Big Ten power rankings week 3: Penn State catapults to the top spot

Wisconsin might win the “Lunch Pail Award” for the most pedestrian approach to non-conference games, but it has the Badgers primed to take over the top spot in our rankings if our No.1 team should slip.  The Badgers simply show up, do the things they need to win the game, and that is it.  Style points and flashy stat lines go right out the window with this bunch, yet head coach Paul Chryst has the Big Ten’s most potent offense from a total yards perspective.

Wisconsin is averaging a Big Ten-best 521 yard of total offense after two games.  Much of the total yards is due to Wisconsin’s ability to run the ball.  The Badgers have amassed 591 of rush offense over two games.  This past weekend against Florida Atlantic, Jonathan Taylor and Chris James each rushed for over 100 yards.  Taylor was the bell cow though going off for 223 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

I’d like to say that eventually Wisconsin will throw the ball 50 times per game and quarterback Alex Hornibrook will throw for 350 yards in a game, and that could happen, but that just is not the Badgers MO.

This week they make the trek to Provo, Utah to face off against the BYU Cougars.  The Cougars allow 166 yards of rushing per game.  Despite the high altitude of Provo, figure the Badgers rush offense won’t be slowing down this week.