Around the Big Ten: Don't think the hard part is over

Don't for a minute think the easy part is over.

If you've learned anything about Indiana football over the course of time you should know this is a program that seldom has handled prosperity well.

Ok, it's tough to use prosperity and Indiana University football in the same sentence a lot of times. Quite frankly, you could write the program defining wins over the past 20 years on a napkin and still have the back side to wipe the tears of seeing just how nondescript Indiana's football history actually is.

But in those rare moments of glory, when the Hoosiers have come from nowhere to claim victories that few saw coming - the nasty habit of following up with a dud has been the norm rather than the exception.

Remember beating Missouri last season and recharging the fan base with talks of a bowl berth and contending in the Big Ten? Yeah, don't forget the next week IU was buried at home by Maryland. In 2012, when Indiana won back-to-back Big Ten games and had a showdown at home with Wisconsin that could put it in the driver's seat for a division title due to Ohio State being ineligible. Indiana lost that game 62-24.

It's not just recent bias here either. Don't forget that magical win against Oregon (OREGON!) in Eugene back in 2004. That one drew the eyes of ESPN post game shows and even had folks on national radio talking about the program. Don't forget that was followed up with a humiliating 51-32 loss to winless Kentucky in Lexington.

So, be excited about Indiana's 3-0 start. Hey, it hasn't happened in Bloomington in a long (2010 to be exact) time. Just be warned.

Wake Forest looks like a game Indiana could win. It looks like an opponent that could be another momentum builder for the program. It looks like something that could spark interest and make people pay attention.

But we've also seen how these things have gone in the past.

Elsewhere in the Big Ten

BYU at Michigan (-5.5) - The Wolverines have given up only 38 points in three weeks, including just seven points each in back-to-back wins. Will be interesting to see if they can continue that trend against a pretty good Cougar squad.

Bowling Green (-1) at Purdue - Purdue has dominated Missouri Valley teams in Darrell Hazell's three seasons in West Lafayette - going 3-0 against teams from the league in that span. That has nothing to do with Bowling Green however, who will look for a second win over a Big Ten opponent this season. I'm just being nice bringing up the whole Missouri Valley thing.

Maryland at West Virginia (-17) - This doesn't appear the type of game the Terps are capable of winning.

Kansas at Rutgers (-12.5) - To be a near two-touchdown underdog against the Scarlett Knights (who don't forget don't have a coach presently) shows exactly how bad things are for Kansas football.

Middle Tennessee at Illinois (-6.5) - I like the Middle Tennessee method of identifying geography. More schools should go this route. Illinois should call itself Middle Illinois. IU students should start claiming Sorta Middle Indiana but more toward the bottom left really.

Ball State at Northwestern (-19) - Already this season the Wildcats have beaten Stanford and Duke so this latest encounter with another steadfast academic institution like the one in Muncie should be a breeze.

Hawaii at Wisconsin (-24.5) - Teams travel to Hawaii and are greeted by hula girls while stepping off the plane. Teams travel to Wisconsin and are pelted with cheese curds and forced to drink Miller products for a weekend. It has been the dirty secret to Wisconsin's success for years.

Also happening around the league

Ohio at Minnesota (-10.5)

Central Michigan at Michigan State (-26.5)

Southern Miss at Nebraska (-22)

Western Michigan at Ohio State (-31)

San Diego State at Penn State (-15)