Corn Flakes: Can Nebraska Still Win the Big Ten West?

Below are your updated Big Ten football standings.

Big Ten Conference

Note the West. Note that Iowa team at 7-0, above the West standings. First, who saw that coming? Second, who saw that coming?

Iowa has a command lead right now; for Nebraska to have a shot at the Big Ten West, the Hawkeyes will have to lose two games.

Iowa's remaining schedule - Maryland, at Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, and at Nebraska. That's not exactly a murder's row of Big Ten foes; not a single one with a winning record in conference.

Let's assume one of those losses is to Nebraska because that's what we do here. Given Iowa's schedule, they may well come into Lincoln undefeated and dreaming about a shot at the College Football Playoff. (Such be our fate to crush Hawkeye dreams!)

I'm sure somewhere someone with more statistical knowledge than I care about has calculated Iowa's chances of winning out and has placed them in a chart that other statisticians can understand, but it's not beyond me to make up a reasonable number without looking... let's say that Iowa has an 85% chance coming into Lincoln undefeated on November 27th.

That means that Nebraska has a very low chance of winning the Big Ten West. Not impossible, mind you, because we're already acutely aware of what can happen at the last seconds of games.

Those chances are even lower considered what's ahead for the Cornhuskers; Northwestern, at Purdue, Michigan State, at Rutgers and then, of course, Iowa. Nebraska will be favored against Northwestern, Purdue, and Rutgers, but it's that Michigan State game that will be interesting, and then the showdown with Iowa.

There is one more perspective to mention; that our blow-out win over Minnesota has left us more confident in this team and that they are still capable of losing more games thus leaving them on the edge of bowl eligibility.

Perhaps we are feeling too good right now to contemplate such misery.

Reviews, Previews and Such 

Big Ten Mailbag: Would 13-0 Iowa be playoff contenders? " Big Ten Network
As I reach into my Big Ten Mailbag, I find a lot of letters that are Iowa-related. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and have it! It’s mail bag time!

The Whistlestop Tour: Week 7 of Big Ten Football - Hammer and Rails
At least we aren't Indiana or Michigan...

Rutgers vs Indiana: Looking back at the keys to the game - On the Banks
Following the Rutgers victory over Indiana, I decided to take a look back at my preview and see how the keys to the game played out. How Rutgers Wins Score more points than Indiana I was mocked...

Stunned, But the Season Isn't Over - Maize n Brew
It may not seem like it as Michigan remains dazed and confused after its stunning loss to Michigan State, but a Big Ten championship and New Year's Six bowl still are in play for the Wolverines.

Big Ten Ballers Week 7 – Separating the Best from the Not Best in the Conference - Off Tackle Empire
Who were the best players in the Big Ten this week? Here's your definitive list.

Bring on the Buckeyes: Injury Report & Depth Chart - On the Banks
Get ready for the biggest game of the year with a look at Rutgers' injury report and depth chart.

LET US DELIGHT IN: SETH RUSSELL - Every Day Should Be Saturday
THOSE DEFENSIVE BACKS HAVE FAMILIES, SETH, GOOD GOD.

Arizona football: Rich Rodriguez goes off on Pac-12 scheduling, student welfare, video replay - Arizona Desert Swarm

Arizona's head coach went off on scheduling and instant replay in his Monday press conference

He has a point. No one in charge really gives a flying shit about the welfare of the student athletes. That there's any pretense to that should be long long long gone.

Jim Harbaugh on punt alignment: 'You'd certainly like an attempt to try it a different way' | MLive.com
Asked about the punt alignment Monday evening after his radio show, Harbaugh admitted that in hindsight, he'd like a chance to approach that play differently.

2015 BIG TEN WIN PROJECTIONS: POST-WEEK 7 - Black Heart Gold Pants

Iowa's most likely outcome after Saturday is now 11-1, but they have something like a a 1 in 4 chance at going undefeated

Oh, look. Fancy numbers.

Nebraska

Jets’ Quincy Enunwa Is Suspended for 2014 Assault Allegation - The New York Times
In its continuing clampdown on domestic violence, the N.F.L. suspended Jets receiver Quincy Enunwa for four games for violating the personal conduct policy.

Wong-Orantes Earns Second B1G Defensive Award - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
Nebraska junior libero Justine Wong-Orantes was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks, the conference office announced on Monday.

Minnesota Football-Charting the Nebraska Game - The Daily Gopher
Impressive numbers against the worst pass defense in the country

Minnesota Football-Should Minnesota Have Gone For It on Fourth Down? - The Daily Gopher
We do some elementary math to spur discussion.

Week 8 Press Conference Notes: Pat Fitzgerald, players preview Nebraska - Inside NU
- Fitzgerald said there are many similarities between Bo Pelini's Nebraska and Mike Riley's Nebraska.

Huskers Turn Attention to Northwestern - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
Lincoln, Neb. - The Nebraska football team practiced for just over 90 minutes on Monday afternoon in sweats inside the Hawks Championship Center in preparation for its upcoming game against the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday.

Moore, Pierson-El Share an Unbreakable Bond - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
Lincoln-based broadcaster John Bishop asked Armstrong if the scooter represented college football’s new full cost of attendance. Everyone in the room laughed. Even though Nebraska is riding a simple one-game winning streak, it felt more like four because a burden has been lifted and Husker confidence is soaring two days after a 48-25 mastery of the Golden Gophers.

Huskers Look to Build Off First B1G Win | Hail Varsity
Mark Banker addresses the Huskers' run and pass defense following the team's win at Minnesota

Huskers M.O.? Avoid the M.A.'s | Hail Varsity
While Nebraska’s pass defense numbers are slowly starting to look a little better — and the quarterbacks and types of offenses the Huskers have played in three Big Ten games have something to do with that — the breakdowns that plagued the Huskers in September are still showing up too frequently according to their head coach.

Stevenson talks redshirt, kick returns
It’s been a long road just to get on the field, but Nebraska running back Jordan Stevenson is happy he’s taken it and excited to see where things go. The highly-touted freshman had his redshirt burned for the Wisconsin game and has been on kick return duty for two weeks and is thrilled to have the opportunity to help Nebraska this season.

After injury, Huskers' Pierson-El shows flashes of old self
Nebraska's dynamic receiver and return specialist took his greatest satisfaction in one play in this past week's 48-25 win at Minnesota. He got behind defenders Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Antonio Johnson and tipped a jump ball to himself for a 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Gophers stunned by blowout loss to Huskers | FOX Sports
"It definitely surprises you because you prepare really hard throughout the week to make those plays," Gophers cornerback Eric Murray said. "When you don't, it's just frustrating, mainly because you search for an answer for why."

Armstrong makes a dramatic entrance -- and exit
Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong caused a bit of a stir during Nebraska's Monday press conference when he glided to the podium on a two-wheeled self-balancing scooter.

Then There's This

Raw footage of Michigan State touchdown shows football without the sugarcoating | The Verge

Even if you don't follow college football, the ending of Saturday's Michigan versus Michigan State game should interest you.

It's from a different perspective, that's for darned sure.