You don't want to be arrogant, but Wisconsin Badgers running back P.J. Hill isn't even dressed for the game. Ohio State has to like its chances, but stranger things have happened this football season.

So far I've managed to ignore that 10-ton gorilla in the cyber room.

Are the Ohio State Buckeyes overrated? That's the prevailing opinion of the pundits and powers that be in college football. They point to the cupcake schedule the Buckeyes have played and say: "See, they haven't played anyone."

And they're right. And they're wrong.

They're right for three reasons: Youngstown State, University of Akron and Kent State. Cupcakes? Hell, creampuffs they are. It's a way to provide in-state colleges a huge payday for the willingness to take a beating and in the process we process we won't beat up on you too bad. The lone "real" football school in the Buckeyes non-conference schedule was the Washington Huskies and the Buckeyes smacked them on the nose like the pups they were.

The point is that OSU can control that portion of the schedule - easily. And the team's worthiness wouldn't come into question if they dared to schedule just two cupcakes and two programs that are actually competitive.

Those pundits are wrong in this respect: OSU cannot control the rest of the schools that occupy the Big Ten. You can't help that prior to this year that Illinois, Purdue, Indiana and the rest of the Big Ten were pretty much also rans. Michigan State hit a rough patch and, as much as it pains me to say this, Penn State isn't likely to be a force again until Joe Paterno is gone. Michigan will always be Michigan and that's why I wagged my index finger at fans who want to see them collapse.

When you're in a conference where there are only two national powerhouses - unlike the Southeastern Conference which has five or more - you're only as respected as your closest competitor or, in this case, rival.