Big Ten

The first weekend of college football is nearly over; we've got the 2nd half of the Colorado vs. Colorado State game and tomorrow features Cincy vs. Rutgers and Miami vs. FSU.  I do have some interesting thoughts on the opening weekend. 

Continue reading "Random College Football Thoughts"

This is a problem that faces not only the Iowa Hawkeyes, but every football team in the Big Ten that plays in a bowl game. This could be one of the reasons that the Big Ten has not had a winning bowl season since 2002 and since that year have compiled a record of 14-22. I understand that there are other factors that have led to that record, but there is no doubt this is a severe disadvantage.

Continue reading "Why Big Ten Will Continue to Struggle ..."

It’s an intriguing weekend in the Big Ten this week, as all five underdogs are at home.  That is quite the rare feat, and we know that somebody is going to jump up and pull off an upset at home.  So , which team will actually defend its home turf?  I’m going with Michigan, despite the fact they haven’t been doing such a great job of winning at home so far this year.  The three home losses this year have me thinking that the home-field advantage is less of a factor than is the Spartans’ one-dimensional offense.  Michigan’s three poor defensive performances have come against Brian Johnson, Juice Williams, and Daryll Clark.  Brian Hoyer is not on that level, and the Michigan front seven should be able to gang up on Javon Ringer and keep itself off the field.Otherwise, the other four road favorites should have enough in their arsenal to get wins.  That includes Penn State, who is capable of making a big statement in the de facto

Continue reading "10-25 Big Ten Picks"

Quick -- name the 3rd best team in the Big Ten!  You might have to get your hands dirty.  You’re not sifting through grade-A football anymore.  But no worries, you’ll find something.  What did you come up with?... that can’t be right.  Minnesota? Northwestern? Michigan State?  Illinois?  Okay, just abort this grizzly mission, then.  Listen, I know it’s been awhile but what more can I say about this season now that most teams are already halfway through the conference schedule.  In the span of 10 minutes sitting in a bar in Madison, Wisconsin, I watched the winningest program in the history of the sport lose to Toledo at home, and saw Juice Williams throw for 440 yards yet lose at home to Minnesota.  A few hours later, I sat in Camp Randall Stadium to witness a once-Top 10 team that had lost 2 games at home in 4 years get beat by 41 points before a typically infamously raucous home crowd.  So what gives?This is truly a very topsy-turvy season for some of the more common reasons, and some deeper reasons as well.  While turnovers and poor quarterback play have been significantly responsible for the craziness that has occurred, it can not be overlooked that there are some serious tides that are changin’.  For anyone who wondered, Michigan football will never quite be the way it has been for the last 40 years.  I’m not saying they won’t be very good, and at times, better than they’ve been.  All I’m saying is 2008 Michael Jackson resembles 1980 Michael Jackson more than the 2008 Michigan Wolverines resemble the Bo/Carr Wolverines – and that’s even disregarding the Adidas logo on the unis.

Continue reading "Coming to Grips with the Big Ten"

True freshman Mike Brewster continues to give the snaps to true freshman Terrelle Pryor. Brewster may go down as the best center Ohio State has had in a very long time. Nick Mangold has been the best center in the Tressel era. Brewster will end up being better. The connection Tressel is creating by playing Brewster & Pryor together will only help the cohesion of the O-line + the skills of Pryor in the upcoming years.

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My debut entry to this blog comes hours before the conference game I've been most scared about for months: @ Wisconsin. Now we've started the season, I've begun to fear the Penn State game as well. But a night game...at Madison...all those drunks will be ready to rock. At least the Wisconsin band won't be there. I'm sure that missing the band will cause Wisconsin to forget how to tackle or block.

Continue reading "@ Madison 10/4/2008"

n is 1st and goal.Brown gets a couple...Sack, Fumble, Michigan's ball.  Welcome to the fucking Big Ten boys!3rd down, Wisconsin has 1 timeout left.  Nope, stopped.Michigan is punting with 1:26 left on the clock.  W can tie at best.Kendricks makes a miracle catch.  Oh, fuck, if we go to overtime I'm gonna throwup.TD Wisconsin, he got hit and didn't drop it.You know if Michigan loses this games those "sad people" hotlines should be on alert.Overtime!  Overtime?  Flag?  Wait, what?  Will repeat the try?  Do it again!I'll take that penalty ever god damn time!Overthrown!  Wisconsin is going for an onside kick.  Looks like Wisconsin got burned by playing their TE that wasn't ready and hadn't played until the end of the 4th quarter.Onside kick is out of bounds and not 10 yards.Rich-Rod, I love you!

Continue reading "The University of Michigan Should ..."

time when the FCS/Div I-AA/cupcakes go awayLast week was another successful one in general for the Big Ten.  Nothing too spectacular, but they avoided the disasters that have seemed to strike the Big East, Pac 10, and ACC on different occasions this year.  Purdue narrowly survived against Central Michigan, Michigan State dominated in the trenches against the Fighting Irish, and Minnesota surprisingly annihilated a struggling FAU team.  Despite two losses, neither were unexpected – Iowa lost to Pitt by a single point in Pittsburgh, while Ball State rallied around fallen teammate Dante Love and dominated an Indiana team that looks like the conference’s weakest link at this point.  Here are the

Continue reading "Big Ten Week 5 Blog, Sep. 27 Picks"

o we'll wait and see.  I smell another road-games-only suspension, perhaps?

Saturday’s Big Ten Picks

Temple at Penn State (PSU -28, Big Ten Network 12:00 ET)
Penn State 45, Temple 16

Continue reading "Sept. 20 Big Ten Picks"

 Welcome to the maiden, bare-bones edition of my futile attempt to start a Big Ten Football blog.  Sure, we might not have a team capable of playing USC within 30 points, but that doesn't mean the league isn't worth talking or complaining about at least a little, eh? Anyhow, any feedback or comments readers have are always welcome.  I hope I don't test your patience as much as mine and Michigan diehards are being tested at the moment from our Wolverines....

Continue reading "Big Ten Week 3 Blog"