Tom Dienhart's Week 2 opinions, observations & hard takes

Week 2 is here. And, it?s an opportunity for many teams  to get back on track after a less-than-successful opening week.

But, let?s focus on the positive, OK? League heavies Ohio State and Michigan State took care of business while Northwestern is an early surprise in a Big Ten West that saw the three perceived best teams all lose: Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

Like a strong cup of coffee, take a sip of these opinions, observations and hard takes on the Big Ten to prime your pump on Week Two. Careful … it's hot.

Can Northwestern really be a factor in the Big Ten West? I know it?s early, but it looks that way. The key will be for the NU defense to keep playing like it did vs. Stanford, when it limited the Cardinal to 240 yards. Another key: Continued strong rushing attack behind RB Justin Jackson.

The Wildcats can?t ask redshirt freshman QB Clayton Thorson to do too much as he develops. This division looks like it could be wide-open. Why not Northwestern?

It?s just the second game of the season-but already, Penn State is under big-time pressure to win. The Nittany Lions are coming off a clunker in the opener, a 27-10 loss at Temple that really wasn?t even that close. The offense stumbled to just 180 yards. After starting 4-0 under James Franklin, Penn State has gone 3-7. Buffalo brings a dangerous squad to Happy Valley. At this point, just beating the Bulls would be great. But, it sure would help perceptions and psyches if Franklin and Co., could whip Buffalo-and score a lot of points doing it. This is the first of five home games in a row for Penn State.

[ MORE: Pick Week 2 winners | Power Rankings | Week 2 previews ]

From now until Nov. 21 when Michigan State visits Columbus, how will Ohio State stay hungry week to week? The to-do list the next nine games isn?t ?Eye of the Tiger? inspirational:

• Hawaii
• Northern Illinois
• Western Michigan
• At Indiana
• Maryland
• Penn State
• At Rutgers
• Minnesota
• At Illinois

Will the Buckeyes be a double-digit favorite in each game? Say a prayer for Hawaii when you wake up on Saturday. The Buckeyes haven?t lost a home game against a school that isn?t currently in a power conference since 1950 when they lost to SMU.

Michigan State has a golden opportunity to not just exact revenge for last year?s loss at Oregon-but also to score a much-needed big win for the Big Ten while also boosting its own profile. If this Spartans squad isn?t going to beat the Ducks now-in East Lansing, no less-when will it? This arguably is one of Mark Dantonio?s best MSU teams. It?s important to take care of business with three big looming road games: at Michigan; at Nebraska; at Ohio State. Keep an eye on the MSU cornerbacks, the most unproven part of the team.

The CBs will be tested early and often-and may be the key to victory for the Spartans in what is the first Top 10 matchup in Spartan Stadium since the famous 10-10 tie between top-ranked Notre Dame and No. 2-ranked Michigan State in 1966. It?s also the first time a Top 10 matchup has taken place in the state of Michigan since 2003 when No. 5-ranked Michigan beat No. 4-ranked Ohio State.

This Saturday will give us a better indication as to how good Michigan is under Jim Harbaugh. Visiting Oregon State is solid-but it?s not as good as Utah. And, you know Harbaugh?s team will make big improvement from Week One to Week Two. All eyes will be the offensive line. The unit has to get a better push for a run game that netted 76 yards on 29 carries. That comes to 2.6 yards per carry. And that won?t cut it. I expect the staff to put a heavy burden on the rushing game so it can get an edge and develop some confidence for the Big Ten season.

I hate to make too much out of Illinois? 52-3 waxing of Kent State last week. Still, it was impressive how the team put aside distractions and still won in convincing fashion. Confidence has to be high. Could this team start 4-0? Illinois will win Saturday vs. visiting FCS Western Illinois. But the game after that-at North Carolina-will be the big non-conference hurdle. But, this isn?t a great Tar Heel team. Bottom line: Keep Illinois on your radar in this wild and wooly Big Ten West. The Illini may have the best QB in the division in Wes Lunt. And that may be worth a lot.

It was impossible not to notice the feel-good vibes emanating from Iowa after it plastered FCS Illinois State last week, 31-14. But all of that rah-rah stuff will go out the window if the Hawkeyes flop at Iowa State this Saturday. And cries of ?here we go again? will begin anew. Facts are facts: Kirk Ferentz is 7-9 vs. an Iowa State (1-3 in the last four meetings) program that is second-tier in about every facet you can think of when compared to Iowa. No way should Iowa lose to Iowa State as often as it has under Ferentz. I?m gonna call this the most important Cy-Hawk game ever for Ferentz. Ok? The road team has won the last three meetings, a good omen for Herky.

I won?t be shocked if Minnesota wakes up on Sunday morning 0-2. Playing at Colorado State will be tough. But, maybe going onto the road to play a quality foe in a difficult environment is just what the Golden Gophers need coming off that hard-fought 23-17 loss to TCU in the opener. According to the BTN Stats guru, Minnesota is starting the season with two non-conference games against 10-win FBS teams from a year ago. The Gophers join UNLV as the only FBS teams to do so this season. If you break it down even further, the Gophers are the first power conference team in four years to open the season with two non-conference games against 10-win FBS teams.

Nebraska can?t get back on the field quickly enough after its demoralizing 33-28 Hail Mary loss to BYU. That?s all I?m gonna say about that.

Is Wisconsin really the front-runner in the Big Ten West? For now, UW is in the same boat as Minnesota and Nebraska, looking to put last week behind it. There really wasn?t much good to take from the Badgers? 35-17 loss to Alabama in Texas. Star safety Michael Caputo got hurt, running back Corey Clement wasn?t 100 percent and on it went. Questions about the offensive line continue to nag. Is this unit up to the usual lofty standards set by Wisconsin fronts of the past? The jury remains very much out after the Badgers rushed 21 times for 40 yards, averaging 1.9 yards per carry. A lot of that had to do with Alabama.

This week?s foe, Miami (Ohio), should provide a chance for the offense to get fat and happy-at least that?s the hope. Gotta like Bucky?s chances at home in non-league games. From our Stat Guru: The Badgers have won 32 straight home games against non-conference opponents, which is tied for the eighth-longest streak in D-I history. It?s also the second-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only LSU. The last time Wisconsin lost a non-conference home game was September 13, 2003. against UNLV. I?m still trying to figure out how that happened.

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