Sagarin and the Spartans; Blair White gets POW

Let's take a look at the Big Ten under the loopy eyes of Jeff Sagarin last week and this week... Note, the Big Green has moved up to #42, a mere 37 spots below Iowa. Yet, 'tis an even spread, so certainly momentum, Dantonio, and "skinny" has lots to do with the current spread. SS = schedule strength.

Oct 19. / Oct 12.
#5. Iowa, SS = 20. / #9. Iowa, SS = 30
#19. Ohio State, SS = 35. / #8. Ohio State, SS = 37
#21. Joe Pa, SS = 106. / #28. Joe Pa, SS = 113
#32. Wisconsin, SS = 29. / #21. Wisconsin, SS = 31
#34. scUM, SS = 90. / #37. scUM, SS = 47
#42. MSU, SS = 32. / #44. Michigan State, SS = 26
#59. Minnesota, SS = 27. / #54. Minnesota, SS = 46
#76. Purdue, SS = 23. / #91. Purdue, SS = 23
#90. Indiana, SS = 79. / #86. Indiana, SS = 61
#100. Nwestern, SS = 125. / #95. Northwestern, SS = 139
#125. Illinois, SS = 34. / #112. Illinois, SS = 25

BLAIR WHITE WINS BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Here's a "no shit" no-brainer: Blair White won the Big Ten's offensive player of the week award:

"Blair White, Michigan State
SR, WR, Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central
White set career highs with 12 receptions and 186 receiving yards and matched a career best with two touchdowns to help Michigan State rally from a halftime deficit to a victory over Northwestern. The senior wideout averaged 15.5 yards per catch to record his third effort of 100 yards or more this season and the fifth 100-yard outing of his career. With the Spartans trailing 7-0 at the half, the hosts knotted the score on their first offensive possession of the third quarter, with quarterback Kirk Cousins hitting White on a 22-yard scoring strike. After a Northwestern punt, MSU struck again, with Cousins hitting White on a 47-yard touchdown toss to give the Spartans a lead they would not relinquish. White’s 12 catches equaled the fourth-best single-game total in school history while his 186 yards ranked 10th in program annals. The Michigan native earns his first career weekly award."

Michigan State - Iowa PICK'EM this week; it's a straight up dogfight

After yet another solid defensive performance by Michigan State, the Vegas bookies seem bullish on the Spartans with an even spread -- it's a pick 'em -- for this week's matchup against #7/#8 Iowa Hawkeyes... kickoff is slated for 7 pm this Saturday in East Lansing. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg is also much impressed with the Spartans and this week's matchup against the Hawkeyes.

Also in the Big Ten, Purdue has jumped to an 11-point home favorite over the soon-to-be-coachless Illinois Zooks; Northwestern is favored by 7 at home over Indiana; Ohio State is favored by 17 at home over Minny; Joe Pa is favored by 4 at scUM.

Michigan State is receiving some love from the coaching ranks, as it now has 5 "Also Considered" votes in the USA Today Poll. It's creeping back up with its 3 straight wins.

USA Today Poll - October 18, 2009

RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Florida (49)	6-0	1464
2	Alabama (9)	7-0	1398
3	Texas (1)	6-0	1386
4	USC	5-1	1237
5	Boise State	6-0	1153
6	Cincinnati	6-0	1104
7	TCU	6-0	1069
8	Iowa	7-0	1037
9	Miami (FL)	5-1	998
10	LSU	5-1	995
11	Penn State	6-1	894
12	Oklahoma State	5-1	795
13	Georgia Tech	6-1	779
14	Oregon	5-1	769
15	Virginia Tech	5-2	672
16	Brigham Young	6-1	577
17	Ohio State	5-2	481
17	Houston	5-1	421
19	Pittsburgh	6-1	328
20	Utah	5-1	300
21	Kansas	5-1	222
22	West Virginia	5-1	188
23	South Carolina	5-2	142
24	Texas Tech	5-2	132
25	Mississippi	4-2	114

Dropped from rankings: Nebraska 17, Oklahoma 18, South Florida 21, Missouri 24, Notre Dame 25

Others receiving votes: Oklahoma 113, South Florida 104, Nebraska 84, Central Michigan 34, Notre Dame 31, Boston College 26, Wisconsin 26, Arkansas 19, Michigan 13, Georgia 12, Missouri 11, Oregon State 10, Idaho 8, Auburn 8, California 7, Arizona 7, Michigan State 5, North Carolina 1, Rutgers 1