Nebraska Cornhuskers 7-0 (4-0)

Last Week: 2

Nebraska continues to win and will have their first test of conference play this week at Camp Randall against Wisconsin. That being said, the Cornhuskers’ past two wins have not been pretty, and it’s evident that they miss Devine Ozigbo and Jordan Westerkamp on offense.

After trailing at halftime to Purdue this past week, Nebraska’s defense stepped up and shut them out in the second half. Tommy Armstrong Jr and Terrell Newby did just enough on offense to win, but it wasn’t pretty. Losing two of their biggest playmakers has taken a serious toll on the Cornhuskers.

Armstrong has started to become more turnover prone over the past three games, throwing four interceptions. That can’t happen against a Wisconsin secondary this week that feasts off poor throws.

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Nebraska will lean on him again this week with Ozigbo and Westerkamp both likely out again. Nebraska desperately needs him to play like early 2016 season Tommy Armstrong, not 2015 Tommy Armstrong who threw 16 interceptions.

That being said, the Cornhuskers’ offense is still better on paper than Wisconsin’s. They rank 39th in the nation in points per game and gain an average of 447.4 yards per game. Armstrong can’t turn the ball over and needs to make plays for Nebraska if Newby only gains 3.7 yards per carry again, but it’s not like Nebraska has no chance.

Also, their defense ranks 14th in the nation in points allowed per game and have only given up more than 25 points once this season and more than 20 points once in conference play. It’s hard to sleep on a defense with three players with three or more interceptions and two players with seven and eight tackles for loss in 2016.

Ranked seventh in the AP Poll and still undefeated, it’s hard to see Nebraska not winning the West if they win this week. It’s their biggest test of the season, and the nation will finally see if they’re a legitimate top-10 team.

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