TRENDING PENGUINS PLAYERS

FIRST MONTH PROGRESS REPORT

The NHL season is already one month old and the Penguins have already played 11 games. This seems impossible because the season just started and WHY IS TIME GOING SO FAST?!

Anyway, every month I will take a bigger picture look at the Penguins trending players update and try to do something of a monthly progress report. This is the first such progress report where we look at the players that are exceeding our expectations, the players doing what we should have expected, and the players that we probably need to see more from.

WHO IS EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS (TRENDING UP)?

Jamie Oleksiak — He has been, in my view, the biggest surprise of the season. I have become a little skeptical of the “Sergei Gonchar and the Penguins can fix anybody” mantra that has been beaten into our heads over the past year, but Oleksiak really does look like a different player in Pittsburgh than he was in Dallas, and especially so far this season. And it is not just the fact he’s scoring more goals or producing points. He is aggressive offensively; he isn’t really doing anything to hurt things defensively. All of that has also resulted in a bigger role and increased ice time over the past week. I don’t think he’s ever going to be anything more than a 4-5-6 defender on a good team, and right now he’s playing like a solid second-pairing player. At the start of the year I had him pegged as a third-pairing or seventh defender. So ... expectations exceeded.

Brian Dumoulin — It probably helps that he is playing next to Kris Letang, who is back to playing at an elite level, but Dumoulin has been a huge part of that pairing as well. These two guys are carrying the defense and I thought Dumoulin had an especially good overtime period against the Islanders, making a couple of great plays with his stick to disrupt some potential scoring chances. He is never going to wow you with his offense, but he is a rock solid player. Who would have ever thought seven years ago the he would end up being the player that made the Jordan Staal trade?

Dominik Simon — He is only one goal shy of matching his season total from a year ago and only four points from matching his point total. And he is only played 11 games. There is definitely a Sidney Crosby impact when it comes to his underlying possession numbers, but Crosby has also only had a hand in two of his eight points so far this season. Jury is still out on him for sure, but eight points in 11 games is probably more than most of us had him pegged for at the start of the year.

Who is doing what we expected

All of the top players — In other words, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel, Kris Letang, and Patric Hornqvist. The Penguins need these players to carry the team and do the heavy lifting. They are. Malkin, Crosby, Kessel, and Letang have been outstanding; Guentzel and Hornqvist are doing their thing in complementary roles. There is nothing else to be said when it comes to their performance. We expect them to score; they are.

Jack Johnson — Not to keep pummeling this horse into the ground, but whatever you expected from Jack Johnson at the start of the year, you are getting it. If you think he is a misunderstood player whose numbers don’t paint an accurate picture of him, you can use some still frames and screen shots to try and prove it. If you think he is a bad defender and that it is not a coincidence that he is always on the ice for goals against, you are getting that, too, and there is plenty of objective evidence to support it. After 12 years there are no secrets anymore; you are what your track record says you are. Jack Johnson is what his track record says it is.

Matt Cullen — Nobody should have expected the return of the 2015-16 or 2016-17 Cullen because, my goodness folks he is 42 years old and father time never loses. Still, he has not been bad. He has not been great. He is been acceptable in a fourth line role.

Who do we need to see more from (trending down)?

Bryan Rust — The Penguins love Rust because he can do so many different things, play so many different roles, and fit anywhere in the lineup as needed. That is why they gave him such a big contract over the summer, and I support that decision. So far this season he has not yet been that player. Yet being the key word. He’s only recorded a point in two of his first 11 games and he’s had one or zero shots on goal in eight of his first 11. He is never going to be a big point-producer, but they still need more than this, not only because of what they are paying him, but because of how important that depth is to the success of the team.

Carl Hagelin — I almost thought about putting Hagelin in the “doing what we expected” category because in a way, he kind of is. We know Hagelin is going to fly around the ice, create some chances that he can’t quite convert on, play a sound defensive game, and then after the calendar switches to a New Year start collecting points in bunches leading up to the playoffs. But so far this season he really hasn’t even done much of that yet, and he’s also a sub-50% possession player, something that has never happened for him over any full season.

Derick Brassard — I still want to believe this trade is going to work for the Penguins because Brassard is a good enough player and the mindset behind it was totally reasonable. But it still just ... isn’t working yet. I know he’s hurt right now, but when he has been on the ice the impact just has not been there outside of the first part of the preseason and regular season when he was centering a new and productive third line. I don’t like the top-line experiment they have been going through with him and, well, I just expected more from all of this.

Matt Murray — He has had moments (like the Western Canadian road trip) where he looked like he was getting back on track and returning to his Stanley Cup form. He has had moments where he has looked more like the goalie we saw a year ago. He has had moments where he has had no chance because the defense in front of him does not seem to care about playing defense (like that game against the Islanders on Tuesday). No matter what, though, an .897 save percentage is not going to be enough.

PIRATES NAME ECKSTEIN AS HITTING COACH

The Pirates found their hitting coach on Friday, hiring Rick Eckstein to join manager Clint Hurdle's coaching staff.

Eckstein, 45, brings a blend of experience to Pittsburgh. He spent the last two years as the Twins' Minor League hitting coordinator after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky from 2015-16. Eckstein was the Nationals' hitting coach from 2009-13, when he was let go amid a midseason slump. In '14, Eckstein served as a liaison between the Angels' front office and players as a "player information coach," a job in which he also acted as an assistant hitting coach and advanced scout.

"Rick Eckstein brings experience, knowledge and a relentless drive to combine old-school thought and new-school concepts to help our Major League team," general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. "His ability to impact each player's approach and skill-set will aid in our ability to create runs and maximize our performance as a team. The various roles Rick has held have prepared him to implement an individualized mental, physical and fundamental program to benefit our Major League team and our organization."

Eckstein, the older brother of 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein, was a Minor League hitting coach for the Expos in 2004-05. He was the Nats' Triple-A hitting coach in '06 and '08 and spent '07 with the Cardinals' Triple-A team.

When the Nationals dismissed Eckstein in July 2013, then-manager Davey Johnson called the move "a shocker" and described it as "arguably the toughest day I've had in baseball." Before informing Eckstein that he'd been let go, Johnson asked GM Mike Rizzo to relieve him of his duties instead.

Eckstein will replace former hitting coach Jeff Branson, who was dismissed on Oct. 1 along with assistant hitting coach Jeff Livesey.

The Pirates ranked 20th in the Majors in runs (692, 4.3 per game) and 25th in home runs (157) last season. Their .407 slugging percentage was 16th in the Majors, and their .725 OPS ranked 17th. Their greater issue was inconsistency, as nearly every Pirates hitter went through at least one significant, extended slump.

When asked how the Pirates can shorten those slumps next season, Huntington talked about improving their hitters' game planning and preparing each hitter on an individual basis -- a task that will in large part fall to Eckstein.

"Standard stuff," Huntington said in September, "but incremental gains in a lot of different areas will make us a better team next year."

MAPLE LEAFS BLOW INTO PITTSBURGH

MAPLE LEAFS BLOW INTO PITTSBURGH

TORONTO AT PITTSBURGH

WHEN: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 3, 2018

WHERE: PPG PAINTS Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Toronto Maple Leafs have seen their high-octane offense run on fumes, scoring just 10 goals in the last six games (2-4-0) -- including two in their last two contests. Undefeated in five road games, the Maple Leafs look to get it in gear against a team that shut them out just over two weeks ago when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

"We know the firepower we have. Bounces aren't going our way right now, stuff happens like that," Toronto forward Mitch Marner told TSN on Friday. "Just for us it's about coming with the same intensity we did (in Thursday's 2-1 setback versus Dallas)." Patrick Marleau scored a power-play goal in the third period against the Stars while fellow forward John Tavares notched an assist for his third point in four contests. Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin hasn't been shy on the offensive end, extending his point streak to nine games (six goals, 11 assists) by scoring his fourth goal in three outings during Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to the New York Islanders. The 2012 Hart Trophy winner, who collected two goals and an assist in the Penguins' 3-0 win at Toronto on Oct. 18, has recorded 20 points in 11 games to trail only Colorado's Mikko Rantanen for the league lead.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, CBC, Sportsnet1 (Toronto), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (8-5-0): Nazem Kadri has answered a nine-game goalless streak with three tallies in his last four games, a notable contribution as Toronto bids to regain its offensive footing in the wake of Auston Matthews' shoulder injury. "I think when you're a young kid, you tend to overthink this sort of thing and let it bother you a little more than it should," the 28-year-old Kadri told TSN of his previous scoring drought. "So once you gain that experience and go through a couple of those stretches, you just start to understand that your game never changes and bounces will go your way eventually. You just stay as calm as possible." Speaking of Matthews, the star forward went through a light skate and did not participate in shooting drills during Friday's practice.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (6-2-3): Captain Sidney Crosby failed to dent the scoresheet against the Islanders on Thursday to halt a five-game point streak (six goals, four assists) that began with an assist against Toronto. Dominik Simon, however, extended his point streak to a career-best five games with a goal versus New York, but Matt Murray took the loss in both ends of the home-and-home set against the Islanders despite turning aside 24 shots on Thursday. The 24-year-old Ontario native aims to rebound versus Toronto, against which he owns a 3-0-1 mark with a 1.42 goals-against average and .959 save percentage in five career appearances.

OVERTIME

1. Pittsburgh D Jack Johnson and LW Carl Hagelin are expected to play in their respective 800th and 500th NHL games on Saturday.

2. Maple Leafs G Frederik Andersen, who stopped 36 of 37 shots in the first meeting with the Penguins, has yielded two goals or fewer in six of his last seven outings.

3. Pittsburgh D Kris Letang scored and set up a goal in the first encounter with Toronto and has six points (one goal, five assists) in his last five games overall.

PREDICTION: Penguins 3, Maple Leafs 2

STATS AND RECORDS

TEAM COMPARISON

	W/L	Strk	Home	Away	Day	Night	Div
Toronto	8-5-0-0	L2	3-5-0-0	5-0-0-0	0-0-0-0	8-5-0-0	2-1-0-0
Pittsburgh	6-2-1-2	L2	2-2-1-0	4-0-0-2	0-0-0-0	6-2-1-2	1-1-0-1

PIRATES DECLINE 2019 OPTIONS FOR JOSH HARRISON, JUNG HO KANG

Josh Harrison‘s tenure at second base for the Pittsburgh Pirates is over.

Pittsburgh declined 2019 options for Harrison and third baseman Jung Ho Kang.

The Pirates opted to pay Harrison a $1 million buyout rather than the $10.5 million he was scheduled to make next season. The 31-year-old, a key part of Pittsburgh’s run of three straight playoff berths from 2013-15, hit .250 with three home runs and 37 RBIs in 97 games in 2018. His playing time diminished near the end of the season while Pittsburgh gave prospect Kevin Newman a look.

Kang was a star in South Korea when the Pirates signed him to an $11 million, four-year deal in January 2015. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2015 after hitting 15 homers and driving in 58 runs as Pittsburgh won 98 games. It would be the high point of Kang’s time with the Pirates.

The 31-year-old Kang didn’t play in North America between September 2016 and June 2018 because of visa issues connected to three DUI arrests his native South Korea. He made it back to the majors with Pittsburgh in September, collecting two hits in six at bats during the final weekend of the season.

Pittsburgh will pay Kang’s $250,000 buyout. He was slated to make $5.5 million next year. Kang’s contract specified he must be released at the end of the deal.

HALL RUNS WILD AS PITT BEATS VIRGINIA 23-13

Darrin Hall ran for 229 yards and three touchdowns and Pittsburgh beat No. 23 Virginia 23-13 on Friday night.

Hall scored on runs of 41, 2 and 75 yards, the latter a play after Virginia closed to 14-13 in the fourth quarter. The Panthers (5-4, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) botched the extra point attempt but forced a three-and-out by the Cavaliers and went on to their fourth consecutive victory in the series. Alex Kessman’s 53-yard field goal, his fourth from 50 and beyond this season, padded the lead.

Bryce Perkins threw for 205 yards and a touchdown for Virginia (6-3, 4-2, No. 23 CFP), but Pittsburgh never allowed him to get untracked in the running game and sacked him five times for 46 yards in losses. The Cavaliers’ three-game winning streak was snapped as Pittsburgh took over first place in the ACC’s Coastal Division.

Pittsburgh trailed 10-7 at halftime, but used a 15-play, 84-yard drive to go ahead. The Panthers converted four third downs on the drive and Hall finished it with runs of 18 and then two yards as the Virginia defense, which lost three starters to injury during the game, began to wear down. After being limited to 24 plays in the first half, the Panthers ran 21 in the third quarter alone, mostly grinding on the ground.

The Cavaliers drove for Brian Delaney’s second field goal, bringing the crowd alive, but Hall quieted them with his long scoring burst.

THE TAKEAWAY

Pittsburgh: The Panthers are very much a power running team, but Darrin Hall especially has break-away speed, too, as he showed on his long scoring runs. With tailbacks Hall and Qadree Ollison each weighing in at 225 pounds, their bruising style wore Virginia down during two long possessions to begin the second half.

Virginia: The Cavaliers to find more offensive weapons to employ when teams focus great attention on Perkins, Olamide Zaccheaus and Jordan Ellis. Terrell Jana’s 42-yard touchdown catch more than doubled his receiving yardage for the season (29), and he caught two more passes before halftime. And tight end Tanner Cowley had just three catches for 28 yards in the first eight games before taking a pass from Perkins 40 yards down the Virginia sideline in the first half.

UP NEXT

Pittsburgh returns home to face long-time rival Virginia Tech in its final home game.

Virginia wraps up a three-game homestand with its final home game, and last out-of-conference game, against Liberty.

MY BIG TEN FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS

WILDCATS MAKE JUMP AFTER WIN OVER BADGERS

The Northwestern Wildcats and Penn State Nittany Lions picked up big wins in a somewhat quiet weekend in Big Ten Football.

Week 9 in the Big Ten Football Conference didn’t have as many fireworks as the previous weeks have but it still provided us some entertaining games. The West division stole the light this past Saturday as a clear number one emerged from a heavy crowd.

The Northwestern Wildcats improved to 5-1 in conference play and took sole possession of the division following their win over the Wisconsin Badgers. The Wildcats also had some help from the Penn State Nittany Lions, who picked up a big win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, and the Michigan State Spartans, who ended the Purdue Boilermakers’ four-game win streak.

There weren’t a lot of changes in our power rankings but the Wildcats made the leap inside the top five, creating a whole new landscape to the Big Ten power rankings. The rankings probably won’t go through many changes following this weekend’s action, as there is only one conference matchup that has conference and playoff implications, as Penn State goes on the road to take on the Michigan Wolverines.

But before Week 10’s games are played, take a look at our updated Big Ten Football Power Rankings:

14: RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS 1-7 (0-5)

Last week: Bye

Last rank: 14

Well, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights did not lose in Week 9 but they also didn’t win. But their bye week was probably the Scarlet Knights best performance all season. Rutgers has become one of those Group of Five teams that no one talks about or wants to watch. And the Scarlet Knights travel to Wisconsin this Saturday to take on the Badgers, which means another big loss is coming their way.

The Badgers are one of the best defensive teams in the Big Ten Conference, and the Rutgers offense is one of the worst in the nation. If Rutgers can get on the board or even gain over 150 yards, I would say it was a successful game for the Scarlet Knights. Don’t worry Rutgers’ fan this ongoing nightmare is almost over…I think.

13: ILLINOIS ILLINI 3-5 (1-4)

Last week: L, 63-33 @ Maryland

Last rank: 12

The Illinois Illini’s chances at making a bowl game are sitting at less than one percent following their embarrassing loss to the Maryland Terrapins. While the Illini offense has played well, their defense has allowed at least 46 points in four of their last five games. And with this scoring rate the defense is allowing, the Illini’s chances of winning another game coincide with their chances of making the postseason.

The Illini take on Minnesota this weekend, but don’t expect anything spectacular, Minnesota’s offense isn’t great but it has big play ability to put this game away early. The Illini got off to a good start this season, but it’s still going to end as it has previously: less than four wins, no bowl game and contemplating a coaching change.

12: NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS 2-6 (1-4)

Last week: W, 45-9 vs Bethune-Cookman

Last rank: 13

The Nebraska Cornhuskers picked up their second win of the season and second win in a row, after their scrimmage against Bethune-Cookman. But that win streak will most likely come to an end as the Cornhuskers are on the road in Week 10 to face the Ohio State Buckeyes. This one could get out of hand pretty quickly for the Cornhuskers but with everything starting to come together, Nebraska could keep this one close.

Following their game with the Buckeyes, the Cornhuskers will look to win out to finish just one game shy of .500. It’s definitely not the end result of the season that they wanted to have, but it would provide much to build on heading into the 2019 season. You never want to look ahead, but finishing strong could provide to a strong start to next season, and right now, that’s what it’s all about for the Cornhuskers.

11: INDIANA HOOSIERS 4-5 (1-5)

Last week: L, 38-31 @ Minnesota

Last rank: 10

The Indiana Hoosiers suffered their fourth loss in a row this past Saturday following their 38-31 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Hoosiers battle backed from a 31-9 deficit to tie the game late in the fourth quarter but Minnesota’s late touchdown put the Hoosiers below .500 on the season. After struggling through the first three quarters, Peyton Ramsey showed out in their comeback attempt, throwing for two scores, and two 2-point conversions.

The Hoosiers chances of making a bowl game aren’t looking good at the present moment, With three games to go against, Michigan, Maryland and Purdue, the Hoosiers will have to win two of those games to become bowl eligible. The Hoosiers season once looked to be headed into the direction of a seven win season but now has the Hoosiers finishing near the bottom of the conference.

10: MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS 4-4 (1-4)

Last week: W, 38-31 vs Indiana

Last rank: 11

The Minnesota Golden Gophers ended their four-game conference losing streak, and picked up their first conference win on the 2018 season, following their win over the Indiana Hoosiers. But as mentioned above, the Golden Gophers almost lost the game after surrendering their 22-point lead entering the fourth quarter.

Minnesota is all about “rowing the boat” but their boat shares some fellow passengers, that like the Golden Gophers, are relying on an upset win in their final set of games to become bowl eligible. Minnesota has showed some promise in their second season under PJ Fleck, but missing the postseason this year is under the category of disappointing

9: MARYLAND TERRAPINS 5-3 (3-2)

Last week: W, 63-33 vs Illinois

Last rank: 8

The Maryland Terrapins moved to just one win away from becoming bow eligible after their 30-point win over the Illinois Illini. And while most think that the Terrapins sixth win will come in Week 11 over the Indiana Hoosiers, everyone should be tuned in to their Week 10 matchup against the Michigan State Spartans. While the Spartans are favored, they’ve also been inconsistent throughout the season.

While it has been a down here for the Spartans, this would be a big win for Maryland as they try to garner some respect in the Big Ten East. And the same could be said about the Terrapins finishing at 7-5 or better, as opposed to finishing at .500. But the biggest storyline heading into this game is the return and subsequent dismissal of head coach D.J. Durkin. Will the off field drama prove too much for this team to handle?

8: PURDUE BOILERMAKERS 4-4 (3-2)

Last week: L, 23-13 @ Michigan State

Last rank: 7

The Purdue Boilermakers four-game winning streak came to an end in Week 9 after their offense turned the ball over three times and ran for just 62 yards against the Michigan State Spartans. Purdue had its chances to knock of the Spartans but their turnovers would prove costly to any attempt at a comeback. David Blough had his worst game of the season, as all three turnovers came from him and was kept out of the end zone in both the air and ground game.

Purdue looks to get back in the win column this Saturday with a home game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Purdue is in great shape to make a bowl game for the second consecutive season, their first time since 2011-12. But if Purdue’s offense continues to come out flat, and doesn’t get back to true form, the Boilermakers could be scrapping for that much need sixth win in the final week of the season.

7: MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS 5-3 (3-2)

Last week: W, 23-13 vs Purdue

Last rank: 6

The Michigan State Spartans continued their up-and-down season with a much-needed win over the Purdue Boilermakers. Despite injuries at wide receiver, and quarterback Brian Lewerke sitting out, the Spartans passed for 318 yards and two scores after a stellar performance from freshman quarterback, Rocky Lombardi. Supporting Lombardi, was the Spartan defense who came up with three picks and only allowed one touchdown.

The Spartans will make a bowl game this season, but depending on which team shows up for the Spartans, will determine if they finish at .500 or have a winning record. But after Lombardi’s performance, the question now moves to who will start at quarterback when Lewerke returns. Will the Spartans stick with the veteran or move on to the young gun?

6: WISCONSIN BADGERS 5-3 (3-2)

Last week: L, 31-17 @ Northwestern

Last rank: 5

The Wisconsin Badgers’ disappointing season continued in Week 9 as they fell to the Northwestern Wildcats, 31-17. The Badgers offense was held to 158 passing yards and running back Jonathan Taylor didn’t even reach the 50-yard mark and had two of the Badgers’ three lost fumbles. And while the offense struggled, the Badgers defense gave up almost 350 yards, and if it wasn’t for them forcing three interceptions, this game could’ve gone a lot worse.

The Badgers get to let their frustration out this Saturday as they host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The offense should get things going early, and the defense should pitch a shutout, in a game that could be over before it even started. The Badgers will use this game as preparation, as they travel to Happy Valley just a week later.

5: NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS 5-3 (5-1)

Last week: W, 31-17 vs Wisconsin

Last rank: 9

The Northwestern Wildcats are the best team in the Big Ten West. The Wildcats are 5-1 in conference play with just three conference games left to play. A win in their next conference game, which is at Iowa, would almost seal their trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten conference championship game. And the fact they aren’t ranked in this year’s first edition of the College Football Playoff rankings in shocking.

But the Wildcats will have a chance to jump into the rankings as they finish their non-conference schedule this Saturday, hosting the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This is a game to watch as Northwestern has come up with some big wins all season and playing in Evanston can always provide trouble for visiting teams. But regardless of the outcome of their game against the Irish, the Wildcats still have plenty to look forward to in conference play.

4: IOWA HAWKEYES 6-2 (3-2)

Last week: L, 30-24 @ Penn State

Last rank: 4

After jumping out to a 12-0 lead on Saturday, the Iowa Hawkeyes picked up their second loss on the season to the Penn State Nittany Lions. Iowa scored almost every way imaginable: two safeties, two field goals, a touchdown pass from their punter to a defensive lineman, and a pick-six. But none of this was enough to pick up the crucial road win.

The Iowa Hawkeyes next two games are pivotal as they take on Purdue and Northwestern, and one loss could end the Hawkeyes chances at making the Big Ten Championship game. The Hawkeyes offense will need to bounce back if they want to avoid being eliminated from the conference title game as Purdue’s offense has been one of the best in the Big Ten since conference play started.

3: PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS 6-2 (3-2)

Last week: W, 30-24 vs Iowa

Last rank: 3

The Penn State Nittany Lions picked up their biggest win on the season following their victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. The game looked to be heading into the Hawkeyes’ favor as the combination of crazy scores, and Trace McSorley being injured, provide little hope for the Nittany Lions. But the Penn State defense didn’t allow one touchdown and McSorley came back in the second half and led the Nittany Lions to the win.

Penn State now goes on the road to keep their New Year’s Six hopes alive, as they go head-to-head with the Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines defense could slow up McSorley and Penn State’s offense, providing a tough game to win for the Nittany Lions. But their defense that has been improving week-in and week-out could be the difference maker in this one.

2: OHIO STATE BUCKEYES 7-1 (4-1)

Last week: Bye

Last rank: 2

The Ohio State Buckeyes are back in action in Week 10 for the first time since their upset loss against the Purdue Boilermakers. The Buckeyes host a Nebraska team that has been disappointing but are hungry for an upset win themselves. The Buckeyes must be careful in this one as Nebraska does have the talent and potential to hand the Buckeyes their second consecutive loss.

But with a bye week between games, this Buckeye team should be much improved and ready to get back to winning. This game could be an upset but will most likely be a blowout that sees Dwayne Haskins sitting out much of the second half. Ohio State’s playoff chances are still high, but they must win out or they’ll be on the outside looking in, even with a conference title.

1: MICHIGAN WOLVERINES 7-1 (5-0)

Last week: Bye

Last rank: 1

The Michigan Wolverines are fresh off a bye week as they host the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Wolverines defense is good enough to not make this a game but their offense could do just the opposite of that. For Michigan to win, they’ll need to feed the ball to Karan Higdon who has emerged as the team’s best player on offense. If Higdon can get going, it’ll open up the Wolverines’ air game against a shaky Penn State secondary.

Everything is going the Wolverines’ way as they search for their first ever playoff appearance and first conference title since 2004. The Wolverines aren’t a high powered offense, but with their big offensive line and run game, they’ll play keep away and grind games out with their stingy defense. Can the Wolverines keep their season intact? Or will Penn State land a crushing blow?

NEXT: Picks for Week 10's biggest games

We are heading into the fourth quarter of the season, and although there are front-runners and favorites, there is still a lot to be determined in the Big Ten!

MY NEW ACC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS

CLEMSON COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF BOUND?

ACC football entered Week 9 with a few marquee matchups that would shape the conference title chase heading into November.

ACC football had a number of big games this past weekend and there were plenty of surprises that had fans and the media scratching their heads.

Now that the weekend is over let’s take a look at our updated ACC football power rankings after Week 9.

14: NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

(1-6) Last Week: 13,

North Carolina is at the bottom of our rankings even though you can consider it a tossup between them and Louisville as to who is the worst team in the conference. The Tar Heels run defense couldn’t slow down Virginia, as they gave up 208 yards on the ground in the 31-21. A four-game losing streak may not end with Georgia Tech coming to town this weekend.

13: LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

(2-6) Last Week: 14,

We aren’t sure if Louisville is the worst team in the conference but giving up 56 points to Wake Forest puts them in close consideration. Jawon Pass did have a good game throwing the ball, as he threw for 358 yards and a touchdown. However, it should be another loss this weekend as they travel to Death Valley to take on the ACC juggernaut Clemson.

12: FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES

(4-4) Last Week: 9,

If you would’ve told me Florida State would be one of the worst teams In the ACC at the start of the season I would’ve called you crazy. Willie Taggart knows how to get the most out of his offenses and watching them fail to move the ball consistently has been jaw-dropping. The Seminoles will need to win at least two more games to become bowl eligible and with four games against bowl-eligible teams, I don’t see them getting another victory this season.

11: WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS

(4-4) Last Week: 12,

It was a revenge game for Matt Colburn, as the former Louisville recruit had his scholarship rescinded 48 hours before National Signing Day a few seasons ago. He gashed the Cardinals defense for 243 yards on 20 carries with three touchdowns. The Demon Deacons are 4-4 and face top 25 opponent Syracuse this weekend. It would be a big upset if they were to get the win.

10: VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES

(4-3) Last Week: 7,

At the start of the season, the Hokies were viewed as a potential contender for the ACC championship. Their defense has been poor for most of the season, and the Yellow Jackets were able to rack up over 465 yards on the ground and didn’t attempt more than one pass on the entire game. The Hokies schedule doesn’t get easier in November with Boston College, Miami and Virginia all at home.

9: GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS

(4-4) Last Week: 11,

Georgia Tech, as we just mentioned, did not complete a pass against Virginia Tech. They ran the ball 78 times for 465 yards and scored seven touchdowns on the ground. The defense wasn’t spectacular but when you control the clock the way Georgia Tech did in this game you don’t have to shut the opponent out. They travel to Chapel Hill to face the Tar Heels and should pick up their fifth win of the season.

8: DUKE BLUE DEVILS

(5-3) Last Week: 6,

A few weeks ago, Duke was sitting at 5-1 and look like a potential ACC title contender. The three-week stretch of games against Virginia, Pittsburgh and Miami would decide if they could keep up their strong momentum to start the season. So far they have fallen flat and may only win one more game this season. The Panthers racked up 54 points against the Blue Devils in the upset and Duke will have to work on their run defense as they gave up 484 yards and four scores on the ground. A trip to Miami is next up on the schedule and it could be their third loss in a row.

7: PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

(4-4) Last Week: 10,

After gashing Duke for 484 rushing yards and nearly 10 yards per carry, Pittsburgh sits at 3-1 in the conference and is a half game out of the division lead. Qadree Ollisin (18 carries for 149 yards and one touchdown) and V’Lique Carter (seven carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns) were the stars of the game and have been the backbone of the offense the last couple of weeks. Pittsburgh travels to Virginia this week and if they pick up the W they will be in the driver’s seat for the ACC title game.

6: MIAMI HURRICANES

(5-3) Last Week: 2,

Another potential ACC title contender, Miami fell flat against Boston College on Friday night. The offense couldn’t get anything going as Malik Rozier finished with only 150 yards passing and threw two interceptions. The passing defense played well as Anthony Brown through for only 152 yards but Miami will look to end their two-game losing streak with a matchup against Duke this weekend.

5: NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK

(5-2) Last Week: 3,

Just two weeks ago the Wolfpack were undefeated with the potential to dethrone Clemson and take over the ACC title race. They were thumped by the Tigers then this weekend gave up three touchdowns in the first quarter and never got back into the game against Syracuse. The 51-41 loss was their second in a row but they can still get to a decent bowl game. Florida State comes to town and with their poor offense; North Carolina State should get back on track with a win.

4: BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES

(6-2) Last Week: 8,

AJ Dillon is healthy again and that is a scary thing for Boston College’s remaining ACC opponents. He ran the ball 32 times for 149 yards and a score in the Eagles big win over Miami. The Eagles are one win away from becoming a bowl eligible and travel to Blacksburg to face a very inconsistent Virginia Tech team.

3: VIRGINIA CAVALIERS

(6-2) Last Week: 5,

Virginia made easy work of North Carolina, as Bryce Perkins threw for three touchdown passes and ran for another, finishing with over 325 total yards of offense. The Cavaliers run defense did a good job of shutting down Michael Carter and the Tar Heels, as North Carolina ran the ball 22 times for just 66 yards. The division lead will be up for grabs this weekend as Pittsburgh comes to town in a Friday night matchup. If Virginia wins this game they should be in the driver seat to face Clemson in the ACC title game.

2: SYRACUSE ORANGE

(6-2) Last Week: 4,

Syracuse is 6-2 and although the ground game didn’t get much going, Eric Dungey carved up the Wolfpack defense for over 400 yards passing and three touchdowns. Unless Clemson stumbles and loses three of their last four, Syracuse won’t have a shot at the ACC title game. That won’t happen but they are still clearly the second best team in the conference. A visit to Wake Forest next week will be a tough test, as the Demon Deacons have been overlooked by opponents most of the year.

1: CLEMSON TIGERS

(8-0) Last Week: 1,

With Trevor Lawrence commanding the offense Clemson looks unbeatable. Against a very talented Florida State defense, he threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns. Travis Etienne was held out of the end zone with just 45 yards rushing on the ground, but it was still a very convincing win for the Tigers. They face Louisville this weekend and should easily pick up win number nine.

So those are our ACC football power rankings after Week 9. Are you happy with where your team is ranked? Comment below and let’s get ready for week 10!

ATLANTIC COAST CURRENT STANDINGS

ATLANTIC	W	L	CONF W/L	PF	PA	HOME	AWAY
Clemson	8	0	5-0	353	104	4-0	4-0
Boston College	6	2	3-1	304	196	5-0	1-2
Syracuse	6	2	3-2	349	229	5-0	1-2
NC State	5	2	2-2	213	176	4-0	1-2
Florida State	4	4	2-4	186	227	3-2	1-2
Wake Forest	4	4	1-3	267	294	2-3	2-1
Louisville	2	6	0-5	178	290	2-3	0-3
COASTAL	W	L	CONF W/L	PF	PA	HOME	AWAY
Pittsburgh	5	4	4-1	247	274	4-1	1-3
Virginia Tech	4	3	3-1	225	196	1-2	3-1
Virginia	6	3	4-2	239	173	5-1	1-2
Miami	5	3	2-2	276	154	4-0	1-3
Georgia Tech	4	4	2-3	311	226	2-2	2-2
Duke	5	3	1-3	251	188	2-2	3-1
North Carolina	1	6	1-4	161	240	1-1	0-5

PENN STATE HITS THE ROAD

PENN STATE AT MICHIGAN

WHEN: 3:45 PM ET, Saturday, November 3, 2018

WHERE: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Fifth-ranked Michigan looks to take a big step towards its first conference title since 2004 when it hosts No.13 Penn State on Saturday. The Wolverines have won seven consecutive games, including a 21-7 victory against Michigan State on Oct. 20, to move into first place in the Big Ten's East Division. They hope to live up to their fifth-place ranking in the initial CFP poll of the season and continue their revenge tour by avenging a 42-13 loss to the Nittany Lions in 2017.

"I think the team will be motivated to play this week," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters. "We're just attacking every week and striving for continuous improvement." Penn State is hoping to knock off a ranked opponent for the second time in as many games following a 30-24 win against No. 18 Iowa in Week 9. The Nittany Lions erased a 12-point deficit en route to their second straight win and look to keep their faint division title hopes alive by knocking off the Wolverines in Ann Arbor for the first time in nine years while exorcising the demons from a 49-10 loss at the Big House in 2016. "If you look at how we've played since that game we have made a lot of corrections and have gotten better," Penn State coach James Franklin told reporters. "Three years ago compared to now are two completely different teams …and a good portion of our players weren't even here when that game took place."

TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN. 

LINE: Michigan -11.5.

ABOUT PENN STATE (6-2, 3-2 BIG TEN): Trace McSorley threw for 167 yards and a touchdown while adding 73 yards and a score on the ground in the win against Iowa despite sitting out three drives in the second quarter due to a sore knee. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording nine tackles -- a career-high four TFLs -- and two sacks against the Hawkeyes. McSorley made the shortlist of 20 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, which is given annually to the top player in college football.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (7-1, 5-0): Karan Higdon racked up 144 rushing yards in the win against Michigan State to go over 100 for the sixth consecutive game. Rashan Gary has missed the last three games with a shoulder problem and Harbaugh would neither confirm nor deny if the junior defensive end, who is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, would be ready to return in time for Saturday. Starting offensive lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty suffered a knee injury in the late stages of the win against Michigan State and is questionable, while wide receiver Tarik Black is expected to have an expanded role after playing just two snaps in his first game since breaking his leg in fall camp.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Michigan has held seven of its eight opponents to its lowest yardage total of the season.

2. McSorley needs three passing yards to reach 9,000 for his career. 

3. The Wolverines lead the nation in total defense (220 yards per game).

PREDICTION: Michigan 31, Penn State 16

TEAM COMPARISON

	W‑L	Strk	PF	PA	Home	Away	Grass	Turf	Conf
Penn State	6-2	W2	41.0	22.2	3-2	3-0	4-2	0-0	3-2
Michigan	7-1	W7	36.0	14.4	5-0	2-1	2-0	0-0	5-0

PANTHERS ROLL VIRGINIA

PITTSBURGH 23, VIRGINIA 13

WHEN: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, November 2, 2018

WHERE: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia

TEMPERATURE: 65° 

HEAD OFFICIAL: Riley Johnson

ATTENDANCE: 36256

Senior running back Darrin Hall rushed for 229 yards and three touchdowns to lead visiting Pittsburgh to a 23-13 victory over No. 25 Virginia in ACC play on Friday night at Charlottesville, Va.

Hall, who had 19 carries, scored on runs of 41, 2 and 75 yards while topping the 200-yard mark for the second time in his career. The Panthers (5-4, 4-1 ACC) totaled 254 yards on the ground and recorded five sacks while moving into first place in the ACC Coastal Division.

Junior quarterback Bryce Perkins completed 17 of 24 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown for Virginia (6-3, 4-2), which lost while playing its first game as a ranked program in seven years. The Cavaliers had a three-game winning streak halted.

Virginia senior star receiver Olamide Zaccheaus had just four receptions for 31 yards after catching 10 passes in each of his past two games.

Panthers sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett was 7-for-14 passing for 61 yards but his team outgained the Cavaliers 315-249.

Hall scored the go-ahead 2-yard run with 21 seconds left in the third quarter to cap a 15-play, 84-yard drive and give Pittsburgh a 14-10 lead.

Sophomore Brian Delaney kicked a 42-yard field goal to bring Virginia within one with 9:51 left in the game.

After a touchback, Hall exploded through a huge hole opened by the right side of the offensive line and motored 75 yards for a touchdown. A low snap prevented the point-after attempt, keeping the Panthers' lead at 20-13.

Sophomore Alex Kessman kicked a 53-yard field goal -- his sixth of more than 50 yards in his career -- to increase the Pitt lead to 10 with 4:25 remaining.

The Panthers got on the board first when Hall navigated around left end and scampered 41 yards for a score with 6:09 remaining in the first quarter.

Just 15 seconds later, Virginia tied the score when Perkins connected with sophomore receiver Terrell Jana on a 42-yard touchdown pass. The Cavaliers took a 10-7 lead into halftime after Delaney booted a 29-yard field goal with two seconds left.

TOP GAME PERFORMANCES

RUSHING

PITTSBURGH		VIRGINIA
Darrin Hall	Player	Jordan Ellis
19	Attempts	10
229	Yards	46
12.0	Avg Yards	4.6
3	Touchdowns	0
0	Long	0

RECEIVING

PITTSBURGH		VIRGINIA
Aaron Mathews	Player	Terrell Jana
1	Receptions	3
31	Yards	71
31.0	Avg Yards	23.7
0	Touchdowns	1
0	Long	0

TEAM STATS SUMMARY

	Yards			Scoring		Defense
Team	Tot	Rus	Pas	TD	FG	INT	Sck	FF
Pittsburgh	315	254	61	3	1	0	5.0	3
Virginia	249	44	205	1	2	0	3.0	1

Final Scoring Summary

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Pittsburgh	7	0	7	9	23
Virginia	7	3	0	3	13

SCORING

TEAMS

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTER			PITT	UVA
Pittsburgh	TD 6:09 Darrin Hall 41 Yd Run (Alex Kessman Kick) 8 plays, 84 yards, 4:21		7	0
Virginia	TD 5:54 Terrell Jana 42 Yd pass from Bryce Perkins (Brian Delaney Kick) 1 play, 57 yards, 0:15		7	7
SECOND QUARTER			PITT	UVA
Virginia	FG 0:02 Brian Delaney 29 Yd Field Goal 6 plays, 45 yards, 1:13		7	10
THIRD QUARTER			PITT	UVA
Pittsburgh		TD 0:21 Darrin Hall 2 Yd Run (Alex Kessman Kick) 15 plays, 84 yards, 8:40	14	10
FOURTH QUARTER			PITT	UVA
Virginia	FG 9:51 Brian Delaney 42 Yd Field Goal 10 plays, 51 yards, 5:30		14	13
Pittsburgh	TD 9:40 Darrin Hall 75 Yd Run (Alex Kessman PAT failed) 1 play, 75 yards, 0:11		20	13
Pittsburgh	FG 4:25 Alex Kessman 53 Yd Field Goal 6 plays, 17 yards, 3:07		23	13

Team Records

	Pittsburgh	Virginia
W‑L	5 - 4 - 0	6 - 3 - 0
Conference	4 - 1 - 0	4 - 2 - 0

Team Stats

	Pittsburgh	Virginia
Score	23	13
1st Downs	16	13
3rd Down Efficiency	4-for-12 33%	5-for-12 42%
4th Down Efficiency	2-for-2 100%	0-for-2 0%
Total Yards	315	249
Rushing
Rushes-Net Yards	42-254	26-44
Average/Rush	6.0	1.7
Passing
Comp-Att	7-14	17-24
Passing Yards	61	205
Average/Pass Play	3.6	7.1
Penalties-Yards	7-72	10-80
Fumbles-Lost	1-0	3-1
Interceptions Thrown	0	0
Time of Possession	33:24	26:36

PLAYER STATS

Pittsburgh (5 - 4)

Passing
	COMP/ATT	YDS	TD	INT
K. Pickett	7/14	61	0	0

Virginia (6 - 3)

Passing
	COMP/ATT		YDS		TD		INT
B. Perkins	17/24		205		1		0
Rushing
	ATT	YDS		AVG		TD
D. Hall	19	229		12.1		3
Q. Ollison	7	24		3.4		0
V. Carter	2	5		2.5		0
K. Pickett	10	4		0.4		0
M. Ffrench	1	-2		-2.0		0

Rushing
	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD
J. Ellis	10	46	4.6	0
O. Zaccheaus	1	5	5.0	0
B. Perkins	15	-7	-0.5	0
Receiving
	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
A. Mathews	1	31	31.0	0
T. Mack	1	11	11.0	0
S. Jacques-Louis	1	6	6.0	0
G. Aston	1	5	5.0	0
D. Hall	1	4	4.0	0
W. Gragg	1	3	3.0	0
V. Carter	1	1	1.0	0

Receiving
	REC		YDS		AVG		TD
T. Jana	3		71		23.7		1
T. Cowley	1		40		40.0		0
H. Dubois	4		34		8.5		0
O. Zaccheaus	4		31		7.8		0
T. Kelly	2		17		8.5		0
J. Reed	1		9		9.0		0
E. Butts	1		3		3.0		0
C. Sharp	1		0		0.0		0
Interceptions
		NO.		YDS		TD
No interceptions

Interceptions
	NO.	YDS		TD
No interceptions
Sacks
	NO.		YDS
D. Hendrix	2.5		19.0
E. Zeise	1.0		16.0
R. Weaver	1.0		3.0
S. Roy	0.5		8.0

Sacks
	NO.		YDS
M. Gahm	1.0		10.0
C. Snowden	1.0		4.0
B. Hall	1.0		2.0
Tackles
	Tk	Ast
O. Idowu	8	1
D. Hamlin	8	1
D. Jackson	3	1
D. Hendrix	2	2
R. Weaver	2	2
E. Reynolds	2	3
E. Zeise	2	3
C. Pine	1	0
W. Davis	1	0
D. Briggs	1	2
A. Kessman	0	1
C. Bright	0	1
P. Motley	0	1
D. Mathis	0	1
Q. Ollison	0	1
C. Jonoy	0	1
J. Medure	0	1
S. Roy	0	2
G. Aston	0	2
A. Watts	0	3
J. Stocker	0	3

Tackles
	Tk	Ast
J. Blount	4	7
D. Thompson	2	1
J. Thornhill	2	2
T. Harris	2	2
B. Hall	2	3
C. Snowden	2	4
W. Taulapapa	1	0
E. Brown	1	1
M. Gahm	1	1
B. Nelson	1	2
M. Alonso	1	3
C. Peace	1	3
J. Mack	1	5
Z. Zandler	1	7
D. Cross	0	1
T. Kelly	0	1
E. Hanback	0	1
J. Redmond	0	2
Tackles For Loss
	NO.		YDS
D. Hendrix	2.5		19.0
R. Weaver	2.5		10.0
E. Zeise	1.0		16.0
S. Roy	0.5		8.0
A. Watts	0.5		1.0

Tackles For Loss
	NO.	YDS
C. Snowden	1.5	0.0
M. Gahm	1.0	10.0
E. Brown	1.0	3.0
B. Hall	1.0	2.0
T. Harris	1.0	2.0
J. Blount	0.5	1.0
J. Thornhill	0.5	1.0
M. Alonso	0.5	0.0
Fumbles
	NO.
K. Pickett	1

Fumbles
	NO.
J. Reed	1
J. Ellis	1
E. Butts	1